I play the banjo and I am proud of it

Subject: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: greg stephens
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 06:42 AM

I am sick of people making jokes about banjos. Or indeed banjoes, opinions differe on that plural point. Anyway, the angels played banjos in heaven, and if your bible says otherwise you've got the wrong translation. So, to redress the balance, I would like to invite all banjo-playing Mudcatters to supply links to shots of themselves playing banjoes. Or indeed, to clips of favourite banjo-playes.
Here is me playing the tenor banjo

Just banjo-players links please. To avoid thread drift, bodhran players can start their own thread in the BS(non-musical) section. Ditto shaky eggs.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Banjiman
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 06:57 AM

Yay!

Me losing out to the fiddler, Blind Summat! play some Old Time tunes. on my 5 string.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Banjiman
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 07:10 AM

BTW Greg. Love your video..... great stuff.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Will Fly
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 07:19 AM

Banjos yes! Here's another specimen of the tenor banjo:

Will Fly - "The Little Beggarman"

Playing one of these for 40+ years has been invaluable experience now I've got my new tenor guitar - and it got me started on mandolin and, more recently, violin.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: greg stephens
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 07:57 AM

Great stuff, keep them coming. Now for a real treat here is Eddie Peabody playing St Louis Blues .
I particularly like the rising sense of anticipation, as you wonder what contribution is going to made by the shapely-legged lovelies.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 08:01 AM

Reading the title of this thread,I knew it was posted by someone from England. :-) The banjo is a well-loved instrument in the U.S.
My wife and I were at Sandy Paton's memorial yesterday and a couple from Scotland did a song, with the wife accompanying them on banjo. Apparently playing banjo doesn't make you a second class citizen in Scotland.

I had the great pleasure of meeting Roy Harris again after a lapse of thirty years. I was pretty sure it was him when I saw him, but just to make absolutely sure, I said, "Say something in English." I could have said, "Do you like banjo?" but knowing Roy, I'm sure he'd have said "Yes."

Jerry

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: The Sandman
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 08:23 AM

well, I havent been playing long but I am enjoying myself
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDIs_50cLyU

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: The Sandman
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 08:26 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa0KBosXB34

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: The Sandman
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 08:29 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xssNhhNCvNk

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: theleveller
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 08:53 AM

I know I make jokes about banjos but it was the first instrument I learned to play. Here's a short clip of one of my favourite banjo players (Eric Wisseberg) playing one of my favourite pieces (Flop Eared Mule). I actually used to play this once upon a time - only much slower!

Flop Eared Mule

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: The Sandman
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 08:56 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4prAIh_wcU
tenor banjo this time

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 09:37 AM

Greg and all above . Why not also add what make of banjo you are playing if you feel like it ?? Here is a classic Clarence Tom Ashley song :The COO COO . I am using a Mike Ramsey With a Dobson neck . its tuned in a sawmill or G sus 4 tuning gDGCD .I am playing 'clawhammer Banjo "   All the best Guy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBs5tp294OM

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: greg stephens
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 09:41 AM

To leave five-strings for a bit, how about the man who exploded the tenor banjo into life in Ireland and Britain? The legendary Barney McKenna.
It's worth listening to the whole track, Barney takes a long time to come in, but when he does you can see how a master starts a solo, the ould ham. The whole track also gives plenty of opportunities to hear some fine Peter Sellars-style exhortatory shouts.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: greg stephens
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 10:23 AM

Thanks for contributions, all. A portrait of the inbstrument and its devotess)is starting to coalesce out of the ether. Guy asks what kind we all play. Mine is an old John Grey, with a nice old brass resonator which your can't really see of course.The neck meeds a bit of remedial work I think.
Here it is again, not so manic this time, sitting in my local, the Greyhound in Penkhull, playing

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: The Sandman
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 10:26 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7D_Ml6OrN0 blarney pilgrim played on a vega little wonder tenor banjo with no resonator.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 10:37 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXnrD-w-5-o

Here is me singing and playing the banjo while wearing a false beard and an aran polo neck.

I grant you, that doesn't exactly do much to further the 'Take Banjoists Seriously' campaign. Still, it was a fun night...

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 10:40 AM

bah, I never seem to be able to make hyperlinks clickable on here... guess you'll have to cut'n'paste...

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: greg stephens
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 10:47 AM

(my last post went wrong. Hope a kindly clone will remove it, plus this bit in brackets)

Thanks for contributions, all. A portrait of God's own instrument (and its devotess)is starting to coalesce out of the ether.
Guy Woolf asks what kind we all play. Mine is an old John Grey, with a nice old brass resonator which your can't really see of course.The neck needs a bit of remedial work I think.
Here it is again, not so manic this time, relaxing in my local, the Greyhound in Penkhull, playing the Jenny Lind Polka.
(For the benefit of Guy Woolf, Penkhull is in Stoke-on-Trent, home of pottery!).

You may notice that things are slightly out of focus. This tends to happen in English pubs during the latter part of the evening. The three musicians in the middle are the Boat Band; the bearded and pony-tailed fiddler who occasionally appears on the right is Flos Headford, who was passing through that night.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Mavis Enderby
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 10:57 AM

OK - here's mine: Scarborough Fair on an old Savana 5 string.

Pete.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: greg stephens
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 11:08 AM

Here, I hope, is Matt Milton's link .
Are you sure that's you, Matt? It looks more like Barney McKenna, or possibly Dick Miles.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 11:13 AM

Don't do youtube but I've been playing banjo since '71. All old time all the time. Banjo playing carries no stigma in WV.

Russ (Permanent GUEST and banjo player)

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 11:17 AM

Can't believe I have to say this again: "Banjo players are sexier."
Think John Hartford.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Rasener
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 12:00 PM

It may please you to know that secretly I like the banjo as long as its played well and this is the master.
Banjiman is a bit too young to remember him :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzqiLf503qQ&feature=related

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Mooh
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 12:08 PM

Greg...Haven't read the thread yet, just watched your first posted YouTube link. I love your band, absolutely love it, and the first thing that came to mind was how am I going to put one like it together?

You must have so much fun!

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Banjiman
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 12:10 PM

Villan, it's OK my great grandparents told me about him......

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Rasener
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 12:11 PM

Now you just be careful young man, or I may have to come over there and banjo you :-)

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Banjiman
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 12:16 PM

Here's something a bit more subtle, just to prove that the 5 string banjo can work to accompany british folky style music.

I'm playing with the Mrs and the much too talented Rebekah Findlay (the fiddler who gave me a good whooping above).

One Stone (+ banjo player) The Visito(e)r

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Banjiman
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 12:17 PM

...... on my Goldtone Bob Carlin 350 special.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Rasener
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 12:24 PM

A banjo should lead Paul (just like Lonnie Donegan). Those women have you under their thumb. :-)

Goo plug though :-)

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 12:25 PM

Just watched the clip. That is very jolly! Listening to that has just got to put you in a good frame of mind!

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Banjiman
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 12:28 PM

"Those women have you under their thumb. :-)"

You're only jealous Les.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Rasener
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 12:37 PM

>>Just watched the clip. That is very jolly! Listening to that has just got to put you in a good frame of mind!<<

Which one. there are 2

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Rasener
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 12:42 PM

I just love this one. I think thats the tenor banjo. Just love te sound. A guy called John Bastable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpA5vxAEYUQ&feature=related

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Rasener
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 12:45 PM

This one seems quite appropriate for the men and women who deliver letters in the UK

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL7FpOAOoMQ&feature=related

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Rasener
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 01:05 PM

Who was the banjo player in the last video?

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: stallion
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 01:20 PM

mmmmmmmm Paulo two wonderful thumbs to be under! Lucky bugger!

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 01:37 PM

Me and me mates used to do "Banjo"
We would gather in darkened rooms
Wear bib fronted overalls and arm bands and play with each other.
In those days it was illegal even between consenting adults.
Today there is still a certain stigma attached to the practice but it does me old heart good to know that there are younger better players out there. Who are not ashamed,will not hide their predilections away,
And are prepared to be proud and LOUD!

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Rasener
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 01:40 PM

You naughty little boy Timmy :-) You will go blind :-)

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: The Sandman
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 02:11 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgmceZoM1Y8&feature=related check out all the ROSCOE HOLCOMB,THERE IS AGREAT VERSION OF LITLE GRAY MULE

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: The Sandman
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 02:20 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wGgvbHcgyc&feature=related

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Rasener
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 02:38 PM

http://www.keithpearson.co.uk/

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Don Firth
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 03:20 PM

I have a banjo and I'm not afraid to use it!
             --Tom Rawson, local (Seattle area) singer/banjoist

Don Firth

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 03:23 PM

I've never understood where this prejudice against banjos comes from. As a non-player it's always been one of my favourites for listening to.

If I thought that playing any sort of instrument was remotely possible (which I'm sure it isn't - people who do play must be projecting some sort of complex illusion) I would like to play a banjo.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Don Firth
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 03:29 PM

Hmm! I don't think I've ever encountered this. I know that miscellaneous smart remarks are made about just about every musical instrument there is ("An oboe is an ill wind that nobody blows good!"}, but is actual predudice against the banjo a real issue?

Don Firth

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 04:17 PM

Shimrod,

For a detailed analyis of the transformation of the image of banjos, banjo players,and banjo playing during the 19th and 20th centuries, see See Karen Linn's "That Half-Barbaric Twang: THE BANJO IN AMERICAN POPULAR CULTURE".

Russ (Permanent GUEST and banjo player)

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Rasener
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 04:22 PM

Well I think that Banjo players are less disliked than bodhran players :-)

I don't think people dislike banjo players, but maybe banjo players can't take the jokes as easily as other instrument players

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 05:39 PM

Rob Murch - wonderful banjo player, plays with the Dartmoor Pixies, who will be playing for the Haddenham ceilidh next month on 7 November!

Kitty

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Acorn4
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 05:42 PM

I didn't realise this thread was coming up otherwise I would have recorded this and stuck it on Youtube -may well do that if the thread is still up and running in a couple of day's time:-

My humble offering:-

Banjos 'R' Sexy.

1.Well I'm driving down the highway,
Kinda surveying the scene
Giving all the chicks the eye
If yo all know what I mean
A trail of dust and broken hearts
But I don't give a damn.
I love em and I leave em,
That's the kinda guy I am.

2.It ain't my fifty gallon hat
Or my designer stubble,
My hairy chest,
That bulge in my Levis
Girls find irresistible
It ain't my daddy's millions
Or my open top Ford Mustang
My animal magnetism, my infinite modesty, or my all over suntan.

3.Now them good ole boys they envy me
I always get the girl
You either got it or you ain't
I tell them as my lip curls
You all cain't do what I can do
They all knew what I meant
As I leapt into the backseat
And produced my instrument.

Now I know some folks will disagree
But Its so plain for everyone to see:-

Chorus:-

Banjos are sexy, Banjos are cool,
All joking aside, those banjos rule OK
As I go round from town to town
I hear the folks all sing
Who's that guy with the banjo
He pulls the women and the strings.

4.Now John Wayne and Clint Eastwood,
Were both real megadudes,
But me , I put them in the shade,
Picking my good ole banjo tunes,
With it strapped around my shoulders
I'm feeling so well hung,
Let my fingers do the walking,
As it rattles like a machine gun.


My banjo makes me feel like I'm a King
At least it would if I could play the sodding thing.

Chorus:-

Banjos are sexy...

5.Mothers lock up their daughters
Slap asbos on my head,
But they all scream and wet themselves
As I hit that G spot dead ,
Then they'll throw their knickers on the stage,
I'll throw them back at them,.
or use then to wipe
The sweat from off my good ole
Five string friend.

Old banjos never die, you'll hear me croon
They just go slowly out of tune.

Chorus

Lers banjos sont sexy
Les banjos sont cool
Cen'est pas un badinage
Les banjos regnesur le monde OK
Et comme je roule de ville on ville
On dit "Orgh, c'est rock and roll
Et donnez moi un home avec le sexy banjo.

The song was actually written because I'm trying seriously to learn the five string, and I wanted a song to do where the cock-ups don't matter too much.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Joe_F
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 05:46 PM

On a banjo should be written: This machine kills blue devils.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: greg stephens
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 06:05 PM

Robert Murch, the current superstar of the banjo firmament, was mentioned earlier. Anyone know how to find some video? Forget bluegrass, old time. Murch picking is where it's at. When I heard him I pretty nearly smashed my banjo.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: The Vulgar Boatman
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 06:15 PM

Since it's my birthday, two sketches from a long life - where other pubs had a cribbage session on Sunday lunchtimes, we had a banjo school in the Top House in Bramcote in the sixties... and the sainted Barney once offered to run away with my missus. Thankfully, she refused the offer. Still playing a battered but much loved Jack Abbot.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 06:33 PM

Greg - I tried googling to get a clip of Robert or the Pixies before I posted, but could only find this

Kitty

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Peace
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 07:23 PM

"I play the banjo and I am proud of it"

Me too.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 Oct 09 - 08:42 PM

I play a vintage S.S. Stewart Orchestra 5-string banjo and here's a link to how I play Johnnie o' Breadisley in my arrangement of John Masefield's poem "Mother Carey": Click here for lyrics and MP3 Sample!

What'cha think?

"If you use a banjo as a snow shovel, do so, only don't wonder if it sounds dull afterwards", attributed to Samual S. Stewart.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Rasener
Date: 12 Oct 09 - 02:27 AM

Don't know if this was already posted.

Robert with the Pixies snippet on you tube

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Banjiman
Date: 12 Oct 09 - 02:49 AM

Dan Walsh. The best banjo player in the UK? (He's still in his early 20's)

Prepare to weep. Come see him at Kirkby Fleetham Folk Club on Saturday 14th November.

This guy is brilliant!

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 12 Oct 09 - 03:56 AM

Hi Russ,

Thanks for the reference - now I'll just have to see if I can find it.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: banjoman
Date: 12 Oct 09 - 10:54 AM

I have been playing banjo now for almost 50 years and more recently started making them, mainly for myself although I have sold the odd one or two. I currently have about 20 banjos in various stages ranging from playable to in bits. I love banjo jokes and am amazed at the wit that thinks them up. However, my favourite ploy is to change them to Melodeon jokes, as I absolutely detest these instruments no matter who is playing them. I refer to them as the last refuge of the musically inept.
Some of my best friends play melodeons
Pete

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 12 Oct 09 - 12:42 PM

Banjos got a bad name because of a vast number of lousy banjoists, who tended to drown out everyone else (banjos are LOUD).

An extremely easy instrument to get started with, it's all too tempting the progress from halting, simple noise into virtuosic, high-speed noise.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Marje
Date: 12 Oct 09 - 12:49 PM

Well, I like the banjo very much and enjooy hearing it played. I'd never make a banjo joke.

But then I play melodeon ...

Marje

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: The Sandman
Date: 12 Oct 09 - 01:06 PM

I dont like this best rubbish.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: greg stephens
Date: 12 Oct 09 - 02:40 PM

Most of the clips posted suffer from only presenting one banjo at a time. Not so with this one, Barney McKenna asks a few friends round.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Banjiman
Date: 12 Oct 09 - 02:51 PM

"I dont like this best rubbish."


Respect where it is due Dick. Sometimes you just have to accept that someone is better than you (well me actually)..... and everyone else you've ever heard.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: The Sandman
Date: 12 Oct 09 - 03:32 PM

yes, he is very good/excellent,
but no I dont agree,because its difficult to say one person is better than another when they are playing in different styles or totally different types of banjo,music is not a competition
I expect he[dan Walsh] is embarrassed about such a statement.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Banjiman
Date: 12 Oct 09 - 04:28 PM

I'll ask him if he is embarrassed about his label (not originally given to him by me) when I see him.

I didn't say music was a competition, but sometimes you see a level of technical excellence that you just know you can't attain......and neither can many/ any others. That's just how it is!

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 12 Oct 09 - 04:38 PM

Thing is, if you're talking from a purely technical point of view you'd have just as good a case for saying John Dowland is the best banjo player in the UK. (Not sure what his parents were thinking when they gave him that name! Probably wanted him to become a musician...)

He's also impressively young. In terms of technical ability he's certainly on a par with Dan Walsh. Different style of playing - Dowland's 3-finger, and coming from that Trishka/Bela Fleck jazzy fusion school of 'newgrass'. He was the first Brit to win that national US competition.

But I can't say I'm really a fan of that type of playing. In any school - fast bluegrass or fast clawhammer tends to get a bit mechanistic and leaves me ultimately cold.

My fave banjoists are probably Frank Profitt and Peggy Seeger. Neither of whose playing was/is exactly flashy. They played banjo as an organic part of being a singer singing a song.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 12 Oct 09 - 04:40 PM

by the way, Ed Hicks is playing the Kit & Cutter folk night in Deptford on Saturday. I've not heard him before but I'm looking forward to it - he's another young old-timey clawhammer player apparently...

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Banjiman
Date: 12 Oct 09 - 05:43 PM

Matt, I'm with you mate.

Favourite is another matter (though I like Dan's playing a lot) to best. IMHO.

But hey, let's all just enjoy the talent that's being linked to from this thread.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Patrick-Costello
Date: 12 Oct 09 - 05:48 PM

I love my banjo and I love my guitar even more now that I can hear!

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/10/12/cc-friendly-folk-fes.html

-Patrick
http://dailyfrail.com/

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 12 Oct 09 - 06:08 PM

A lot of Banjos !!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT5HpK0eWW4

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 12 Oct 09 - 06:15 PM

AND <><>>< Wait for it <><>><> fantastic English Kitchen Banjo


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4gPWB80uyc



I love this guy . Al the best , Guy

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 12 Oct 09 - 09:20 PM

Guy, for equal time (on dissed instruments), check out this full film (of which that is only a clip), especially at 3:12. These are multi-talented gals!

~ Becky in Long Beach this week

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: olddude
Date: 12 Oct 09 - 09:24 PM

I am proud of my banjo but not how bad I play it

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 02:40 AM

Wow Patrick Costello.
Posting someone or something as "The Best" is a bit American teen chaps.
All the clips are of people who can play better than I ever will.
But to say they are the best,even if you do qualify that in some way is a bit "Naff"?
Anyway I have enjoyed this thread so far and so to Bed....
Goodnight All
Now where did I put that warming pan.......

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Banjiman
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 05:50 AM

"Posting someone or something as "The Best" is a bit American teen chaps."


Awesome dude!!!




OK I'm wrong, I'll go eat my banjo.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: greg stephens
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 06:22 AM

Great clips. Keep them coming. Audio is fine, doesn't have to be video.
Guy Wolff's harem of banjo players was particularly good I thought.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: greg stephens
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 06:28 AM

Nowadays, you get a banjo out of its case and people start demanding "Duelling Banjoes" (or "that squeal like a pig" tune, or some such).
But I come from the era when the sight of a banjo provoked cries for this

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 08:05 AM

LOL
No don't do that Paul,I "LIKE" hearing you play!

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Acorn4
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 08:49 AM

I think all the links have shown what a versatile instrument it can be -

Here's our local man:-

Banjo Dez

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: GUEST,BanjoRay
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 08:53 AM

Guest Matt Milton got his wires slightly crossed, I think. The past winner of the Winfield banjo competition was John Dowling, not John Dowland.
Ray

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: olddude
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 09:03 AM

My friends Barry and Cathead doing "The old Spinning Wheel"
The old Spinning Wheel

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Mavis Enderby
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 10:11 AM

One of my favourites:

rollin' and tumblin'

I'm planning to make a gourd banjo after seeing this!

I'm also a big fan of pretty much anything Cathy Moore does too.

So much good banjo stuff out there. Go look!

Pete.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 10:30 AM

How much for the Gourd?????

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 10:31 AM

I love my banjo and I love the jokes

"After 25 years the rest of the band realised the banjo player had been miming to a Tape"

Gerry

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Rasener
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 11:40 AM

LOL BF

>>Posted by Banjiman
OK I'm wrong, I'll go eat my banjo.<<

Don't forget the salt and vinegar and let us know how it tasted. :-)

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: GUEST,Goodnight Gracie
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 12:01 PM

Well maybe us banjo players do get a bad rap. But I don't think it is so bad as say hammered dulcimer players or bagpipe players. I think it helps to maintain a sense of humor. One of my favorite sayings is what the old time string band Roustabout used to have plastered on some lovely orange baseball caps, "old time music, it is better than it sounds."

Gracie

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Mavis Enderby
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 12:19 PM

Tim - Gourds are just waiting for the first frost to be harvested from the allotment. This is going to be an organic banjo!

Pete.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: SharonA
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 12:54 PM

I would like to invite all banjo-playing Mudcatters to supply links to shots of themselves playing banjoes...

How about a pic of me playing my mandobanjo -- would that do?

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: The Sandman
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 12:57 PM

oh yes, the hammered dulcimer,very useful for a picnic,for slicing the hard boiled eggs.
the problem with the HD,is that everything is legato,its opposite is the bowed psaltery,Iam surprised there have been no duos with this combination.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: frogprince
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 01:07 PM

I've never really managed to play a banjo, or anything else except a phonograph or cd player, but I made a banjo once ....well, sorta...

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 01:46 PM

You're right about the Dowling/Dowland mistake. Dunno where I got that from. I've seen the guy's name written down many many times, listened to his music on myspace and cdbaby, and every time had it in my head that he was Dowland (ie exactly the same as the composer). Bit of minor dyslexia there... That's almost a shame... would be nice if a Brit banjo fiend shared the same name as a Renaissence-era lutenist.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Don Firth
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 03:21 PM

You've never really heard "The William Tell Overture" until you've heard it played on a hammered dulcimer!

Don Firth

(Especially if the dulcimer player is a little bit hammered also.)

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 04:26 PM

Grow yer own? Nah its not the same if you aint gonna haggle.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: TopcatBanjo
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 05:58 PM

My name is TopCat and I play the banjo!

Having taken up the 5-string 18 months ago, as I hit middle age, I absolutely love it and it has opened up a whole new world for me - in my case listening to and playing bluegrass music. I want to learn clawhammer/old-time style once I have the picking down a bit better, and in the future I may even tackle Irish tenor playing.

No videos of me as yet, but here are just a few of my favourite 5-string pickers, I hope you enjoy them:

The fabulous Ron Block. You may have seen/heard him with Alison Krauss but this clip shows off his banjo playing a little closer. My tutor at Sore Fingers bluegrass camp this year. A scholar and a gentleman!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaXqrnoRG0Y

Tony Trischka, with a fun Beatles arrangement:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i0lFJWaHWg

Jens Kruger, Swiss-born maker of some of the most exquisite live music I have ever heard!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5qHkxnLtiw

Jim Mills (can't find a good enough "proper" video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFus3OaVtGE

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Joe_F
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 06:05 PM

The best thing that could happen to me would be for a banjo player and Gnu expert to be enslaved to me by insatiable lust.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 10:56 PM

Becky thanks for the full clip .. 9 count them 9 accordions ! And they are proud as well !! Is the bass bull fiddle player playing a Bass bassoon on that cool solo ?? . They are amazing . My father was in his last year at Yale in 1927. I wonder if he saw this review in New York ??.. All the best , Guy      I will go luck for Lilly May ledford on YT now ..

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Songbob
Date: 13 Oct 09 - 11:25 PM

If anyone wants a banjo instruction & songbook, I still have about 100+ of my 1976 "Old-Timey Banjo Book," which I'll send for $10 ppd.

Bob Clayton
8401 Cedar St.
Silver Spring, MD 20910

OR Paypal to [e-mail] with your mailing address.

And I'll post some playing clips one of these days, once I get around to using the video camera, although you can get an idea of my playing on I-Tunes by looking for Douglas Jimerson and Civil War Comrades ("A Lincoln Portrait" is the best CD for the banjo parts). That's the band I'm in, where I play banjo, mandolin, and some guitar. I do both modern and minstrel style banjos, mostly stroke (clawhammer) style.

Bob Clayton

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: PHJim
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 11:46 AM

I play clawhammer and my buddy Al plays three finger style. The soecond song on our myspace page is When You And I Were Young Maggie. It's a banjo duet with our friend Zeke Mazurek playing the fiddle. I'm the one playing the banjo in the picture.

www.myspace.com/kirbyandyates

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: PHJim
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 11:50 AM

Sorry, I forgot to make the blue clicky.

http://www.myspace.com/kirbyandyates

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Sooz
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 11:52 AM

Ha 100!!
I'm thinking of buying one - will I be ostracised from the folk club?

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Banjiman
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 11:55 AM

Come to ours instead..... you'll be welcomed with open arms (by me anyway!)

Paul

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Sooz
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 12:15 PM

Thanks Paul - I'll bear that in mind!

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: greg stephens
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 12:28 PM

PHJim: great stuff that Maggie duet. Very relaxed, enjoyed it a lot.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: The Sandman
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 01:26 PM

cathy moore is intersting,but surely its only a question of playing in 6/8 to break away from bum ditty?.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Mavis Enderby
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 03:49 PM

Or 9/4... Rampi Rampi

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Acorn4
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 06:29 PM

I think this is still my favourite banjo tune, although perhaps it has become a bit of a cliche:-

David Holt/Doc Watson/Shady Grove

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 06:55 PM

Just came on this by accident: picky clicky. Wish they had an enlarged picture or video!

The Murtogh D. Guinness (yes, of the beverage family) collection of "700 historic mechanical musical instruments and automata (mechanical figures) and more than 5,000 programmed media, ranging from player piano rolls to pinned cylinders" was donated to the Morris Museum, the museum "where I grew up". I worked and volunteered there from junior high into high school; my mother volunteered there, too, and then worked in the exhibits department for many years. The donation was in recent times (2003), though, so I haven't seen this or any of the other gadgets in person.

~ Becky in Long Beach this week

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Peace
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 07:02 PM

I admire banjo players (when all the slagging of banjos is put to rest at the end of the day) because they have to work their fingers off to make them sound so good. Congratulations and sincere appreciation to you all.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 15 Oct 09 - 04:15 AM

Bruce you can always find something nice to say.
Even about............

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Sean Mc
Date: 15 Oct 09 - 05:47 AM

The banjo starts about a minute in . . . . honest !!

Lilting Banshee

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: greg stephens
Date: 15 Oct 09 - 05:59 AM

But why do you play the banjo and bazouki right-handed, and the guitar left-handed?

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: greg stephens
Date: 15 Oct 09 - 06:58 AM

I have manged to track down a clip of the absolutely stupendous Robert Murch playing Whistling Rufus with the Moor Music Trio from Dartmoor. It is only very short, but it gives the style OK. If you get a chance to hear him, seek him out. In the Moor Music trio, the Dartmoor Pixie Band, or the Watch(with Dan Quinn)

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 15 Oct 09 - 07:06 AM

We've just received the latest Rosie Nieper T-shirt catalogue (www.rosienieper.co.uk) and one of the new lines bears the clogan "paddle faster I hear banjos".

I couldn't possibly comment!

RtS

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: greg stephens
Date: 15 Oct 09 - 07:11 AM

Well I live by the Trent and Mersey canal and I'd hate to tell you what I do with any narrow boat holiday makers that I catch.

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Oct 09 - 07:29 AM

Finally managed to get my PC to work again due to application of "impact technology" (see BS thread) enough to post up an effort at banjo playing to youtube.

Tend to use the cross-pick a lot which as a guitarist I'm used to but gradually trying to include the other rolls and trying to learn a bit of frailing as well:-



Banjos 'r Sexy!

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Acorn4
Date: 15 Oct 09 - 07:31 AM

...sorry, the above was me - on my laptop which doesn't put in the cookie automatically!

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Acorn4
Date: 15 Oct 09 - 07:33 AM

Here's the link again in case the anon post gets deleted:-



Banjos 'r Sexy!

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Sean Mc
Date: 15 Oct 09 - 11:29 AM

Greg,
It's all done with smoke & mirrors - I'm not really ambidextrous.
Sean

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 15 Oct 09 - 01:36 PM

About a decade ago I had the chance to hear Robert Murch and the Pixies over here at CDSS's Pinewoods Folk Music Week, in Plymouth, Mass. Great fun those folks were.

~ Becky in Long Beach this week

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Rasener
Date: 15 Oct 09 - 02:15 PM

AAAAAAAhhhh the thought of Mrs Sooz playing Kazoo and Banjo - spare me :-)

Only kidding Sue :-)

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 15 Oct 09 - 03:50 PM

AND make the banjo roar. There's no finer instrument, sez I. Bob

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: Banjiman
Date: 18 Oct 09 - 01:25 PM

See what you make of this. My attempt to prove that banjos can be subtle backing for beautiful songs (and singers of course, in case the Mrs reads this!)


Wendy & Paul Arrowsmith- The Southern Girls Reply (+ a tune)

Subject: RE: I play the banjo and I am proud of it
From: BanjoRay
Date: 26 Oct 09 - 11:17 AM

Well here's my contribution from a session in 2003 at the Ship Inn, Gainsbvorough, on the Sunday night following the Old Time Festival. A bunch of good musicians playing Hell Among The Yearlings. I'm the nearest banjo player to the camera.
Forgive the grammar and spelling in the credits - the guy who took the film is from Amsterdam.
Ray