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Wolf Mountain |
I wasn't trying to play banjo for 40 years, but I've been playing bluegrass for 40 years on Mandolin, Guitar, Bass and Fiddle, and I owned a banjo.
After a brief look at the banjo 40 years ago, I decided it was too difficult and that neck was so long with so much to learn, and all those fingers.
I was a mandolin player and tenor singer, and was around great banjo players for 40 years, and lots of awesome vintage banjos. I also got to play a lot of Loars, but never really knew much about banjos, until this last week.
About the time Ralph passed I realized I could play the banjo. For lack of pickers, I'd taken to playing a National Solo on street corners and in clubs, and I got used to picks, so when I really picked up the banjo progress was 100 miles an hour. I was already a real good flatpick guitar player, and I discovered the banjo is an easier and better designed instrument. I've also had 10 months of home alone time recently and my playing exploded. But I just realized I'm old and I see where this is headed, so I'm shopping immediately for a vintage banjo.
Singing is most important to me having finally become a lead singer, although I shine most on tenor, even had Jimmy Martin ask me to sing with him a couple times- Old Crossroads. But I can sing everything while playing the banjo and if I had learned it 40 years ago I wouldn't have been able to sing.
I love playing the banjo. Just tonight I bought an original prewar Style 3 archtop.
