Open Back Armrest
I have a Ramsey Standard. I would like to add an armrest. Which one is recommended? Also, if I have to remove the hooks, is there a torque spec?
View ArticleEarly Banjo Etudes
An etude by definition is: an instrumental musical composition, usually short, of considerable difficulty, and designed to provide practice material for perfecting a particular musical skill.Here are...
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TOTW 10/7/16 - Mississippi Snagboat
Today's TOTW volunteer had to postpone doing a tune, and now the fill-in volunteer is unable to post - so this is a very quick double-emergency back-up Tune of the Week. :-)The tune is Mississippi...
View ArticleLeft hand nail wear ....
Is it just me just may be my playing but does anyone else get a good bit of wear on their left fingernails from sliding and etc ? Any tips on preventing it besides maybe play less haha .
View ArticlePicking Pattern
Please explain the banjo picking pattern (or method) used to backup the singing in- https://maryzcox.bandcamp.com/track/all-i-have-to-do-is-dream
View ArticleTuning and tuners
I'm looking for a tuner that handles the various tunings (and need to change them quickly) of a 5 string--I'm going between G, Double C and F, and, yes, I use a capo. I'm starting to go to jams and I...
View ArticleTOTW 10/14/2016 Wrassled With a Wildcat
TOTW 10/14/2016 I’ve chosen Wrassled With a Wildcat from fiddler Earl Collins (1911 – 1975) for this installment of TOTW. Collins, who was born in Missouri, grew up in Oklahoma, and lived most of...
View ArticleRalph Stanley On Clawhammer
Got an alert yesterday from Amazon re' a clawhammer CD from Ralph Stanley. I assume it has vocals and other instruments. Anyone have and can recommend that one? Charlie
View ArticleImproving something other than melody...kind of....??
I'm not quite sure how to explain other than providing a perfect example. So in Steve Martin's "The Crow", the 2nd round of banjo comes in at 1:50 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7GQkK2Sss8) and...
View ArticleOn the thigh or between the legs?
Hi Guys... well, I have finally received my very first banjo, a Deering 'Goodtime' 5 string open back and it's great! I have had it for about a week and so far I've learnt ( in the clawhammer style)...
View ArticleString Tuning Chart?
I'm still green behind the open back, and while I've searched here and the net, I cannot find a chart that shows what each string should be tuned to for the various tunings such as G, C, D, open C,...
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Capo on 2nd Fret
How come so many players capo the 2nd fret (A?) even when playing alone?
View ArticleTuning question for fretless Nylguts
Despite assurances from more-experienced players, I worry when tuning Nylguts, especially the fifth string, up to fiddle D or A tuning. Do clawhammer players ever tune down to D, E, or F# for a drone?...
View ArticleTOTW 21 October 2016 - Oh Death
Well, I decided to do something that would be a slight departure from a fiddle tune, the older I get, the more I think about how much the banjo historically is intertwined with the voice, and although...
View ArticleReversed Finger Pick...?
Hi Guys... here's a topic that's probably been discussed over and over but, being a beginner, I'm still not quite sure what the best solution is... I have found, like many others, that it's difficult...
View ArticleSteel strings for A-scale
I'm interested in what kind of steel string sets people use on their A-scale banjos. I am using GHS 160 (11,14,16,26w,10) at the moment which sounds great and is comfortable to play, but some of the...
View ArticleCan't find post
I was viewing a post earlier that featured some very tasteful claw hammer playing of different banjo comparison . I got distracted for a minute Or so, senior moment I guess, and now I can't find it....
View Article5th string blues
My 5th string picking is substandard. The sound is muffled rather than crisp. When I attempt to increase the pressure to attain that clear ringing 5th string note, I inevitably get an annoying loud...
View ArticleClawhammer thumb pick?
John Rowe recently asked about a finger pick designed for clawhammer banjo. It made me wonder... has anyone tried using a thumb pick in conjunction with a finger pick? If so, your experience?
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