IMHO the longneck banjo is the epitome of the development of the banjo. The longneck banjo is by far the most versatile 5-sting banjo. By the simple use of a capo & the chord progressions of either the Key of G or C, one can play in any key. But you, my fellow long neck devotees, are already well aware of that fact. We all owe Pete Seeger a debt of gratitude. I tend to believe that the longneck suffers a negative stigma from its association with the folk boom/folk scare of the 50s & 60s and that's a real shame. I hope that one day, other banjo players will embrace the musical benefits and merits that only a longneck provides.
9 Comments |
 | phdm says:
5/7/2018 2:25:59 PM
I agree. I remember reading an article a while ago in which the author said that banjo players are going to need to become more versatile in playing songs in the key of E and F with the advent of more and more women taking lead vocal roles in Bluegrass and those keys often times more suited to the vocal ranges of women. . And I immediately thought, “E and F? – I got that, with my long neck banjo - tune in G, then capo “down” three ( open) or one.
And I also don’t get why more folks don’t realize that a “baritone “banjo, supposedly newly developed by Goldtone , offers is nothing that a long neck has not been offering for the last 50 years. Someone needs to get Bela Fleck a good long neck banjo, as he has been pushing the “new” Goldtone baritone.
|
 | john bange says:
5/7/2018 2:37:55 PM
until Taylor Swift(gag) starts playing one, I doubt anything will change
|
 | CraigRison says:
5/7/2018 3:17:45 PM
The only "hurdle" I imagine is now I need TWO hoists, one for the pot and one for the left arm. I was playing it last night on a stage and lots of fun, but my capo spent a lot of time on the 3rd fret - I also love "vega-ish" scale of 27 for standard G", and this one is a GT MM-150LN . I had lots of fun & maybe true "If it don't kill you it will make you stronger.."
|
 | darwinyarwin says:
5/7/2018 6:52:29 PM
I guess I still resent the pejoratives associated with folk music and the 60-s/70's era. "Folk scare" being only one of them. Folk music was and is a fine genre and is still alive, just not center stage right now. and it's where long necks are still integral to the music. One doesn't hear any pejorative term attached to plectrum banjos, tenors are coming back - particularly in celtic/Irish music. Yes, LN's are an "acquired taste" in banjos these days, but as kwfolk1 began his comments, some people see them as the epitome of banjo development. Me, I kinda laugh at folks who say their arms are too short, or they can't carry the weight. Neither is a very insurmountable obstacle if you are serious about your music and your instrument. Just play. The beauty of the long neck sound will remain to enchant real listeners. [/rant off]
|
| darwinyarwin says:
5/7/2018 9:35:41 PM
I guess I still resent the pejoratives associated with folk music and the 60-s/70's era. "Folk scare" being only one of them. Folk music was and is a fine genre and is still alive, just not center stage right now. and it's where long necks are still integral to the music. One doesn't hear any pejorative term attached to plectrum banjos, tenors are coming back - particularly in celtic/Irish music. Yes, LN's are an "acquired taste" in banjos these days, but as kwfolk1 began his comments, some people see them as the epitome of banjo development. Me, I kinda laugh at folks who say their arms are too short, or they can't carry the weight. Neither is a very insurmountable obstacle if you are serious about your music and your instrument. Just play. The beauty of the long neck sound will remain to enchant real listeners. [/rant off]
|
| CraigRison says:
5/8/2018 2:00:10 AM
The only "hurdle" I imagine is now I need TWO hoists, one for the pot and one for the left arm. I was playing it last night on a stage and lots of fun, but my capo spent a lot of time on the 3rd fret - I also love "vega-ish" scale of 27 for standard G", and this one is a GT MM-150LN . I had lots of fun & maybe true "If it don't kill you it will make you stronger.."
|
 | pastorharry says:
5/8/2018 12:25:17 PM
Agree with the original post.
|
 | giweb says:
5/8/2018 7:13:46 PM
I also resent the negative "folk music" comments. If it wasn't for folk music, I would have no interest in the banjo. Long neck banjo is the folk singing banjo . . . . period ! Please quit your derogatory statements about my banjos of choice!
I think long neck banjos look better and sound better than all but a handful of 25 fret banjos. Let me have my opinion and you can keep yours. BHO is big enough for all of us.
giweb
|
 | tucsonsean says:
5/20/2018 9:51:49 PM
Having come of age during the '50s/'60s Folk Era, I have particular affection for the longneck banjo And, although I've played old-time string band music for most of the past several decades, it's not my tradition. I grew up outside Philly, hung around the Main Point folk club, and first knew the banjo from groups like the Kingston Trio, Pete Seeger, and the Limelighters. At fifteen, I learned my first two banjo songs: "Greenback Dollar" and "Long Black Veil." That was over half a century ago, and that's my tradition, not "Polly Put the Kettle On" or "Mississippi Sawyer." So, in that sense, I would have to say that my '60s-era Christy longneck is the most traditional banjo I own. And, I happen to agree with the original post, that the longneck banjo is not only the most versatile banjo invented, but also the natural epitome of its evolution.
|
Post a Comment
|
You must be logged in and a member of this group to post a comment.
|
