Hello everyone, my name is Mike and I'm from Nashville, TN. I've played guitar for 40 yrs (mostly blues, country, and classic rock) but lately I've been bitten by the banjo bug. I work on the stage crew for the Grand Ole Opry so I'm blessed to get to know some of best pickers around. One of my good friends is Mike Snider who I met about 30 years ago while working on Hee Haw. At that time Mike was one of the best bluegrass pickers around and had won multiple national championships. But one day Grandpa Jones showed him the basic clawhammer pattern and he has since become one of the best mountain music style players I've ever heard.
I've always admired his clawhammer style of playing and we were discussing how he got started last week. I told him I would give anything to be able to play like that and that's when I got the surprise of my musical life. He told me to get a banjo and that he would give me lessons for free. I was shocked! How often do you get an opportunity like that especially from a player of his caliber. Although I didn't have a banjo yet he gave a quick lesson on his custom made Ome and allowed it to be recorded on video so I could work on it at home when I get my banjo. Even though it was only about a 10 minute lesson there is enough content there to keep me busy for at least a month.
I can't begin to tell you how excited I was but I would get another unreal surprise. I was admiring the Recording King that Mike Noble (one of the staff musicians) had just acquired and was telling him about talking to Snider. He said he would get me a RK-OT25 at dealer cost. WHAT? Somebody kick me ....I've got to be dreaming! The banjo will be here Thursday and I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve. I'm so thankful to both Mike's. The Opry is like having another family. Everyone there genuinely cares about one another. I've met so many wonderful people and can honestly say It's the only job I've ever had where I actually look forward to going to work.
In the meantime I've been pouring over all the wonderful information on this forum to try and get my banjo intellect increased to the point that I can carry on a conversation with other players and not seem like the complete idiot that I am. I'm sorry if I'm rambling on and I definitely don't mean to be bragging or trying to sound snotty. I just wanted to introduce myself and share the experience that led me to this great online community and looking forward to getting to know many of you. Can't wait to get started!
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Excited newbie and introduction
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