msgreg wrote:From my very amateur perspective, there seem to be three main styles.
(times and styles particular to the US)
Clawhammer, 1800-1900 US
Rhythmic 1900's - 1930's US. "Banjo Band" era
Bluegrass 1950's Scruggs, Monroe
I like Clawhammer in particular.
What style has sparked your interest?
Well, Clawhammer is what I believe to be the easiest for my olden fingers which show some signs of arthritic degeneration, and I was particularly motivated to get me a Cello Banjo after listening to stuff like this:
What will come after I’ve begun my exploration of the banjo … I don’t know. But I’ve been warned that once I’d begun, this would not stay the only banjo I’d acquire. But then again I also have more Go sets than I need for myself alone
(OK, this is not surprising since I’m the host of the local Go playing evening, and I’m the only one around here enthusiastic enough to purchase playing material, therefore, if I want there to be a meeting place for players, it’s all in my responsibility
)
BTW meanwhile I’m on page 60 of “Banjo for Dummies”
and the ETA is sometime tomorrow, and I’m sitting in a puddle of saliva.
Ed,
uhm, I fear I don’t get it. I’m always embarrassed if I don’t get a joke or pun. Please explain this to me thick villager
palapiku wrote:Why banjo?
Good question.
One piece of music that’s always touched me, though I’m not an especially avid fan of The Eagles, was “The Journey Of The Sorcerer”:
And here is a version by an aspiring banjo player:
I’m sure many of you will happily recognize this piece
But why exactly? Well, I had some experience with string instruments in my youth and 20s, and always had a guitar laying around and plucked it every now and then, but never had enough discipline to work towards at least
some virtuosity, also the sheer number of strings always confused me
The Banjo I’m getting me is a 5-string banjo, the 5th string usually being plucked somewhat like a drone so mostly I don’t need to fret it, leaving four strings, and these are tuned in a somewhat “easier” way than the guitar, as far as I understand, and also the Cello banjo’s fingerboard is a bit wider than those of the Ukuleleleles and Mandolins I’ve played around with, so
I expect it to be easier for me to come to satisfying results relatively soon.
I’m very excited.
And thanks, folks, that I may share things with you that superficially are so far away from Go
Greetings, Tom
