So let's see how each of us are learning to play the banjo? I started with a local teacher. She used "you can teach yourself banjo" book. It lasted like 2-3 lessons and I'm like... I can read out of a book and do that, why do I need to pay you?... so i stopped lessons from her. I started just doing (or trying to do) it myself out of the book but it just wasn't clicking for me. I floundered around for a few months with the book, bought some dvd's, more books, and bought some online lessons that are downloadable. I never really got it very good and wasnt progressing. I found another local teacher and things went great for awhile. I took about 12 lessons from him and he helped me out quite a bit. I then went back to trying it on my own. I could get a tab and play but I was really wanting to learn back-up. That is what you really play when jamming and that is what I really want to do. I found Fiddlin Al !! He teaches online through Skype. He is great and has really helped me get into back up. He lays a foundation out and adds to it. He is very detail oriented and explains things down to the note. I never really thought that some of the smallest things would have such an impact on how you play, but it does. I have been taking lessons online from him for about 4-5 months and I cant wait from lesson to lesson.
9 Comments |
NickC says:
1/29/2011 4:03:24 PM
Hey Scott.
Sounds like you've found the right teacher! I've heard great things about Fiddlin' Al. I began much like you really... read some reviews on Amazon and bought the Janet Davis book and DVD on the same day as my first banjo. I stuck with it for a few months while at the same time hooking up with a few encouraging local players that gave me some great hands on advice. I went to a local teacher early on, which was a good move as he corrected a very basic mistake that i was making. I carried on with him for a few lessons but didn't feel that I was getting that much out of it as i was just learning his versions of tunes and wasn't gettng any overall direction. I didn't feel like continuing with the Janet Davis book either so I have since joined Tony Trischka's online school which has a great selection of progressive video lessons and the buzz of receiving a personalised response from Tony himself! Of late i've realised that there is no subsitute for a good teacher so i've started having skype lessons with Leon Hunt. He got me learning chord positions right from lesson one, it's great fun and very motivating knowing that you have to learn something specific for the next lesson and i have high hopes! Nick
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 | Pablo9364 says:
1/29/2011 4:19:56 PM
I use JAck HAtfield banjo method books. The Earl scruggs book mostly. I think I have about nine pete Wernick DVD's which includes the Jam DVD's. I did join the Tony Trischka Online school for six months as well. It is absolutely excellent but I dont have the cash to stay in it.
I did one actual lesson when I first got the banjo. But I'll have to check Fiddlling Al/Leon Hunt out as the Skype lessons may be a good move for me right now.
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 | rockytopdoc says:
1/31/2011 1:51:31 PM
I lucked into the best teacher here locally, Gary Davis. His explanation of bluegrass technique and banjo in general is terrific. That said, man if I could just get my hands to do what he's showing me I would be awsome!. Oh well, two words for my skills....WOOD SHED! At least there's been progress. My hardest thing is hand position on cords and back-up. Playing solos is not the problem. How is everyone else's experience in that regard?
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 | truckee1 says:
1/31/2011 2:32:56 PM
Rockytopdoc, I'm just working on some back-up stuff and adding to it in little bits. It's hard putting it all together for me now. It will just take doing it and doing it. I'm working on it.
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NickC says:
2/1/2011 2:27:03 AM
My teacher has recommended that I make learning positions and executing chord changes a regular supplement to learning tunes, spending 'as much time as i can bear' on this! I've only been doing it 2 weeks so far but i'm already aware that my changes are faster and little bits of the fretboard are beginning to fit together! I think back-up is also something that needs regular work, it helps if you can just regularly play with a forgiving bunch of people who will allow you to 'practise' back up!
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 | Gymbal31 says:
2/4/2011 8:42:38 AM
I started December 26th, 2009, after my wife gave me a banjo for Christmas. It was the Tony Trischka site. I really liked it and it did a good job of getting me started. But I live in Chicago and we have the Old Town School of Folk Music here, so I started taking classes there. Chris Walz was my teacher, a great guy. He had a plan for the class for the whole year, taking us from the very basic stuff to the last eight week session working on the songs from "Foggy Mountain Banjo" out of the Scruggs book. It was great. I'm amazed where I am now from a year ago.
Now I'm taking a class at Old Town that focuses on playing back-up. It can be a little overwhelming because, other than be in time and the right key, there really aren't any set rules for it. Our teacher shows us something and we all look at him with an expression, "We can do that?? Wow!"
Of course, then we have to do it.
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NickC says:
2/7/2011 4:23:12 AM
Lesson plan for a whole year! Wow. Sounds like your'e onto a good thing there Micky!
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 | eddb says:
2/17/2011 7:27:29 AM
I started with Earls book and hangout tabs, but decided I needed a teacher. I live local to Bath and found Leon Hunt, who is a great teacher and player. I have learnt loads and my lessons don't come round fast enough. I am hoping to be able to hold my own at this years festivals jam sessions, even if I have to sit at the back and play quietly.
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| Gymbal31 says:
2/20/2011 9:18:11 AM
Hi Edd!
That's my goal next month. There's an indoor festival locally here in Chicago (in the suburbs, actually). I went last year and had my banjo with me, though I only had it out briefly. I'd only been playing three months and I barely knew the C and D chords. It was great fun just listening and watching. I'm a lot more comfortable with the idea that I will be able to keep up this year.
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