... for those of us who prefer the tuning and singing differences the LN provides. All questions & help welcome!

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Administrators: TonyS (owner) , Gary Blanchard , pastorharry , vega long neck

The reason Pete created the long neck still exists

From petersj12 on 7/29/2020 2:00:48 AM

I have always loved the sound of the banjo. Whether through the music of the folk era, old time mountain music or bluegrass.  I'm from Wisconsin and most folks here love to listen to a banjo in their music, but typically only hear Dueling Banjos or Jed Clampett.  If you looked for a teacher, it was pretty much only bluegrass style of picking when I was learning. The folk style typically was left to your own devices.  So I learned how to play 3 finger style of Banjo just so I could hear that sound.  But singing and imitating Earl is tough!  So then I started to teach myself clawhammer style in order to sing easier with a banjo.   But all the while I still loved listening to Pete, the Kingston Trio, Bob Gibson and all the other Folkies who use a long neck. I eventually got a Richelieu long neck and could play everything on that banjo.  A friend of mine writes a lot of tunes and plays with his guitar tuned to E.  Boy, the long neck fits right in with him for all his tunes.  It is like "Tall Rickie" found a home.  
Because I knew enough about how to play a banjo and mix styles with tunes, I worked on Seeger style "up picking" so I could better play and hear that folk style of music.  It took a few years, but now I truly understand what Pete did.  As he said:  "it's like having extra keys on a piano.  You use them when you need to".  On a regular neck it would be a bit more difficult to play those songs in E or F. I still use a Richelieu with a resonator when I want a crisp, loud ripping bluegrass banjo.   I love the sound of the banjo both when it is open back or with a resonator.   It's not a competition.  The diversity of the sound is healthy.  Earl and Pete admired each other and acknowledged each players contribution.  That is why I hope this long neck forum continues.  It still has a place. 

6 Comments
	kwfolk1 says: 7/29/2020 4:30:40 PM Well said!
	TonyS says: 8/9/2020 1:15:36 PM !!!! nice
	revellfa says: 11/17/2020 8:51:13 AM Amen!
	revellfa says: 11/17/2020 11:10:59 AM Amen!
	TonyS says: 5/20/2022 3:40:34 PM ...and Pete was a split Tenor like me, helps with singing!
	TonyS says: 5/20/2022 3:40:42 PM ...and Pete was a split Tenor like me, helps with singing!
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