I have been playing banjo for about a year and a half. I play by myself 99 percent of the time. I was playing with a buddy who also plays banjo and he said my timing on foggy mountain was really bad. I have been able to play foggy forever so I decided to try playing along to recordings (russ carson and earl himself as well). I played with the volume up whole way to play in sync and also with volume off just to watch my hand movements in sync with theirs to get a feel for how good timing sounds when im the only one playing out loud. My timing didnt seem that different playing with them than it did when I play without an audio or visual aid. Is my friend likely innacurate in his opinion of my timing, or should I switch to a metronome to hear differently and try finding a mistake im not picking up. He wouldn't tell me what was bad with my playing, he just said my playing was bad and then proceeded to play himself so I didnt learn what I was doing wrong haha. Any insight with timing and practice would be very appreciated as this is a topic I haven't delved into much
While metronome practice is okay, you can also cheat with it without even realizing you've missed a beat or two.
Playing with recordings may be difficult as it's sometimes difficult to keep up with more experienced players.
Do you count as you play or just play? Counting helps keep you in time and in tempo. Getting those slides and hammers in the right timing is sometimes the problem, as that can put you off a beat with the rhythm if you're playing by yourself or even with a metronome.
If you can find some kind of software that plays the beat and sound like backup, that usually keeps your timing okay or at least lets you know your timing is off.
I use Band in a Box and it's kind of pricey, but you can in put chords to any song, play at any tempo and in any key and loop it over and over. It's worth a look.
Also, lastly, maybe it's your friend who has bad timing not you!
Youtube has a speed control . It will slow the c song down without changing the key.
Playing along with recordings is great once you have the tune down.
I do it all the time.
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Originally posted by stanleytoneYoutube has a speed control . It will slow the c song down without changing the key.
Playing along with recordings is great once you have the tune down.
I do it all the time.
Yeah thats what ive been doing for a bit now. Russ carson plays it very fast so I usually knock his recording down to 95 or sometimes 90 percent to practice. Although my laptop isnt the loudest so some recordings can be hard to play along with, but I might get a speaker for that.
I prefer strum machine to a metronome or the recording. It’s $5/month, but well worth it to me. I learn the song along w the recording, but then at a certain point I don’t really learn the song until I can play it without the recording, which is where strum machine comes in for me.
Playing along to recordings can be useful, but it can also cover up or disguise imperfections in playing. A metronome is also an extremely valuable tool, but its still good practice to set aside time where you can play alone with no external music or click to help develop an inner sense of timing. Ideally, some combination of the three methods would be good since they're all valuable in their own right.
As for if your friend was right or not, there's no real way of knowing for sure unless you have the means of recording yourself and listening back. If you can, this can be a helpful way to analyze your own playing and determining where your efforts can best be focused (especially for those of us who are self-taught). Often times I'll think that I have a song or banjo break nailed, then record it onto my computer and quickly realize when listening back where I need improvement. I think its easier to notice these kind of things when you take a step back and watch/listen recordings of yourself.
Another vote for YouTube. I’ve spend hundreds of hours with YouTube as my band. I really like the bluegrass backing track channel.
I recommend playing against a metronome, practicing rolls especially, but also playing tunes. Helped me immensely when I was starting out decades ago. I still use it occasionally—it’s very helpful. And one of the best things you can do is record yourself and listen critically. It’s pretty humbling, but you will hear your timing. And recorders don’t lie.
Another vote for playing along with someone/something/anything. The secret is to hear you and the rhythm both equally.
Then another vote for recording yourself. I been playing since 1979. I still record myself. I still feel like puking while listening to 50% of my dailies.
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Originally posted by petemattinglyI prefer strum machine to a metronome or the recording. It’s $5/month, but well worth it to me. I learn the song along w the recording, but then at a certain point I don’t really learn the song until I can play it without the recording, which is where strum machine comes in for me.
I use a metronome and Strum Machine. I use a metronome to isolate and practice particular licks, and Strum Machine for practicing whole breaks.
Metronomes can be hard work. Not a fan myself so I’ll play along with a CD or YouTube- which as has been pointed out, can be slowed down. That’s a valuable point because one thing I’ve done myself is taken breakdowns and song solos and played them slowly, and building the speed up and it cured a couple of timing issues I had then (and ironed out a couple of wrinkles).
What can and does work with a metronome (because you cannot negotiate with them) is this. Set it to between 90 and 120 bpm and let it go. Then, match the clicks with either one or two feet tapping. The latter is like walking. Once you got that, start playing:
*listen to the beat
* feel the beat
* play the beat.
Not sure if this applies to you, but my laptop speakers are junk so for me connecting to a decent bluetooth speaker made a huge difference for playing along with tracks. Not only was the volume greater but the depth of the recording that I was able to hear was greater also.
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Originally posted by Dean TAnother vote for YouTube. I’ve spend hundreds of hours with YouTube as my band. I really like the bluegrass backing track channel.
As I figured, they would have the chord progression of foggy Mountain breakdown wrong
I have a rhythm box I can set by tapping. There are some settings I do have to change the timing by 1 to maybe 5 clicks. The idea is to make friends with the nome, so I give myself some easement.
Extra points if you can make the change from the thumb being the 1, to the index, or middle finger.
Edited by - Nopix on 06/04/2026 20:29:48
I have a metronome that I still pull out from time to time and use. There are all kinds of metronomes on the market but I still prefer the old manual metronome for one basic reason. A metronome clicks the beat but, with electronic ones, that's all it does so the beat can sound before you play the note. With an old manual metronome, the swinging arm helps you anticipate the beat and hit it in time. Therefore, your eyes help as much as your ears. Mine is the one on the left.
Edited by - Culloden on 06/04/2026 21:36:12
As others have mentioned, sometimes a recording can cover up your own playing. I think I sound great when I sing along with Frank Sinatra. I would recommend you record yourself playing, with or without a metronome. You should be able to just hear if your timing is off.
Also, let’s make a distinction between timing and phrasing. You might be in sync every two or four beats but if your phrasing is not accurate, that might be what your friend-of-few-words is complaining about.
Good luck.
Maybe you could record yourself and post it here so we can see where the problem timing is.
I use strum machine and have it connected to a speaker. Set the speed to very slow, eg 60bpm, record yourself and listen to the recording. If you are off beat or uneven with your roll/slides/pull-off you will hear it. If you cannot play a tune, you know, slow, faster it will be just more sloppy. Once you got that right, increase by 5 bpm and start over.
Hi, Eli - I think by now you can see there's a near consensus that having some mechanism of keeping the beat can be enormously helpful. You've already been offered some good options.
Before I add another, I'd like to point out that Ron Block - who shows up here from time to time (and what a gift when he does!) has stated in the past that he uses a drum machine, rather than a metronome, because he thinks it offers a more "human" feel than the harsh clicks of a metronome. One ignores Mr. Block at their own peril - he didn't become Alison Krauss's banjo player for nuthin'.
As a teacher, I'm a big fan of the TablEdit app. The paid version, which isn't all that pricey, allows you to write your own tabs (it isn't the simplest app to learn, but it's effective). You can also download a free version called TEFview that doesn't have the writing enabled, but can play existing TablEdit tabs (you can also upgrade later if you wish).
There are TONS of tabs available here on the Hangout that are written in that format. They may not be exactly the same arrangements as the ones you're currently using, and some of them are better than others, but the nice thing about the TablEdit system is that you can easily control tempo - from house-afire to so slow that you could use a calendar as a metronome. The tab appears on your screen, and you play along, and you WILL hear any discrepancies between what you're playing and what's tumbling out of your computer.
Right now, you might not be able to hear your timing errors, simply because you don't have anything other than yourself setting the beat. This is VERY common among new players. But developing solid timing is essential if you wish to become a good player. Jamming with others, particularly rhythm guitar and bass, can be enormously helpful if you have access to it. But practicing with a system that provides timing guidance is, IMO, really important.
Edited by - eagleisland on 06/05/2026 05:48:06
The timing of a metronome is perfect; the timing of a recording made by humans will never be perfect. As a temporal benchmark, I believe that the metronome is the best choice.
I would urge you to learn how to use a metronome and then use it as a regular part of your practice routine.
I use a free metronome app on my cell phone with a single, corded earbud inserted into one ear. I hear the metronome click in that ear, and I hear the banjo in my other ear. The cell phone app makes it easy to control both the tempo and volume of the metronome click. If you don't like a click, the cell phone app also provides other tones.
hi Laurence ... just passing by the old hangout. Thought I'd say hello ... we've moved to Lynden up by the Canada border. Maybe we'll touch basses face to face sometime!!
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Originally posted by Laurence DiehlAs others have mentioned, sometimes a recording can cover up your own playing. I think I sound great when I sing along with Frank Sinatra. I would recommend you record yourself playing, with or without a metronome. You should be able to just hear if your timing is off.
Also, let’s make a distinction between timing and phrasing. You might be in sync every two or four beats but if your phrasing is not accurate, that might be what your friend-of-few-words is complaining about.
Good luck.
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Originally posted by pearcemusichi Laurence ... just passing by the old hangout. Thought I'd say hello ... we've moved to Lynden up by the Canada border. Maybe we'll touch basses face to face sometime!!
quote:
Originally posted by Laurence DiehlAs others have mentioned, sometimes a recording can cover up your own playing. I think I sound great when I sing along with Frank Sinatra. I would recommend you record yourself playing, with or without a metronome. You should be able to just hear if your timing is off.
Also, let’s make a distinction between timing and phrasing. You might be in sync every two or four beats but if your phrasing is not accurate, that might be what your friend-of-few-words is complaining about.
Good luck.
Terrific! Let me know when you're down in the big city.
(sorry for the hi jack)
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