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31 Aug 00 - 04:48 AM (#288380) Subject: How to start playing Irish banjo? From: Fedele Well, I sometimes think it's time for me to find a REAL hobby, and I think I should play something. I think you all agree that playing together with friends or even people you've never met before - call it a "session" or so - is one of the most relaxing thing you can do. And I'm also tired of always reading song lyrics without being able to sing them or play them. So I thought I could start playing the banjo. Well, you know, Italy is not full of banjo teachers, so I think I have to learn it by myself. The problem is, I'm not very good in music theory, I can't play any instrument, ad obviously I can't play a banjo. I don't want to spend money for a banjo and then drop it after a few weeks because I can't manage it at all. So can anyone suggest me some book or reference manual or something for absolute beginners? The point is, not ONLY tablatures - if you learn by tabs only, I guess how can you then play anything else when you don't have the tabs -; and it has to be something I can find here or I can order and pay by International Money Order, no credit card, and not too expensive Well, the +BEST+ think would be a WEBPAGE, not a book, so I don't have to pay it at all. Mind that I would like to play mostly Irish folk but also be capable of not get mad if anyone starts playing some American song or so. Hope you can help me. Link me to some webpages please!!! |
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31 Aug 00 - 05:59 AM (#288395) Subject: RE: How to start playing Irish banjo? From: GUEST,still Fedele Seems that a lot of people are posting messages today (not to this thread...), so I think it's better to refresh or this will soon go to the end of the page. |
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31 Aug 00 - 07:49 AM (#288418) Subject: RE: How to start playing Irish banjo? From: death by whisky Hello Fedele.Can,t help you with websites.However Sullys Irish Banjo includes notation,tab and cassette. Publisher: Halshaw Music 37 Catherine Street Macclesfield Cheshire U.K SK11 6ET Tel: 01625 601849 also Ossian Publications Publishers and Distributors P.O.Box 84 40 maccurtain street Cork Ireland Try this one first,or I CAN SEEif there is one available here.Good luck |
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31 Aug 00 - 07:58 AM (#288426) Subject: RE: How to start playing Irish banjo? From: Midchuck According to Utah Phillips, the term "Irish banjo" means a long-handled shovel... Peter. |
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31 Aug 00 - 08:00 AM (#288428) Subject: RE: How to start playing Irish banjo? From: GUEST,Fedele No, diggin' isn't that relaxing. So let's say "banjo used to play Irish folk music". ;-) |
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31 Aug 00 - 08:18 AM (#288433) Subject: RE: How to start playing Irish banjo? From: death by whisky Its true MC.Our shovels have longer handles,and pointy tips.Better for accuracy when the wheelbarrow is at a distance.Which is what I should be doing now.... |
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31 Aug 00 - 08:54 AM (#288448) Subject: RE: How to start playing Irish banjo? From: GUEST,Vincenzo Fedele, if you live in Roma, or near you can learn the banjo in some Irish session in pubs. If you like, you can ask about some lesson and however you can learn/play with us. Ciao Vincenzo |
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31 Aug 00 - 10:29 AM (#288536) Subject: RE: How to start playing Irish banjo? From: Jon W. Are you thinking of tenor banjo or 5-string? The approach and sound are quite different for each but both can be used to play Irish music. Tenor is probably more common for Irish, 5-string for American. |
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31 Aug 00 - 11:44 AM (#288599) Subject: RE: How to start playing Irish banjo? From: GUEST,Fedele Reply to Vincenzo: grazie, se sei il Vincenzo che conosco io ci conosciamo piu' o meno di vista essendo io il fratello di Giovanni di Grosseto. Felice di trovarti qui e ringrazio per l'offerta purtroppo impraticabile (cioe' almeno a Roma, poi magari se imparo qualcosa da me puo' darsi che ci si riveda in giro a suonare). To others: well, I was thinking about Irish music, but I didn't really think about the type of banjo. What would you suggest? From my humble point of view, it would be more useful to learn some simple theory and some Irish stuff or so, and then I think one should (nearly automatically) be able of understanding what's happening around him if he finds himself with others playing a Woody Guthrie's song or so, and also be able of playing a simple song of whatever country; while I think it would be quite annoying if you learn to play a tipically American banjo and then you can't play any Irish stuff because your banjo is not tuned the right way, or you aren't used to play with the tuning you're supposed to play, or simply you can't understand what the hell is going on with the other people playing. I hope someone can help me, or else I'll have to learn to play that tin whistle. Not so amazing. |
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31 Aug 00 - 11:56 AM (#288611) Subject: RE: How to start playing Irish banjo? From: GUEST,Luther Fedele, try www.irishbanjo.com -- should find everthing you need there to get started.
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31 Aug 00 - 11:58 AM (#288613) Subject: RE: How to start playing Irish banjo? From: Jimmy C Fedele, As your are in Rome, why don't you get a mandolin and start on it, when tuned E to G it's the same fingering as the Irish Tenor banjo tuning. Start with some scales - G - A - D - E should be enough to get you going or you could use a capo?. Practice at least 30 to 60 minutes a day, without fail and you should be playing a few simple tunes and slow airs very soon. Don't worry too much about the trebles etc, at the start, they will all come in time. Good luck |
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31 Aug 00 - 01:59 PM (#288650) Subject: RE: How to start playing Irish banjo? From: Jon Freeman Sully does have a web site at http://www.halshawmusic.co.uk. Here is a blue clicky for irishbanjo.com http://www.irishbanjo.com/reading.html. This site lists both Sully's books and the Gerry O'Connor tutor which is also popular. Jon |
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31 Aug 00 - 02:32 PM (#288662) Subject: RE: How to start playing Irish banjo? From: death by whisky Good site Jon |
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31 Aug 00 - 03:00 PM (#288681) Subject: RE: How to start playing Irish banjo? From: Peter K (Fionn) Yes, Fedele, I would say mandolin would be worth thinking about for starters. Same range, same fingering, as fiddle etc. You'll find more people playing & teaching mandolin than banjo in Italy, and the Sully tutor still works. If you still wanted to play banjo, the logical progression would be to tenor banjo rather than 5-string - it's a fairly easy step. |
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31 Aug 00 - 03:05 PM (#288684) Subject: RE: How to start playing Irish banjo? From: Peter K (Fionn) Meant to add that I'd be careful about diving in at 60 minutes a day. Unless you're used to holding down high-tension strings, you're left-hand fingers would soon be red-raw at that rate, then you'd have to lay off altogether for a couple of days. Build up slowly over a couple of weeks! |
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31 Aug 00 - 06:01 PM (#288775) Subject: RE: How to start playing Irish banjo? From: GUEST,beachcomber Who can play "Irish" music really well (Sounding authentically Irish) on the 5-String Banjo. I'm genuinely interested in knowing and hearing. Anyone know of any recordings that I might be able to get? Sorry, this is a bit off the main thread I know, but I have asked before without reply. |
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31 Aug 00 - 06:19 PM (#288791) Subject: RE: How to start playing Irish banjo? From: Charcloth Tommy Makem & the Clancy Brothers did the 5 string rather well as did the Corries (Sorry but they did more Scottish stuff) Tommy Makem is more like the Pete Seeger style. The Sully material is ok. But I prefer the Frailng style which sounds almost the same but has a slightly different approach. Most Irish players don't use the 3 finger style like you hear in bluegrass. Homespun tapes is a good place to get learning material & they carry both the scruggs style & frailing. Their material is well done. Murphy Henery has a frailing video also series as well as 3 finger Scruggs. I hope this helps if I can be of any further help just email me charcloth@aol.com |
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31 Aug 00 - 06:42 PM (#288822) Subject: RE: How to start playing Irish banjo? From: Jon Freeman Try going to http://www.celticmusic.com/chrisg/#tunes and have a listen to the sound clips of Chris Grotewohl. I think he manages to pull it off on the 5 string but he is only one of 2 players I have heard do it. The other one was somebody called John from Manchester UK who I have met a couple of times in festivals. It seems to be a style that most bluegrass style players can't manage and the music (to me) usually lacks proper expression without even thinking about the ornamentation. I had a nice tape called the Melodic Clawhammer Banjo. With Irish tunes played by Ken Pearlman and others. While very different in style to the Irish Banjo, I thought it was very effective ryhymically. Jon |
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31 Aug 00 - 07:54 PM (#288870) Subject: RE: How to start playing Irish banjo? From: Charcloth Ken Perlman has a very nice CD called Island Boy with quite a bit of Clawhammer (frailing) banjo which I highly recomend. It Is mostly tunes heard arround Prince Edward Isle. He also has a lesson book & CD called basic clawhammer banjo but, IT IS NOT FOR BEGINNERS! great stuff though. |
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31 Aug 00 - 08:07 PM (#288878) Subject: RE: How to start playing Irish banjo? From: death by whisky Not so sure about the mandolin to banjo. Mandolin has smaller neck,closer frets(can get away with three fingers),double strung,different sound,lighter in weight.With all the differences you might as well go straight for the banjo.It is what you asked about. |
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04 Sep 00 - 07:51 AM (#290661) Subject: RE: How to start playing Irish banjo? From: GUEST,Vincenzo Roma Yes Fedele!!!! Sono il Vincenzo di Roma. Ciao |
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04 Sep 00 - 12:00 PM (#290782) Subject: RE: How to start playing Irish banjo? From: GUEST, Banjo Johnny You might try to find a short-neck 4-string banjo (banjolin) which is tuned like a fiddle or mandolin but sounds like a banjo. You can use it for chords or melody, but it won't sound "American" (not like a 5-string). I'm sure you have thought about mandolin and accordion, which can be used for Italian or Irish. The mandolin is also Very good for bluegrass. == Johnny |