Banjo

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 28 Aug 2005 4:33 pm

I know there is a lot of banjo jokes out there ,but I dont think there's that many of you out there that really hate this instrutment that it seems. I just watched a rerun of the opry ,and saw Allison Brown on banjo,She was great.I was just a fair [not good]banjo picker years before I had the fortitude to try the steel guitar. By playing banjo for several years I had overcome a major obstacle for new steel players.I was already comfortable playing with finger picks and the different rolls. So loving the banjo was a blessing in disguise for me.

Jennings Ward · Post by **Jennings Ward** » 28 Aug 2005 6:07 pm

HOW DID YOU STAND THE NOISE???
I'LL BET THAT IT AFFECTED YOUR HEARING AND CONCEPT OF TONE... . JW U PK;;;;;;;;;

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EMMONS D10 10-10 profex 2 deltafex ne1000 pv1000, pv 31 bd eq, +

Michael Breid · Post by **Michael Breid** » 28 Aug 2005 6:56 pm

Don't let them discourage you Chuck. There are lots of great banjo players out there who made it playing banjo, and then went to the pedal steel. Bill Keith, Winnie Winston, Eric Weisberg, etc. You'd surprised how many banjo players went to steel. Sonny Osborne told me he gets some of his banjo licks from Buddy Emmons. So there you are. I'm a banjo player who is playing pedal steel, and so you are not alone. Shame on you JW.

Michael in the Ozarks

Tracy Sheehan · Post by **Tracy Sheehan** » 28 Aug 2005 8:00 pm

IF any wanna be banjo players live in northern CA.give b0b a call.I hear he gives banjo lessons and he is great on one.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 28 Aug 2005 9:50 pm

Come on J.W dont be so mean. I love ANY instrument if it's play well. I even love bagpipes if Glen Campbell is playing them. Even tho the steel guitar is my favorite instrument,I just love music.I dont care if it's Bela Fleck,Hank Garland,Stan Getz,Dave Brubeck,Stephane Grappelli,etc,I admire these people because they play great music.The only time any kind of music is noise[excluding rap which I dont think is music]is if it's played out of tune.

Jennings Ward · Post by **Jennings Ward** » 29 Aug 2005 6:25 pm

CHARLES, 2 KEY PHRASES IN YOUR REPLY:
1- " IF ITS PLAYED WELL"
2- " IF IT IS PLAYED IN TUNE "

THOSE ARE THE KEYS, AND I APPLAUD YOU..
LITTLE STORY...WENT TO GALAX , VA. OLD TIME FIDDLERS CONVENTION A FEW YEARS AGO..HAD TO PARK LIKE SARADINES... GOT BEHIND AN OLD GAL
THAT STARTED ON THE CLAW HAMMER AT 7 AM AND CONTINUED UNTIL 11 PM..HER AND AVOUR A DOZWN OUTHERS,,, I HAD TO LISTEN TO THAT NOISE FOR
8 DAYS STREIGHT...THERE AINT NO WAY TO PLAY
A BANGER AND MAKE IT SOUND GOOD......
THEY EVEN HAD THE GAUL TO TELL ME TO NOT PLAY MY FIDDLE SO LOUD... ABOUT THE 6 TH DAY, I PULLED OUT MY ELECTRIC , WITH DELAY AND REVERB, TURNED THE AMP TO 10 AND THEN THE WAR WAS ON FOR TWO DAYS.....6 YRS LATER, WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT , MY EARS STILL HURT...SCARED
OFF ALL THE POSSUMS FOR 40 MILES AN ALL DIRECTIONS......
JW... U PK;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

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EMMONS D10 10-10 profex 2 deltafex ne1000 pv1000, pv 31 bd eq, +

Cody Campbell · Post by **Cody Campbell** » 8 Sep 2005 10:48 am

Jennings, the electric guitar story, HA HA.

If that's true, you're such a rebel!

Charles... Glen Campbell on bagpipes?!!

About the banjo, I might be a little bit biased, since my 17 yr old kid brother now plays one. But I've been lucky enough to hear and see Bela Fleck, and Scott Vestal (who I got to meet). Top notch, for sure.

Another amazing one is Tom Adams. If you like any bluegrass at all, old or new... You must buy Tom Adams and Michael Cleveland : "Live at the Ragged Edge". It is Fantastic.

I've had the pleasure of hanging out and even picking a little with a couple new, up and coming banjo wiz-kids. Chris Pandolfi, who I met at IBMA, a few years back. And another, Noam Pikelny.

If you go back 11 or 12 days, on this music page of the forum, There's a topic about "Woodsongs old-time Radio". I clicked the link, scrolled through the shows, and watched the video of Noam and band, on an episode with female singer/songwriter marshall chapman. Cool stuff. Great pickers. Ricky Skaggs guitar picker, a super-good fiddler and girl bassist, and Rhonda Vincent's guitar player on mandolin.

I don't know if that video's still there, but it's worth a look.

Post by **b0b** » 8 Sep 2005 1:47 pm

I know there is a lot of banjo jokes out there ,but I dont think there's that many of you out there that really hate this instrument that it seems.

Every time someone hears that I hate the banjo, they say "Have you heard Bela Fleck? That guy will change your mind."

Well, yes, I've heard Bela Fleck, and it didn't change my mind. I wouldn't cross the street to listen to Bela Fleck. Actually, I'd cross the street to get away from Bela Fleck's music.

I can't stand the sound of the instrument. You can have the best musician in the world playing it - it makes no difference to me. The sound of it grates on my nerves. It has nothing to do with the style of music or the quality of musicianship. It's a sound that I don't like.

Some people don't like asparagus...

IF any wanna be banjo players live in northern CA.give b0b a call.I hear he gives banjo lessons and he is great on one.

Yeah, right!

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<img align=left src="http://b0b.com/b0bxicon.gif" border="0"> Bobby Lee
-b0b- quasar@b0b.com 
System Administrator 
My Blog[This message was edited by b0b on 08 September 2005 at 02:50 PM.]

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 8 Sep 2005 5:28 pm

Cody Need to check Glen out,The only man I've ever heard play bagpipes that did'nt sound like a calf dying in a hail strom. Bob I bet you are a closet banjo picker,JUST KIDDING,JUST KIDDING.J.W. said that I did'nt. Blame it on him!

Jennings Ward · Post by **Jennings Ward** » 12 Sep 2005 9:06 pm

b0b, I AM GLAD YOU AND I HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON....DITTO TO ALL YOU SAID, I DONT HAVE ANY LOVE FOR THE BANJO, THAT IS THE REASON I CALL IT A BANGER,,,MAYBE SHOULD CALL IT A
^^^^^^^^^^^ CANT SAY IT...
ONE THING IS FOR SURE,, BANGER PLAYERS WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO CONDUCT A SYMPHONY..
NEED TIMING AND TONE MOST OF ALL.
JENNINGS,,U PK;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
SORRY FELLERS,,, BANGERS STINK.............

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EMMONS D10 10-10 profex 2 deltafex ne1000 pv1000, pv 31 bd eq, +

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 12 Sep 2005 11:22 pm

Well, maybe my latest video will persuade you none believers into believers.
http://www.desperate-measure.com/garylee/Balad-Of-Jed-Clampet.wmv

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 12 Sep 2005 11:29 pm

Stop it, Gary Lee; you're frightening the children...

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 13 Sep 2005 1:42 am

Mommy mommy! Make him stop!

The British had bagpipes at the Battle of New Orleans to scare the enemy.
Maybe if they'd had banjoes....

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 13 Sep 2005 1:47 am

Gary Lee, there's just something about chromatic banjo playing...

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 13 Sep 2005 2:23 am

you're frightening the children

I know, 2 out of 3 moved out of state

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 13 Sep 2005 4:53 am

Love the banjo..played well or even badly,as long as its in tune.. I will say this however..I kind of agree with b0b and JW.. it CAN grate on your nerves.. Unlike them, I truly love the sound,but only in measured doses and in the right context..

To me its not an all day listening orgy... A few great banjo tunes and I'm ready for something else...

Kind like the bagpipes.. Listen, smile and enjoy, but after a measure of time,move on to something more pleasing to the ear or go schizo....bob

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 13 Sep 2005 5:03 am

Gary.. Now THATS the look we need in country music! You are a genious my friend!... Keep that look and add either Duck feet or Bozo feet, and I promise you'll make it big... Cool video! I enjoyed it.... bob

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 13 Sep 2005 6:34 am

Josh Graves, the father of bluegrass Dobro, was a banjo player before he took up Dobro. He once gave me a banjo lesson. I didn't play it then, and still don't. I didn't ask for the lesson; we were jammin' and it just happened. I think that background really added to his Dobro style. But I much preferred his Dobro playing.

Any banjo lovers should come to Philly for the mummers parade on New Year's Day. There are dozens and dozens of marching bands made up mostly of saxaphones and plectrum banjo players dressed up in garish costumes, many dressed in clown drag and dancing with parasols. It is one of the most bizarre sights you'll ever see, or hear.

George Redmon · Post by **George Redmon** » 13 Sep 2005 7:23 am

NO NO NO ..i beg you...."Played in tune"? i never heard one played that way...i can list at least...at least..10 instruments a banjo CANNOT play along with...and sorry..the steel guitar is #1 on the list..i don't mean to be mean..i think, if you enjoy the banjo...wonderful..i do not want to discourage you from playing it, or passing grandpa's banjo down through the family, and sing those great wonderful folk songs like they use to sit on the banks of the mississippi river and do..but can i only ask just one little request..ok?.....KEEP THAT THING AWAY FROM ME!

George Redmon · Post by **George Redmon** » 13 Sep 2005 7:32 am

SORRY FOR THE DOUBLE POST!!!! Gary Lee..i just watched your video, like b0b said..nothing against your musicianship..sure wish you'd done that on a Martin......but you are right..my perception of a banjo player is a hillbilly sitting in a dirt floor cabin, with a corn cobb pipe..named jethro.....

Dave Boothroyd · Post by **Dave Boothroyd** » 13 Sep 2005 8:12 am

Come on George, any steel player should be able to play along with a banjo perfectly.
All you have to do is move the bar a little flat of the fret, pick the note, slide up a little sharp, drop back to about half as flat as you started,then come up to pitch. Do that on every note, and allow for the fact that you need to move the bar further and a little faster as the banjo plays louder and you'll fit in perfectly.
Piece of cake!
Sticking a thick layer of lead sheeting inside the banjo will work too!

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Cheers!
Dave

Mark Lind-Hanson · Post by **Mark Lind-Hanson** » 13 Sep 2005 1:00 pm

I think having learned the rudiments of banjo (and playing for three-five years) actually came in VERY handy when applying myself to both
a classical guitar
b pedal steel
something about becoming a habitual fingerpicker made the transition very smooth actually
quoting bOb:
Well, yes, I've heard Bela Fleck, and it didn't change my mind. I wouldn't cross the street to listen to Bela Fleck. Actually, I'd cross the street to get away from Bela Fleck's music.

It was he (B Fleck) caused me to give the thing up, basically.
"that guy is so much better than I will EVER get"...
& while I didn't BURN my banjo, the sentiment was certainly there...
would I play it today? well, I STILL have not bought a new one, and its been about 30 years!

Jennings Ward · Post by **Jennings Ward** » 13 Sep 2005 1:05 pm

WE COULD END THE WAR IN IRAQ IF WE:
SENT A BATALLION OF BANGER PICKERS OVER THERE, ARMED WITH ONLY A BANGER AND NOTHING ELSE...
IT WOULD CAUSE THE TERROIST TO SHOOT EACH
OUTHER OUT OF MERCY FOR THEIR FELLO COMRADS.
THE ONES THAT DIDN'T GET SHOT WOULD VOLINTARLY
SHOOT THEMSELVES IN THE EARS TO STOP THE NOISE.
BLOW UP THE BOATS AND PLANES WHEN THE LAST TERROIST DOES HIMSELF IN....THEN SEND THE BANGER PLAYERS TO GET OSAMA BIN LADEN..PIPE THE BANGER SOUND INTO THE MOUNTAINS AND CAVES
AND THE ECHO WILL SURLEY MAKE HIM SURFACE..
HE'LL GET TO LISTEN TO THE SAME SOUND
MULTIPLE TIMES.. THAT WILL FIX HIM....

JENNINGS,,,,U PK;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

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EMMONS D10 10-10 profex 2 deltafex ne1000 pv1000, pv 31 bd eq, +

John Lockney · Post by **John Lockney** » 13 Sep 2005 1:08 pm

I love the economy of motion in (bluegrass) banjo playing. Especially Earl Scruggs.
It is crazy how he would end a roll on an open string to give him time to shift the left hand to the next position all in a nanosecond, and end-up in position to do it again a nanosecond later in reverse… If you look closely the choreography is ingenious. It seems like every note must have required weeks to work out but it just pours out at light-speed!

Nice playing Gary! The disguise is over the top!

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 13 Sep 2005 1:36 pm

I'm not all that crazy about the banjo... a little goes a long way....

but I sure do enjoy the jokes.