Just back from the Fall ABF rally...

[Trapdoor2]

I'm so tired...been driving for two days. The trip up from here in South Carolina to Palmyra, NY is very nearly 800mi (1287km) and I split it into two days...and then another two days to get back home. Retirement makes taking the time easy...but doesn't help with the driving!

Thankfully, I have Sirius XM radio so uninterrupted music (50s, 60s) all the way.

I brought along the Stewart Cello-banjo and my CE Special ("Metal-hoop Special", I'm told).

I had procrastinated getting hotel reservations and found myself without a room for Saturday night...but found a nice motel about 10min away so I could get some rest before the drive home. The hotel where the rally was held is a very nice place, the conference room is perfect for this use...and the complimentary breakfast is good to boot.

When I arrived Wed afternoon, Drew Frech was waiting for me in the lobby. I didn't think he would let me get into my room; he was that ready to test my skills on the CB. He had asked me to practice his CB part to Nassau-Kennedy's "Gondolieria" and I was shuffled off to practice with him and Becky Schneider (what a great 2nd Banjo player and sweet lady!). I must have passed the test, they want me back!

So much fun seeing the people I knew, like Joel Hooks, and people I'd only ever met online (Paul Draper and John Cohen). This group is holding down the fort for Classic Banjo here in America and it appears to be doing fine. Several young players were in attendance, and their chops are really incredible.

Playing in the Orchestra was a lot of fun. "Louder!", Drew kept demanding. I was getting Cello-Banjo-thumb by the time we finished the first practice. I've never hit it that hard...ever. Seems I needed to adjust my FF. I normally play by myself and softly is the order of the day. No More! My neighbors are getting their doors blown off.

So, I survived my first "Round Robin" by hiding behind my Cello Banjo and passing on actually playing a solo. I had only one piece worked up (Weidt's "Cupid's Victory") and Joel promised to play 2nd banjo on it with me Saturday evening. We practiced it a bit during jam time after the concert and Round Robin.

I was essentially losing my voice by 1:30am Saturday morning. Way too much fun just sitting around and yakking.

Saturday, I again played the CB in the Orchestra and then that evening, played it for the Concert with Drew and Becky. I was so nervous, and I couldn't hear Drew count us in...so my FF intro was more Crappity-Crap...but once we got going, I settled in and played LOUD, per my concert-master. I think the folks in the front row now need hearing aids. LOL, both Drew and Becky said my CB was not nearly as loud as it could be and I should mount a mylar head. Really? I don't want to produce a seismic event every time I play. ;-)

In Saturday's Round-Robin, I was less nervous. Everybody was so nice to me, I felt very comfortable. When it was my turn, Joel pulled up a chair next to me and using a borrowed music stand tossed up his music and counted us off (Thankfully. I would have set the tempo much faster just out of nervousness). Off we went. At the end of the A part, I saw some movement out of the corner of my eye...Joel's music fell off the stand. I just kept playing while he retrieved the sheets and then I could hear him trying to find his place in the music. He got quiet (I'm still playing) and then I saw him reach out, grab one page and turn it right side up (I almost LOL'd). He jumped back in, and we actually finished together. Laurel and Hardy couldn't have done it better!

I normally cannot do Spring events, too much going on here. However, I'm now negotiating with Miz Diane to attend again for the Spring Rally. Stewart Publications will be the music theme. Gonna have to work on my chops and get one of the Stewarts up and running properly.

I had FUN. Can you tell?

[Jody Stecher]

If you pluck the CB strings closer to the bridge the definition of  each note will be clearer and the perception will be that the sound is louder. You can also wear a plastic thumbpick or even use a flat pick. Another tactic is  to use the pads of the fingers instead of thumb, the way bass players do. You can use two or even three fingers together in a more-or-less upward movement, similar to you play 5-string banjo, but a bit different.

[Joel Hooks]

I'm just under 400 miles, so not too bad I guess.

Yeah, great rally!  I think everyone enjoyed it.

We were glad you made it and I would be even gladder if you are able to make the Spring Rally (which is the last weekend in April).

[Paul Draper]

I’m about 200 miles, so easy-peasy.  It was good to see and hear everyone again, and to finally meet Marc Smith, the man behind the so many tabs I’ve used over the years...

Sorry to have missed Saturday’s round robin and concert, especially after Marc’s retelling of it!  My Erie Canal show in Port Byron went really well - including a standing ovation!  I guess not much ever happens in Port Byron...

Joel Hooks said:

I'm just under 400 miles, so not too bad I guess.

Yeah, great rally!  I think everyone enjoyed it.

We were glad you made it and I would be even gladder if you are able to make the Spring Rally (which is the last weekend in April).

[Trapdoor2]

Drew worked with me to find the "sweet spot" along the strings for FF playing. He also suggested picking towards the head with the thumb, "pushing down" rather than "plucking" laterally (or even up). Finding the sweet spot (about 2" from the bridge...it is a 16" dia head) and pushing really woke the banjo up. As I said, I never even experimented with getting really loud...I have just played it like my regular banjos: fingerstyle for tunes. This is the first time I really played single-line Bass parts on it.

I have also been guilty of playing out of a single position along the strings. I usually just find a comfy spot (near the neck/pot junction) and vary my picking pressure and attack to get dynamic range. I'm familiar with moving using finger picks (for bluegrass) but I got out of that habit over time because I'm usually alone (and lazy).

Another difficult aspect of picking loudly was that the strings roll under the pressure my thumb. and I was not getting a consistent release. Pushing down helped with that a good bit but it will take some woodshedding to get consistency. Cutting back my thumbnail will also help. When I had an attention failure (many), I'd get a couple of hooked nail notes...and they really sounded out of place.

Jody Stecher said:

If you pluck the CB strings closer to the bridge the definition of  each note will be clearer and the perception will be that the sound is louder. You can also wear a plastic thumbpick or even use a flat pick. Another tactic is  to use the pads of the fingers instead of thumb, the way bass players do. You can use two or even three fingers together in a more-or-less upward movement, similar to you play 5-string banjo, but a bit different.

[Jody Stecher]

Yes, pushing down is exactly right. The bass players' finger stroke is the same thing backwards.  Sometimes 3 fingers can get more sound than 1 thumb.

Trapdoor2 said:

Drew worked with me to find the "sweet spot" along the strings for FF playing. He also suggested picking towards the head with the thumb, "pushing down" rather than "plucking" laterally (or even up). Finding the sweet spot (about 2" from the bridge...it is a 16" dia head) and pushing really woke the banjo up. As I said, I never even experimented with getting really loud...I have just played it like my regular banjos: fingerstyle for tunes. This is the first time I really played single-line Bass parts on it.

I have also been guilty of playing out of a single position along the strings. I usually just find a comfy spot (near the neck/pot junction) and vary my picking pressure and attack to get dynamic range. I'm familiar with moving using finger picks (for bluegrass) but I got out of that habit over time because I'm usually alone (and lazy).

Another difficult aspect of picking loudly was that the strings roll under the pressure my thumb. and I was not getting a consistent release. Pushing down helped with that a good bit but it will take some woodshedding to get consistency. Cutting back my thumbnail will also help. When I had an attention failure (many), I'd get a couple of hooked nail notes...and they really sounded out of place.

Jody Stecher said:

If you pluck the CB strings closer to the bridge the definition of  each note will be clearer and the perception will be that the sound is louder. You can also wear a plastic thumbpick or even use a flat pick. Another tactic is  to use the pads of the fingers instead of thumb, the way bass players do. You can use two or even three fingers together in a more-or-less upward movement, similar to you play 5-string banjo, but a bit different.