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.
Premier Sponsors
Hi Y'all,
Last night, Tuesday 13th January 2009, I Played my first ever gig with a Banjo!!! I played at the Bulkington Bluegrass Club, near Coventry, England. I played right through the whole set with the multi-award winning Down County Boys!
I returned home from work, to hear the news from my Dad, that the Banjo Picker in his band had pulled out of a gig due to illness. I was offered the opportunity to step in and help out on Banjo the same evening. I grabbed the opportunity with both hands, even though I was ridiculously nervous, probably due to my "crash and burn" the last time I went to a jam.
The gig went incredibly well, my nerves soon disipated and I hardly played a note wrong all night. The highlights for me were "goldrush" which we kicked the night off with, "The Old Home Place", "Roll In my Sweet Baby's Arms" and "Foggy Mountain Breakdown", to be completely honest these were the only numbers in the bands repertoire, that I was familiar with, and for the rest of the night I just backed up........... after I' worked out the chord proggression! Often in key's which I am also not used to using.
I was particually pleased with my back-up, because this was the first time I have had the opportunity to make use of the new techniques I have learnt. I just tried to stay as tastefull as I could, quiet ,with a few punchy licks here and there, and just kept a good strong off-beat vamp whilst the Mandolin was taking a break.
All the members of the band were very complimentary about my playing, along with several respected musicians who were in the audience. I was especially pleased about a couple of compliments I recieved with regard to the drive I add to my playing, as this is something that I try hard to acheive. Most of all I shattered my nerves, so i'll be able to go into my next jam/gig with a much stronger level of confidence, but most of all I learnt an immence amount, Band dynamics, Timing with a band, Back-up, etc etc etc. I don't think I fully understand just how much I have learnt just yet.
Happy Pickin' Y'all.
9 comments
