DVD-quality lessons (including tabs/sheet music) available for immediate viewing on any device.
Take your playing to the next level with the help of a local or online banjo teacher.
Weekly newsletter includes free lessons, favorite member content, banjo news and more.
copron |
Travel with me....back in time.....back to a simpler place....back to the late 50's and early 60's. During these ancient times if one chose to play the banjo you first...bought a banjo......then you snugged the head, tuned the strings and found some bluegrass records and commenced to learn the banjo. Life was good.
Fast forward 40 some odd years to the present where I find out after a few festivals and the Banjo Hangout that I have gone about things totally wrong. The worst offense being that I have never owned a banjo fit for humans. So after gleaming all the info available I found the right parts to build the banjo that would simply be called ......."The Banjo of the Gods"........The very sound of this instrument would make strong men weep....and women swoon........and would melt the coldest of hearts.
On to the parts list.
The Rim........: The rim must be hand carved from the keel section of a Spanish Galleon sunk during a hurricane off the coast of Key West Florida in 1563.
Tone ring and tailpiece......: These two items must be forged at night under a full moon by Nubian virgins.
Bridge.....: Must be carved from the uppermost branch of a giant Redwood by an Old Henry pocket knife.
Nut......: Carved from the bone of a Tyrannosaurus Rex,....Brontosaurus can be used but expect tonal variations.
Strings......: strings are a personal thing but for this banjo ......only one set will do. These strings have to be manufactured under zero gravity conditions on the International Space Station where they will be immediately be cryogenically frozen( again by Nubian virgins.)
Head...: The head must be a Remo Weatherking "pre-EPA" head. The proper tension will be obtained by bouncing microwave transmissions from a satellite in geo-synchronous orbit directly to Area 51 where the correct tension will be analyzed.
All the rest can be ordered from Stew-Mac........so don't worry about it.
After building this instrument I went directly to the nearest bluegrass festival. While unlimbering "The Banjo of the Gods" I was in heady anticipation of the weeping and swooning that would occur after my rendition of Foggy Mountain Breakdown. Upon finishing the tune a lone banjo picker walked up and said, " That banjo sure does sound good.......it must be a PRE-WAR"...............................................damn.
14 commentscopron has 34 friends. View entire friends list.
![]() johnv |
![]() pickNgrin |
![]() John Allison |
![]() dgill |
![]() BanjoFlyboy |
![]() Bilbo1 |
![]() alfiedog |
![]() VancePants |
JanetB commented on a video 'Banjonique' 1 day
maryzcox replied to topic 'Is Jake Blount on the same technical virtuosity level of say an Adam Hurt?' 3 days
JanetB replied to topic 'TOTW 02/03/2023: Banjonique by Walt Koken' 3 days
JanetB uploaded a video 'Banjonique' 3 days
maryzcox replied to topic 'What speed can the average banjo hangout member play Foggy Mtn Breakdown...' 3 days
maryzcox replied to topic 'Czech folk songs for banjo' 3 days
maryzcox replied to topic 'Brainjo membership. Is it worth it?' 3 days
maryzcox replied to topic 'What speed can the average banjo hangout member play Foggy Mtn Breakdown...' 3 days
maryzcox replied to topic 'What speed can the average banjo hangout member play Foggy Mtn Breakdown...' 3 days
maryzcox replied to topic 'What speed can the average banjo hangout member play Foggy Mtn Breakdown...' 3 days
JanetB replied to topic 'TOTW Complete List' 4 days
JanetB commented on a video 'Shuffle About' 8 days
JanetB commented on a video 'The Blackest Crow - clawhammer banjo' 9 days
JanetB commented on a video 'Give Me The Flowers While I Live' 9 days
JanetB replied to topic 'TOTW 01/27/2023 - Shuffle About' 9 days
Playing Since: 1964
Experience Level: Purty Good
Interests:
[Helping]
Occupation: retired
Gender: Male
Age: 68
My Instruments:
Banjo - built out of Stew-Mac parts.
Guitar -Ovation, Takamine and a Schecter electric
Mandolin - Ovation
Autoharp - Oscar Schmidt
Favorite Bands/Musicians:
I'm impressed by anyone with talent.
Classified Rating: not rated
Rate this Member
Profile Info:
Visible to: Public
Created 1/17/2011
Last Visit 8/28/2020
My Grandma started teaching me the banjo and guitar back around 1964. Grandma was a 2 finger banjo picker. She was in great demand back in the 20's and 30's in NE Arkansas for playing fiddle and banjo music at barn dances and other get togethers. In the mid 60's we formed a bluegrass band and played somewhere about every weekend for the next 10 years.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright 2023 Banjo Hangout. All Rights Reserved.