I think I need to get a strap as well. I find, depending on what chair or couch I sit in, my banjo sits differently on me and I'm having to compensate for it. Thus changing the position of my pickin' hand, sometimes it throws me off. Unless I'm a total newbie and looking into it too much, haha! Luckily, I know a guy that does leather work, he's going to make me one!

LOL I'll try thanks Ken, good to hear 15 or 20 minutes is ok I have heard 1 hour at least, I probably have the Banjo in my hands at least 2-3 hours a day but thats doing rolls and playing what few songs I know, I have told myself to practice chords every day if I want to or not. I have Janet Davis's book YCTYB, and the Fundmentals of the 5 string Banjo book from Ross Nickerson, I think maybe I should start at the first of Janets book and go through it page by page, I got about half way through it then always seem to be trying to play tablature I downloaded somewhere, Oh I like that song Oh there's another one I like and so on.

Yep thats right one chair I use is great but another I have to sit and hold the banjo differently which as you say affects your posture for picking and fretting if you are supporting the banjo neck too. At this stage of the game it doesn't take a lot to screw me up LOL.

I wear a strap over my right shoulder only, which means I also use my forearm to press against the armrest to hold the banjo in place. This does affect the way you pick, so it is good to get used to playing with a strap as much as possible, because you will need it standing up.

This is great thanks

I use a strap and untill I figured the right position to install it I was having a heck of a time with it. BUT I found that having a decent chair and place to practice everyday is key. I was all over the place and in different sitting positions and it was difficult keeping the same hand and posture positions. I don't know if I am making myself clear. But find a comfortable place and position, use a strap and practice practice practice.

quote:

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Originally posted by Rob Bourassa
So, when I do an arrangement, even though I used to do the Scruggs arrangements, I really don't want to teach everything note for note. Earl Scruggs sells books for that, and I don't want to be cutting into any of that business and giving away what he intends to sell.

For this reason, I won't be giving away the high part either.

---

My goal was to give away my method of isolation, review and memorization, so I picked the most popular tune I could think of, which is Foggy Mountain Breakdown. I also wanted to show how to keep a forward roll going by using your index at the 4th string, which seems to help beginners pick up their speed.

I don't write out tab for anything. Some folks have gotten angry with me because I won't write out tab for them, but my whole purpose in my free Youtube lessons is to show people how to memorize without tab. It has been said that there is no difference between memorizing with tab, or by ear, but that is simply not true for beginners. I have been teaching banjo since the 70s, and I have seen many students who are unable to figure out a song by ear, after years of playing, simply because they became reliant upon tab. Once a person can learn by ear, tab is fine.

Some folks are also angry with me for not doing the high part on Foggy Mountain Breakdown, but I truly have been feeling strange about that. Earl Scruggs wrote the tune, and sells instruction books and videos. I hadn't considered it at first, but it would be like giving away free hamburgers outside of someone else's burger joint.

My goal was not to cut into Mr. Scruggs business, but to teach people how to break down a piece, isolate, cycle and review, memorize and increase technique and tempo, and then apply that system to any tune they work on.


The only thing that stops folks from figuring out things on their own, is the fact that they listen to big sections, instead of isolating small segments of 3 or 4 notes at a time, then review and internalize them before going on.

I don't want Mr. Scruggs to say, "this guy's giving away the kitchen sink, and I'm trying to sell books." He is a hero of mine, and I want him to make the money he deserves off of his intellectual property. I don't think I would feel comfortable teaching the whole song unless I can work out a professional DVD for sale and give him royalties.

I would give him royalties for what I have done so far, but I don't make any money off of my videos. I have almost two and a half million video views on my Youtube channel, and it seems almost as many people e-mail me and ask me for tab. I don't sell DVDs, books or tab on my channel.

I simply give away free lessons. If someone wishes to read a long novel, they may continue and I will tell the reason why I do so.

I was having a conversation on a guitar forum, and was discussing teaching pedagogy, when I was berated by several folks who obviously couldn't play a radio. Rather than do a tit for tat, knock down drag out argument, which is not only distasteful but a big waste of time, I decided to start a Youtube channel and post a video, showing them that I actually could play the guitar.

This resulted in questions concerning my method, and also in the production of several videos. What I didn't expect was the amount of people who kept asking for more videos, nor did I expect to somehow feel obliged to do so, yet for some reason, I did. When it comes down to it, most of us feel obliged to do something when it is asked of us for some reason.

I also had requests from students who saw my guitar lessons to do the same with banjo and ukulele. So, here we are. Now, I have other teachers complaining that I am giving away too much for free, and that it cuts into their business, though I have hundreds of teachers that use my videos for their lesson plans, so I guess it evens out.

My goals are to keep putting out more free videos, that do not infringe upon anyone else's intellectual property. I have been teaching songwriting workshops in public schools for the last month or so, and have no time at this point to do much of anything till May. I hope to get a banjo this summer and do some more vids. If people weren't so critical, I would use the Goodtime with the broken neck, but it sounds like a whammy bar at times, and I would have a ton of negative comments.

It will all come together I pray. In the mean time, I don't want a fund to be raised for a new banjo. I do have my pride. I will do a video at some point, and sell it, and buy the best banjo I can get with the money I make off of the video. When I get to the point where I can make a good living off of guitar videos, I plan to do a ton of free banjo vids for Youtube.

Thanks for your reply Rob. Hope my comment didn't come across as ungrateful in any way, I am extremely thankful for all the videos you've put up on youtube.

Not at all Richard. I appreciate the kind words. I was in no way speaking of you, but the people who actually e-mail me with complaints, as if they have paid for these free lessons and have not gotten their money's worth. It is a sign of the times.

Keep practicing that first part with the practice videos, and you will do fine in the next jam.

Hi its good to see you still here rob, Im sure you solved that cam with mac problem you had, its been a long time since i been on here. I lost my Mom last july and then I lost my home, i became homeless for some time, i managed to save some property with a storage locker and auto pay online, and Im still semi homeless. I rent from people, and i just got a notice to move again. I have 3 weeks to find a place again and move all this property i have all over. Its hard doing this because my social security dosn't pay much, so moving is way over the allotment the Gov is giving people for social security that are disabled. but at least Im alive and well at least and I wanted to stop in and tell you hello
Stony Rivers

Man, sorry to hear that Stony. Between losing your mom and your home, it doesn't seem to get much harder.

We are in bad shape in this country. We have to find places for people to stay, work and get a meal, all rolled into one. A lot of churches used to provide this, and some still do, but it is not enough.

You are not unfortunately.

I couldn't edit, and I was getting a Skype call, so I had a typo. I was saying that you are not alone unfortunately. Michigan and the Detroit area are very hard hit right now.

Where are you at Stony?

Orange County California Garden Grove. 5 miles from Disneyland 5 miles from the pacific ocean. born and raised here and im trying my hardest to keep staying here.

I was playing at the NAMM Show a couple of years ago, and saw why you would want to stay. Beautiful palm trees, great Mexican restaurants and great weather. Is the economy shot there too? I know the cost of living is unbelievable.

it has it's ups and downs i guess like any other town. You can see how disney is doing looking at their guest count I hear they have a site you can see that. everything is just the same it appears but My problem is I don't recieve anough Social Security for my disability, last year the governor and the president took about 300 from us so Im down to my last penny at the end of every damn month ! And it is expensive here, a room is going for 375-750 a month, I look for around 400-500 for a room thats livable, some homes are trashed I wouldnt live in them, some are drug houses i wouldnt dare go there tooo afraid of hypes or tweakers. for us disabled it is getting worse and worse, because the first thing the governments and states do to "Save" money is cut out the Disabled and the needy, and say "Look we fixed the Budget!" But they don't show or tell you the human cost.

Rob: I've been following all the posts re your Foggy Mountain Breakdown lessons.

I have Earl's book - bought way back in the early 70's. Back then it was a stretch for me to learn FMB from the book, and I finally learned it through lessons at a local music store (Mineola, NY). My teacher used your method - no tabs - and I was able to learn it well, but not exactly as Earl plays it, which isn't a bad thing. Back then it was common practice for a teacher to teach by ear - there just was not very much published material.

The point is that there is room in the banjo world for lots of approaches, be it book, tabs off the internet, lessons such as yours, and real live instruction. Any new banjo player that doesn't at least for a short time take lessons from a live instructor is missing the boat. The internet fortunately is here for those that don't have access to live instruction.

I am getting back to playing after many years away from my banjo and am struggling a little, but learning more and more and seeing where I made mistakes back 30 - 40 years ago. Its fun

Thanks for all you do for us learners.

Wayne

You're welcome Wayne. I had a teacher who taught me to memorize, and I had Earl's book, as well as Pete Wernick's Bluegrass Banjo book. I listened to J.D. Crowe all the time as well, and Doug Dillard, Eric Weisberg and anyone who played in a distinct style. I tried to learn as many different ways of approaching the instrument so I didn't become stale.

I'm glad to hear you've picked it up again. I haven't really played since 1980 myself, except to teach within the last ten years or so. I had a 20 year break without touching one, so it is fun to get back into it.

Dear Bob : if you ever get the chance I would love to see a lesson on Grandfathers Clock , it has such a good blue grass sound to it, if not I certainly understand. I want to thank you for your Foggy Mountain banjo lessons it has opened my eyes a great deal. I am almost 70 but play guitar in my church, I would play banjo but have not been playing that long and need to fine tune my playing for awhile longer . Again you have been super great.

I used to play Grandfather's Clock with a buddy of mine who slapped the melody on double bass, very well. I always liked the tune.

I'm glad you could use the vids, and hope to get some more out, but I haven't played that one on 5 string for 30 years, and would have to get an arrangement worked up. Picking the tune cold isn't hard, but doing it the same way twice is, which is essential when you teach a tune.

That's the hardest thing about recording an instruction video, because I rarely play a song the same way twice.

Thanks for the kind words.

Hey Rob,

First I want to thank you for posting your videos! They really are great and by far the most helpfule I have seen on youtube or any DVD you can buy.

I have a question about when to lear FMB...I just started playing the banjo in January, but have been picking it up fairly quickly. It took me a couple weeks to learn Cripple Creek and Blackberry Blossom along with a few other songs. I signed up for Tony Trischkas school of banjo site which is very helpful, but I'm dying to learn FMB. I know I should take my time when learning and not jump the gun, but I've heard it's never too early to start practicing FMB.

Am I wasting my time trying to learn FMB this early in the game? Or is it one of those songs that makes you better as you learn it?

Thanks Rob!

Spencer

Spencer,

You have to remember, if you play Foggy Mountain Breakdown before you are ready, something bad might happen. You just possibly will start an irreversible chain reaction in the cosmos, and a black hole could ensue, enveloping us all in a hopeless dark vacuum for all eternity.

OR

You might have fun, even if it isn't perfect. 

I have private students who have only been taking banjo lessons since January (they got banjos for Christmas) and have been playing Foggy Mountain Breakdown beautifully already. Pushing yourself and hard practice make most anything doable. If you stick to that video, you will find it fairly easy. Hang with the Practice Companion Video A for the duration, and once it is smooth and in time, go on to B. 

I can't hear you, so I don't know how your playing is yet. I have several students who are doing remarkably well for 3 or 4 months time playing, and others that still can't get through a tune cleanly in twice that time, due to restraints upon their practice time. They usually make the lions share of the progress during their lesson, because it is the only time they ever spend half an hour with the banjo in their hand.

I am patient with them. If however their is a time limit on your time with Tony's site, I would certainly take full advantage of everything he has to offer while you can, and maybe work on things with him since you are paying for it.

My videos are free, and are always hanging around for you whenever you get to it.

Glad to help.

No wonder you are swamped!

Hi Rob

I've just taken up the banjo too - always just played guitar. I've found your lessons incredibly helpful and it's just amazing how your generosity is affecting people not just in the United Stages but around the world. I'm from NZ, downunder, and you are the best thing since sliced bread. Thank you.

Mike

That should be States, not Stages :)