Zither banjo help - Classic-Banjo2024-03-28T16:17:46Zhttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/forum/topics/zither-banjo-help?commentId=2667446%3AComment%3A136908&feed=yes&xn_auth=noThanks Jody - I am not sure o…tag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2019-05-04:2667446:Comment:1369082019-05-04T21:19:08.874Zcarrie horganhttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/carriehorgan
<p>Thanks Jody - I am not sure of the scale length as I haven't got the banjo in my possession yet. It will be my first ZB.</p>
<p>I had a look at the Herbert J Ellis 'Advanced' book (here in the Tutor Book section) and it has some useful information on playing the zither banjo and hand position etc. </p>
<p>Thanks Jody - I am not sure of the scale length as I haven't got the banjo in my possession yet. It will be my first ZB.</p>
<p>I had a look at the Herbert J Ellis 'Advanced' book (here in the Tutor Book section) and it has some useful information on playing the zither banjo and hand position etc. </p> In Scotland or south of the b…tag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2019-05-04:2667446:Comment:1369072019-05-04T20:22:16.032ZJody Stecherhttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/JodyStecher
<p>In Scotland or south of the border I dunno but in the USA you can get .007 loop end steel from juststrings.com and ball end .007 from stringsbymail.com . Both are D'Addario and the ball ends can be pried out of their loops.... or sometimes the balls can fit between the prongs on the tailpiece. I agree with Richard that with zb the lightest possible string is the best. So far .008 has been fine for me but it all depends on the scale, the vibrating length of the string between nut and bridge.…</p>
<p>In Scotland or south of the border I dunno but in the USA you can get .007 loop end steel from juststrings.com and ball end .007 from stringsbymail.com . Both are D'Addario and the ball ends can be pried out of their loops.... or sometimes the balls can fit between the prongs on the tailpiece. I agree with Richard that with zb the lightest possible string is the best. So far .008 has been fine for me but it all depends on the scale, the vibrating length of the string between nut and bridge. On a Temlett .008 should plenty thin. Carrie, what's the scale length on the Houghton?<br/> <br/> <cite>Rob MacKillop said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="https://classic-banjo.ning.com/forum/topics/zither-banjo-help?commentId=2667446%3AComment%3A136732&xg_source=activity#2667446Comment136732"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Great. I started with 009, but find 008 to be better. Haven't seen a James Bond 007, but if I do I'll give it a go. Have fun with it, Carrie!</p>
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</blockquote> I would start by playing chor…tag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2019-05-04:2667446:Comment:1368152019-05-04T17:18:30.222ZJody Stecherhttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/JodyStecher
<p>I would start by playing chords and scales. Also exercises and also some of the repertoire for regular banjo that you are most comfortable with. Doing these things will give you a solid sense of what the zither-banjo is and isn't. <br></br> <br></br> <cite>carrie horgan said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="https://classic-banjo.ning.com/forum/topics/zither-banjo-help?commentId=2667446%3AComment%3A136626&xg_source=activity#2667446Comment136626"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>So I won it. I…</p>
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<p>I would start by playing chords and scales. Also exercises and also some of the repertoire for regular banjo that you are most comfortable with. Doing these things will give you a solid sense of what the zither-banjo is and isn't. <br/> <br/> <cite>carrie horgan said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="https://classic-banjo.ning.com/forum/topics/zither-banjo-help?commentId=2667446%3AComment%3A136626&xg_source=activity#2667446Comment136626"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>So I won it. I will post some pictures and an update once I have it set-up. I will be collecting it from Kent in a few weeks.</p>
<p>I am going to try and play some zither banjo tunes on it so any ideas for tunes (that are not too difficult) appreciated. Thanks. </p>
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</blockquote> Great. I started with 009, bu…tag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2019-05-04:2667446:Comment:1367322019-05-04T08:58:57.730ZRob MacKillophttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/RobMacKillop
<p>Great. I started with 009, but find 008 to be better. Haven't seen a James Bond 007, but if I do I'll give it a go. Have fun with it, Carrie!</p>
<p>Great. I started with 009, but find 008 to be better. Haven't seen a James Bond 007, but if I do I'll give it a go. Have fun with it, Carrie!</p> Thanks for those suggestions…tag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2019-05-04:2667446:Comment:1366272019-05-04T08:28:17.228Zcarrie horganhttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/carriehorgan
<p>Thanks for those suggestions Richard. That's very helpful. I have never heard of the 'Dustman's Picnic' but I like the title! I ordered some zither strings from Clifford Essex (they start with an 008 but I can easily source lighter strings if need be) and will see if they work with the bridge that looks original. It's a shame that so many Zither banjos are ending up in a poor state on Ebay - they sell for peanuts - it will be rewarding to get this one back in shape and playing the tunes…</p>
<p>Thanks for those suggestions Richard. That's very helpful. I have never heard of the 'Dustman's Picnic' but I like the title! I ordered some zither strings from Clifford Essex (they start with an 008 but I can easily source lighter strings if need be) and will see if they work with the bridge that looks original. It's a shame that so many Zither banjos are ending up in a poor state on Ebay - they sell for peanuts - it will be rewarding to get this one back in shape and playing the tunes it was designed for.</p> You got yourself a nice zithe…tag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2019-05-04:2667446:Comment:1367312019-05-04T08:22:05.312ZRichard William Inesonhttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/RichardWilliamIneson351
<p>You got yourself a nice zither banjo Carrie and at £250 it's like finding money in the street. 'Homoresque'/Humouresque is a sweet tune that is not too demanding, 'Don't Sigh, Don't Cry' and the 'Dustman's Picnic' are also good and accessible. 'Handy Jack' is not as hard to play as it sounds if you take it at a gentle speed. The secret of the zither banjo is light strings, a 007 first is a good starting point, and the right bridge.</p>
<p>You got yourself a nice zither banjo Carrie and at £250 it's like finding money in the street. 'Homoresque'/Humouresque is a sweet tune that is not too demanding, 'Don't Sigh, Don't Cry' and the 'Dustman's Picnic' are also good and accessible. 'Handy Jack' is not as hard to play as it sounds if you take it at a gentle speed. The secret of the zither banjo is light strings, a 007 first is a good starting point, and the right bridge.</p> So I won it. I will post som…tag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2019-05-04:2667446:Comment:1366262019-05-04T08:02:02.179Zcarrie horganhttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/carriehorgan
<p>So I won it. I will post some pictures and an update once I have it set-up. I will be collecting it from Kent in a few weeks.</p>
<p>I am going to try and play some zither banjo tunes on it so any ideas for tunes (that are not too difficult) appreciated. Thanks. </p>
<p>So I won it. I will post some pictures and an update once I have it set-up. I will be collecting it from Kent in a few weeks.</p>
<p>I am going to try and play some zither banjo tunes on it so any ideas for tunes (that are not too difficult) appreciated. Thanks. </p> tag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2019-04-29:2667446:Comment:1367762019-04-29T12:32:34.854Zcarrie horganhttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/carriehorgan
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2225281771?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="align-full" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2225281771?profile=RESIZE_710x"/></a></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2225281771?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="align-full" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2225281771?profile=RESIZE_710x"/></a></p> Thank you Richard and Marc. …tag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2019-04-29:2667446:Comment:1368672019-04-29T12:16:42.821Zcarrie horganhttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/carriehorgan
<p>Thank you Richard and Marc. Here are two more photos he sent me. So, the string action is higher near the 22 fret so that would mean the neck is not warped? The photos show the banjo has high-ish action but not so that it is unplayable?…<a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2225244867?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2225244867?profile=RESIZE_710x"></img></a></p>
<p>Thank you Richard and Marc. Here are two more photos he sent me. So, the string action is higher near the 22 fret so that would mean the neck is not warped? The photos show the banjo has high-ish action but not so that it is unplayable?<a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2225244867?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="align-full" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2225244867?profile=RESIZE_710x"/></a><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2225245350?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="align-full" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2225245350?profile=RESIZE_710x"/></a> </p> you need a picture of the act…tag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2019-04-29:2667446:Comment:1366782019-04-29T11:57:19.921Zmarc dalmassohttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/marcdalmasso
<p>you need a picture of the action at the 18 to 22 th frets ; usually , when the neck is warped , the action is lower at these frets than on the middle of the neck figured on this photo</p>
<p>you need a picture of the action at the 18 to 22 th frets ; usually , when the neck is warped , the action is lower at these frets than on the middle of the neck figured on this photo</p>