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17 Jan 02 - 03:47 PM (#629867) Subject: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: GUEST,Frank Rade I have recently bought my first Banjo. It is a 5 string Rover Banjo. Not the best in the world, but for $154.95 shipped with a soft carrying case, I am not complaining. It's a rather werid story. I bought it online. When I got it, it was broken. I called store and same day they rush delivered me another one. They are a awesome store. Anyhow, got my second one in perfect condition. I am very much loving the Banjo even though I have only been practicing for two days. I realize it's gonna take time but I can already tell this is something I know I will stick with. I thought I had to get a expensive Banjo to have fun. I was totally wrong. This is a very beginner Banjo but I know its as much as any other one. The finger picks are weird though. I have the metal ones, as i think most if not all are. Thumb picks are plastic unelss I'm wrong. Anyone know of a good maker of both thumb and finger picks? The ones i have, they kinda cut off circulation to finger tips and I know this can't be good. Anyhow, just though I would update you all. Damn, do I love playing the Banjo...Frank |
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17 Jan 02 - 03:54 PM (#629874) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: GUEST,BigDaddy Congratulations on your first banjo! I'm sure it is the first of several as that seems to be the pattern around here. Enjoy. By the way, what online "store" did you buy it from? |
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17 Jan 02 - 03:54 PM (#629875) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: Jerry Rasmussen Congratulations, Frank: I never could figure out them finger and thumb picks. I always got them hooked in the strings. Sounds like you want to play bluegrass. Old-time three-finger or clawhammer banjo don't require picks. Hey, one of my favorite banjos cost me ten bucks. It had a broken string, though.. Have a Great Time playting it. I can see that I don't have to tell you that.. Jerry |
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17 Jan 02 - 03:58 PM (#629878) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: SINSULL Another banjo player...life is good! Enjoy. |
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17 Jan 02 - 04:10 PM (#629888) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: Murph10566 Congrats, Frank - Can't hear a banjo without smiling ! Good luck with your new instrument... and getting used to those damned picks - I've had pretty good luck (managed not to hurt myself too badly) with "National" finger and thumb picks... As you mentioned, the thumb is plastic, and can be reformed for a better fit with some HOT water, while the metal finger picks bend fairly easily to a more comfortable and secure fit. Happy pickin', Murph |
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17 Jan 02 - 04:10 PM (#629889) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: Steve in Idaho Is this where we begin Banjo jokes?? I thought so :-) Why is a Banjo pickers lead turn in a go around and an orgasm the same?? Answer later - - Welcome - we Bluegrassers need all the help we can get! My first Banjo cost $50 and I wish I still had it. Steve |
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17 Jan 02 - 04:13 PM (#629892) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: Steve in Idaho Answer You know when both are going to happen and you can't do a thing about either one!! Be lucky Steve |
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17 Jan 02 - 04:14 PM (#629897) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRTS BANJO!!! From: Mark Clark Congratulations Frank. Now you'll have to consider becoming a regular member here. You'll get a lot of advice about picks. Picks are a lot like lovers—well, they're actually not much like lovers at all come to think of it—everyone likes something different. I think both National and Dunlap each supply both fingerpicks and thumbpicks that are suitable for three-finger banjo use. Each, as I recall, makes plastic thumbpicks and metal fingerpicks. The most common fingerpicks used to be the National model with round holes at the pad of the finger and all around the grip or ring part. They were patent no. 1787136. I don't know whether or not they're still made but when I get my banjo out—which is rarely anymore—that's what I use. My advice is to get a good teacher and use whatever your teacher uses. You can always experiment with different types when you're far enough along that choice of picks will make a difference. Oh, and find other people to pick with as soon as you can make it through a few tunes. - Mark |
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17 Jan 02 - 04:24 PM (#629903) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: catspaw49 Did your Rover come with a leash? Does it need shots? Congrats Frank and I hope you have a great time!!! Spaw |
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17 Jan 02 - 04:25 PM (#629905) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: Geoff the Duck Banjos are FUN!!!!! Quack! GtD.
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17 Jan 02 - 05:07 PM (#629929) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: wysiwyg Good to see you are realistic about the addiction! ~Susan |
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17 Jan 02 - 05:15 PM (#629936) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: Jon Freeman Congratulations Frank - I hope you get a lot of enjoyment out of it. I'm one of the tenor players here so I don't get involved with finger picks - a good flat pick does me. Another banjo place I visit that you may like to check out is the alt.banjo newsgroup where there are quite a few 5 string players. Jon |
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17 Jan 02 - 05:41 PM (#629950) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: DonMeixner I have a banjo, I have a wife, Wife hates the banjo, The future is yet to be written. Don |
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17 Jan 02 - 06:06 PM (#629980) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: Mark Clark I had a wife like that... once. - Mark |
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17 Jan 02 - 06:23 PM (#629999) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: Cap't Bob Don't worry about it too much Frank. Your condition will likely improve over the years. You should go out and purchase as many handkerchiefs as you can afford to sop up the drool. Also, try not to groan too much during practice as people may think you are sick. Have lots of fun. Cap't Bob |
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17 Jan 02 - 06:27 PM (#630002) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: RangerSteve Congratulations. All those people who make fun of banjoes and banjo players are people who couldn't master the banjo, and ended up playing inferior instruments, like the fiddle and guitar. |
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17 Jan 02 - 06:44 PM (#630015) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: gnu Don... been there, did that... now I play it the way I want... ;-) |
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17 Jan 02 - 06:55 PM (#630019) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: Banjer All those people who make fun of banjoes and banjo players are people who couldn't master the banjo Not always true! I play the banjo and I have one of largest collections of banjo jokes I know of. It's good when you can laugh at yourself...!! Enjoy your banjo Frank..I do enjoy mine!! |
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17 Jan 02 - 07:36 PM (#630072) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: BanjoRay Great Frank! I've been playing 40 years and I'm still learning new tunes and having a great time with it. Cheers |
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17 Jan 02 - 08:55 PM (#630127) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: Charcloth Congrats! Be warned, it is a life long addiction!! But ain't it great! Nothing puts a smile on folks like playing the banjo. |
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17 Jan 02 - 10:03 PM (#630184) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: Cap't Bob Frank ~ About picks that do not shut off the blood supply to the end of your fingers and thumbs. The best thumb pick I've found is called the "speed pick" (there was a thread about these picks a while back). They look rather strange but they tend not to slip and do not shut off the blood flow like most of the thumb picks I've tried over the years. You can see them at: http://www.elderly.com/accessories/items/PK24-M.htm I tend to like to feel the strings so I use "pickey pickeys". These are finger picks that come to a point. It takes a bit of practice to bend them so they fit properly. The advantage is that you can feel the sting on your finger tips. They are also sold at Elderly Instruments. Cap't Bob |
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17 Jan 02 - 11:06 PM (#630216) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: CRANKY YANKEE Dunlop finger picks are4 pretty much the same as National picks, except that the Dunlops come in different guages and are eisier to bend to your desired shape. Something I've been doing of late, is gluing "phoney Fingernails" to mine with "crazy glue" I also (when I haven't broken them off when I'm cutting wooden signs) use my natural fingernails whenever I can. That way you'll get the best feel of the strings. Tom Paley, who taught me clawhammer in about five minutes, soesn't use picks, nor does Paul geremia (on his guitar) Don't restrict yourself to accepted "styles" of picking. Just let your own personality dictate how you want to pick each song. You can also use guitar finger picking paterns on the banjo to good effect. Anyway, have a "plucking" good time with your new banjo. I think you'll find that audiences love banjos regardless of how short a time you've been playing Regards Jody Gibson |
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18 Jan 02 - 10:25 AM (#630501) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: GUEST,Russ Frank, Ignore the feelgood response. There is a chance, a very slim chance, that it is not too late. Second, STEP AWAY FROM THE BANJO. Brace yourself. Turn around. Walk away. Do NOT look back. Third, SEEK HELP IMMEDIATELY. You need professional counseling. Your unnatural desire to make yourself the butt of jokes and object of scorn and derision can be treated and a cure is always possible. There is hope. Russ (the frailer who wishes he had been given such advice 30 years ago. But would he have listened?) P.S. Should you be unable or unwilling to deal with a lifelong problem at this incipient stage, be warned that banjo playing is NOT for the psychically needy or fragile. |
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18 Jan 02 - 10:59 AM (#630523) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: Steve in Idaho Steve |
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18 Jan 02 - 11:01 AM (#630526) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: Steve in Idaho Speed picks can be found here he said with hope of the dang clicky working this time. Steve <a href="url here">clickable text here</a> ---Jeff (PA)--- |
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18 Jan 02 - 07:50 PM (#630794) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: GUEST Congratulations Frank....it is indeed a lifelong vocation. Play the banjo as you feel it. Even if you use picks it is not necessarily "bluegrass." My first banjo cost me 5 quid. I wish I had have kept it. Good picking ! Ollie |
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18 Jan 02 - 09:40 PM (#630881) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: 53 earl scruggs and steve martin will be proud, congrats, and hope you continue to enjoy. BOB |
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18 Jan 02 - 10:37 PM (#630909) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: GUEST,GUEST This might be the best representative sample of the humor the banjo seems to spawn. Don't say I didn't warn you... |
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19 Jan 02 - 12:55 AM (#630976) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: Coyote Breath I'll bet Russ plays a bodhran. JUST KIDDING! Hey Frank! what a wonderful thread. You will have more fun with a banjo than... well just about anything 'cept maybe drinking a good oatmeal stout or ... hmmm, danged if I can recall. anyway Pick how you want, learn as much as you can about your new instrument and tweak it to suit and you won't need to get another until old age sets in and you feel like blowing your kid's inheritance so's the nursing homes don't get it. I still play my $90.00 Saga kit and wouldn't part with it EVER! CB |
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19 Jan 02 - 01:00 PM (#631133) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: GUEST,Russ Coyote, Damn! How'd you guess??? True story from a truly excellent old time fiddler friend. He says he was unable to get a sound from the fiddle he was not completely ashamed of until he had been playing for two years. At one point during this two year period he was so depressed by his lack of progress on the fiddle that he decided he would start learning old time banjo as well. He was hoping to make faster progress on the banjo and boost his confidence. He says he was fully aware of the irony of learning to play banjo to improve his self-esteem. |
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19 Jan 02 - 01:05 PM (#631136) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: GUEST,Russ Frank, Pay no attention to the words of encouragement from these poor souls. They are sirens luring you to destruction. BUT, if you insist on continuing down this path of folly check out: http://www.zeppmusic.com/banjo/bn00002.htm#subscribe |
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20 Jan 02 - 12:12 AM (#631471) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: 53 did you play it much today? BOB |
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20 Jan 02 - 02:30 PM (#631709) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: GUEST,Seth from China(now USA) My friend gave me her Lyle five string just before I left to teach in a primary school in China for two years. I basically couldn't play a lick. There may be ten banjos in the whole nation, but nobody where I lived had ever seen one. Nobody cared whether I was any good at playing, they were just delighted to have me there doing something different. So I had a very enthusiastic following,I played my banjo for my kids every day, I got where I could play ( a little). What a confidence builder. In America, people for the most part are quite dismissive if you aren't a virtuoso, or it isn't music they they are familiar with. |
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22 Jan 02 - 10:15 AM (#632971) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: Steve in Idaho Well for all my BS I ended up with a banjo yesterday. I was at the music store and there was this old beater - had a marked down price of $130 - offered Shaun $50 for it and he took it. Crap - So I spent a couple of hours retightening the head, replacing missing screws, and getting it in tune. I found that there are several songs I have that I don't do on the guitar - but on the banjo they seem to fit quite nicely - I was also surprised that I remembered a few chords and am trying to get my fingers to remember them quickly enough to do more than a slow blues!! The Mrs. says she is "Trying to be supportive" but the back came off to tone down the volume and I was warned that if a fiddle showed up I'd be looking for a new cook. And I just sold both of my banjo books - Geezzzzz - don't it figure? Steve |
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22 Jan 02 - 03:12 PM (#633218) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: Gegenhuber I have a guitar, a bunch of harmonicas, a reasonably nice electronic keyboard ... and you know, a slide whistle and stuff ... and I can't play any of them worth a crap. No ambition, I guess, or maybe too much.
Well anyway, you guessed it, now I'm thinking about buying a banjo. Chance are excellent that I'd never learn to play it either, but who knows? I really love the things, and there's something wonderfully, uh, contrary about the banjo. It's so disparaged by virtually everybody that it might finally click with my cranky, discontented nature.
Just getting through "Brother Jim Got Shot" once would be worth a few hundred clams, wouldn't it? Ehem, I said wouldn't it?
Kurt "gonna lay down my old guitar" Gegenhuber |
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22 Jan 02 - 11:04 PM (#633510) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: GUEST,Seth from China You done said a moufful Seth |
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23 Jan 02 - 05:08 PM (#634047) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: GUEST,Spot UK Hi Mr New banjo-er, Get good really quick, sell yer house and buy a Stelling - they're GRRRRReat!! Best of luck, you'll love it after the "seizing up of the hands" syndrome passes!! ( Took 2 years fer me!!) |
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12 Feb 02 - 09:36 PM (#648746) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull |
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12 Feb 02 - 10:29 PM (#648791) Subject: RE: !!!GOT MY FIRST BANJO!!! From: Steve Latimer Frank, Welcome into the fraternity. As mentioned above, your best defence is offence. Learn as many banjo jokes as you can so you can head your detractors off at the pass. They can be extremely frustrating, but stick with it. Find a good teacher, listen to lots of Ralph Stanley and Earl Scruggs. Check this site out, it might be helpful. |