currently pulling my hair out over playing dueling banjos so i wanted to learn something different. what songs do you guys like to listen to?
Head Over Heels , Through the Window of a Train , Blue Night https://youtu.be/hvpvO75vyW8?si=8M97VmuKaZTPoIpv
You’re learning Dueling Banjos , both parts as a solo banjo performance?
Edited by - chuckv97 on 10/12/2025 23:16:11
quote:
Originally posted by BanjoEnthusiast4currently pulling my hair out over playing dueling banjos so i wanted to learn something different. what songs do you guys like to listen to?
This one is quite challenging and fun to play
Edited by - FenderFred on 10/13/2025 01:13:23
quote:
Originally posted by chuckv97Head Over Heels , Through the Window of a Train , Blue Night https://youtu.be/hvpvO75vyW8?si=8M97VmuKaZTPoIpv
You’re learning Dueling Banjos , both parts as a solo banjo performance?https://youtu.be/nrFeURiddXQ?si=Ip2naxoEt_UpiPC9
I'm learning the banjo and friend is doing guitar
You might try learning some songs; i.e., vocals. You can take a break while your friend does backup and vice versa. If either of you can sing, it adds even more to the learning.
If I'm singing I like songs with not too many words like You Don't Have To Be a Baby To Cry or Columbus Stockade.
I like the banjo breaks to these two.Strong and simple.
I enjoy all kinds of different songs,though.
A recent find I stumbled on is a group called the Backwoods Bluegrass Band. I really haven't found anything I didn't like from them.
Some extremely clean picking and that makes it really enjoyable.
Sherry: "... songs i.e. vocals..."
Owen: Thank you! Thank you!! Thank you!! 
From among m-a-n-y ... The Bottle Let Me Down / You Don't Know My Mind (Today) / Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms / Long Journey Home / etc. / etc.
Go to the Flatt & Scruggs Bear family and the 1st three discs of the 1st set - 1948-59 (especially the 1st 2 discs). It is the F&S Mercury and early Columbia stuff which is all great in breaks and back up. All great songs. Great. Can listen to over and over.
ken
Edited by - From Greylock to Bean Blossom on 10/13/2025 10:10:10
This is a good question to which I don't have an answer because I don't know what constitutes a playing a song. I see people in videos playing recognizable songs with a recognizably melody instrumentally all by themselves. And I'm impressed. I can do Cripple Creek of course. I can play Fire on the Mountain and Star of County Down recognizably clawhammer, and that's about it.
In a group setting with guitars, mandolins, fiddles, other instruments and a singer, I can hold my own and do my part with whatever song comes up, maybe find enough melody notes in a song to pull off a break. So it confuses me. Before I even took up banjo I was playing guitar and got drafted into playing banjo in a band, because I already could play rolls on a ukulele, I didn't know they were banjo rolls, but someone did and said I should be the banjo player.
Now I'm into my second year of it. My question is, should I be learning solo songs with recognizable melodies? Am I lacking in not knowing any? I seldom practice anything other than rolls, walk ups and walk downs, running chords or partial chords up and down the neck to songs in our play list when I'm alone. Or playing along with videos of new songs that come up and that someone else wants to do.
Edited by - BG Banjo on 10/17/2025 11:32:44
quote:
Originally posted by BG BanjoThis is a good question to which I don't have an answer because I don't know what constitutes a playing a song. I see people in videos playing recognizable songs with a recognizably melody instrumentally all by themselves. And I'm impressed. I can do Cripple Creek of course. I can play Fire on the Mountain and Star of County Down recognizably clawhammer, and that's about it.
In a group setting with guitars, mandolins, fiddles, other instruments and a singer, I can hold my own and do my part with whatever song comes up, maybe find enough melody notes in a song to pull off a break. So it confuses me. Before I even took up banjo I was playing guitar and got drafted into playing banjo in a band, because I already could play rolls on a ukulele, I didn't know they were banjo rolls, but someone did and said I should be the banjo player.Now I'm into my second year of it. My question is, should I be learning solo songs with recognizable melodies? Am I lacking in not knowing any? I seldom practice anything other than rolls, walk ups and walk downs, running chords or partial chords up and down the neck to songs in our play list when I'm alone. Or playing along with videos of new songs that come up and that someone else wants to do.
Learn where the melody notes are on the banjo and work at incorporating them into rolls. Play roll or pinch back up with songs and use Amazing Slow Downer. Listen to bluegrass artists and buy and listen to groups you like.
Knowing how to interact with the other band members is important and how to back up or enhance another's lead or singing.
A teacher can help one focus on their role in a band.
quote:
Originally posted by steve davisKnowing how to interact with the other band members is important and how to back up or enhance another's lead or singing.
A teacher can help one focus on their role in a band.
If that post is directed at me, I don't have any problem playing backup in a band. I do it every week, sometimes twice a week. I just don't know any songs that I could play all by myself.
One's that I play more for me than them are Caravan and Little Rock Getaway.
I played a 90th birthday party today with some old friends and pushed Alley Cat onto them.
It worked out OK.
