Classic-Banjo
Getting started
Hello there...well I started about 2 weeks ago learning to play the banjo...been working on Round Peak rolls...and some normal bum ditty ....i set up my banjo with a fiberskyn head and some nylgut strings...not really knowing about Classic Banjo...i was heading towards fretless playing after hearing some wonderful music.
I'm a jazz piano player by trade for over 45 years...and really didn't pay much attn to the banjo...and then going to the internet I found this music to be more than I ever expected for this instrument.
I started to see some tab charts for classical like Bach ECT. I come to you folks that know so much more than I about some way to start to play the Classic Style of music...maybe with easy tab but with the right kind of music to get my voyage started with this....regards Paul
If you want to hear my piano playing go to Paul Painter Jazz on YouTube
Joel Hooks
Hi Paul, I am replying here to a response to a comment as the homepage comments tend to be fragmented and hard to follow.
Did I understand you correctly that you have skipped ahead to page 26 in the Mel Bay book? That puts you starring on the second page of the exercise piece "Pajama Dance."
If that is the case I would recommend you goring back and starting from the beginning. While it may seem trivial, the early lessons are more then just teaching where and what the notes are.
They teach proper right and left hand fingering-- which is the key to playing banjo smoothly. There is a lot of fundamentals in the pages you skipped. Pay special attention to learning alternate picking and the thumb glide.
Follow Bradbury's left hand fingerings for chord structure and follow where he has you retain the stopped notes in chord positions (connected by a dashed line).
Also make sure you are using good left hand form, don't grip the neck like a baseball bat, the thumb should be on the back of the neck not hooked over the top.
Don't worry about comparing TAB, if you work through this book you will never need tab again.
Nov 26, 2018
Paul Painter
Hi Joel..
No didn't skip....started 1st page I'm just up to 26....reviewing daily...so I won't forget any....and yes I've took the time to watch the "Learn to Play" videos..he addressed the hand positions...i used to give piano lessons for beginning and advanced players...so I do understand about technical practice...im just seeing the hand positions of the chord forms in the music...and of course hand positions over the melody.
Now just trying to relax and try to get smooth and faster...and remember where to go to get the notes right...just learning and remembering the string and what notes they are...or said proper learning the neck...keeping the same tuning for now is helping until it's second nature....i know it's coming but not just yet. Thanks for the comments.....regards Paul
Nov 26, 2018
Joel Hooks
That sounds good! Post any questions and we will do our best to help.
Nov 26, 2018