Goodtime

Started strumming guitar as a teenager in nineteen sixties, In the nineties I decided that strumming chords in folk sessions was getting a bit boring so I took up Fiddle and mandolin. I find the acoustic Mando. a bit on the quiet side and my intonation on the fiddle leaves a bit to be desired so I have now decided to give the Irish Tenor Banjo a go. As I write this I have had it for five days, and today I went to our local Folk club, leaving my fiddle at home and only  took the Banjo, so I had no choice but to play it. started off alright, I think, and got worse as the night went on. Five days since I got it and switching from a bow back to a plectrum ain't as easy as I expected. More practice required.

Progress over the past 5 months has been good and I now realize the the Irish Tenor banjo is the instrument for me, Why didn't I take it up years ago instead of the fiddle, I am so pleased with that progress that I am now the proud owner of a 17 fret Deering Goodtime two "Leader" Model.  It is much easier to play than the old 19 fret Copeland and sounds a lot better with it's nice Violin Maple pot as compared to the Copeland cast Aluminium pot.

At the end of June 2018 I received my new Deering Eagle II 19 fret Tenor Banjo. It is the first Professional level instrument I have ever owned. I am 68 years of age but it was worth the wait..

2020, and we are all in the middle of a viral lockdown so the EagleII is getting a lot of playing just to pass the time.  The frets are showing a few indents of wear. This makes me think I need a banjo to practice on, preferably of similar scale and proportions. Well, as luck has it, a friend of mine was selling his Deering Goodtime Artisan tenor open back, and at the right price, so I am now the owner of that aforementioned banjo, to which I have added a nice shiny black head. now it both looks and sounds well.

Here we go again, after eight years of playing tenor banjo and playing in regular sessions and gigs with two bands, I now embark on a new journey. I have purchased a Gold Tone AC1, 5 string banjo from the wonderful Eagle Music Shop in Huddersfield UK. A very cheap model I know, but the action and the tone are excellent, If I manage to master the instrument I will of course be upgrading to a Deering Eagle II, 5 string to go with my Eagle II tenor.

Any tips on 2 or 3 finger style melody playing will be really appreciated