teletodd - Posted - 02/25/2011:  14:14:50

Teachers help to correct bad habits before they become permanat. Its tougher to unlearn and correct a bad habit, than to learn correctly in the first place, especially on note timing and syncopation.

paulbluegrass - Posted - 02/25/2011:  14:55:01

Rolls, rolls, rolls, rolls, rolls, rolls for first month

pallyn - Posted - 02/26/2011:  12:34:11

I'm working with a teacher who really challenges me. I supplement with stuff I find on youtube. Also, scary at first, I've been learning a lot, especially about backup and anticipating chord changes, from going to jams. If someone is playing something I'd like to learn I listen and watch and try to figure it out during dead time.

kb2dhg - Posted - 02/26/2011:  14:00:55

Roll excersizes over and over again Then I try some fret work using C and D7 over and over again... I am playing only one month now and making slow but steady progress...I feel that once I can get my left and right hand working together and my rolls faster and faster I will be able to put it all together and play to some tabs... I started working on Boil Them Cabbage Down and in one weeks time have got it down slow but prity good!
I am not one to give advice being that I only started one month ago BUT In my years of learning different things one of them learning Morse Code, I do know that time spent practicing and strict dedication is the key to learning...

dlc - Posted - 02/26/2011:  15:10:59

You can't be a good writer if you're not a good reader, and you can't be a good player if you're not a good listener.

Listen, concentrate, try to spot patterns, learn to anticipate chord changes and DO NOT be intimidated if it sounds hard to do.

REMEMBER: If it was hard as it sounds, no one could do it. But the fact that there are thousands of great players proves that banjo can definitely be learned, and mastered.

Carol - Posted - 03/09/2011:  12:45:44

I've been playing for about 6 years now and I spent the first 3 trying to figure out the right path to be on. I put too much emphasis on learning (memorizing) other people's breaks. In fact, in my first jam experiences I was lost -- didn't know what to do for the 98% of the song that wasn't my break! Listening nonstop to the masters and Janet Davis' books helped me to work on licks, turn arounds, vamping -- all techniques that eventually allowed me to play backup and to make up my own breaks. I still can't pull the melody out on a break without forethought, but at least I can play something and join in now.

thehurricane - Posted - 03/09/2011:  12:59:36

Hmm. I'm still pluckin' around, learnt a couple of songs, can play 'em slloowww! But I is goin' forwerd. Balance work, 17 year old, housekeeping, and all the other crap that comes up, I am still dedicating 30 min to an hour a day, most days. Rolls gettin smoother, chord changes a little faster. I is way behind y'all, but watch out! Here I come! Should be wit you in about three years or so! Ha!

njwater - Posted - 03/10/2011:  06:00:03

well just started taking lessons from fiddlin-al (via skype, nice guy, and helping already) but one thing that dawned on me in the process. I had taught myself via dvd, tabs, books about a dozen songs or so. However, I am no where near "up to speed" on these, and now realize that I'm playing them all WRONG... ie the fingerings, accents, syncopation on and on. Yes, I can mechanically play the tab to a point but it's a big jump from where I'm at to actually "playing" these correctly. Guess I'm slow, as it's taken me quite a while to come to this realization.

that's the bad news (w.r.t. lead breaks), the good news is for backup using some of GHowald's lessons I think I've done reasonably well and friends I've jammed with have liked the progress I made using the new licks etc.

Carol - Posted - 03/10/2011:  06:19:39

Keep at it Hurricane! I have 3 teens who groan audibly when I try to pick during the commercials, but it's my own little devious brainwashing technique. They don't even know that they know all the words to Pretty Polly.

Regarding the Howhald back up material mentioned above: what is it and where did you find it?

njwater - Posted - 03/10/2011:  06:28:20

Geoff Howald is on this site, if you search around.

But he also offers free (and "premium" aka pay) downloads at freeguitarvideos.com/banjo_lessons.html

the for-pay lessons are very reasonably priced IMO.

zemacar - Posted - 03/10/2011:  10:54:37

I am an experienced musician. I play 8 instruments, 4 of them decently.

My husband is learning banjo and has his own teacher and some materials here that I can use. Nevertheless, when I recently won a (nice!) banjo, I got in touch with a former teacher and had a 1-hour banjo lesson the very next day. I went back the next week and will return again to ensure that my right hand is off on the right foot, so to speak. If I don't master this, any extraneous motion in the rolls will come back to bite me later, and it takes an expert watching me to spot this.

k-dawg - Posted - 03/10/2011:  20:40:33

I'm playing everyday, from 20 minutes upwards of 2 hours. Mostly somewhere in between.
I'm using TAB books, and watching some videos to break things up, and I don't get into a hurry.
When I feel like my fingers have turned to a pile of over cooked spaghetti, I walk away, and return after awhile, or, sometimes the next day. I'm surprised at how well it works for me.
I just stay with it.
Ken

garman - Posted - 03/10/2011:  22:04:47

Im learning from an outstanding instructor, Fiddlin Al, hes on the BHO. He challenges me in every aspect of the banjo. I have never played music of any kind so my progress is slow but moving forward. I have a very demanding schedule in my personal life so I practice when I can. Focus and quality practice is the key.

rickshunter1 - Posted - 03/11/2011:  05:18:57

Murphy Method is the best way to learn in my opinion I have started with her beginners dvd vol1

kyle1 - Posted - 03/12/2011:  03:45:47

I'm new to all this I started trying to play in Jan. And I am using a book, you can teach yourself banjo and I use the internet and I have two instructor and I try to play every day sometimes two or three times a day. Like I said I'm new to this but the best thing I have found is pratice and have fun.

kb2dhg - Posted - 03/12/2011:  04:50:50

I am using a book and DVD. I find the book useful for the tabs and tuning up the banjo. The DVD is good so I can see how I sound compaited to the DVD... I think an instructor would be an extea advantage but I can't afford one now, SO as they say... PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE... I just hope I can learn this way?

rcockerham - Posted - 03/12/2011:  21:13:31

I've been a beginner/advanced beginner for 20 years now. I started with a friend showing me the slow part to dueling banjos. I gained confidence in about two hours after that. Nobody has mentioned confindence in this thread (I think). Bile em cabbage is one of those confidence building songs as is cripple creek. Yes practice is vital so focus on something that makes you want to not put the instrument down. My book progression began with Davis' You Can Teach Yourself Banjo and I must say it was very good for my understanding rolls. I also like her backup, up the neck, and splitting the licks. In today's technology Youtube has been unbelievable. Lick of the week is great and I'll plug seanray.com because he sounds clear and does it at two speeds. A good example is "Pal of mine"...easy and a good beginner version. I have had one on one lessons and its been good for me, maybe not as good as it could have been if I were a kid with a lot less life demands:-)

youngmicky2 - Posted - 03/13/2011:  12:00:08

I bought an inexpensive banjo at the age of 55, which was 2 years ago. With no music background and only the desire to learn to play the 5 string banjo, I started with a Scrug's book. Then a Murphy Method DVD. Started lessons 16 months ago. Bought a good banjo a year ago. The best help I have gotten with the advise of my instructor is playing with other people. Was able to get into a country band, lucky I guess and am playing with other adult students. Also with other groups when I get the chance. I own my own business which takes a lot of time, but still find time to practice at least an hour a day. Takes more time for older people like me than with young ones. Having a lot of fun with it and that is the key. Learn to have fun and it comes easier.

njwater - Posted - 03/13/2011:  17:59:50

quote:

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Originally posted by paulbluegrass

Rolls, rolls, rolls, rolls, rolls, rolls for first month

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Frostymama - Posted - 03/13/2011:  21:50:43

Been playing about 15 months. I have a weekly lesson and my teacher uses a combo of books including Earl Scruggs, The Complete Bluegrass Method (Fred Sokolow) and Mel Bay. Also, when I'm learning a classic, I always see if Rob Bourassa (I think I misspelled his name) has a posting on BHO or youtube. IMO he is the best online teacher and my playing has improved watching his videos.

For me, the weekly lesson is a good committment for me. I also know from previous instruments that I do better with personal instruction.