Watching clips on youtube is great to get a sense of the style, and it looks like Pat Costello (author of How and Tao) has a bunch of beginning lessons on there – lesson number one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo0cy0REMY8
(Pat rubs a lot of purist/traditionalists the wrong way, but I like what he’s doing.)
the thing with 3-finger style is that it takes literally hundreds/thousands of hours of mind-numbing repetitious practice to get really good at it. I get all fired up every couple of years and give it a go, but never stick with it. Clawhammer has a MUCH higher effort to fun & results ratio.
I’ve been tossing around the idea of picking up the Banjo for a couple of years now. I finally took the leap and actually bid on a decent, yet inexpensive, starter banjo on ebay yesterday. I’ve enjoyed hearing you play here on flickr.
BigalDavies says:
I’m trying to learn again, I wish I lived a bit closer.
I’m playing a bit of banjo in the band, just 3 or 4 chord stuff.
Any tips on learning? Video, youtube, books?
I have the Pete Seeger book and Banjo for Dummies.
July 29, 2010, 10:24 amUsonian says:
Wish you were closer too – I got a bee in my bonnet about ukulele a couple of weeks ago, altough that seems to have subsided.
Bookwise, I like Ken Perlman’s "Clawhammer Style Banjo": http://www.amazon.co.uk/Clawhammer-Style-Banjo-Ken-Perlman/dp/09... and "Frailing the Five String Banjo" by Eric Muller & Barbara Koehler: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Frailing-Five-String-Banjo-Muller/dp/087... and "The How and Tao of Old-time Banjo" which is available online for free: http://www.ezfolk.com/banjo/howtao/
Watching clips on youtube is great to get a sense of the style, and it looks like Pat Costello (author of How and Tao) has a bunch of beginning lessons on there – lesson number one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo0cy0REMY8
(Pat rubs a lot of purist/traditionalists the wrong way, but I like what he’s doing.)
July 29, 2010, 11:19 amUsonian says:
for 3-finger/Earl Scruggs/Bluegrass style, "Earl Scruggs and the Five String Banjo" is a bible and pretty good, although it assumes you want to play like Earl lick-for-lick: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Earl-Scruggs-5-String-Banjo-Enhanced/dp/...
I also like Ross Nickerson’s Banjo Encyclopedia: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Banjo-Encyclopedia-Bluegrass-Z/dp/078667...
the thing with 3-finger style is that it takes literally hundreds/thousands of hours of mind-numbing repetitious practice to get really good at it. I get all fired up every couple of years and give it a go, but never stick with it. Clawhammer has a MUCH higher effort to fun & results ratio.
July 29, 2010, 11:43 amBigalDavies says:
Great links thanks!
I just read the Tao bits on the online book, wonderful stuff.
Have you seen comedian Billy Connolly playing ever, I think he is more your style but can do 3 finger too.
July 29, 2010, 11:46 amUsonian says:
Yes, I love this clip of him dropping into a session & playing "John Hardy" : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lFGCgS3dwU
July 29, 2010, 12:41 pmBigalDavies says:
I know that one, I have the dvd of that show.
I saw an old timey band last Friday, very good, will post a short video this week.
July 29, 2010, 12:53 pmreluctant_paladin says:
Just awesome…
I’ve been tossing around the idea of picking up the Banjo for a couple of years now. I finally took the leap and actually bid on a decent, yet inexpensive, starter banjo on ebay yesterday. I’ve enjoyed hearing you play here on flickr.
July 29, 2010, 1:41 pmUsonian says:
Thanks paladin! There are a *ton* of clawhammer clips on youtube, great for inspiration and learning new tunes: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=cla...
July 29, 2010, 2:12 pm