Newbie

[David Gillespie]

Greetings from the US. I am new to this forum! I am wondering how to find the tablature for the Georgia Melody on the YouTube channel? I am so excited I can hardly stand it! I play claw hammer only but would love to learn how to play classic style. Thanks to the nice man! I wish I knew your name to thank you personally! David Gillespie 

[IAN SALTER]

Hi David,

His name is Ian.

The tune is actually 'Georgia Medley', not melody as it states on YouTube. In case you haven't already found it, click on 'learn to play' at the top of this page. 

Here is a link for the tab: https://cliffordessex.com/product/georgia-medley

If you don't read musical notation, you will be encouraged to learn it by a number of players on this forum. I'm the first.

[Joel Hooks]

Hello David,

Welcome to real old time banjo!

You could flump around for the next few months trying to learn a single solo with some tab version.  At the end of those two, three, or so months you will be able to play one solo, maybe, but you would have not learned any of the foundational techniques.  Actually, you will have picked up a mountain of bad habits that will be harder to break now that you have learned them.

Now, please hear me out with an open mind, as this is often met with aggression and will clash with one’s ego (esp if they already play some version of banjo).  How about, instead of doing that, you were to spend that same amount of time with a course of study?  With no more time or effort, you will have developed proper right hand alternate fingering as well as the basics of reading notation (which you only have to learn once).

Then you will be able to play ANY solo of your ability at that time right off the page with no tab translating needed.

Many people make the same erroneous assumption, “but I can’t read music”.  That is a fallacy.  These instruction books are just that, instruction books.  They will teach you how to play banjo and read at the same time.  And it is MUCH easier than you might think. None of us know how to read until we learn.

I recommend the Mel Bay Banjo Method by Frank C. Bradbury.  This is still in print but I recommend you pop over to eBay and buy the original two volume set that is blue and pink.  They are super cheap at around $5 each.  The current edition messed up the page order and makes for awkward page turns.

[thereallyniceman]

Hi David,

Yes it is Georgia Medley by Joe Morley. I am pleased to see that you have "seen the light" !  Classic Banjo is such a great and under-appreciated style.

The website "Learn to play" section includes 7-8 full lessons on how to play this solo and there is a downloads link for a zip file containing all the music, including TAB, but as Joel says, I would strongly recommend following the Notation and having personal (or skype etc) lessons. There are links to "Teachers" on the Home page too.  The Bradbury Tutor is often recommended but I learnt from Emile Grimshaw's "The Banjo and how to play it".  Grimshaw's is available for free download on the "Banjo Tutor Books' page.

Good luck and keep posting as we all like to help!

Ian, thereallyniceman

:-)

[David Gillespie]

Ian, thank you! Your videos on YouTube are quite inspiring! I am Pumpkintown Primitives on YouTube and have subscribed and make many comments on your great content! I noticed the SS Stewart instructor on the banjo instructors page also. Since my banjo I will be using will be my wife’s grandfathers old 1896 SS Stewart would you also recommend me use that instructor? I will also download Grimshaws as well. The 1896 SS Stewart hasn’t been played for maybe about an hundred years. The head was busted and it still had an old original gut string wrapped around 5th string peg. I hope I can get it playing again. I have replaced the head with new calfskin and waiting on it to dry. It seems too tight. I hope it doesn’t bust. 
Thanks for being the champion to us all of Classic style which to me is the best form of banjo methinks. I am also a big fan of Uncle Dave Macon from here in the South who may have played this style from 1890s to the 1940s. Thanks Ian! 
DG

[IAN SALTER]

David, the SS Stewart tutor is written for a banjo tuned differently to that used for the majority of the music played by banjoists today. There are lots of threads in the archives, discussing the history of these tuning differences.

[Joel Hooks]

*tuning is the same, pitch is different.  “Tuning” is a confusing word for old time Banjoists due to the use of scordatura.  With classic banjo, string intervals  remain the same and only the pitch changes.

[David Gillespie]

Understood. Thanks for the Caveat. Will stick to Grimshaw for now. Thank you! Is this the same Ian as the really nice man? Thanks so much!

IAN SALTER said:

David, the SS Stewart tutor is written for a banjo tuned differently to that used for the majority of the music played by banjoists today. There are lots of threads in the archives, discussing the history of these tuning differences.

[IAN SALTER]

What Joel said.

I just had a look at your really impressive website. It occurs to me, that your interest in historical reenactment could very well influence your venture with the banjo. With that in mind, I suggest that you have a look at

https://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/

in order to get a broader view of the timeline.

[IAN SALTER]

No, I'm not thereallyniceman.

[David Gillespie]

Yes sir this is the stuff I am more comfortable playing!! Minstrel Banjo and I make my own gourd banjos.. thanks for the nice words about my website.
With minstrel banjo I am used to playing in “Low Bass” which is the same as your “concert pitch” but just 2.5 steps below standard pitch. Is it safe to tune my SS Stewart to “ concert pitch” to the modern tuning with nylon strings? The SS Stewart is an American Princess and made for a lady but with a shorter scale? Thanks Joel and Ian. 
IAN SALTER said:

No, I'm not thereallyniceman.

[David Gillespie]

Thanks Joel that is very helpful indeed. I am used to playing the “Low Bass” in Minstrel banjo. Same as your “concert pitch” but 2.5 steps below standard pitch if I am understanding it correctly.

Joel Hooks said:

*tuning is the same, pitch is different.  “Tuning” is a confusing word for old time Banjoists due to the use of scordatura.  With classic banjo, string intervals  remain the same and only the pitch changes.

[IAN SALTER]

I use gut strings on my banjos, so I can't advise you about using nylon strings on your instrument, but again, there is plenty of information on the subject in the archives. I think concert pitch would only be necessary if you were playing with other musicians.