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I'm getting ready to start learning the 5-string banjo - since there are several 'styles' of playing, I've been checking them out!
Originally I figured I'd just tune it like my 5-string Violin & Viola, strum some chords & pick a little, but there's so many great techniques - I need to learn more about them!
I've checked out 'Clawhammer' & 'Round Peak' styles, but @damfino just introduced fiddler/banjo player, Aaron Jonah Lewis in the Ragtime & Swing on The Fiddle Thread He plays mostly 'Classic Fingerstyle' which I don't think is very common, nowadays.
Aaron's got a CD with some really great banjo tunes & daily exercises on it, "Mozart of The Banjo: the Joe Morley Project".
Mozart of the Banjo: The Joe Morley Project - Aaron Jonah Lewis
This is NOT a 'Concert', but a GREAT presentation of some banjo history, playing Fiddle & Banjo at the Hamtramck Public Library!
As a banjoist, Lewis explores some interesting veins in the roots of Old Time, Bluegrass, Ragtime and Jazz music through their newest recording, “Mozart of the Banjo: The Joe Morley Project.” This project is devoted to the music of the great English prodigy and virtuoso composer Joe Morley (1867-1937), who wrote a significant body of great banjo pieces in a technique that people today call “classic fingerstyle.”
One tune NOT on the playlist, "Frog Legs Rag" from this last January in Detroit!
I am totally fascinated by his Tutorial for, "Cindy", in Pete Seeger's style! See his original performance at his YouTube Channel - and more video lessons, too!
How many of you Fiddlers out there are also playing the banjo?
- Emily
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Also check out We Banjo 3 for more fiddle/banjo goodness. I’d pick one video to share, but they are all too good, lol. Fergal Scahill is the amazing fiddler, and his brother Enda is the banjo player. They both put out a lot of content on their own individual YouTube channels.
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World's Okayest Fiddler
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Ok, I lied, here is one clip of Fergal and Enda playing together, and then I’ll put one of the whole band after:
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World's Okayest Fiddler
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in the last month or so i discovered Eden and Lukas Pools channel. Ozark Mountain Banjo
for Irish tenor and fiddle..Dulahan Ireland
Fergal's channel is a favorite also
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I know ABitRusty is learning clawhammer, and stringy said he played banjo.
So, @damfino - are you currently playing/learning? If so, what style?
Thanks for the videos!
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A lot of people, me included think this fellow is the best tenor banjo player in. Ireland.
I play tenor and five string Scruggs style, I actually posted a vid on here somewhere of me playing tenor.
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@ELCBK No, not learning, just have always liked the sound of the banjo. I have a little banjo-uke of my great grandfathers that I noodle with, tuned like a Ukulele, sounds like a banjo. Enda has a lot of banjo tutorials, if I wasn’t unemployed I would pay the fee to watch a few just out of musical curiosity.
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World's Okayest Fiddler
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so where theres banjo talk...there always is shortly thereafter banjo jokes... so
Know why there arent banjos on star trek?
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...no banjos in the future?
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ABitRusty said
so where theres banjo talk...there always is shortly thereafter banjo jokes... soKnow why there arent banjos on star trek?
Its the future. 😔
sry..these can be deleted
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banjo and fiddle online jam kinda video. tunes are slow and audio great.
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More fiddle + banjo goodness, this time the East Pointers (the banjo player sadly recently passed away, such a talented dude)
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World's Okayest Fiddler
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@ABitRusty , @stringy , @damfino -
Thanks for all the wonderful examples!
If anyone knows of someone playing a combination of banjo styles in a tune, please let me know.
I've only found 1 example so far, fingerstyle & clawhammer in one tune - by Aaron Jonah Lewis (in my OP).
Bela Fleck says he can't learn to do both - why he plays '3 fingerstyle' and his wife plays 'Round Peak' style, but saw this video (by Jack Beuthin) that claims that both of the '2' fingerstyles & clawhammer are part of a "2 Finger Spectrum"... so, I need to look at this closer - think it's about how you see the similarities & differences.
I like the 'Round Peak' style, with it's slides, but then I'd really like to play like Ben Eldridge (of Seldom Scene)!
LOVE "Appalachian Rain", by Paul Craft - performed by Ben!
- Emily
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if round peak what youre aiming for ...is this a good one to study?
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The Adam Hurt episode of Matt Browns RELAX YOUR GRID podcast, Matt and Adam both highly recommend this book.
You may want to experiment with getting a solid bum ditty first and be able to hit individual strings with right hand.. either way.. great book. lots of tabs in the style
Also...the Brad Kolondner lesson on this years SUNDAY fiddle hell is a good video. He uses waterbound as the tune.
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@ABitRusty -
Actually... got "Sally in The Garden" on my mind, but think I'll be trying some "Up-Stroke, Up-Picking, Seeger Style", first.
I don't want to be stuck in one style, because I did see a few more examples of using 2 Fingerstyle & Clawhammer together - I like it. Also been thinking it may not be a bad idea for me to consider nylon strings until I get better at this. 😊 ...yeah, I'm a wimp. Had metal strings on my ukulele & may be part of the reason I set it aside.
I'm definitely NOT keen on this type of singing - maybe the kids will want to have a go at singing while I play. 🙄
Real shame this audio isn't sync'd in this video - Jeff Norman on Banjo, Molly McBride on fiddle.
Many great examples of "Sally in The Garden" - especially enjoy Brandi Waller-Pace playing it, but here's a tutorial!
I know if I don't start right off working on something I really like, I'll loose ALL motivation, but still have some viola recordings to do first.
...so, I'll be busy for a while, but at least I have a plan now!
Thanks, Y'all!
- Emily
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Have I posted this before?
Andrew
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Haven't seen that before, and I'd remember how depressed it can make me feel when I compare how I play versus these kids!
The old curmudgeon!
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Looked for a second or two that the kid on fiddle had ten fingers on one hand, actually, maybe he did, one things for sure they all prob started playing about 5 minutes after they were born.
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