Plantation Episode

[Christine Fileccia Breen]

Hello Classic Banjo players,

 I am ever impressed with the wealth of information, gentle ways of helping and enriching banjo lovers on this site. I am in search of a recording of Plantation Episode. I am not sure who the composer is, nor have I heard but only the first part. I have sent Clarke Buehling a note about this tune knowing he played the first part some years ago, hopefully he can find it and brush it off for play. Maybe one of you all already dusted it off and have it in your repertoire? Thanks for any help in advance.

Christine

[Mike Moss]

Welcome aboard, Christine (are you Strokestyle on the BHO?). If you read through music from the period you'll soon realise it's a lot easier than it looks, mainly due to the right and left hand fingering indications that often leave little or no doubt about how to play a chord even if you can't read the notes! After reading a lot of music with these "training wheels" you'll be able to read the notes without them soon enough.

[Christine Fileccia Breen]

Hello Mike Moss. Yes I am Strokestyle on the BHO. I do know many chord positions in classic C tuning which offers playing F tunes and translates to key of D easily.  I have listened to some of your music on the BHOand a few others on BHO, Old Skirtlifter recordings, The Old 78's all

this has lured me to learn more. I recently was lucky enough to spend some time with Clarke Buehling and that set the hook. Billy Mathews has been teaching me several of the Skirtlifter pieces so my confidence level is up that I could attack more complex fingering. What I think I lack the most right now is the right hand patterned finger work. I like the easier than I think it is method, lets go with that.

Mike Moss said:

Welcome aboard, Christine (are you Strokestyle on the BHO?). If you read through music from the period you'll soon realise it's a lot easier than it looks, mainly due to the right and left hand fingering indications that often leave little or no doubt about how to play a chord even if you can't read the notes! After reading a lot of music with these "training wheels" you'll be able to read the notes without them soon enough.

[Jody Stecher]

Unlike bluegrass banjo, which is  patterned in the right hand, classic banjo technique is not. The absence of right hand patterns should make classic banjo harder than than bluegrass, since the patterns are a help, not a hinderance, for bluegrass picking, but in fact it just makes it different. Classic banjo *is* however patterned in the left hand.  Take any classic "banjo solo" (tune/piece) chosen at random and you are likely to find that  more than half is playable out of movable chord formations.  Emile Grimshaw's books are really good for showing how to use these chord shapes, which are identified by the fingers, frets, and by whether a barre is used (for instance 9 BP or 1P412) but are really just codified inversions of major, minor, seventh, ninth, diminished (etc) chords.

[Christine Fileccia Breen]

Good clarification Jody. Luckily I was saved from going towards bluegrass patterns when I first picked up the banjo by some oldtimers that steered me into clawhammer and finger work. The right hand action I hear and see with classic players does appear and sound very in depth. As you put it the absence of pattern, which I think your meaning to be the absence of patterned rolls, the reverse and forward and all the others brought out with bluegrass style. I do hear commonalities of right hand finger work that fit specific melodies of classic playing that is what I was hoping to relay. At first I am not going to be able to use the proper terminology. I looked and found A complete Banjo Works of Emile Grimshaw  by David Price, would that be your suggestion of a good starting place?  Thanking all of you for contributing.

Jody Stecher said:

Unlike bluegrass banjo, which is  patterned in the right hand, classic banjo technique is not. The absence of right hand patterns should make classic banjo harder than than bluegrass, since the patterns are a help, not a hinderance, for bluegrass picking, but in fact it just makes it different. Classic banjo *is* however patterned in the left hand.  Take any classic "banjo solo" (tune/piece) chosen at random and you are likely to find that  more than half is playable out of movable chord formations.  Emile Grimshaw's books are really good for showing how to use these chord shapes, which are identified by the fingers, frets, and by whether a barre is used (for instance 9 BP or 1P412) but are really just codified inversions of major, minor, seventh, ninth, diminished (etc) chords.

[Jody Stecher]

Yes, I meant rolls. The books I meant are The Banjo And How To Play It  and How To Excel On The Banjo. These are both tutors, not repertoire books. They are full of well designed exercises, each with a specific purpose, with each purpose clearly stated. But they are very musical and not boring to play or to hear.  I don't know if the David Price book was ever published. I have never seen one, but if you had a copy that would not be a good place to start. Good repertoire, but too advanced as a starting point.

[Steve Harrison]

Hi Christine.. have a look at this website..http://www.musictheoryvideos.com/...I've had a quick scan through it and although it doesn't refer to banjo, it does give an easy to understand explanation of basic music theory...Steve.

Christine Fileccia Breen said:

Thank you Steve for the encouragement. I have been coming to the realization that working towards reading music would improve the place where I am now in playing. I have mostly played old time clawhammer and finger picking for waltzes, schottische's, cakewalks, etc. By no means can play well enough to pull of these wonderful classic sounds on this site. I can strive to add this to what I have accomplished at this time in my banjo development. I have been under tutelage to strictly learning by ear, but, I assume you already know that does limit the field. It's the combination of math and physics that does scare me a bit. Those are not my strong points, yet it is gratifying to know that one can overcome as I have in many factors in my life, including learning to play the banjo. I do not use tab, but can understand how it works and I do know by doing something enough you gain speed. I am not convinced that tab is the best for me. I do often think it's time to start to read music. My granddaughter started piano some 7 years ago and she learned to read her way up to some complicated pieces, I am proud of where she is now and she wouldn't be there just by listening with her good ears.

Steve Harrison said:

Hi Christine..learning to read the dots should hold no fears for someone who is a good 'ear' player. It's just a case of being able to read and write down what you already know. It's a combination of  maths, physics and art and if you can manage tab than you're already well  on the way. There's a vast repertoire of banjo music waiting for you to play it so make the effort and go for it....Steve.

Christine Fileccia Breen said:

Wow how cool is this! Wonderful! Thank you both for your help and in just a few passing moments I can listen to this hard to find piece. I will order the CD as it does promise more treasures. Learning to read music would be a real challenge, being I have never put the effort in. Listening and monkey see monkey do has been my approach. I know if I really want to get this classic playing I have to venture into that word...scores:) Thanks so so much!

[Christine Fileccia Breen]

Steve good choice. I have a bit to work on I get to go back to First Grade!

Steve Harrison said:

Hi Christine.. have a look at this website..http://www.musictheoryvideos.com/...I've had a quick scan through it and although it doesn't refer to banjo, it does give an easy to understand explanation of basic music theory...Steve.

Christine Fileccia Breen said:

Thank you Steve for the encouragement. I have been coming to the realization that working towards reading music would improve the place where I am now in playing. I have mostly played old time clawhammer and finger picking for waltzes, schottische's, cakewalks, etc. By no means can play well enough to pull of these wonderful classic sounds on this site. I can strive to add this to what I have accomplished at this time in my banjo development. I have been under tutelage to strictly learning by ear, but, I assume you already know that does limit the field. It's the combination of math and physics that does scare me a bit. Those are not my strong points, yet it is gratifying to know that one can overcome as I have in many factors in my life, including learning to play the banjo. I do not use tab, but can understand how it works and I do know by doing something enough you gain speed. I am not convinced that tab is the best for me. I do often think it's time to start to read music. My granddaughter started piano some 7 years ago and she learned to read her way up to some complicated pieces, I am proud of where she is now and she wouldn't be there just by listening with her good ears.

Steve Harrison said:

Hi Christine..learning to read the dots should hold no fears for someone who is a good 'ear' player. It's just a case of being able to read and write down what you already know. It's a combination of  maths, physics and art and if you can manage tab than you're already well  on the way. There's a vast repertoire of banjo music waiting for you to play it so make the effort and go for it....Steve.

Christine Fileccia Breen said:

Wow how cool is this! Wonderful! Thank you both for your help and in just a few passing moments I can listen to this hard to find piece. I will order the CD as it does promise more treasures. Learning to read music would be a real challenge, being I have never put the effort in. Listening and monkey see monkey do has been my approach. I know if I really want to get this classic playing I have to venture into that word...scores:) Thanks so so much!

[Christine Fileccia Breen]

Jody again thanks. I like the not boring part. I have a lot to work with for now and a starting point.

Jody Stecher said:

Yes, I meant rolls. The books I meant are The Banjo And How To Play It  and How To Excel On The Banjo. These are both tutors, not repertoire books. They are full of well designed exercises, each with a specific purpose, with each purpose clearly stated. But they are very musical and not boring to play or to hear.  I don't know if the David Price book was ever published. I have never seen one, but if you had a copy that would not be a good place to start. Good repertoire, but too advanced as a starting point.