Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/01/2013:  09:26:36

Todays Practice Session, 2 hours straight

Worked on Titanic - Casey's Fancy Backup. Devoted most of the session to practicing the licks in the Chorus. Then putting it all together and played it through a dozen times or more. Great Session.

3 finger ninja - Posted - 10/01/2013:  19:03:11

Worked on foggy mnt special...not an easy one for me but its coming along. Spent only an hour so far because it has been a very busy stressful day. I hope to unwind and pick some more before bedtime.

Marvin

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/01/2013:  23:44:13

Good Morning Everyone  2 October 2013  0740

My plan for today is to work through - Will the Roses Bloom lesson from Casey's Fancy Backup DVD - This is a lesson on 2 Finger - Teardrop Back Up and the last lesson on the DVD.

If your an intermediate student and you don't already have this DVD.. You gotta see this one this DVD is simply fantastic. I just wish Casey & Murphy would do more Back Up Lessons like this.

Well I best go have breakfast, and get started I have a busy day again today.

Happy Pickin

3 finger ninja - Posted - 10/02/2013:  05:08:59

I almost got the fancy backup lesson...next time i will.
Plan fo today-foggy mnt special.

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/02/2013:  14:54:19

Today's Practice Session 3 Hours straight

Today's session went extremely well. I worked through the 2 Finger - Teardrop Backup on Will the Roses Bloom. It's been a good long while since I work through all these lessons, and I was surprised as to how much I could remember and I was even more amazed at how much and how well I could play all these backup arrangements.. I wasn't THINKING hey what comes next I was simply PLAYING  the backup along with Casey and Murphy I even sped up the video to get it closer to performance speed.   I then played back-up to all the tunes on the Slow Jam DVD, I even improvised  some simple breaks and filled in with some fancy backup licks on the fly...

3 finger ninja - Posted - 10/02/2013:  16:12:45

I have foggy mountain special down now. It is very different to say the least. It will be a lot of fun once i grt it right.

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/02/2013:  22:47:05

quote:

---

Originally posted by 5 finger ninja



I have foggy mountain special down now. It is very different to say the least. It will be a lot of fun once i grt it right.

---

Well Done Marvin......

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/02/2013:  23:07:47

Good Morning Everyone         3rd October 2013  0700

I had such a ball playing backup to Murphy's Slow Jam DVD yesterday. I have decided to revisit High Breaks and Backup DVD today and just play backup to all the tunes and then do the same on the Fast Jam DVD. Who knows I may chuck in a few improvised licks or may go the whole hog and play a few improv breaks.   

At this point in time the Stats show this thread has had over 3500 reads.... I am amazed at the level of interest  this thread has attracted.. If there are any Murphy Fans out there looking in why not join us.

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/03/2013:  04:24:14

Toady's Practice Session   3 Hours

Revisiting - High Breaks and Backup - Been a while since I worked with these lessons and as I worked through the DVD soon discovered these were a few things I had missed or skipped over so I have made a note to go back and revisit some of the lessons. Murphy teaches some great Scruggs back up licks on this DVD and in my quest to get further along the learning path I have missed  some really cool stuff. Sometimes when I see a tune I know or one that I am not too fond of I'll skip the lesson.. Big Mistake.. Murphy God Bless her always seems to slip in something really cool... That is why I keep banging on about the importance of Beginning Banjo Vols 1 & 2 and following through all the other lessons as you progress.

Fast Jam... When I bought this DVD I took a quick look at it and said to myself - In Your Dreams Buddy - Well little has changed, it's still way too fast for me - however with my VLC  slowdown software I can play through quite a few of the tunes on this DVD.

Good Session

jbgreen - Posted - 10/03/2013:  06:07:00

Went to my weekly banjo lesson yesterday, and my instructor spent the entire hour on practicing back-up.  I had already covered much of what she was teaching while viewing a MM DVD, so the lesson went pretty well.

Got home and popped in the MM vamping DVD and spent almost two hours playing along with Murphy and Casey.  Vamped along to Cripple Creek, Banjo in the Hollow, Cumberland Gap and FMB- over and over again.

I'm getting much better at making clear and clean chord changes while vamping.  I can easily keep up with M & C on the DVD, but they are not going very fast. My problems arise when I try to do it with any speed.  I have no clue how I will ever get fast enough or good enough at it to go to a jam and participate.  (Unless I can participate in remedial jams for the rest of my playing career.)

Back Porch Banjo - Posted - 10/03/2013:  09:40:32

I found a group near my home called a "slow jam" group. We meet for an evening in the second & fourth week each month. We play standard bluegrass songs - just a little bit slower than a high level jam. When I first started, even that seemed really really fast for me to vamp along but now it's getting much easier. I also go to a high level jam once a week and stand on the outskirts (most of the time) and try to keep up with the chord changes. I usually do OK -- if I can't get some of the chords, I just watch the other players. And I've learned a LOT by going to these jams -- from the music being played and from other banjo players who are always more than willing to offer tips and advice. I haven't met a nasty person at a jam yet!

Don't automatically exclude yourself from a jam because you don't think you're fast enough to participate. Keep at it!

caseyhenry - Posted - 10/03/2013:  10:58:23

jbgreen: funnily enough, the way to get fast enough to play in a jam is to actually go play in some jams. Nothing else will kick your speed up like playing with other people. There's nothing you can do on your own that simulates the group experience of having adrenaline running through your body and making you go faster.

Back Porch Banjo: You're lucky that you have jams near you, and that there are no nasty people at them. Enjoy that for all it's worth!!

jbgreen - Posted - 10/03/2013:  11:54:49

quote:

---

Originally posted by caseyhenry

 

jbgreen: funnily enough, the way to get fast enough to play in a jam is to actually go play in some jams. Nothing else will kick your speed up like playing with other people. There's nothing you can do on your own that simulates the group experience of having adrenaline running through your body and making you go faster.



Back Porch Banjo: You're lucky that you have jams near you, and that there are no nasty people at them. Enjoy that for all it's worth!!

---

Well, that's a bit of disappointing news.  The jams I've attended locally (to observe, not participate in) are populated with seasoned musicians that are moving along at light speed.  Trying to learn to play at one of them would be like trying to learn to box by getting in the ring with Mike Tyson.  Probably not much fun and somewhat bloody.

I think I'll post a flyer at a couple of local music stores and try to find folks interested in a "slow jam."  Surely there are other knuckleheads like me out there interested in learning the fine art of jamming.

capmike - Posted - 10/03/2013:  12:03:35

If you can't find a local jam, Band in a box works great. Just like playing with real musicians. And you control the speed.

Jack Baker - Posted - 10/03/2013:  12:03:46

Hi Casey,

Do you ever keep in touch with Buddy Wooward? I talk with Buddy via SKYPE...happy trails ....Jack Baker

quote:

---

Originally posted by caseyhenry

 

swamplunker - Posted - 10/03/2013:  14:09:06

Band in a box, box in a band! Hey jbgreen, Tyson wouldn't hit you, he'd just bite your ear. Now that takes ear training....

caseyhenry - Posted - 10/03/2013:  16:26:50

Band in a Box is a good tool to use to play along with, for sure.

Haven't been in touch with Buddy for a while...

3 finger ninja - Posted - 10/03/2013:  16:35:39

I use to beckyboy,s mp3 of band in a box...dont know what happened to him his account was locked. Im glad i downloaded ton of them at medium and fast speeds. These days i mostly practice to band in my head...i know i know not advisable lol.

3 finger ninja - Posted - 10/03/2013:  16:39:29

Today was a busy day and the only time i picked up the banjo was to show a friend who i havent seen in a while what i can do...he insisted so i proceeded to blow his mind with my amazing banjo skillls lol!

Tomorrow will be more productive.

Marvin

3 finger ninja - Posted - 10/03/2013:  20:10:36

Have any of you guys used a shubb slide with the wood grip?

Oops wrong thread...im busted...ive been moonlighting with the dobro tonite...

Edited by - 3 finger ninja on 10/03/2013 20:13:30

3 finger ninja - Posted - 10/03/2013:  20:33:52

Just played banjo for a little while and made an observation...if i watch my right hand while playing complicated licks, i lose my stride. I havent needed to look at my right hand for a long time so i dont. Its like watching a stranger play...

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/03/2013:  23:46:21

Good Morning Everyone          4 October 2013 0745

I am not feeling too well today guy's so I am taking the day off.. Hold the fort whilst I am gone. 

capmike - Posted - 10/05/2013:  03:27:56

got in some good practice yesterday. plan on pickin most of today. still working on clinch mountain backstep. progressing with part B.

3 finger ninja - Posted - 10/05/2013:  06:21:47

Jammed with a friend yesterday...the highlight of the session was when we popped in a cd to play to and i quickly realized i wasnt the problem...where are the good rythym guitarists? I really need to find a good jam.
Today will be focused on foggy mnt special, hazel creek, gold rush and pike county brkdn.

3 finger ninja - Posted - 10/05/2013:  20:31:26

Did some improv today playing along with various cd's. I love doing that and coming up with my own leads. The more i do it the better i'll get. Im having fun branching out on my backup and trying new things. Of i get confused i just start vamping lol. I also played thru my current practice list of tunes i learned from murphy method.

I played arpund a little on dobro this weekend but honestly i cant see anything being as fun or cool as the banjo. On the banjo i shall stay!

3 finger ninja - Posted - 10/06/2013:  06:19:05

Plan for today- do more of what i did yesterday. I really enjoyed playing along with the cd yesterday.

3 finger ninja - Posted - 10/06/2013:  18:57:08

Well i did get in about 2 hours today...hello...where are you guys...

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/07/2013:  00:21:45

Good Morning Everyone                                             Monday 7 October 2013 - 0820

I am back giuy's.  Thanks for holding the fort in my absence Marvin much appreciated.  Just out of curiosity how many of you guy's are still with us ?

I am feeling much better and the last two days have been pretty hectic so I didn't get in a lot of practice but I did get some time in.

Saturday I had a Ukulele performance class, this is a group session under the guidance of a top professional Ukulele player kinda like a jam session but with a little more purpose and direction. It's taking me out of my comfort zone of being a closet picker ( by the way I HATE that label it suggests I am not a real banjo player) and I am mixing with lots of different musicians now.The Ukulele class covers all genres of music. Watch this space.

Yesterday I played my banjo and  banjo ukulele in church - the other instruments in the band were drums, flute, piano and an amplified acoustic guitar. Yes I know that's not a Bluegrass line up but we weren't playing Bluegrass we were playing Hymns. It was different but it was music none the less and it did lifted the congregation. They were on their feet swinging along in time.

I haven't really given much thought to what I plan to do today. but I am sure I find something that needs working on just as soon as I have had breakfast. I have another Ukulele class this evening and I have to practice some stuff for that. So I am hoping to get at least an hour with my banjo. I may just use the time to play throw some of my favorite tunes which include a couple of tunes in Drop C Kansas City Rail Road Blues, Polka on the Banjo. Home Sweet Home and Liberty just whatever the mood takes me.

Happy Picking..

Edited by - Tam_Zeb on 10/07/2013 00:31:55

3 finger ninja - Posted - 10/07/2013:  11:10:04

I wish i could view the vid Tam but i cant on my phone....really need to get highspeed connection back.
I agree by the way that music is music. A lot of hymns are similar in structure as country, blues, bluegrass and other western music. If its in 4/4, 2/4, timing and 1 4 5 progression your in the ballpark.

Im going to.listen a lot today, as i have been doing lately. Ive also been playing along to various cd's and improving to them...picking up whatever licks i can absorb as i go. I also will play through my current practice list a few times. Im doing well on my list. Some of the tunes were easier for me like gold rush, bluegrass brkdn and bill cheatham...all except that first melodic phrase.

Glad your back Tam

Marvin

3 finger ninja - Posted - 10/07/2013:  11:13:44

I need to get the fancy backup dvd by taught by Casey. As much as it is referenced in this thread, it must be great.

2finger3finger - Posted - 10/07/2013:  13:22:54

[comment about jams that play too fast]

The conventional advice is to see if you create a smaller, separate group with some of the more shy players.

I read this a while back in Banjo Newsletter - look for the people with guitar cases, who haven't pulled their instruments out.  My experience is they will be happy to go a short distance away and play at a reasonable tempo.

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/07/2013:  13:37:36

Today's Practice Session 1 Hour

Played through some fav tunes in Drop C. Liberty. Polka on the Banjo and Kansas City Railroad Blues, Then worked on Folsom Prison Blues and Life is Like a Mountain Railway. The theme for today seem to centre on railways for some reason. Anyway I was just playing for enjoyment no serious study involved today.

3 finger ninja - Posted - 10/07/2013:  21:35:54

I just learned part A of Dixie breakdow...whew this is going to be a tough one. I.know i dont have it committed to memory but its late so I will go back thru it tomorrow first thing. At least it will be easy to catch it and I.ll have plenty of time to memorize it.

Marvin

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/08/2013:  00:34:01

Good Morning Everyone         Tuesday 8 th October 2013   0830

My plan for today is to work my way though the licks in How Mountain Girls Can Love - Murphy's Ralph Stanley Style DVD

capmike - Posted - 10/08/2013:  03:57:00

I got in some good practice last night. Plan on it again this evening. I'm going to be jamming this weekend, you guys wish me luck.Hope I dont mess up too bad.

Edited by - capmike on 10/08/2013 03:58:03

jbgreen - Posted - 10/08/2013:  06:15:24

Not much new to report.  Have been getting in at least two hours a night for the past three nights.  Had a break of two days with no banjo before that because of work.  I think the break actually helped.

I have been working hard on backup by playing along with the MM DVD and practicing chord changes.

So much to learn.

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/08/2013:  12:48:46

Today's Study Session  - 1 Hour

Played though the licks in How Mountain Girls Can Love - Murphy's Ralph Stanley Style DVD. Most of the licks in this lesson are on Beginning Banjo 1 & 2 with some interesting  Ralph Stanley licks. Takes a bit getting used to using the Index Finger as the dominant picking tool. I spent most of my time working on the Stanley Style licks. Still needs a lot of work though.

jonah4832 - Posted - 10/08/2013:  16:21:25

Well with all this talk about learning by ear, I decided to break down and give it a try.  so now with everything I am working on I am also working on murphy's beginning banjo vol 1, I also have her misfits but I will wait till i get the first one down first.  Got to admit it is slightly different in the learning approach, but not bad.  Got through banjo in the hollow preety good and cripple creek and the lower part of cumberland gap, not fast or up to speed, but the up the neck is different because i havent been used to working up the neck yet. 

3 finger ninja - Posted - 10/08/2013:  20:49:46

Jonah you wont be sorry. Murphy method is the way to go.

I got part A and the first part B of Dixie.brkdn in my memory...part B was surprisingly easy for me one I realized it was a single.pattern move around the neck.

I also found a cool instrumental cd that has a moderately fast version of old joe clark...i must have spent a good hour and a half playing that over and over till my right hand begged for mercy...

On to part B number 2 of dixie brkdn tomorrow.

Marvin

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/09/2013:  01:30:13

Good Morning Everyone                               Wednesday 9th October 2013 0930

Warm welcome to the Murphy Method Practice Group Jonah I am sure you will make good progress with Murphy to guide you. Cumberland Gap is quite a challenge especially up the neck. but keep at it and soon that pinky will go where you want it to go... It took me ages

My plan for today is to continue to work on the licks for How Mountain Girls Can Love and one of Casey's Custom Lessons Here I am Lord.

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/09/2013:  06:34:53

Today's Practice 3 Hours

Good Session

3 finger ninja - Posted - 10/09/2013:  17:46:51

Got alternate part b of dixie brkdn now to add this tune to my regular practice routine. I want to learn kansas city railroad blues but since its a C tune im going to wait and buy the dvd with all drop C tunes and learn several over a month or two. I gues Shenandoah brkdn will be next or maybe Sally Goodwin...I keep forgetting to practice foggy mnt special and it aint easy to play or learn.

Marvin

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/09/2013:  23:38:30

Good Morning Everyone                              Thursday 10th October 2013   0745

Clear blue sky but it's very cold this morning. First winter chills..

My plan for today is to continue to work on the licks for How Mountain Girls Can Love and one of Casey's Custom Lessons Here I am Lord.

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/10/2013:  00:00:50

quote:

---

Originally posted by 5 finger ninja



Got alternate part b of dixie brkdn now to add this tune to my regular practice routine. I want to learn kansas city railroad blues but since its a C tune im going to wait and buy the dvd with all drop C tunes and learn several over a month or two. I gues Shenandoah brkdn will be next or maybe Sally Goodwin...I keep forgetting to practice foggy mnt special and it aint easy to play or learn.



Marvin

---

Hi Marvin

Kansas City Railroad Blue is quite challenging but you don't need to wait till you get the other DVD before starting to learn it. Just tune down your 4th string to C and check all the other strings as it tends to change the harmonics a little. Just follow Casey's instructions. After playing tunes in G for a while its really great to hear a different sound. Your not going to learn this tune in one day.. It will take you many weeks months even so you might as well make a start. I used to retune my banjo a dozen times a day swapping between different tunes. Good Luck

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/10/2013:  00:08:02

quote:

---

Originally posted by jbgreen

 

Not much new to report.  Have been getting in at least two hours a night for the past three nights.  Had a break of two days with no banjo before that because of work.  I think the break actually helped.

I have been working hard on backup by playing along with the MM DVD and practicing chord changes.

So much to learn.

---

Hi Barry

Just keep doing what your doing. How long have you been banjo now? It's hard to keep motivated when you start. Everything seems to be all fingers and thumbs, dull note bad fretting etc. Speed is a killer when your learning and it takes time to get your brain to multitask.

jbgreen - Posted - 10/10/2013:  06:33:23

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tam_Zeb

 

quote:

---

Originally posted by jbgreen

 

Not much new to report.  Have been getting in at least two hours a night for the past three nights.  Had a break of two days with no banjo before that because of work.  I think the break actually helped.

I have been working hard on backup by playing along with the MM DVD and practicing chord changes.

So much to learn.

---

Hi Barry

Just keep doing what your doing. How long have you been banjo now? It's hard to keep motivated when you start. Everything seems to be all fingers and thumbs, dull note bad fretting etc. Speed is a killer when your learning and it takes time to get your brain to multitask.

---

Still getting in at least an hour a day of practice and playing.  Feel like I'm in a bit of a rut, so I'm going to start a new song.

A month or so ago, I bought a DVD from Casey with instruction for Big Spike Hammer and Shady Grove.  I think I'll start working on BSH.  I certainly haven't mastered all of the other songs I'm working on, but adding something to the playlist might spice things up a little.  Plus, I have found that looking at Casey is not unpleasant.  So it's a win-win.

I've been learning the banjo for almost eight months now, Tam_Zeb.  It's been a blast so far.

jonah4832 - Posted - 10/10/2013:  15:31:59

well got to say, I just got through cumberland gap, had a little trouble with that bridge move, but i think i got it now, just have to continue practicing and getting it up to speed,   That Murphy sure does look relaxed, hope to be that relaxed one day playing.

Peanutscreams - Posted - 10/10/2013:  16:38:52

That's great jonah that your onto the MM. You will love it for sure. Getting through your first tunes on Vol.I is a fantastic start and "Cumberland Gap" gives you a great start of up the neck exploration. I went back to that recently and started throwing in a brush on the lower end. Seen a video of Earl do that. Looks like he was doing it somehow on the 5th fret but I'm not sure, his arm was moving so fast. Perhaps someone here would know for certain how it is done, but for now I'm just brushing lightly with the first string fretted at the second. Sounds good but would like to know how it's really done. Good luck, you'll have lots and lots of fun.

I never did get around to starting "Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms". Friend of mine told me I needed to continue going back to those first tunes I learnt and continue practicing those so they remain fresh in my muscle memory and he was right. Some of those first tunes were kinda sloppy when I went back and played them again. So that's what I spent the last week working on. 

At the end of my playing session I would tune my top D string down to C and play "Mole In The Ground". Anyone played that tune yet? It's one of Casey's of course, and it really is fun: the banjo takes on a whole new sound that I've never played before. I like it a lot. 

Butch B.

3 finger ninja - Posted - 10/10/2013:  20:30:35

Only got an hour and a half in which I spent learning part A of kansas city railroad blues. Its different to play in C but Tam was rigjt...its easy to tune back and forth from C to G. Tomorrow I will go through part A a dozen more times(or less depending on how long I stay up working on it tonite) then I'll tackle pary.B....part A wasnt too bad really. It has a lot of foward rolls.rolls.

Marvin

Edited by - 3 finger ninja on 10/10/2013 20:32:35