What are people practicing?

[Jody Stecher]

It's been a while since I learned a new classic Banjo Solo. Instead I've been reviewing my existing repertoire, and seeing if there are some left or right hand changes I can make that will make the music sound better. Right now I'm working on the Fred Van Eps piece "Rag Pickings".  What are others practicing? 

[Austin]

I've been practicing various pieces from Farland's national School and plantation symphony.

[Trapdoor2]

Everything. ABF rally is coming up in a few weeks and I will have a heavy schedule of Cello Banjo playing.

I like simpler pieces though. I've been playing "Montclair Galop", "Lillies of the Valley", "Bluebell Polka", "Canon Jig", "Skeleton Dance", etc.

[IAN SALTER]

At the moment, I'm working on small variations to 'Excelsior Sand Dance' from Ballantine's Complete Banjo Tutor. It's a cracking little tune, that rolls along nicely. I'm playing it on my early fretless 5 string.

[Austin]

The Skeleton dance by Norton Greenop? It's so fun! Might make my own arrangement some day. Edit: That day might be today... I've come up with ways to utilize the banjo and fill out the sound a bit more.

Trapdoor2 said:

Everything. ABF rally is coming up in a few weeks and I will have a heavy schedule of Cello Banjo playing.

I like simpler pieces though. I've been playing "Montclair Galop", "Lillies of the Valley", "Bluebell Polka", "Canon Jig", "Skeleton Dance", etc.

[Jody Stecher]

In the first measure after the intro, what do you suppose the curve connecting "middle" C to the open bass string indicates? It doesn't make sense as a slur mark unless the first C is gotten at fret 5 of the third string and the index finger of the right hand is dragged from string 3 to string 4. Context suggests that this is not what is meant. 

IAN SALTER said:

At the moment, I'm working on small variations to 'Excelsior Sand Dance' from Ballantine's Complete Banjo Tutor. It's a cracking little tune, that rolls along nicely. I'm playing it on my early fretless 5 string.

[IAN SALTER]

I don't know what Ballantine had in mind, but the way I interpret it, is to disregard the note values and employ the marks as slurs. By playing the first note as a demisemiquaver and placing an accent on the second note, the slur then takes affect, when played on the 2nd and 4th strings. This one measure contrasts with all the others, that I play with very crisp, almost staccato, articulation.

[Trapdoor2]

Just looking at the Sand Dance it looks like a Stroke Style piece. It appears that the measure in question might be gotten by fretting the 4th at the 12th fret for the dotted bit, striking the two notes with top of the nail and then snapping it open. Typical oddball stroke "effect"...

[Jody Stecher]

The book it appears in is a "guitar-style" tutor. But I think you have solved the mystery. It makes sense that a snap ("pull off") is exactly what is intended.  Play the two C  notes  at fret 12 and then pull.  Makes sense to me! 

Trapdoor2 said:

Just looking at the Sand Dance it looks like a Stroke Style piece. It appears that the measure in question might be gotten by fretting the 4th at the 12th fret for the dotted bit, striking the two notes with top of the nail and then snapping it open. Typical oddball stroke "effect"...

[Trapdoor2]

I'll play it on the Ashborn and see if it will Stroke... Neat piece. Thanks Ian!

[Jody Stecher]

I also like the piece which is new to me.

Trapdoor2 said:

I'll play it on the Ashborn and see if it will Stroke... Neat piece. Thanks Ian!

[Trapdoor2]

Just spent 10 minutes with it on the Ashborn. Yup, mostly easy in Stroke style. Takes a bit of practice to get the 12th fret dotted notes to sound out...but the snap works fine. The series of triplets just before the end of the A part would take some work to get smooth. They're just so easy in guitar-style...

The B part has a very familiar rhythm pattern from one of the early tutors (Buckley?). I used to play it a lot...but cannot recall the piece. 

[IAN SALTER]

Hi Marc,

I had tried a snap on the 4th string a few years ago, but only in guitar style and it didn't feel right.

It's currently 03.32 hrs and once again I can't sleep; I want to stroke the tune but I only have my very brash Temlett Apollo within reach and I reckon, four hours to wait !!