OT Banjo Update Allan

[John T]

Yo Allan, if you recall at my ripe old age I went wild n started 5 string finger style banjo lessons a few weeks ago whewwwwwwww

Wellllllllll after HOURS of practice I can keep decent time playing the Earl Scruggs forward alternating bass roll 3251 4251 3251 4251 and can chord all the key of G pretty decent. Thennnnnnn I just (took 2 weeks lol) can get thru "Cripple Creek" and am gonna learn "Wreck of the Old 97" next. Then I gotta start practicing the key of C and figure I can capo up from G for A and B and capo up from C for D and E so those 2 keys (8 chords total counting the minors) will get me by fer a while. I wanna learn to play fiddle songs like Ragtime Annie and Ole Joe Clark and Golden Slippers if I ever can ??? Teach said Ragtime Annie was in D and will be tuff to learn on Banjo for a rookie grrrrrrrrrrr

It was frustrating a while cuz I didnt make much improvement in that forward roll but its starting to come fairly natural after a few weeks and now that I can play at least one song practice is gettin funner all the time if I dont drive the first wife crazy lol woooooo hoooooo

I taught my son House of the Risign Sun chords on guitar when he was 12 (then I quit cuz he blew me away in 3 months) and now hes played guitar for 16 years and I wonder why I cant play like him?????? http://www.myspace.com/chadnordhoff

Yall take care now

John T

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/554031836ecRtCj

Goin up cripple creek.........

 

[Maine Fordson]

I've always enjoyed the tune "Jerusalem Ridge"...

Good to hear of folks learning to play their own music. iPods are nice, but there's nothing like a live performance right in front of you, no matter what the instrument.

Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks? My dad learned to play the piano at 33, and the bagpipes when he was 65!

As the old New Yorker joke goes, How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, my good man, lots of practice...

Keep it up!

 

[tjp]

keep at it ive been playing guitar for 14 years and am a barely passable banjo player if i can play them than anyone can

 

[Allan in NE]

Yes Sir,

The main thing is to just keep after it. It comes in tiny, tiny increments and sometimes ya just don't think you're getting anywhere.

But, in reality, it is building in your sub-conscience all the while.

Allan

 

[Hay Sam]

I tought a old dog how to shake hands!!!!!!

 

[John T]

Now if he can just do a lil Jig to the song Cripple Creek send him over, Ill make a star out of him lol

John T

 

[Rustyj14.]

Well, Allan, after you get yer capo, and learn how to use it, then forget it some night when you go to a bluegrass jamm, and you'll know why i learned to play without one!
If you don't have a Fifth string capo, better get one installed on yer banjo. Makes it lots easier! Some guys hammer little HO model railroad track spikes into the finger board for a fifth string capo, but i have the sliding kind.
Don't despair--it took me only 20 years to learn banjo, and another five to learn to use the finger picks! My right index finger has the first joint missing, but i learned to adapt to 3 finger pickin!