Froglips - Posted - 10/17/2013:  10:45:51

Thank you.

Frog...

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/18/2013:  00:39:22

Good Morning Everyone            Friday 18th October 2013  0845

Plan for today is to play through a few tunes and work on some backup licks/arrangements

Back Porch Banjo - Posted - 10/18/2013:  04:25:43

I worked for about 2.5 hours last night -- on Foggy Mtn Breakdown and John Hardy. I have Foggy Mtn Breakdown almost at the point where I can play along with Murphy's "Slow (with Guitar)" version -- almost. I plan to play it many times every day. I know it's going to take time.

I still occasionally have problems with that pull-off (3-2 on the third string). It's better than it was, but I sometimes get a "boing" sound - I don't know how to describe it - it's a "wire-ey" sound - and it stands out from my other notes. Am I pulling off too hard? It doesn't happen every time, but it happens enough to make me crazy. The pull-off sounds like it does when I barely catch a string by mistake.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

3 finger ninja - Posted - 10/18/2013:  08:15:55

Back porch banjo i suspect your action may be too low. Too low of action can result in the sound you speak of because the string will slip from under your fingertips. You need them to be high enough that you can "dig in" a little.

I learned this from guitar setup long ago. Its really bad with big string bending blues type licks.

Marvin

Froglips - Posted - 10/18/2013:  08:33:15

That sound can be due to your pull off finger hitting the string either below (Or above) the string

you just pulled off of.

Froglips - Posted - 10/18/2013:  08:51:13

Question to the pros about something I am a little confused about in Murphy's Vol.1 video,

and I assume in all her videos.

In Foggy Mountain Breakdown there are a couple of notes that are plucked at the same time as

others. The first one is after the 'Foggy Mountain Lick' where she has you pluck the 1st string at

the same time as you pull off of the 3rd fret of the 3rd string. The second time is during the

'Tag Lick' when she has you pluck the 1st string at the same time as you slide into the 3rd fret on

the 3rd string. I mean if you are not going to hear the 1st string note while playing it at the same

time as the slide/pull off, why play it? What is this teaching us exactly?

My main question is why does she have us doing this? Is the song actually played like this,

or is this because sometimes when people write tab they put a note that is supposed to be

played right after another note right on top of the previous note in the tab?

Or is it because when you speed up the song the 1st string note will naturally be played directly

after the previous slide/pull off note?

Frog...

3 finger ninja - Posted - 10/18/2013:  10:01:00

Hello Frog. Yes this is the way its played. You most definitely hear both notes. You hit the 3rd string 2nd fret at the same time as the open 1st string which results in a maj 5th harmonic interval. This is a very common lick in whole lot of tunes.

capmike - Posted - 10/18/2013:  19:20:33

Got in a good 4 hours practice this evening. Didn't cover everything, but worked out some trouble spots.Trying to find where I have difficulty, and concentrate on that phrase to get it right.

five-string fever - Posted - 10/18/2013:  22:03:03

Okay I am in. I give lip service to the Murphy Method any time somebody is beginning the study of banjo. I have been all the way through BB1 and part of the the way through BB2. I went back and did Misfits after BB1 and found it very helpful for getting hands on licks but rarely play the songs other than I saw the light. I own some of the other DVD;s as well. Part of my challenge is domestic peace. My challenge is that I usually have to wait until my wife and two teenage kids are not around to practice. I am resolving to finish BB2 and go through BB1 again and play all the songs in lock step at slow speed and the songs that I can at Fast speed Cripple Creek, Banjo in the Hollow and Cumberland Gap.

caseyhenry - Posted - 10/19/2013:  06:18:10

Frog asks:



Question to the pros about something I am a little confused about in Murphy's Vol.1 video,



and I assume in all her videos.



In Foggy Mountain Breakdown there are a couple of notes that are plucked at the same time as



others. The first one is after the 'Foggy Mountain Lick' where she has you pluck the 1st string at



the same time as you pull off of the 3rd fret of the 3rd string. The second time is during the



'Tag Lick' when she has you pluck the 1st string at the same time as you slide into the 3rd fret on



the 3rd string. I mean if you are not going to hear the 1st string note while playing it at the same



time as the slide/pull off, why play it? What is this teaching us exactly?







My main question is why does she have us doing this? Is the song actually played like this,



or is this because sometimes when people write tab they put a note that is supposed to be



played right after another note right on top of the previous note in the tab?



Or is it because when you speed up the song the 1st string note will naturally be played directly



after the previous slide/pull off note?





This is absolutely the way that these two licks are played. In both cases the first comes at the same time as the move (the pull-off or the slide) on the third string. By playing them at the same time you hear them both together--one doesn't cancel the other out. You can hear the difference if you try the lick without the first string entirely. It sounds WAY different. And you can also hear the difference if you try playing the first string AFTER the pulloff/slide on the third. There are, indeed, some licks where this happens. But the two you mention most definitely have both notes happening at the same time. (It has nothing to do with how they are written down in tab...)

Casey

Jack Baker - Posted - 10/19/2013:  06:30:03

Hi Frog,

I have seen the video/s in which both Casey and Murphy clearly demonstrate how and why the licks you are questioning are used. These are standard tag licks that are used in Scruggs style banjo. Watch the video/s over and over. If you cannot negotiate these licks then you are playing a song beyond your picking ability at this point in time.

Be sure to watch tons of Earl Scruggs videos playing these licks over and over so you can first hear these licks and then play them. Hang in there...Jack Baker 

:

---

Originally posted by Froglips

 

Edited by - Jack Baker on 10/19/2013 06:43:56

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/19/2013:  12:30:43

quote:

---

Originally posted by Froglips

 

Question to the pros about something I am a little confused about in Murphy's Vol.1 video,

and I assume in all her videos.

In Foggy Mountain Breakdown there are a couple of notes that are plucked at the same time as

others. The first one is after the 'Foggy Mountain Lick' where she has you pluck the 1st string at

the same time as you pull off of the 3rd fret of the 3rd string. The second time is during the

'Tag Lick' when she has you pluck the 1st string at the same time as you slide into the 3rd fret on

the 3rd string. I mean if you are not going to hear the 1st string note while playing it at the same

time as the slide/pull off, why play it? What is this teaching us exactly?

 

My main question is why does she have us doing this? Is the song actually played like this,

or is this because sometimes when people write tab they put a note that is supposed to be

played right after another note right on top of the previous note in the tab?

Or is it because when you speed up the song the 1st string note will naturally be played directly

after the previous slide/pull off note?

 

Frog...

 

---

Question asked and answer by two Professional Teachers..

Frog, I am quite surprised you asked this question. Murphy goes into such detail when she is teaching this stuff and I can tell you from experience you will be hard pressed to find another teacher - on instructional videos - that goes into such detailed explanation. It just takes practice

Edited by - Tam_Zeb on 10/19/2013 12:32:46

3 finger ninja - Posted - 10/19/2013:  20:52:19

Well ive kinda been slacking the last few days. I did go thru shenandoah brkdn last night but didnt have the drive to follow up today. I did pick thru kcrb today a few times half heartedly....i guess i have days that i feel guilty that i make music practice a priority in life when there is so much more that needs my attention...this too will pass...lol

3 finger ninja - Posted - 10/20/2013:  21:02:40

Got a hour in today playing thru various tunes in g and then about a half hour playing kcrb along with Murphy and Casey several times. Not a whole lot of practice, but good practice. Its been a busy so im lucky to have practiced at all.

Marvin

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/20/2013:  23:36:53

Good Morning Everyone                    Monday 21 October 2013   0730

I didn't get much practice in last week, too many 'other' things occupying my time. The slate looks a lot cleaner this week and I am determined to get in a lot more practice. Looking to get back into the lessons on the Ralph Stanley DVD. Todays lesson will be to continue on with How Mountain Girls Can Love.

capmike - Posted - 10/21/2013:  07:02:51

Got in some jamming yesterday, a buddy came over and we played a couple of hours, I kept track of what came easy and what was difficult my main difficulty is with Mountain Dew. Can't seem to get the double hammers on the third string smooth. Will keep working it out.

Mike

Back Porch Banjo - Posted - 10/21/2013:  07:18:57

Got a lot of practice time in Friday night -- about 6 hrs total (with a break about halfway through to do some household chores and eat supper)! It was mostly good. I'm having some difficulty stringing together all the phrases of John Hardy, but I'm sure it will come with practice -- just like all the other songs did. The rest of the weekend was a wash, basically. Only did some sporadic practice here and there each day.

I keep screwing up the very last part of the first time through Foggy Mtn Breakdown -- the tag lick coming out of the hammer ons/pull off. For some reason my fingers get all tangled up. I need to start that tag lick with my thumb on the 3rd string like I do the rest of the tag licks. And coming out of the hammer ons/pull off I end up with my index finger on the 3rd string.

I need to practice that last phrase over and over to make sure I get the thumb starting that tag lick so I can end the first time through and start again. Anyone else have that problem or is it just me?

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/21/2013:  08:32:15

Today's Practice 4 hours with a couple of breaks.

 Worked on How Mtn Girls Can Love, some back-up licks and played through a couple of my favorite tunes.  Still trying to get to grips with the Stanley Style picking using the Index Finger.

Good Session

jbgreen - Posted - 10/21/2013:  08:55:38

After a three-day break due to work and a migraine, I was able to practice yesterday.  Got in around four hours.

I had a really good day.  I think that a break every once in a while is a good thing for me.

Working to clean up Old Joe Clark and still learning Big Spike Hammer.

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/22/2013:  01:05:44

Good Morning Everyone  Tuesday 22 October 2013 0915

Plan for today to continue on with How Mountain Girls Can Love. Revisit other lessons from the Ralph Stanley DVD, and play through a few of my favorite tunes.

3 finger ninja - Posted - 10/22/2013:  19:47:06

Revisted limehouse blues, pike co brkdn, bill cheatham and groundspeed today. I really need to go back and really memorize Shenandoah brkdn but ive been a slacker this last week.

Marvin

capmike - Posted - 10/23/2013:  20:49:24

Got in some good practice this evening. have clinch mountain backstep down. Whew that was a tough one, very confusing. Would like to learn Blue Ridge cabin home as played by Earl. I have seen Casey has a lesson on this song, have any of you learned it from her dvd? If so how hard is it? Was wondering if its too advanced for me yet, cause I really like this tune and i'm itching to learn it.

Mike

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/24/2013:  01:26:27

Good Morning Everyone     Thursday 24 October 2013        0850

Hi Guy's Tuesday's session went really well I forgot to update the page I got in about four hours.. Yesterday I had an off day I just didn't feel like playing at all I don't get many days like that thank goodness. Not sure why I was feeling out.. This past week I have not been playing my Uke so I plan to spend most of today and tomorrow working on that as I have a Session on Saturday and I need to prepare for that. So today and tomorrow I will probably play through a couple of favorite tunes on my banjo.

Hi Mike to try and answer your question  I had a close look at Casey's Clip of Blue Ridge Mountain Home (Earls Arrangement) and I would say if you have gone through Beginning  Banjo Vol 1 & 2 you should be able to cope with this. Most of the licks look fairly basic standard licks to me, nothing too difficult. Casey's Backup arrangement on the other hand - from what I can see is a lot more complex.  If you have worked through Casey's Fancy BackUp DVD then you should be able to manage this. I don't have either of these lessons - I am only going on what I can see - so there may be more to (Earls Arrangement) than can be seen from the clip. Casey has given it an (Intermediate Classification) so perhaps she might care to comment.

caseyhenry - Posted - 10/24/2013:  04:23:24

quote:

---

Originally posted by capmike

 

Got in some good practice this evening. have clinch mountain backstep down. Whew that was a tough one, very confusing. Would like to learn Blue Ridge cabin home as played by Earl. I have seen Casey has a lesson on this song, have any of you learned it from her dvd? If so how hard is it? Was wondering if its too advanced for me yet, cause I really like this tune and i'm itching to learn it.

Mike

---

If you can handle Clinch Mountain, you can certainly handle Earl's arrangement of BRCH. It's pretty standard licks and is magnificent in its simplicity and representation of the melody.

Casey

capmike - Posted - 10/24/2013:  05:21:33

Thanks Casey, will be ordering that one for sure.

jonah4832 - Posted - 10/25/2013:  07:58:03

It is amazing what a slow practice will do for you.  yesterday I slowed everything down, set my metro at about 75 and played through everything several times smoothly and cleanly, Until I got bored with it, then started mixing it up, with some backup vamps rolls and even threw in some licks, I think I may be learning something after all.  Then today played through everything and it was amazing at how relaxed i was and how much I was enjoying it. 

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/25/2013:  13:55:53

Managed to squeeze in an hour picking yesterday and three hours today.  Practice today was especially good managed to push my speed a little on a favorite tune I have been working on a few months now. After working through all the gremlins. It felt really good

capmike - Posted - 10/26/2013:  05:56:09

Practice for today: go over songs already learned, more practice on clinch mountain backstep. move further on in improvising dvd.

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/28/2013:  03:27:51

Good Morning Everyone           Monday 28 October 2013       1030

Late up this morning, didn't get to bed till 5 am, had to collect my wife from the airport in the wee small hours.

Had a good practice session yesterday.. Just played some favorite tunes for an hour. Plan to do much the same today. Have a Ukulele rehearsal tonight for a charity show next month, hoping this will help me get over my stage fright.

3 finger ninja - Posted - 10/28/2013:  06:23:15

First post in a few days, ive had a busy weekend. Ive been playing thru all the tunes on the great banjo tunes dvd, paying special attention to limehouse blues. Im trying to incorporate some of the licks i hear on Don Reno's recording of it...not easy lol!

Marvin

Edited by - 3 finger ninja on 10/28/2013 06:24:35

jbgreen - Posted - 10/29/2013:  09:46:44

Again, not much new to report.

Still getting a couple of hours practice a day.  Some days seem to fall into place while others are a struggle.

I have been dedicating an increasing amount of time to backup.  I have pretty much memorized the chord changes in the songs I can play, so I'm going to look into trying to play backup on songs I don't know.  Maybe give me the feel of a jam session where I'm sure I won't know many of the songs.  I'm also fairly confident that I know the basic G, C and D chords on the guitar by sight.  Problem is when I see what chord is being played, I'm already behind.  I understand that the goal is to hear chord changes coming and take appropriate action, but I'm not there yet.  Looks like many more moons before that is a reality.  Ah, the trials and tribulations of a noobie.

Delaware - Posted - 10/29/2013:  10:12:29

Hi everyone.

I've been out of touch for a little while, but I'm HAPPY to be able to post this update on my practice/progress.  I continue to practice a couple times a week, reviewing my MM songs.  For each song I know, I downloaded the backing tracks from the archives, loaded them up on my ipod, and I can just play along with all the songs, moving between melody and back-up.

I struggle with the thought of bringing the banjo out in public.  I am always aware of my "newness" and lack of real ability.   But last weekend I was camping with a few other people in Pennsylvania and I had my banjo with me.   We met some line welders who were traveling around the country working on pipelines - two brothers.  They were pretty musical - both played accordion, one played guitar and the other was learning to play banjo.  I actually took out my banjo and we played songs together for a while!  It was great fun, and I'm so glad I did it.  Next step - and actual JAM session!

The banjo player asked if I had a teacher.  I told him that my teacher was not "in person", and I explained about the Murphy Method and the excellent DVDs.  He was very eager to check it out.

capmike - Posted - 10/30/2013:  18:08:19

still going over all songs learned so far. waiting on arrival of blue ridge cabin home dvd. will get going on that next.

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/31/2013:  00:07:27

Good Morning Everyone   Thursday 31 October 0715

Not been playing much banjo this week, been working on my ukulele our ukulele class are doing a concert a week on Friday in conjunction with the school choir so my focus for these two weeks has been/will be on preparation for that.

I am hoping to spend a little time on the banjo today, but it all down to my progress with the ukulele. I have a difficult chord progression to master. I almost had to nailed yesterday.so hopefully it will al come together today.

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/31/2013:  00:12:58

quote:

---

Originally posted by Delaware

 

Hi everyone.

I've been out of touch for a little while, but I'm HAPPY to be able to post this update on my practice/progress.  I continue to practice a couple times a week, reviewing my MM songs.  For each song I know, I downloaded the backing tracks from the archives, loaded them up on my ipod, and I can just play along with all the songs, moving between melody and back-up.

I struggle with the thought of bringing the banjo out in public.  I am always aware of my "newness" and lack of real ability.   But last weekend I was camping with a few other people in Pennsylvania and I had my banjo with me.   We met some line welders who were traveling around the country working on pipelines - two brothers.  They were pretty musical - both played accordion, one played guitar and the other was learning to play banjo.  I actually took out my banjo and we played songs together for a while!  It was great fun, and I'm so glad I did it.  Next step - and actual JAM session!

The banjo player asked if I had a teacher.  I told him that my teacher was not "in person", and I explained about the Murphy Method and the excellent DVDs.  He was very eager to check it out.

---

Good job Mary, getting out and playing with others is a lot of fun, it doesn't need to be break neck bluegrass.. Good to see you back in the practice group.

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 10/31/2013:  01:21:14

quote:

---

Originally posted by jbgreen

 

Again, not much new to report.

Still getting a couple of hours practice a day.  Some days seem to fall into place while others are a struggle.

I have been dedicating an increasing amount of time to backup.  I have pretty much memorized the chord changes in the songs I can play, so I'm going to look into trying to play backup on songs I don't know.  Maybe give me the feel of a jam session where I'm sure I won't know many of the songs.  I'm also fairly confident that I know the basic G, C and D chords on the guitar by sight.  Problem is when I see what chord is being played, I'm already behind.  I understand that the goal is to hear chord changes coming and take appropriate action, but I'm not there yet.  Looks like many more moons before that is a reality.  Ah, the trials and tribulations of a noobie.

---

Hi Barry

What really helped me with my backup was Geoff Hohwaldls Chord Rhythm and Backup Lesson Series, they compliment the lessons your learning from Murphy. Once you learn the location of all the G, C, D, D7, A,  F, Em and Am Chords on the neck, you'll be surprised at how quickly you make progress from there on. Geoff has some great charts of the full neck, once your spend a day or two with these you will soon have the chord locations memorized. Also Geoff's approach to teaching backup is easy to absorb quickly.

The other thing you got to do is LISTEN to the tune and anticipate the chord changes.  This isn't easy at the start but sometimes it helps to write out the letters of a chord progression you want to play and just point to the letters as you listen. Then with the chords in front of you practice the chord changes in groups of two and three chords at a time, what your trying to do here is build control of your hand movements, like you would on a stick change in a new car. you've got  to know where all the gears are before you take the car out on the road.  As you have come to observe if your watching the guitar player playing chords  - your too late at playing your own chords - so you've got to learn to anticipate the changes.

To get you started practice these changes    G C G D A G C F Am Em G - You might also care to download my chord exercise from the Banjo Hangout TAB Archive.

This is a Chord Exercise - The Chord Progression has 7 Chord/Partial Chord Shapes - using a Forward Reverse Roll - It will help you exercise the left hand fingering, help you predict chord changes and strengthen right hand picking. Based on the melody Streets of London by Ralph McTell. Basically what your doing is moving through a series of chord shapes whilst playing a forward backward roll. You can play it as fast or as slow as your comfortable with. You will need  TablEdit or Free TefVeiw reader to view the TAB and LISTEN to the midi file. The objective is not to read the TAB but to follow the chord letters whilst listening and playing along with the exercise.

You will find TablEdit or Free TefVeiw  here - tabledit.com/tefview/index.shtml

and my Chord Exercise here - banjohangout.org/tab/browse.as...p;v=19622

Hope this is of some help to you.

capmike - Posted - 11/01/2013:  05:19:35

Well it's Friday! hoping to get in a lot of picking this weekend. Been kinda lazy with it this week, will push to get a lot of practice tomorrow.

Back Porch Banjo - Posted - 11/01/2013:  07:44:08

Also plan to get in a LOT of picking this weekend! Hubby OOT -- just me and the dog -- and she loves bluegrass banjo!

capmike - Posted - 11/01/2013:  22:01:15

Got the custom lesson for Blue ridge cabin home in the mail today.(Thanks Casey). Took a look at it this evening, and can't wait to get started. The Lead break doesn't look too difficult, Although the backup may be above my pay grade. Love the song and the way Casey explains it. Makes it seem easier than it probably is. Will start slow and go from there.
Mike

jonah4832 - Posted - 11/02/2013:  04:46:10

well after much practice I can play through all five songs on the beginning banjo vol 1, the first three is fairly up to speed, fmb and jh      will take a little more time.  The good part is while i was learning john hardy I was also working on another version, and it helped me to get it down also.  I really like how she makes you notice the licks you have previously used. 

jonah4832 - Posted - 11/02/2013:  06:54:19

Just went through boil them cabbage down on the misfit's dvd, loved it, as she was playing it i was notice the licks that I had already learned..  So this song was learned quite easily.  I highly recomend these dvd's for any one, especially a beginner.  Murphy gets two thumbs up. 

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 11/02/2013:  13:30:12

Just picked a few fav's today

3 finger ninja - Posted - 11/02/2013:  20:30:38

Tried something different tonite. Drawing inspiration from another thread, I decided to play along to some pink floyd. Very interesting and a lot of fun. It really had me thinking and playing outside of the box. I will do more of this. Its a lot of funcoming up with licks in that context...even a few Scruggs licks fit in from time to time!

Marvin

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 11/04/2013:  02:26:17

Spent time yesterday playing some fav's. most of this week I will be focusing on my Banjolele I have a concert on Friday ..

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 11/04/2013:  05:33:40

quote:

---

Originally posted by capmike

 

Got the custom lesson for Blue ridge cabin home in the mail today.(Thanks Casey). Took a look at it this evening, and can't wait to get started. The Lead break doesn't look too difficult, Although the backup may be above my pay grade. Love the song and the way Casey explains it. Makes it seem easier than it probably is. Will start slow and go from there.

Mike

---

Hi Mike

Blue Ridge Cabin Home

Does the custom lesson have the break to  verse and chorus or just the verse ?

capmike - Posted - 11/04/2013:  15:58:08

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tam_Zeb

 

quote:

---

Originally posted by capmike

 

Got the custom lesson for Blue ridge cabin home in the mail today.(Thanks Casey). Took a look at it this evening, and can't wait to get started. The Lead break doesn't look too difficult, Although the backup may be above my pay grade. Love the song and the way Casey explains it. Makes it seem easier than it probably is. Will start slow and go from there.

Mike

---

Hi Mike

Blue Ridge Cabin Home

 The break is only the verse,just like Earl did it on the recording

Does the custom lesson have the break to  verse and chorus or just the verse ?

---

3 finger ninja - Posted - 11/04/2013:  21:02:58

Logged in about 2 hrs today playing through a variety of tunes. I discovered that my single string abilities have increased significantly. I havent even been concentrating on single string...it just happened. Im going to capitalize on this and really work on single string playing.

Marvin

Tam_Zeb - Posted - 11/05/2013:  02:46:44

quote:

---

Originally posted by capmike

 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tam_Zeb

 

quote:

---

Originally posted by capmike

  

Got the custom lesson for Blue ridge cabin home in the mail today.(Thanks Casey). Took a look at it this evening, and can't wait to get started. The Lead break doesn't look too difficult, Although the backup may be above my pay grade. Love the song and the way Casey explains it. Makes it seem easier than it probably is. Will start slow and go from there.

Mike

---

Hi Mike

Blue Ridge Cabin Home

 The break is only the verse,just like Earl did it on the recording

Does the custom lesson have the break to  verse and chorus or just the verse ?

---

 

---

Thanks Mike..

Back Porch Banjo - Posted - 11/05/2013:  04:10:18

Had one of those "Serendipity Practices" last night - all the right notes, all the right licks, in all the right places, and FAST! I loved it! Played everything I knew till way past my bedtime. It was great! Too bad the only ones to hear it were me and the dog!

Kicked Cumberland Gap up a notch and got the high part in without losing a beat. Did FMB as fast as I've ever played it - sounded pretty good if I must say so myself! Played through Wreck of the Old 97 (Casey's custom lesson) as fast as I've done it yet - amazing. I played everything I knew without tab -- hated to stop to go to bed.

It's so inspiring to have a practice like that once in a while. I know they don't come around too often!