winnipegbanjoman - Posted - 11/17/2013:  18:02:35

Hi Gents,

So it's been two full weeks since I last posted.  My daily practice has become something less than daily, although I'm still practicing.  I did manage to get to an old-time jam, which was a blast and I intend to go again next month.

I'm posting another tune - Night Sky - which is one of the tunes I've been working on while posting in this thread  - it's been a long-term project for me.

Eric, I enjoyed your post of the Ballad of Jed Clampett. That's a tune that inspired a lot of people to take up the banjo, and everyone should learn it.  Bravo!

I'm going to try to get back into the daily practice routine, but I think I may have to bow out of the daily posting. It's been fun. Thanks for keeping me accountable. Keep on pickin', guys!

Night Sky

schlange - Posted - 11/18/2013:  08:27:38

About half an hour this morning, just running through my set list. 

swamplunker - Posted - 11/18/2013:  08:42:22

Night Sky sounded good, Nestor, pretty complex tune. I enjoyed your presence here, you're obviously serious about practicing, I bet you could write once in a while to let us know of your adventures.... Also liked FMB, Eric, that's the only tune I never learned off the first Murphy tape. Anyway, just did my first hour again after three days off, my standard set list, metronome on 100 for everything, I'll see my buddy Dave tonight and we'll work up a four tune set for the open mike on Friday, one will definitely be our 3-key Ark. Traveler, then I need to review my short-term goals in the next few days to see what's accomplished and what's not.

automatic octopus - Posted - 11/18/2013:  14:34:45

Time was tight yesterday, but I'd kept a banjo in the car, and managed 45 minutes during a thunderstorm, just practicing rolls and the first break of Foggy Mountain Breakdown.

Kemo Sabe - Posted - 11/18/2013:  19:56:03

Today - practiced rolls about  20 minutes.  I am starting to like practicing banjo during NFL football TV games - turn the sound down and get after the banjo practice.  I am getting a better feel for fretting with these rolls - more relaxed, better position of fingers on fret board, better tone from picking.  Then practiced my high break on 'Wildwood Flower' - it is coming along very, very well.  I am considering another short term goal addition - high break on another song I have played for some time in first position.  This additional short term goal would be big for me - if I complete high breaks on two songs at an ok quality level with these practices - I feel like I could add songs at will and do so on a regular basis.  Phil

schlange - Posted - 11/19/2013:  09:43:36

45 minutes today. Played through list of tunes, and worked through Fireball Mail with Murphy. I've got maybe the first 1/2 of it memorized, but the back half I'll need to watch the videos more!

I discovered that something is weird with my DM1 app on my iphone--the tempo is off! When I recorded the FMB video at (what I thought was) 110BPM (see link from a few days ago) it was ACTUALLY at 82.5BPM. Somehow the DM1 is showing the tempo as 133% of what it should be. Very weird.

But I have a real metronome app on the phone, too, so I checked it with that.

winnipegbanjoman - Posted - 11/19/2013:  10:04:19

Hey Eric,

I missed your FMB post earlier - that's what I get for being absent.  I just listened to it now and it sounds really good. Way to go!

schlange - Posted - 11/19/2013:  10:32:52

Thanks, Nestor!

automatic octopus - Posted - 11/19/2013:  12:51:50

I really enjoy hearing/seeing how you guys are playing, keep those uploads coming!

I did about an hour and a half last night, but played terribly - just one of those days.  I just couldn't keep focused on what came next, which I'll put down to weariness, but it was fun all the same.  I'm going to get a quick fifteen minutes in now before work and see if a little sleep has improved things.

So, I need to move along to a new song, or to start something like MM.  I decided to try learning Greasy Coat, which I'd listened to on here and loved, but it soon became apparent in going through tab that I don't know the music well enough yet.  So, I'll start listening to it and get a better handle on it, and see how that goes.  It seems obvious in hindsight that tab is only really useful if you know what you're trying to play!

gclaunch - Posted - 11/19/2013:  15:02:48

About an hour and a half today, scales, rolls....warming up now with Grandfather's Clock and Unclouded Day...concentrating on tone and smoothness, ready to get back on the metronome with them..Looking for a couple of new songs and pulled out Red Wing worked on couple of years ago, goal is to get it up to speed and eventually get an up the neck break. Second song I've toyed with is Rabbit in The Log from Wernick's Bluegrass song book - it is also on his intermediate Jam DVD. In the key of D, melody is pretty simple and most of the melody notes seem to be within the standard chord fingering of D and A(barre). Found a couple of versions on you tube, a fun song to play and sing.

swamplunker - Posted - 11/19/2013:  22:34:20

Just a half hour tonight before resting and zzzzzzzz in recliner (that thing works too well), did standards with metronome, 3-key Ark. traveler( our set for Fri. night open mike: Lonesome road blues, Blue Ridge Mtn. blues, Ark. Traveler, and Pig in a Pen) and all three Eddie Collins versions of Lonesome Road Blues from 2nd last Banjo Newsletter.

schlange - Posted - 11/20/2013:  09:19:06

1 hour today. It'll be my last practice for about 17 days because I'm going on vacation and can't bring the banjo! So you guys will have to soldier on without me--then I'll come home to slow fingers, I'm sure.

Played through my song list at 80-90BPM, and played along to some of the Bluegrass Jam Camp MP3s to work on backup.

gclaunch - Posted - 11/20/2013:  19:23:44

Started off with a good practice today, rolls metronome and Red wing but had to cut short after about an hour, my son is having work done on his house and we had contractor issues to deal with...hoping for longer practice tomorrow.

swamplunker - Posted - 11/20/2013:  23:20:59

Two hours tonight, started a little late as usual, did the 4 tunes already mentioned for Friday open mike, several times for Ark. Traveler, to make sure I've got the fifth peg twists down, there only half-steps but there's no automatic stop like a keith tuner so it is possible to miss. Worked on Powder Creek in the second hour, got the first half of it memorized through repetition, tried over and over with the metronome, almost got through it at 80 but stumbled a couple notes from the end. Will try that again tomorrow.

automatic octopus - Posted - 11/21/2013:  15:57:41

Two hours last night, and half an hour this morning. I practiced Foggy Mountain Breakdown a bit, and started learning Greasy Coat, which is at this point agonisingly slow :)

gclaunch - Posted - 11/21/2013:  19:19:24

Good practice this morning, one hour, looping trouble spots in Gandfather's Clock. Read somewhere on this thread about practicing in front of TV...tried it this afternoon for about an hour and a half while watching The Dirty Dozen, just looping and lick repititions.......seemed to work, things were much smoother when I stopped for dinner.

Good luck tomorrow night, Sean, at the jam let us know how it went.

swamplunker - Posted - 11/21/2013:  22:08:18

Thanks, Gerald, the thing I'm going to tomorrow is an open mike, it's a 15 minute performance, unlike a jam, the only person I have to coordinate with is my friend Dave, that part's easier, but I suppose it's a little more naked, too, you're on a stage (it's just a stage I'm going through), anyway, did an hour and a half just now, did the same four and continued work on Powder Creek which is not ready for prime time but the first half is memorized and getting a trace smoother.

Kemo Sabe - Posted - 11/22/2013:  10:58:47

Back to practice this morning:  about 20 minutes of rolls then 30 minutes of "WW Flower" (high break).  Smoother and it is coming along.  Katy Jam Buddies Jam scheduled for Tuesday next week (instead of Thursday which is Turkey Day).  Looking forward to doing my high break for WW Flower at that jam and moving along with better sounds in the jam.  Phil

swamplunker - Posted - 11/23/2013:  08:05:38

So we did our open mike thing last night, it went pretty well. We practiced about 25 minutes on the back porch, mostly on Ark. Traveler for the key changes. Dave brought a condenser mike for his guitar, which gave it a nice chop sound, I know that word's normally used for mandolins, but I'm stickin' with it. Ark. Traveler goes key of D, then G, then C and back to D. My two fifth string twists are f# to g coming out of a G roll, that one went fine, then the second one involves plucking the g, then twisting it down to f# to get back to the key of D. I twisted it alright, but I went the wrong way, had to reverse and keep going in a hurry but no meltdown or derailing of the tune, it's funny what a serious mistake you can make and the great majority of the audience will never know as long as you keep going and don't roll your eyes, just your chords. Then we did Lonesome Road Blues, Blue ridge Mountain Blues and Pig in a pen, Daisy the stand-up bass player hopped up with us for the last three, giving it more depth. If I had remembered to talk to her beforehand, that's just how I would have suggested it because we want the oomph of the bass but the timing of the chord changes on the first one would have thrown anyone who didn't know where they'd be, sometimes you get lucky.

automatic octopus - Posted - 11/23/2013:  17:52:20

The open mic thing sounds like lots of fun!  One of these days I need to start looking for people around here to play along with - I know they definitely exist!  I've seen one or two classified ads for people organising various types of regular get-togethers that seem appropriate, and I should at some point chase one up.

Sunday morning here.  I don't think I posted yesterday, but the last two days have been the same kind of thing.  I put in probably two hours each day, and it has been on reworking things I've already been playing a while.  However, I decided to do what everyone suggests, and slow it right down.  With or without a metronome, playing slow is already making me more deliberate about my picking, and it was obviously a good idea.  I need to concentrate more on where I'm up to in a tune, though - it's easy to forget when playing slow, it seems!

Another thing I wove through that was playing a Radiohead song, just as a roll over a couple of chords, really simple, and singing over the top.  The interesting thing, though, was that going back to something like Foggy Mountain Breakdown after that seemed natural and familiar, which I liked.  

Kemo Sabe - Posted - 11/24/2013:  10:56:35

Did about 45 minutes of practice this morning - rolls, then WW Flower (high break) then had some fun noodling with 'Jesse James' .... I love that song.  It would be a good song for me to learn a high break on next  ........ Phil

gclaunch - Posted - 11/24/2013:  17:47:22

Good deal, Sean, sounds like a very successful time at the mike.......good point about keepin' on when something doesn't go just right, that's what my teacher used to "beat" into me, and the eye thing is a dead give a way. Thanks for keeping us up with your playing, I find it motivating.
Hey Phil, Jesse James is a lot of fun, I tried a high break on it, worked pretty good, but kept getting it mixed up with my high break for Long Journey Home, oh well..............
Got about an hour in today, feel like I'm "drifting" a little, need to re examine my goals and priorities...the guy that ran the jam I went to last month is talking about a day long follow up session, hope it makes, a lot of fun.

swamplunker - Posted - 11/24/2013:  21:56:49

Thanks Gerald and Sven, I got in a little over two hours just now, gradually felt myself warming up and getting more coordinated as the session progressed. Started with a rehash of Ark.Traveler, still have to get the peg twists down, then did my standard list, then went into the last two (Oct. and Nov.) Banjo Newsletter issues, started with Marty Cutlers' version of Gold Rush(pt.1) and compared it to the Tony Trischka version I have memorized, he has a cool bluesy riff (I mean lick, don't I, it's guitar talk) in measure nine, I bet I could use that elsewhere. Cutler version seems more challenging now, maybe because it's new. Then Eddie Collins' versions of Lonesome road Blues, again playing it back to back with the version I've memorized, which is the Janet Davis one, plus a couple custom licks of my own. I notice in the middle one of three, he starts by splitting the G into two different inversions, something Dave told me about when he was learning that approach. Eddie calls all of this "back-up" but the last one looks more like a lead to me, then over to the November issue for Old Man at the Mill(Dillards), Sourwood Mountain, Circle be Unbroken and Eddie Collins two train wreck tunes. Then I put the metronome on slow, 67, worked up to 85 for an original I came up with a couple years ago called "Spring Tension", then Powder Creek, I got the first half done but not up to speed, and ended with Jesse James, metronome on 110. You reminded me of that one, Kemo Sabe, it's always been on my "set list", but I never memorized it yet. I do Janet Davis' version #2, except for a "C" section I surgically removed and did a 16-note transplant.

automatic octopus - Posted - 11/25/2013:  06:29:38

Still just playing things slow and steady, and generally having a play with changing emphasis on notes, and getting it all to sound a bit more natural.  Today saw about an hour's practice.

gclaunch - Posted - 11/25/2013:  19:00:25

Hour and a half today, used metronome with rolls and looped portions of songs working on. Sean has mentioned several times about the Banjo News Letter, I'd like to "second that", I f you haven't subscribed to it already, you are missing a very valuable resource...they have an online version Octopus, so being in Australia shouldn't be a problem. I really like Eddie Collins' column, when you speak of his 3 versions of Lonesome Road Blues, and other info from the news letter, I know what you are talking about. Also Janet Davis usually has one for backup techniques. Everyone have a good evening.

automatic octopus - Posted - 11/26/2013:  06:16:31

I will go have a look at that newsletter, and see what it's all about! 

So, today I only managed about half an hour of practice, which was just now before I head off to bed.  I am just starting to learn Blackberry Blossom, which I recognised, but didn't previously have a name for.  

I should be able to get much more practice in tomorrow... goodnight, all!

swamplunker - Posted - 11/26/2013:  23:07:00

Late practice, looks like two hours, ten minutes, tonight I just went down my old set list with the metronome on 100, just bombing though the tunes, often several times each to make sure I still knew 'em, set went as follows: Banjo in the Hollow, Dillard version, Cumberland Gap, (Dillard, Murphy), Wildwood Flower#2, Munde version, Salt Creek, Trischka version, Red-Haired Boy (Ron Carlson, Janet Davis), Worried Man, Lonesome Road Blues, Blackberry Blossom, all Janet Davis, Gold Rush (Tony Trischka), John Hardy (Murphy Henry), Jesse James (Janet Davis), Sinkin' Creek (Doug Dillard), Clinch Mountain Backstep (Jordan Alleman), Frosty Morning (Bela Fleck) and Blue Ridge Mountain Blues which I actually learned from a John Fogerty record. In the morning, (I had the day off) I looked at some tab for moveable scales by Texasbanjo on the tab site, ended up writing a short instrumental in D minor, and failed miserably in trying to type out tab for an up-the neck minor and major scale, go to the site if you want a laugh, still gotta learn how to line it up.

Kemo Sabe - Posted - 11/27/2013:  06:10:59

Gerald - Yes to your comment about getting songs mixed up sometimes in the middle of playing.  'Jesse James' is one I am working on from time to time and 'Long Journey Home' (sometimes called $2 Bill) creeps in on that song and others if I am not careful. 

My two short term goals set a while back both got completed very successfully last night.  We (Katy Jam Buddies) had a great jam with 8 or 9 folks attending.  It was orderly, smooth, fun and the learning path was beneficial to all of us.  That was one of my short term goals.  Secondly, I played a high break to "Wildwood Flower" in the Key of C.  It went well and I am excited about more high breaks in more songs soon.      

So - Big success and ALL TWO of my short term goals set a while back to complete by Dec 31 are DONE!

WOW! I love this thread.  It has put a fire under my practices and inspired me to get something done.  Phil

automatic octopus - Posted - 11/27/2013:  13:02:45

That's great about your short-term goals!  This thread really is great for motivation.

I have been gradually working on Blackberry Blossom, which I'm slowly committing to memory.  So far, I have, albeit slowly, the first bit that goes da-da-da-da da-da-da-da.... er, I'll stop now.  But no, the first four bars, I guess, which doesn't sound like much!  Small steps, small steps.  I'm interspersing that with the first break of Foggy Mountain Breakdown and Bury Me Beneath the Willow, both of which are much more comfortable than they once were.  I'm conscious of taking a leaf from your collective books and keeping the things I've already learned in practice.

This evening I'll be going straight from work to another commitment, but I'm putting a banjo in the car, and I dare say I'll find some time to play, somewhere!

gclaunch - Posted - 11/27/2013:  19:05:28

It's really pretty neat to read about the success and progress everybody is having along with several commonalities in the songs, practice and playing that we all have............Got caught up in Thanksgiving preparations today - the kids and grand kids are coming over tomorrow- but I did manage to get an hour in today...I have something called Acoustic Guitar Practice CDs. It has 56 different songs played at 3 different speeds all vocals backed by guitar and bass no banjo or intervals for breaks...so what I do is use these to practice my backups with different songs...today I worked on Lonesome Road Blues, Worried Man Blues, Wabash Cannon Ball, and Little Maggie...I record myself playing backup with the different songs, then play back so I can hear what I sound like playing with a group...It's a lot of fun and really gives a lift to my practice....while repeating loops of "trouble spots" is very valuable, I sometimes have to have variety....
A very Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Kemo Sabe - Posted - 11/29/2013:  13:02:44

Practiced Dillard Rolls - then noodled with ideas for a high break on "All the Good Times Are Past & Gone".   With 3 finger chords + pinkie & with Dillard Rolls (which focus on strings 1&2 where 95% of the melody resides) the break was very simple to put together.   I love that song "All the Good Times...."   Beautiful 3/4 time +++++ once you "get it" you have also "gotten" another song called "Before I Met You".   Gerald:  you talked about getting songs mixed up - no problem on the chords & notes on these two songs because they are the same as far as I can tell - but, the lyrics mixup on these two songs can happen for me in a hurry.   Fun stuff and I may very well be ready to go on "All the Good Times...." @ our next Katy Jam Buddies Jam in two weeks.  Phil 

BTW - I am not so good w/tabs or with a lot of instrumentals but I am having a blast "learning by noodling" with some of these "SINGING SONGS".   I may have finally found my comfort zone for learning.  

gclaunch - Posted - 11/29/2013:  19:10:17

Squeezed in about a half hour yesterday in between all the "going on's" and got a good hour in this morning...back to the metronome, fairly slow and deliberate focusing on quality and consistency - rather than breaks, did this with back up. I was surprised that I had gotten sloppy and a few bad habits creeping in. I really need to make this a regular part of my practice.

Phil - it sounds as though you have made a real breakthrough in your playing when you don't have to rely on tabs, but can figure stuff out on your own, that in itself seems like it would be a very highly motivating factor for you (and me and anyone else). Sounds like All the Good Times Are Past and Gone, along with, Before I Met You might make a good medley.

Sean - what site do I go to to see your instrumental in D minor? Sounds interesting.

Octopus - when things begin to feel more comfortable, that is a sure sign of progress, keep it up.

swamplunker - Posted - 11/30/2013:  22:35:26

Just got back to practicing today, took Turkey day off and then last night I was so tired coming home from Olivias' (local restaurant/bar with stage) that I got in bed about midnight which seems early, lately! I alternate Banjo and Fiddle with Bluegrass buddy Dave Fridays and last night was fiddle week. Did an hour of Banjo tonight split into two halves by a pain in the neck, not the human kind, the literal kind, I slept crookedly thanksgiving eve and I was on the straight and narrow until I sat there with the banjo. Gerald, I haven't recorded anything because I don't know how, I'm new to computers as of May and I couldn't even write homemade tab on the tab site the other day. If anyone can recommend a mike and tell me what buttons to press I'm all ears. Meanwhile I'm all thumbs. I guess because You had asked about it, I practiced the D minor thing and another couple original things I'd tabbed out in the last month, then went back to working on the first half of Powder Creek, as well as Ark. Traveler with the back-up and key changes. After a short rest in the recliner without falling victim to a nap, I worked on Powder Creek some more and then East Tennessee Blues, both by Alan Munde. Kemo, and anyone else interested, did you see that Dillard stuff from the Judy Garland show somebody posted? Cool Stuff...........oh yeah, before I go, Gerald regarding the mixup question, the two leads I have to battle to keep on the right tune are Lonesome Road and Worried Man, they're both in G and I learned 'em back-to-back out of splitting the licks, now I just have to KEEP them split, as long as I get the first couple notes right, it's no problem.........

automatic octopus - Posted - 12/02/2013:  03:54:15

Well, I took the banjo with me for the weekend, and didn't get a moment to play at all!  I pulled it out when I got home last night, and in a sleepy daze did some awful but hopefully constructive practice for a while before falling asleep.  I'd better get my act together today and make up for a few days off!

gclaunch - Posted - 12/02/2013:  19:05:35

Greetings all: At the end of last October I went to a Wernick method Jam Camp in Dallas, well, over the past couple of days there has been some e-mail traffic and it looks as though the group is going to get togther again on the 14th for a 9AM to 5PM "refresher" session, I'm pretty excited about that. Anyway, for the next couple of weeks, I'm going to refresh my practice to prepare for that get together - more back up and more singing - One of the songs I've decideded onto present is Salty Dog Blues, a catchy tune with a neat chord progression. I'm working on both a down the neck and up the neck version for my breaks. I'm not sure about another new song yet, if so then either Gotta Travel On or Lonsome Road Blues, will probably decide in a day or two...I've done Gotta Travel On in jam situation before, so kinda leaning towards it.
BTW, got over an hour and a half in today working on Salty Dog Blues, for the first day, coming along ok, worked on breaks and transitioning from break to singing and singing to break, gotta get it smooth and "seamless". (started singing with the metronome, it helps.)

swamplunker - Posted - 12/02/2013:  20:39:54

Good to hear of this meeting, Gerald, did the students themselves organize it, or are the teachers coming back, sounds like some motivated students but I'm not sure. I practiced an hour and a half with my friend Dave, he just joined Banjo Hangout today and brought me some tab, the Steam-powered Aeroplane tune and Make me a pallet,I was able to pull off the latter one without any tab today but I sure need it as well as some more practice for the Hartford tune. Now that I'm home, I realize I forgot to suggest "Old man at the Mill". We'll repeat Ark. Traveler and add John Hardy this Friday at Olivias', and Gold Rush and Make me a Pallet, that's what we practiced, as well as a few I don't think are quite ready for the stage, Frosty Morning, the Bela Fleck version and Blackberry Blossom (doing OK on but still likely to stumble) as well as doing one Dave showed me called "Blue Light". Sven, did you ever try a metronome yet?

gclaunch - Posted - 12/03/2013:  19:46:34

Actually, Sean, the teacher is coming back into town and sent out a group email asking if anyone was interested and got a really good response so right now it looks like we're on for the 14th. One of the other members has invited a couple of extras to show up too. As it turns out, one of the "extras" and I were at another Wernick Camp a few years ago and ended up taking lessons from the same guy in Dallas - haven't seen him in about 2-3 years .....what a small world. The teacher is charging $50 a person, but it is from 9AM to 5PM, so I'm OK with it.
2 hour practice today - much more regimented and directed than recent practices.......warm up with rolls and metronome, not for speed but timing and clarity of tone. Then practiced several tunes from my playlist, again, slow for tone, timing and clarity. When I become very focused and directed, can see improvement fairly quick (I had been getting sloppy). Practiced Salty Dog Blues - have a low break and a high break - high break is based on the one in Janet Davis' book, Up The Neck. Fairly simple but workable. Then worked with metronome on both singing and playing. Decided not to do Gotta Travel On, it's too much like Long Journey Home - I think it's about the same chord progression. Anyway would like to take two new songs will probably choose something tomorrow.

swamplunker - Posted - 12/03/2013:  23:49:40

That will be cool, Gerald, I was impressed that students would be organizing, but with a teacher you know it'll have a good direction. I did 45 minutes just now, warmed up with Banjo in the Hollow, Cumberland Gap and Wildwood Flower, then got out the metronome and concentrated on "Gold Rush" today, started at 100 which is reasonably easy, but on consecutive repetitions I did more stumbling and realized I want to clean up some of those double stop slurs, so I backed it off to 90 and later 95 to do that. The metronome helps with continuing should one stumble (and no, one shouldn't) as well as overall steadiness. Goodnight all.

automatic octopus - Posted - 12/04/2013:  02:09:29

I have indeed tried a metronome, and it definitely improves my playing.  I do find, though, that I have to have a pretty good grasp of what I'm playing, or concentrating on the metronome ends up with me forgetting everything else.  At the moment, I'm working on learning Blackberry Blossom, but I'm not quite at the stage where I can get the metronome out.

Kemo Sabe - Posted - 12/04/2013:  09:14:29

You guys are making great progress!  I have been out of it for about 3 days but had a good practice today with rolls and noodling which seems to be my new schedule.  I will soon set a couple of short term goals.  Next  jam will be Thursday (Dec 12) .... looking forward to that jam which will be our only December jam.  Maybe we can kick it up to a weekly jam early in 2014.   Phil

Wish we could get the bass player from our last jam to attend regularly!!!!!  Phil

Edited by - Kemo Sabe on 12/04/2013 09:18:36

Bob Young - Posted - 12/04/2013:  12:05:23

Is there a signing bonus?

You know who!!

Kemo Sabe - Posted - 12/04/2013:  12:19:56

quote:

Originally posted by Bob Young

Is there a signing bonus?

You know who!!

Yes - signing bonus plus double our last bass player's salary.  Let's see: 0 x 2 = .....that is high math stuff for a retired CPA ...

swamplunker - Posted - 12/04/2013:  15:02:58

And don't forget depreciation!

Kemo Sabe - Posted - 12/04/2013:  17:14:44

Sean - that's funny!

swamplunker - Posted - 12/05/2013:  07:15:33

As an accountant, I thought you'd depreciate that, I should be writing about practicing but sometimes there's no accounting for what I'll say........

automatic octopus - Posted - 12/05/2013:  12:46:37

Super busy at the moment, but I managed an hour last night, going through rolls and FMB first break.  Just trying to keep my fingers moving!

Kemo Sabe - Posted - 12/05/2013:  13:32:00

I have been side tracked big time lately but I am heading back to dedicated practices very soon.  Raising two grand kids (3 & 5 yrs. old) is tough!  One thing I have discovered while driving them to and from kindergarten / day school:   Music by The Wiggles is wonderful.  That group is loaded with talent and musicality.  So - I have learned a couple of their songs for evening time after homework:  I play banjo along with The Wiggles "Here Come the Chicken" and "Nicky Nacky Nicky Noo".    I don't see these as candidates for songs at our next jam - but I sure am having fun with them and the kids love the songs.  

Played racquetball with Bob Young this morning - we have played racquetball weekly for many years.  Bob is the bass player who posted above (& played bass for us at our last jam).  Our first game today was a practice game ..... Second game was "THE MATCH"......  Hey, if he decides to play bass for us regularly I might even let him win MATCH games once in a while.  Actually, he is a very busy guy with his banjo.  They play often in this area - his band is the BRAZOS RIVER PICKERS.  He plays banjo very well and so too with the stand-up bass.  He also plays guitar very well ..... He has played backup guitar with a few of my recordings on the Banjo Hangout.

gclaunch - Posted - 12/05/2013:  15:02:48

I hear what you are saying about being busy and getting sidetracked. Yesterday spent all day running errands and working in the yard getting ready for our big "cold snap". Well it "snapped" today, went out to check the mail a few minutes ago and have ice on the truck. Hope this system misses you Phil. Anyway, stayed in today and got an hour in this morning and so far an hour and a half this afternoon. A lot of work on just rolls with the metronome and Salty Dog Blues. Also playing and singing Worried Man Blues, Take Me Back to Tulsa, Long Journey Home and Blue Ridge Cabin Home. Will probably noodle around a little later this evening....it's amazing how the time flies when I'm practicing.

gclaunch - Posted - 12/05/2013:  15:21:07

I have never heard of the Wiggles before or the songs you mentioned, so, I went to Google and youtube to see what they were...Arrrgh(pirate talk)... WARNING, don't go there or they will be forever planted in your mind....Nicky, nacky, nicky, nicky,nicky....here come thechickenchickenchickenchicken..................Ha! (LOL)