A hello to all members from me it's been a great read this morning reading a few posts I'm an absolute beginner to the banjo and really looking forward to learning to play the 3 fingered style bluegrass (something I wish I did years ago) .
Getting excited now will be visiting Andybanjo early next week hoping to pick up my 1st starter banjo (£600) also looking at the. Geoff Hohwald and Happybanjodude starter packs but If any members think theres a better way to go any advice would be greatly appreciated .
21 Comments |
 | the Twanger says:
5/26/2013 6:49:30 AM
Hi, have a look at Eagle Music. They do some excellent deals. Find a tutor, it makes it a lot easier and it helps to curb bad habits. Finally repeat the mantra: practice,practice,practice.
Welcome on board there are any number of people here who are generous in both advice and time. Have fun
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Rikkidikkidoo says:
5/26/2013 8:28:02 AM
I agree with Twanger - find yourself a teacher if you can. There's a wealth of material on the internet and DVDs but nothing, in my view, comes close to the personal interaction with someone who knows what they're talking about.
Another tip is to learn to play by ear. Don't get sucked into the tab culture. Tabs have their place, particularly if you're trying to learn some complex lick, but playing by ear not only forces you to listen to the music you want to play but also enables you to play the music the way *you* want. As a newbie myself I have not written anything down apart from the titles of tunes I play or am learning to play. As a guitarist who has always needed sight of chords and lyrics to be able to play I have found my approach to banjo learning quite liberating. The net result is banjo is much more fun than guitar.
Oh, and one last thing: don't listen to too many people on banjo forums :)
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 | Dan-Ban says:
5/26/2013 8:37:43 AM
Welcome to BHO, Alan. Welcome as well to the wonderful world of the banjo. You're going to have a ball :-)
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tofte32 says:
5/26/2013 8:51:51 AM
Hi Alan, My personel opinion is don't go and pay £600.00 on a banjo yet that would be a waste of good money know disrespect to you or Andy Banjo but your first banjo will not be your last if you are really up for learning the instrument and as yet you don't even know if you can make any sound out of an instrument yet. save a good bit of that money and don't spend more than £200.00 Andy being a business man will sell you a £600.00 banjo but after two weeks your be lucky to get £300.00 for it That's if you don't take to the instument and if you do then your be wanting a better instrument which your have more knowlege to make the right desision. All the best on your Journey Ian!
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tofte32 says:
5/26/2013 9:05:52 AM
Ha Alan
I see youv'e had a lot of advise throughout the hangout about buying banjos and I can't see anywhere you mention having started to play an instrument. So why not do this Travel up to me in Aylesbury Bucks and I will give you a free 1 hour lesson and you can try all my banjos. Pm me if your interested.
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 | g3zdm says:
5/26/2013 10:45:41 AM
That's a brilliant, practical and very generous offer.
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aspguitars says:
5/26/2013 11:19:45 AM
Hi! Alan. You've definately come to the right place if you are thinking of learning the Banjo. I started playing about 6 wks ago. Although I've played the guitar for most of my life, I've never touched a banjo, and they are a completely different kettle of fish. I agree that spending £600 straight out on a banjo is a bit steep. I bought a really nice Tanglewood that cost almost £400 new for £130 on Ebay. I had to tweak it a bit, but it plays and sounds really nice. If all goes well, I'll be buying something a bit better later in the year, but I need to get some more songs under my belt first. I can already play Cripple Creek, Banjo in the Hollow and Old Joe Clark. These are songs that you need to get all the basic skills of Bluegrass Banjo under your belt apparently. I'm lucky, as I managed to get Joe Mac to take me on as a student on Skype. My nearest tutor would be either the New Forest or Farnborough. As I live near Portsmouth, that's a bit too far. Good luck with you're journey anyway. You just have to keep practicing. And then practice some more!
Ade
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| the Twanger says:
5/26/2013 11:51:27 AM
I believe joe mack to be an excellent teacher. My teacher is a guy called Phill Morley who I cannot recommend highly enough. I started only 3 years ago and he has been fantastic. Still Cr*p but I reckon another 35 years and I might not sound too bad. If you want details let me know
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Rikkidikkidoo says:
5/26/2013 12:00:51 PM
Eh? Fantastic teacher but after 3 years you're still cr*p? Are you sure he's any good? :)
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| the Twanger says:
5/26/2013 12:17:10 PM
It's me. Only started when I was 50. Never played an instrument in my life. So decide on a banjo. Bought a Ozark and have never looked back. When your my age you are always afraid of making a fool of yourself. Phill's teaching is excellent. I have come from a novice who put the picks on upside down to playing a reasonable Banjo in the hills. I have a tendency to be very hard on myself but Phill is spot on
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 | birdmanUK says:
5/26/2013 2:50:33 PM
Hi Alan
That's a great offer you've had from Ian Tofte (tofte32) above. He's an excellent player and a really good bloke, with a nice banjo collection. He's well known to many of us UK players. You won't do better than spend an hour with him and get some great advice.
Ian
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 | Alan Tate says:
5/26/2013 3:11:52 PM
Wow Tofte 32 pm sent ;-)
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| Alan Tate says:
5/27/2013 12:02:07 PM
Looking at the RK 35/36 or the Gold Tone BG-150F BG-150F both looking great for my price range
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aspguitars says:
5/27/2013 12:44:23 PM
Here you go Alan. A nice banjo to get you started!
ebay.co.uk/itm/DEERING-GDL-CUS...ac4189c89
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aspguitars says:
5/27/2013 12:44:51 PM
Sorry Alan, couldn't resist it!
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| Alan Tate says:
5/27/2013 1:05:15 PM
Aspguitears ........... G.U.L.P
Think the mrs would moan a bit lol
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| Alan Tate says:
5/27/2013 1:06:19 PM
Aspguitars ........... G.U.L.P
Think the mrs would moan a bit lol
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 | alfiedog says:
5/27/2013 3:34:25 PM
RK35 Thorman Germany (thats all you need to know) Get it with a Hardcase for about £400.00. The best deal in the world (but you will need a pro setup, new nut, and pip, fret dressing etc) But you will have a banjo that will play as good as any picker can pick it.
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| Alan Tate says:
5/28/2013 12:04:28 PM
Well I can safely say I'm now the owner of a sparkling Gold Tone GB150 F, thanks to Andybanjo he made me feel very welcome and it was very clear he knew his stuff I had about 10 different Banjos to choose from in my price range and after playing with then (well strumming 2 chords lol) I decided to go for the Gold Tone , one thing I was not expecting was the sheer weight of a banjo my god I could not believe it this was main reason for picking the Gold Tone it was slightly lighter than the rest I tried so might find it a bit easier to learn on then once I'm used to it I can upgrade to a heavier Tone Ring in the future .
Now all I got to do is learn how play it lol .
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 | brumski says:
5/29/2013 12:18:37 AM
did'nt listen to the advice on buying a first banjo?. good luck. Brumski
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| Alan Tate says:
5/29/2013 2:43:18 AM
I did listen to plenty of advice Brumsk everyone has a different opinion on what's best the most important advice is to pick a banjo that you are comfortable with the most and after trying a good selection I picked the one that felt and sounded right for me it may not be what others would have chosen but for me it was what I wanted so it was right the choice .
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