frailing banjo stuff

Subject: frailing banjo stuff
From: PatrickCostello
Date: 01 Jul 05 - 10:46 AM

Dear old Dad and I were talking about some of the confusion and misconceptions surrounding frailing banjo today and came up with an idea. We're not sure if it's a good idea or not, but like we say here in Crisfield, "nothing beats a failure but a try."

What we're going to do is start a series of banjo workshops on our weblog. I know, there isn't anything new about that- but there is a catch. We won't post any follow up workshops until we gets some audio files from people showing up that they are working on the stuff from the current lesson. in other words, the first workshop is available now, but we won't post the second workshop until at least five people show us they they can do the "homework" we assign at the end of the workshop.

Full details can be found at: http://patrickcostello.blogsome.com/2005/06/30/virtual-banjo-lessons/

Subject: RE: frailing banjo stuff
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 01 Jul 05 - 10:53 AM

Puleaase not another howto play something by an expert who can already do it with his/her feet!

Frailing a Banjo is like milking a cow, either you is or you isn't.

:0)

Subject: RE: frailing banjo stuff
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 01 Jul 05 - 11:32 AM

I'd rather have a "howtoplay" by an expert (etc.) than by a nonplayer or poor player!

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: frailing banjo stuff
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jul 05 - 11:41 AM

Excellent stuff - sound only though, and chance of visuals, or should I have seen that?
thanks

Subject: RE: frailing banjo stuff
From: BanjoRay
Date: 01 Jul 05 - 11:48 AM

Sorefingers - can you milk a cow with your feet? Impressive.

Patrick and his dad do a fine job and have helped a lot of people get to grips with frailing a banjo. I've just listened to lesson one, and have a few complaints (of course). If I understood them correctly their instructions on holding the banjo and holding the right hand seem to disagree with those from about every other reputable instructor I've come across, but then those people didn't learn in Washington Square like Pat Costello but in the Appalachians from people like Fred Cockerham, Tommy Jarrell and Sherman Hammons. The lesson gave plenty of detail, but there was far too much 'amusing stuff' that no-one would want to listen to more than once.
I'm sure at least five people will send in a homework mp3, so we get to hear later lessons - it'll be interesting to see how it develops. They sound like good players, so the way they do it obviously works for them.
Ray (who's frailed since 1963, and now teaches a little)

Subject: RE: frailing banjo stuff
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 01 Jul 05 - 11:50 AM

Well I'm not a banjo player, but based on the quality of PC's posts appearing at this domain I'd certainly follow his tuition with confidence - and also to make sure I didn't end up with sore fingers!

Subject: RE: frailing banjo stuff
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 02 Jul 05 - 02:38 AM

"Sorefingers - can you milk a cow with your feet? Impressive."

Hey, you are the one trying to learn from an internet poser who doesn't know a backbeat from an offbeat!

Shove that up yer stove pipe and choke on it.

Subject: RE: frailing banjo stuff
From: PatrickCostello
Date: 07 Jul 05 - 07:54 AM

Well, the response to the podcasting lesson idea was more than anything i expected so we're going ahead with the idea. The second lesson is up and running, and we'll be starting a similar workshop series for acoustic guitar in a couple of days.

Lesson One:
http://patrickcostello.blogsome.com/2005/06/30/virtual-banjo-lessons/

Lesson Two:
http://patrickcostello.blogsome.com/2005/06/30/virtual-banjo-lessons/

-Patrick

Subject: RE: frailing banjo stuff
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 07 Jul 05 - 09:30 PM

Patrick:

Nice to see you on the Mudcat! I subscribed to the first year of your funky seagul video magazine and loved the old tutorials. If the blog versions turn out half as good as they were they will still be great. I have been only a periodic visitor over the last year so I didn't notice your earlier posts.

Jim Bunch

Subject: RE: frailing banjo stuff
From: Chris in Wheaton
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 10:42 AM

Pat - thank's for the good work - a workshop for simple fingerpicking fidle tunes on the banjo woud be great too.
You come up after Cubscast on my Bloglines list of podcasts - love this new technology. Now, just have to find time to practice!!
Chris in Wheaton

Subject: RE: frailing banjo stuff
From: PatrickCostello
Date: 14 Sep 05 - 07:18 PM

Just a quick update. We're up to lesson seven with the basic frailing workshops.

We have also started up a series of basic tenor banjo workshops along with advanced frailing banjo. There is some guitar stuff going on as well.

http://howandtao.com

-Patrick

Subject: RE: frailing banjo stuff
From: FiddlerOnTheHoof
Date: 14 Sep 05 - 07:42 PM

I used to play banjo and learned the frailing method. It took me six months to get it right but after that I never forgot it. Like riding a bike I suppose.