b...b..b@njo!!

Niklas Widen · From: Uppsala, Sweden

So...how many banjo enthusiasts are there amongst us? Since I started pickin' the steel, I've hardly touched the thang, but then just yesterday I re-discovered the pure joy of just plucking around!!

And I just had to record this little tune that got the name

Twangman Rag!

Twangman's my online nick...actually, I played one of my first public gigs, at a students party, under the name Twangman, got through a half set ,broke a rod and had to cancel...guess most were too drunk to even notice...oh, well...

but back to subject - step out of the shadows, fellow pickers! Please say I'm not alone!

/Nicke W

Gary Lee Gimble · From: Fredericksburg, VA.

My enthusiasm is geared mostly towards the bulk of readers on this forum that politely elevated their nostrils whenever the word banjo is mentioned. Thus, I will post my link again which was posted on the bluegrass vs steel pickers showdown thread.
http://www.irish-studios.com/Downloads/bugle%20call.mp3

Gary Lee

Chad Karnitz · From: Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

Count me in. I started playing banjo last year. I bought a Gold Star archtop and really enjoy the portability and the fact that it's something different. My favorite players are Bill Keith, Bobby Thompson and Sonny Osborne.

Larry Robbins · From: Fort Edward, New York

I too must confess to pickn' the 5 string for more than 30 yr off and on!

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Sho-Bud ProII
"there's been an awful murder, down on music row!"

Savell · From: Slocomb, AL

Yeah... OK, OK... I play it enough to fool a few people into believing I can. Actually I liked it enough when I was younger that I played in a bluegrass band for almost a year.

Patrick Ickes · From: Upper Lake, CA USA

I rediscovered the joys of playing Banjo while building my house 3 years ago to the extent that I am selling my 2 year old Zumsteel, because to have such a fine PSG sitting in it's case for most the time is a shame.
Pat

Alvin Blaine · From: Picture Rocks, Arizona, USA

From the age of ten years old until about 25 years old all I did was play banjo. I would say between four and six hours a day for fifteen years. Growing up going to bluegrass festivals, and jamming with some of the greatest pickers that ever lived, was the best way to learn how to play music.
I still go to festivals every chance I get(I help out a friend of mine that runs sound for bluegrass festivals), and I even got to jam with Patrick(a great picker) last year up in Plymouth,CA. Then this past weekend I got to do a festival with his brother Rob. Some great pickin' in that family.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Niklas..at the risk of being accused of being totally drunk here at 6:00Am in NC, that was awesome !

You rock dude !

You can bring that 5 string over to my house anytime you like !

Excellent roll patterns and fills..

I bought a 5 string just before the Holidays and did start practicing the basic roll patterns but I was just to busy with other things and put it down..I do plan on making the time to move forward with it.

Thanks for the thread and for the tune..
t

Niklas Widen · From: Uppsala, Sweden

Hey thanks, Tony and all you others that have responded! Come on now, there must be even more 5-stringers here!

/Nicke W

George Kimery · From: Limestone, TN, USA

OK, I will "fess up". I played banjo during my college years and the "hootinanny" era. Only because I couldn't afford a PSG. I sat in boring classes working on copedents and chords available for the PSG on paper. I played steel for 5 years on paper! When I graduated and got my first job, the first thing I had to have was a car, the 2nd was a new 1969 Emmons D-10. I don't remember what happened to the Banjo. Funny, even when I was playing Banjo, I really enjoyed playing it, but never cared much about listening to others play. This is the same way I feel today, some 35 years later. No offense to Banjo players...to each his own. I wish now I had taken up Dobro instead, but at the time, I was afraid I would learn bad habits if I tried anything but PSG from the git-go.

Stephen Gambrell · From: Over there

Shoot, yeah, I've got a banjo (Gibson RB-250) and I'm not ashamed. I play banjo, and dobro, and guitar, a WHOLE lot better than steel. Not that I'm real good ay any of 'em

Lyle Bradford · From: Gilbert WV USA (deceased)

Gibson ES Standard but can't say i can play it. I just play with it. LOL

Smokey Fennell · From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

I play banjo and have always loved Blue Grass music. I started playing banjo right after I started steel so I would have an instrument to carry around and play.

Guest · Posted 25 Jan 2004 7:10 pm

I electrified my old Gibson about 30 years ago and started doing Bluegrass tunes instead of steel guitar intrumentals on gigs. It really gets the crowd up and moving! And I don't have to play "steel guitar rag."

Tom Olson · From: Spokane, WA

Everybody probably knows this already, but both Winnie Winston and Bill Keith were expert banjo players before picking up the PSG.

Randy Pettit · From: North Texas USA

I would NEVER publicly admit (especially on THIS forum) that I thoroughly enjoy playing my Deering Calico almost daily.

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

duplicate post delete me

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 26 January 2004 at 02:56 PM.]

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

Hey Twangman is cool!1 Nice job Niklas!

I don't presently own a banjo, but I can play it.
Somewhere between frailing anf flailing.

I was just recording banjo this afternoon.
Somewhere between dixieland and bluegrass.

And then we did 2 hours of irish music :
banjo with either guitar and mandolin,
or 2 mandolins and banjo. We will have a fiddler for the upcoming gig.

Bill Llewellyn · From: San Jose, CA

Pat Ickes, are you retiring PSG altogether for banjo? Or just letting go of one of your steels?

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Bill, steelin' since '99 | Steel page | My music | Steelers' birthdays | Over 50?