Introduction from a new member.

[Tom McArdle]

Thanks for adding me to the group.

It’s been a few weeks, so I thought I should share a bit of how I got here.

I was required to study piano as a child, before I could take any other instrument. Unfortunately, I dropped piano after the 3 year requirement, and started drum lessons at 12 years of age. I don’t regret learning to drum! It took me about 6 or 7 years to regret dropping the piano.

I eventually sold my drum kit after a stint in the Army, and having no room in the apartment after getting married.

I did play side drum in a Pipe band for a few years when we lived in North Carolina for several years, and also did a brief stint in a Fife and Drum corps. I currently play the drums in church once or twice a month.

Years ago, back in my mid to late thirties, I tried to teach myself classical guitar. It didn’t go too well.

I eventually landed on the ukulele around 45 or so, ( I’m 58 now ) and have stuck with it. I did have a songwriting spell, where I mostly did strumming, but I have learned a bit of picking, and some simpler classical pieces.

I even tried the Lute for a while.

Recently, I had been playing a guitar with a reentrant stringing, with a low D, high a, high d, then GBe as normal.

In my day job I work as an engraver in a shop that restores antique firearms. About 6 weeks ago a customer brought in a banjo with some carving and engraving on it. They called me out front, because the customer wanted me to see it. I was impressed, and inspired!

I had seen pictures of carved and engraved banjos before. I had tuned a Baritone ukulele to plectrum tuning once, to try out some of Cammeyer’s music. But I never went too far with it.

So, I decided to buy a Banjo several weeks ago. The low D matches my reentrant guitar, so I’m comfortable with that as the low end of the range. I was planning to tune to C sometimes on the guitar anyway, so moving to the Banjo seems like a good fit for how I envision myself playing music.

I still remember some of the plectrum tuning chord shapes, although the longer scale is not as easy.

The banjo is more comfortable than a full size guitar. Maybe I will try and build one someday. I have been engraving mandolin tailpiece covers for some years as a side gig. I tried building a lute last year, but it didn’t go well. Life keeps getting busy.

I’m working on Bradbury’s method book, and started learning “The Fairies Waltz” by Weidt. I appreciate all the resources here!

I’m a very slow learner. I enjoy playing music on a stringed instrument, and so far I am liking how music sits on the banjo fretboard.

Well, that’s a lot! Thanks for reading!

[Karen Smith]

Welcome! Your musical journey sounds a lot like mine (without the percussion & lute parts).

[Tom McArdle]

Thanks Karen!

[Rob MacKillop]

Hi Tom. If you don’t have my recordings of every piece in Bradbury’s book, you might appreciate having them: 

https://robmackillop.net/bradbury-studies/

Best wishes for your journey. 

[carrie horgan]

Hi Tom - yes, as Mike said, those rhythm skills will come in handy for the syncopated banjo tunes.  It's good to see new members posting - I hope you will post your progress to encourage others!  

[Tom McArdle]

Thank you! 

Rob MacKillop said:

Hi Tom. If you don’t have my recordings of every piece in Bradbury’s book, you might appreciate having them: 

https://robmackillop.net/bradbury-studies/

Best wishes for your journey. 

[Tom McArdle]

Thank you Mike! Learning to have fun is key. When I was younger I was so driven to excel at the drums. The ukulele taught me to have fun and just make music.

Mike Bostock said:

I enjoyed reading about your musical journey. The rhythm learning and practice of a drummer is a gift for a banjo player. There’s no pace to learning. Having fun is the main thing! Good luck with this new banjo stage of your journey.

[Tom McArdle]

Thanks Carrie!
carrie horgan said:

Hi Tom - yes, as Mike said, those rhythm skills will come in handy for the syncopated banjo tunes.  It's good to see new members posting - I hope you will post your progress to encourage others!