OK. I have just made my 1st clawhammer pick...
...and it WORKS! On the 1st try it works, which is a miracle. I am a not good at "handy man" type stuff, so I was expecting the worst. But I nailed it...to my complete surprise. I got it off of this...
View ArticleChanging Tuning Pegs
The tuning pegs on Deering Goodtime are positioned differently to most banjo's.(They stick out from the side of the head as against from the back of the head) Is there a specific reason for this? Does...
View ArticleJust starting - need best tunes and good tutorials
Hi, I am sure there must be a thread on this somewhere, but I couldn't find it (please direct me if you know where it is!). Someone just gave me an old banjo, an Iida 226 from the 70s (Japan-made). It...
View ArticleFoot Stomp!
The foot stomp seems to be an important part of frailing. I can't seem to figure out the technique. I thought it would be easy but my leg gets tired or I can't keep the beat. Any tips?!?
View ArticleCharlie Parr
Charlie Parr is an awesome git and fretless banjo player! i know 1922 on the git but looking for anything on the banjo really. come along and see, wild bill jones etc... thank you
View ArticleMost common bad habits
Hey, folks! I've been pondering lately about self learning and bad habits. I guess there must be tons of them around, but I wonder If any of you'd like to share your thoughts on the most common bad...
View ArticleJust got my banjo!, beginners question
Hello my dear banjo-players from all around the world! I got my very own banjo yesterday, a (lovely) Deering Goodtime! The biggest problem I have, is that I started to touch it, and changed tuning and...
View ArticleAnnoying Cluck Sound
I recently bought a old L&H banjo with Mylgut strings, when I strike a string I get this cluck sound it doesn't happen on a brush. I can't tell if the tip of my finger is hitting the string after...
View ArticleSympathetic Vibrations
Even when picking single strings, rather than strumming chords, the other strings of your instrument still vibrate sympathetically and presumably contribute something - perhaps even something...
View Articleopen C or Double C?
I thought this would be a fun question. Do you prefer open C or double C tuning when playing in C or D or do you use both? What led you to choose one tuning over the other? Cheers, Colin
View ArticleRocket Science Banjo Blog removed from Google
After reading the new privacy policy at Google (Basically the policy is "You don't gets no privacy at Google") I have deleted my Google Blog "Rocket Science Banjo News". I will be slowly replacing it...
View ArticleCross fertilization
It's amazing how many folk play both banjo AND fiddle. I've played fiddle and guitar, off and on, for decades but only took up the banjo in the last 3 months (ah, clawhammer, where have you been all...
View Articleindex fingernail clicking
I have been practicing ch motions, and my index fingernail seems to click annoyingly. What is the correct position? Do I roll out the finger to strum with the pad?
View ArticleSo I just ordered a Joel Hook banjo thimble...
How well do they really work? I can't wait to get it so i'm not sure what to expect. Do they bring out tone and does it make your banjo more difficult to play? Thanks, Logan
View ArticleBuilding a Tune - Tab or No
When building your own tunes by ear, what do folks think about writing your own tabs? Is this a great tool to keep from continuing to reinvent the wheel or counterproductive for developing your ear -...
View Article"Songs" vs. "Tunes"
So, here goes my rant. In countless posts over the years, I've seen folks write about the "songs" they play on the banjo. From the details, I can see that they rarely are referring to tunes w /...
View ArticleCarolina Beach, NC
Any old time jams down there? I'm going to be on vacation there next week.
View ArticleWhat makes a tune a "banjo" tune?
I've been wondering what it is that when a tune is referred to specifically as "a banjo tune" that distinguishes it as such. I have a feeling this may have a definitive answer, but I don't have the...
View ArticleThe things we do for music
Fell in love with clawhammer. Bought a nice Gold Tone banjo. Bought a good case. Only thing I couldn't buy was fingernails! I decided to grow some, but I have never had fingernails in my entire...
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