Banjo Players

[kevin]

I am going to try and learn to play the banjo. If anyone here could give me some advice as to what type to get, style to learn, etc, I would appreciate it.

[GalvestonDuck]

I bet Garrett's your man to talk to about that.

[coriolis]

I want a video of you pickin and grinning, Kevin.

[breeze]

Here you go, Kevin.

It ain't your pappy's banjo.....

http://www.belafleck.com/



~Annette~

[dizzyfish]

I got a used banjo last May. It's a used Fender (see link). Wanted to learn how to play ever since I heard someone playing way back when I was taking guitar lessons - I think I was about 14. It's not easy but it's not as hard as I thought either. I'm self taught so far - but I'll probably take a lesson or two soon.

http://www.fender.com/products/search.p ... 0955500021

Whatever you get - practice til yer fingers are about to fall off.

Oh yeah, pay close attention to how you hold it - makes a world of difference. Get one of those lesson books that come with a DVD and CD - they rock.

Dotty

[kevin]

Thanks guys and especially dizzyfish. : )

[dizzyfish]

You're welcome.

Let's us know how it goes.

[kevin]

I have banjitar!

http://kevin.gould.googlepages.com/P1010022.JPG

[Old-TimeCane]

Congratulations on your banjitar!

Banjos are fun. They aren't easy, but they are fun to learn. I play 5-string banjo (well, about 10 tunes) in the old-time clawhammer style (back before bluegrass).

[dizzyfish]

I have banjitar!

http://kevin.gould.googlepages.com/P1010022.JPG

Enjoy!!!!

[JenBayles]

Oh how fun! I play the piano and discovered I'm useless at string instruments - all thumbs.

Good for you for pursuing any musical instrument! For years Dave told me of how badly he wanted to learn to play the guitar, and his parents just blew him off. "Why would you want to bother with that?" So a few years ago for Christmas, I bought him a guitar and 2 months worth of lessons. He said it's still the best present he ever received. Remember that when you're just starting out, you just need a good instrument - not the top of the line. You can be a good musician even with a sub-par instrument. You can always upgrade whenever you want to. And dizzyfish is so right - practice practice practice! If this is something you really want to do, the practice (even with all the mistakes) will be fun. After all, isn't having fun and enjoying yourself what music is really all about? IMHO, music is one thing you can never be too old to learn. Congrats!

[Old-TimeCane]

If this is something you really want to do, the practice (even with all the mistakes) will be fun.

And sometimes those mistakes can turn into great things, too.

[JenBayles]

You got that right Old-TimeCane! That's the fun of music.

[kevin]

Amazingly I got this instrument from a friend of the family for the price of the case. I would never have purchased something this expensive on my own. I live on ramen noodles etc.

[wx247]

What style of music are you wanting to play on the banjo? I am only really used to dealing with 5 stringers and by the looks of the picture there are only 4 strings on your banjitar. Sorry I can't be of more help.