OT 3 finger, classic and bluegrass style playing

[Classic Banjo]

Hello, 

 Is anyone able to explain and or highlight the differences between OT 3 finger, classic and bluegrass style playing?

I've posted the same question on Banjo Hangout OT forum so it will be interesting to see what the OT crowd think as opposed to the Classic style fraternity.

Regards

Eric

[Joel Hooks]

I'll take a look at it but it might not be this weekend as we have a guest.

If I were you, I'd snatch up Jody's advice as fast as I could!

The problem I have with the Mel Bay book is that I find the music in it boring (with one exception-- "California" which is really a tricked up arrangement of "Dance California" that is a ABF standard, I really like this and feel it is worth the price of the book).

I agree with Jody about the RH fingering.  For some reason the book uses roman numerals instead of the normal .  .. + (or x).  I'm not so sure that this was Bradbury's doing as I've seen a good deal of his MS and he always used the conventional dots and crosses.  This could have been a guitar thing from the late 50s (Mel Bay was a TAB publisher first and foremost for guitar) but I don't know.

The rest of the clutter has a use to the learner.  The connected dotted lines are for you to hold the position of stopped strings.  The / / / above are for accompaniment (though, he could have just used the chord names but again this has "Mel Bay Guitar Chart" written all over it!).

The '26 is a different book entirely and is substantial in every way (well it is a little light in the full piece department).  With the short time I've had with it I have already picked up some cool tricks and fingerings.  Thanks Marc S!  I've been fascinated by these Wm. J. Smith publications lately and have tried to get them all (I am just a couple short).  There is good clear music in them published at a time when the "banjo was in remission waiting for Earl" and "only used as a comedic prop."  Just more evidence that those statements are marketing boloney of country music-- or repeated ignorance.

I'll repeat the same advice that all the "tutors" (and Jody) say, work slow and when you hit a stumbling spot focus on that until you can play it slowly and note by note.  Don't focus on it too long though-- if it does not lay right for you then move on and come back to it later.  Sometimes things just will not "click."

Oh yeah, get a metronome and use it! (I like the clockwork style with bell but be cautious of old ones as they might not be true as they get dirty and springs wear out.)  A measure of music is no different than a measurement of length-- in fact it is divided just like an inch (sorry metric users).  It all adds up in the end.  A metronome helps me keep the division balanced.

[Jody Stecher]

The problem with metronomes is that they all slow down ;-)

[Jody Stecher]

I think that information could be conveyed in one simple sentence: "do not lift a finger for no reason". 

Joel Hooks said:

The rest of the clutter has a use to the learner.  The connected dotted lines are for you to hold the position of stopped strings.  

[Trapdoor2]

I can't help but agree, Jody. However, some folks need more than just text. I like the dotted lines as a reminder; "keep yer finger down!"

I'm another where the various incarnations of the Bradbury books are 'information overload'. However, I suspect that combined with a good teacher to keep me too busy to 'read ahead'...probably one of the better books out there.

The music store I visited back in 1979 had two banjo books, Scruggs and Bradbury. I should have bought both!

 
Jody Stecher said:

I think that information could be conveyed in one simple sentence: "do not lift a finger for no reason". 

Joel Hooks said:

The rest of the clutter has a use to the learner.  The connected dotted lines are for you to hold the position of stopped strings.  

[Joel Hooks]

Mine has a problem with speeding up :-(   until I "learn" a piece and then it keeps slowing down.
 
Jody Stecher said:

The problem with metronomes is that they all slow down ;-)