banjoleeland - Posted - 05/07/2013:  23:52:25

Background story. Im 19, always played old hand-me-down instruments. My grandfather has given me a washburn style c tenor banjo from the 1920's. It had a ripped head, no bridge, misc. rust. Kerschner lyon and healy tailpiece, 22 hooks, birdseye maple neck and hoop, and donut tone ring. It was in bad shape but me having much experience in self taught luthier-ing thought id take a whack at fixin her up. Shes almost done and before I begin id like to digest everything I can ex. Tunings, chords, songs, picking/strum techniques etc. Its always good to extinguish bad habits at the begining of any instrument, and its just as important to gather many ideas and lots of advice. So if you could help me out and throw some golden knowledge my way, I would GREATLY appreciate it, please and thank you.

lemra - Posted - 05/08/2013:  00:12:51

Hello,

I've started a serie of free tutorials on tenor banjo, maybe this could help. Go see my youtube channel

youtube.com/user/armelamiot

yours,

Armel

​armelamiot.com

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 05/08/2013:  00:58:19

Yes - do for a start study Armel´s tutorials plus his performances - and do maybe consider a purchase of this amazon.com/Learning-Tenor-Banj...000AO88QO - important stuff especially regarding rhythms and right hand techniques.

Polle

Woodturner - Posted - 05/08/2013:  06:54:36

This is my two cents... I found some of Tim Allan's play along trax to be useful

timallan.com/merchandise.html

BDCA - Posted - 05/08/2013:  07:14:28

Leeland, no one has asked what style music you would like to ply. All the above EXCELLENT advice is primarily for jazz or Dixieland. Probably the fastest growing genera on the tenor banjo is Irish music, Jigs, Reels, etc.

This is the list of Irish sessions in Little Rock:

arcelts.com/acms1/sessions.htm

They probably have tenor banjo players attending.

Cya!

Bob

lemra - Posted - 05/08/2013:  10:58:42

Good remark, bob... I'm trying to play some irish music too, but that is really a big world !

Armel

banjoleeland - Posted - 05/08/2013:  11:21:14

Id like to play my style :) i always learn basic rules and techniques then dip into many styles. Ill adopt many styles and mix them into my own. So im down for just about anything. And thanks for all the good suggestions so far guys, lemra ill definatly check out your channel. Polle, ill peep that learning tool aswell, and Woodturner, jamtracks have always aided me so thank you. Bob, as much as id like to take lessons, little rock is too far of my range. Ive been asking around at the local music shops and not too many people seem to be playing the 4 string.:/

banjopa - Posted - 05/13/2013:  08:00:13

Hi Leeland,

I am a tenor banjo teacher. I teach online with Skype. I have several openings right now and am looking to fill them with folks like you who want to learn how to play tenor the correct way. Go to my website at stevecaddick.com and check out my lessons page. If you have any questions, please contact me at banjopa1@yahoo.com.  I also have a few things on YouTube you can take a look at. My price for lessons is very reasonable. There are other folks here on BHO who have taken lessons with me or are currently taking lessons with me who will be more than happy to tell you about me and what I do to help you attain your goals. I hope you consider me in your learning decisions.

my best,

Steve Caddick

haildixon - Posted - 05/13/2013:  11:10:08

Use the Search function.

banjovictor - Posted - 05/19/2013:  09:55:38

Depends what you want to do. If you gravitate towards single string playing and solos, the tenor is the way to go. If you're happier with chords and chord melody, then go plectrum, skip the tenor altogether. 

You still might end up with the plectrum, even if you start on the tenor; I'd say that 2/3 to 3/4 of the tenor players (in the US) switch to plectrum once they reach a certain (high) proficiency level.

Greenmeat - Posted - 05/19/2013:  10:16:16

I don't know why anyone would do a thing like that! Eddy Davis

NYCJazz - Posted - 05/19/2013:  11:59:42

quote:

---

Originally posted by Greenmeat

 

I don't know why anyone would do a thing like that! Eddy Davis

---

I switched from tenor to plectrum. Just preferred the sound. That and I bought a plectrum by mistake.

I don't recommend switching. It wasn't as easy for me as I thought it would be!!

banjoleeland - Posted - 05/19/2013:  12:53:59

Well my project got put hold due to an error in my order, I seem to have ordered the wrong sized head and did not realize until I had went to put it all together. ALWAYS do a dry fit of your parts before assuming. I was an 8th of an inch off so I ordered a 10 7/8 remo fibreskyn from elderly and it should arrive early in this week. Im glad I re-ordered anyway as a pvc coated head seems a bit awkward on such an old instrument, and true, real calfskin would be the most traditional route, I do not wish to deal with the pickyness of its needs. So ill update when its complete and add a few pictures. Thank you all for your great advice so far everybody! I look into everything youve given me. Keep it commin! Thank you all!

banjopa - Posted - 05/19/2013:  16:38:24

Stick with the tenor! Few convert to plectrum in my experience.

Steve