Playing Since: 1978
Experience Level: Purty Good

Interests:
[Teaching] [Jamming] [Socializing] [Helping]

Occupation: Retired

Gender: Male
My Instruments:
Tenor Banjo (short neck - 17 fret - 4 string - G D A E)
Guitar

Favorite Bands/Musicians:
De Danann
Frankie Gavin
Alec Finn
Planxty
Kevin Burke
Tommy Peoples
Matt Molloy
Paddy Keenan


Classified Rating: not rated
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Profile Info:
Visible to: Public
Created 8/20/2020
Last Visit 8/24/2020

I started playing the 4-string banjo when I was about 24 years old. Before attempting to play the banjo, I used to play folk music on the guitar, mostly accompanying fiddlers and tin whistle players; just trying to give them the right chords. Playing the 4-string Irish Tenor Banjo was a whole new challenge for me, as was the selection of strings and sizing of the banjo. Correct tuning was also a mystery to me. However, over the years, through much study and trial and error, I eventually developed the skill set required to play the tenor banjo. Nowadays I play the short neck 4 string tenor banjo tuned in G D A E. It is also known as the 17-fret banjo. Finding a suitable system that worked for me has been a real struggle, but got there, eventually... Some extremely skillful tenor banjo players like the late Barney McKenna of Dubliners fame, David McNevin and Gerry O'Connor, to name but a few, are all excellent banjo players whom I hold in high esteem. Many good friends and musicians have offered help and advice, which I have found invaluable and I thank them all most warmly. I also drew great inspiration from the Glasgow Irish influence and would like to thank the late Jimmy McHugh (great fiddler and tutor) and Jim Daily (a very knowledgeable musician and skillful player of the uilleann pipes and fiddle) for their support over the years. Live sessions are great, but if you are a beginner it's initially best to avoid them, because it will force you to play faster than you are able to at present. This may ruin your style. Speed will come naturally. Play your tune at a moderate speed or at a speed you’re comfortable with and in your own particular style. Your tune will always sound better than the same tune played by a musician who plays the tune too fast without any style. Various Video clips can be found on my website: http://www.tenorbanjo.co.uk/