Dedicated to helping those new to banjo shortening the learning curve. I will be also posting my own journey into learning the clawhammer style banjo. I have played 3 finger style banjo since 2010, so i will also be posting songs in that style of banjo. Come on in and make yourself at home! I post a new video every week!
Interesting assertion here. I think the STYLE of music you play will have more of an impact than purely mechanical skill. The reason a lot of contemporary clawhammer players sound "smooth" is because the style of music they play is (referred to as "round peak). It is highly melodic with a faster tempo and not heavy with rhythmic syncopation. Here's a thought experiment. Try to imagine playing Earl Scruggs music exactly as it was composed, with perfect clawhammer technique. It would likely result in a "typewriter" sound, and come off very choppy. That's because the style of that music leans into that sonic profile. If you want "smoother " sounding music, look for music that leans into what you want. Sure, mechanical skill can have an impact, but not to the degree you'd think. You can achieve the same level of smoothness with either the middle or index finger. Happy playing!
Hallo ich lebe in Deutschland. Ich habe nochnie wirklich ein Instrument gelernt. Jetzt mit mitte 50 möchte ich Banjo spielen lernen. Danke für deine Tipps. Tolles Instrument
I wish I could just let you adjust my banjo for me 😆… I have a Recoring King. And I’m always trying to find that classic tone but I can never figure it out I’m not a smart man 😅.. thank you for your help Sir.
Oh i feel so dumb. Im so new to banjo that everything everyone says sounds spanish... and i dont speak spanish.... everything you said sounds simple.. but my brain just isnt grasping what i need to do. My 1st string is buzzing (open and fretted) and my banjo sounds like its screaming when i play. I genuinely thought my neighbours were screaming at me through the wall. Can you please help me pin point what exactly i need to do to sort these issues ... mainly cos im terrified of making things worse. And i simply cant afford to pay someone to fix it if i bugger it up. If you can help in any way id be so grateful. I just want to learn to play rn and i feel i might be learning bad tone listening behaviour if its not right. Sorry for the essay btw. I need a banjo maintenance for dummies book. 😂
The first string buzz sounds like a trust rod issue. Watch the video on my page about how to adjust your truss rod. The truss rod adjust the bow in the neck. If the bow isn’t enough, the strings will buzz on the fretts. If the bone was too much, it’ll make the neck hard to fret in the middle.
When I first got my cheapo banjo last Christmas, I played with the original strings. Not sure what they were. After a short while I bought D'addario light phosphor bronze. I hated those strings 😂. Too loose and weird overtones were coming in all over the place, especially on the B string. So I switched to D'addario nickel medium. It's a whole new world. My banjo loves them. They just need a little warming up when you play.
Play outside! Yes! Theory is important, but chases people away if done too early or often. I know this from teaching guitar. Learn a song you want to play and practice that. It will take you through chords and a little theory...
I can’t play with the ring finger planted. It just wants to move around. Right now I’m playing with pinky and for some reason it ends up leaning against the bridge. I guess that’s not a good habit? Thanks for the video !:)
Started to learn banjo at 60 on a Jameson my son bought me. Now I own an RK Songster, which is still better than I can play. Then bought a Hopkins banjo that sounds so great It's all I want to play, then I bought a Gold Star Hearts and Flowers which I also love. Not even a decent banjoist yet I have wonderful banjos. And... thinking about my next one. lol OH and your videos have helped me tremendously.
Drill a 3/16 " hole in your thumb pick a little left of center of the bottom of the pick and your thumb , also put a little bit of Finger Ease spray n a rag or Q- tip an apply it to just the part of the the thumb pick and finger picks that touches the strings . I don't spray it on my strings at all. Your pick will stay on and glide over the strings and cut string noise all most totaly out . I use a Golden Gate heavy large thumb pick and Dunlop brass .025 finger picks . Thanks
Thank you so much! Wonderful explanation and examples. Now all I have to do is remember it all while I practice, practice, and practice till all clicks. God bless you!
Never heard of a truss rod adjust before..... Mine buzzed , i had what i needed in my garage (feeler guage @ .01" ) lifted the panel, and no buzz.... 5 min fix bro... thanx
I ordered a clawhammer/frailing bridge, which raises the 5th string up about an eight of an inch. That way i can get my thumb under the 5th string instead of striking the top of it. I'll let you know how it works out.
Let me say that is a great question. I have not thought about it before. Without researching it I would say to make some chords you need sharps and flats. And you can’t get there without 1/2 steps. For instance to make a minor chord you flatten the 3rd note a half step.
I when STUPID and bought 6 banjos. Rogue Vintage Cameo Rover Recording King Dirty 30 - open back Davison Harmony - 40 years old. I kept seeing one I liked and buying it. My family finally intervened, LOL. I'm banned from buying any more banjos until I learn to play one of the six I now own. I also bought an Oscar Schmitt acoustic guitar, but that's for my son.
Methinks you don’t understand the gut / nylon strings. Gut was traditionally used on nearly all five string banjos until the late 1920s. They were used for finger style playing that lead to three finger blue grass and are very bright with the right bridge and when the weather is dry. Similar to plastic banjo heads, people went to nylon strings to keep the bright sound in humid weather. Google Classic Style banjo … not classical.
Yea I’ve studied gut strings. I know how they started, why people switched to steal and the same with nylon. It’s not rocket science. But also I don’t play with those type strings so sorry my rhetoric was off on the subject.
You’re my favorite human being right now! I’ve been playing around with my banjo for about 2 years now. But now I really want to learn it. Can’t thank you enough for doing this series. Awesome so far
$200-500 is not a cheap banjo. $70-120 is a cheap banjo. And a problem with a cheap instrument for a beginner is that you never know whether it's your bad playing technique or the instrument is having some issues. As a beginner you will never know whether the head is tight enough, the tail piece is placed right, the bridge is at the right spot, the action is optimal, the neck is too narrow, etc. This may discourage you playing the instrument all together actually. So, don't buy a cheap banjo, $200-500 is not a cheap banjo.
no offence but 70-100 dollars wont buy you a banjo, it will buy you something that resembles a banjo but is worthless when trying to learn the instrument. When i say a cheap banjo im talking of lower end banjos that you can learn on which is in the 250.00 - 700.00 range. So in comparance to a 2500 - 5000 dollar banjo yes that is cheap.
@@BanjoAddict Well, that is exactly my point. Because if someone takes the advice literary and buys a "cheap banjo" from Amazon or something, they are going to regret it big time. Average banjo price on Amazon is ~$90-150, while basic Deering or Gold Tone start from ~$500.
In my opinion it all comes down to if you think you will like it. If you are positive you are going to stick with it I would begin with a mid grade model. $500-$1000.
