Posted by anetc99 on Saturday, May 26, 2007
okay, where to start...
04/13/07 - bought my banjo online
04/15/07 - became a member of BHO
04/20/07 - finally got to hold my banjo in person
04/22/07 - first blog entry on BHO (and the beginning of new friendships, thank you)
05/26/07 - AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
let's see, am i missing anything?
nope! that's it in a nutshell.
now for today's update;
AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
excuse the hyperbole, i'm just feeling stuck and frustrated.
this last week or so has been primarily learning about the mechanics of my instrument. which has been easy to focus on as it helps avoid the fact that i'm having a difficult time mastering (apprenticing, even) the next song in the book, Old Grey Goose.
thank goodness, none of this is rocket science (yet) but that almost makes it worse for me. it all makes sense in my head, but in practice, my fingers can't seem to make what i want to happen, happen.
my ears hear it, my innate sense of timing knows it, and my brain just about understands how to correct it, but the doing? oiy.
my last blog entry was about tightening the head for the first time, so to go from there... i wanted to hear the difference so i could learn to pick up for myself when the drum would need tightening again. so i sat down and loosened that puppy up all the way around until i could hear a big difference.
of course, i learned why that ISN'T a good idea after i had done it - i could damage the drum head - but at least that was something i heard as advice rather experienced *whew*.
the next day i got new strings and a stand for crafty (my banjo) and the day after, proceeded to change the strings. i started by carefully retightening the drum until it sounded like a banjo again. then i removed all the strings and focused on installing the new ones. i know that sounds overdramatic, but when i do stuff like this for the first time, i focus on those small details so i can learn them before they become an issue.
i started tuning crafty up, and yep, you guessed it, i broke a string. the WOUND string mind you, the FAT one, the STRONGEST string on the banjo - that's the one that went *plink-twang* for me. luckily, i was able to square-knot it together above the nut and still use it. the old one was already balled up into a bird's nest.
on the up side - i was thrilled at how good crafty sounded again. the tune, the tone, the vibrancy, the fade, all good. BUT, i can hear it; it's missing something, it's not quite there yet. it's maybe one or two slight adjustments but i don't know enough to zero in on what may get crafty sounding 'perfect'.
self-disclosure moment: i do not have OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) per se, but i do have very strong OCD tendencies. so this isn't a matter of "just take it easy, you're sweating the details too much". the details are simply there, and i simply am always aware of them.
so when i sit down to practice, half of me is just relaxing into practicing my rolls or working up the song. another part is on auto-pilot working on figuring out what's not quite right about how i'm playing, how it's sounding and how to correct it.
and then, there's this other part pulling at me going, "hey, this is great, what else can we do, how would this sound, is this a beginning
3 comments
on “My first Month with my Banjo” Joanchek Says: Annette, you need to play the thing. Lots. Everyday. Over and over. It's fun to tinker and fun to find gadgets, but nothing will help you more than practice. Once you get your first tune down (mine was Good Night Ladies, I can now play it in my sleep) you'll see progress more quickly. Like a roller coaster, "the first one is the worst one." Keep at it, it takes time and dedication, and you can do it! Paul Bock Says: Annette, One of my mottos here on BHO is "Tinker less, practice more." It's based not only on personal experience but also on a quote I read one time from Sonny Osborne. I'm paraphrasing here, but essentially it goes something like this: "A lot of these fellas (and gals) would be a whole lot better off if they'd stop fooling around all the time changing bridges and tailpieces and this, that and the other thing, and just spend more time practicing." And Joan is absolutely right, you can do it! anetc99 Says: I GOT IT - I GOT IT! i swear i've been properly chastised. i got rid of the first recording i had uploaded and did a before and after one. please, listen and tell me what you think guys, because honestly, i HAVE been practicing (i'm not kidding about playing until i snooze. i think i might even play better until i fall asleep) You must sign into your myHangout account before you can post comments.
Saturday, May 26, 2007 @11:23:33 AM
Wednesday, May 30, 2007 @4:07:11 PM
Wednesday, May 30, 2007 @4:33:17 PM
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