Frailblazer - Posted - 05/29/2013:  18:57:51

I just recorded this video tonight of me playing Alan Munde's wonderful arrangement of Old Joe Clark.  This is my first attempt at playing Scruggs style and I've been at it for about a month now.  There's more to the arrangement that I've yet to learn and it's not quite up to speed yet but I think I'm making good progress.

Your feedback would be much appreciated, especially you hardcore bluegrass players.  Please let me know if you spot something that looks wrong with my technique.

Thanks for watching!

- Ric

Edited by - Frailblazer on 06/02/2013 17:49:02

VIDEO: Alan Munde's Old Joe Clark (click to view)

jimh269b - Posted - 05/29/2013:  19:01:52

you dang sure ric,a great job of playing pal

5stringpicker2 - Posted - 05/29/2013:  20:40:36

Pickin' fingers are lookin' great but come on, lets see the fingering hand! Good job by the way. 

( I  )====='----<::)

JanetB - Posted - 05/29/2013:  21:02:45

I'm not hardcore, but I like what you've done.  It lets your talent come through.  Every Alan Munde arrangement is uniquely beautiful (I have a couple of his books/CDs worth having).

Frailblazer - Posted - 05/30/2013:  05:26:50

Thanks everyone for the feedback!  I'm still getting used to using fingerpicks but it's becoming more natural every day.  The best part is I don't have to worry about breaking/damaging the nails on my right hand! 

- Ric

Banjophobic - Posted - 05/30/2013:  06:27:27

Ric

You'll have absolutely no trouble with 3 finger picking, if this represents your playing as someone 'new' to this type of playing. There's lots of natural ability built in that I can see and hear. 

Frailblazer - Posted - 05/30/2013:  07:02:52

Thanks John! 

Do you see or hear anything in particular that I should work on?  I want to make sure I'm not starting any bad habits that are going to be a problem in the future.

- Ric

Paul Roberts - Posted - 05/30/2013:  11:39:30

Ric, you're doing this after only a month? From which galaxy did you originate? That's fantastic, man!

Frailblazer - Posted - 05/30/2013:  12:02:05

Thanks Paul!  Come on now, I know you could do the same.  It's pretty much the only tune I've been playing for the last month so really intense focus gong on. The left and right hand technique is not new to me. It's the fingerpicks that were the real challenge. They're starting to feel like a part of me now (as odd as that sounds), but at first it was quite strange. They felt awkward, I had no control over volume, I kept missing strings and the pick noise was driving me nuts. I worked through it and I'm so glad I did. I've finally go the pick noise pretty quiet and have decent control over the tone and only flub notes now and then.  Now I'm working on increasing speed. One tick on the metronome every couple of days.

- Ric

Edited by - Frailblazer on 05/30/2013 12:02:33

Paul Roberts - Posted - 05/30/2013:  13:22:53

Please don't use that metronome anymore if it's going to speed up the learning process - or you might shame the rest of us off the hangout and then you'd be lonely.

Frailblazer - Posted - 05/30/2013:  13:30:12

Earl in name only - Posted - 05/30/2013:  17:33:01

Enjoyed that!  I have some Alan Munde tab I'll have to dig out and try.  Loved your rendition.

chickenpickin - Posted - 05/30/2013:  18:27:16

Great job, Ric!!   Your playing is very clean with good timing!

Tim

jbaker7 - Posted - 05/30/2013:  20:38:04

Hi Ric,

You're doing just fine. Just keep watching your timing and you'll get there for sure. You'll have tons of fun with your new hobby Ric. I remember when I learned Shuckin' The Corn by Earl I was about 10 years old...Alan Munde's arrangements are always fun to start with, at least I've always thought so .

Shuckin' The Corn took me at least a week to get up to speed. Looks like you're very determined as I was ...Jack  p.s. this style of banjo takes a while to get but keep at it and you'll succeed...good luck to you Ric

quote:

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Originally posted by Frailblazer

 

I

Edited by - jbaker7 on 05/30/2013 20:48:19

Frailblazer - Posted - 05/31/2013:  05:39:33

Thank you everyone for the feedback.  Very much appreciated!!!

- Ric

thombanjo - Posted - 06/02/2013:  09:35:23

just wonderful...what great tone and touch...what kind of banjo are you playing( I guess I SHOULD be able to recognize the inlays..but..I'm not an expert on picking out such stuff) your intonation and pull off'/hammer on- type scruggae sounds perfect to me...sounds great

ellabrow - Posted - 06/02/2013:  10:19:06

Sounds great from where I'm sitting!!

Elliot

Bill Rogers - Posted - 06/02/2013:  13:31:31

Very nice!  And no surprise to me, given  your superb playing in other styles and on other instruments.  I look forward to hearing more.

Frailblazer - Posted - 06/02/2013:  19:59:38

Thanks guys!

Frailblazer - Posted - 06/02/2013:  20:05:03

quote:

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Originally posted by thombanjo

 

just wonderful...what great tone and touch...what kind of banjo are you playing( I guess I SHOULD be able to recognize the inlays..but..I'm not an expert on picking out such stuff) your intonation and pull off'/hammer on- type scruggae sounds perfect to me...sounds great

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Hey Thom! The banjo is a Huber Roanoke Truetone. Check it out here: huberbanjos.com/roanoke/

I picked it up last August. It's a superb instrument and the audio on my video does not do it justice. I recorded it with my iPhone. 

Ric

Roll Player - Posted - 06/02/2013:  22:40:02

Absolutely nailed the picking. Fine job! Banjo sounds great too.

Frailblazer - Posted - 06/03/2013:  05:47:55

Thanks Art!

SCclawman - Posted - 06/03/2013:  06:22:02

I keep wanting to try to jump into 3 finger style, but I just can't get started with it. You make it look too easy. I just hope you'll still post some frailblazin clawhammer tunes in the future too, because they are always incredible as well.

So, are you going to be changing your username to "earlblazing?" 

Great job! i'm really jealous!

Frailblazer - Posted - 06/03/2013:  06:37:02

quote:

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Originally posted by SCclawman

 

So, are you going to be changing your username to "earlblazing?" 

 

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LOL! 

Thanks Travis!

- Ric

thombanjo - Posted - 06/03/2013:  07:33:25

wow....a nice sound file for the Huber folks...sounds really warm and clear

Mark Johnson - Posted - 06/04/2013:  09:20:16

super impressive.  That's an elegant arrangement that fits you nicely, and I'm envious of how deftly your right hand is taking up 3 finger.  Mine are not so cooperative.

-Mark

Paul Roberts - Posted - 06/04/2013:  17:56:49

Ric, thanks for posting this. It's been a good reminder to me about the value of practicing slowly, carefully and methodically. It's what I tried to tell students along the way, but it took you demonstrating it, for me to remember to start doing it again, which I have and am noticing immediate results. This video is a model approach for both new students and old.