Starting out on the Banjo

[Gil]

I'm after some advice or rather any advice that I can get on playing period banjo, I've been at it for a year now and am only just getting a half way decent frailing thing going on.
At the moment I play a nasty cheap old wire stringed banjo (that's impossible to tune) but am considering splashing out on something nicer ie. fretless, calfskin, gutstrings et al. And would like some info on who or where to go?
Also any ideas on books of period tabs (mixed ability stuff as I'm no maestro)and who publishes and where to get them bearing in mind that I'm based in the UK.
I really am looking forward to taking my banjo out to events but the way it is at the moment it's a no go.
So all advice will be gratefully recieved.

Regards
Gil Howard
Lazy Jacks Mess

[mladair]

Re: Starting out on the Banjo

Gil,

Glad to hear we have another one in the ranks taking the time to do it right!

Keeping in mind that "modern" clawhammer / frailing have some significant differences from the minstrel stroke style, here is what I did when was first beginning: I picked up a copy of Ken Perlman's video "CLAWHAMMER STYLE BANJO: A COMPLETE GUIDE FOR BEGINNING AND ADVANCED BANJO PLAYERS" I watched just enough of it to understand the basic right-hand motion. I haven't turned it on since then.

My recommendation for tab books would be Joseph Weidlich's MINSTREL BANJO - BRIGGS' BANJO INSTRUCTOR and MORE MINSTREL BANJO - FRANK CONVERSE'S BANJO INSTRUCTOR. You might be able to find copies of these at Amazon, so I'd try there first. If not, the check out Elderly Instruments (http://www.elderly.com) Keep your eyes open, because in one of the other threads, it was just announced that Weidlich has another book that is due out soon.

The other place to get minstrel tabs would be through Bob Flesher. (http://www.drhorsehair.com) His beginning book Learning Minstrel Banjo isn't too bad. It give some good pointers that I'm sure we all forget (I know I did!) like don't try to start out too fast, get the motion down and then move on, etc. His other book THE MINSTREL BANJO STROKE STYLE has quite a bit of content in it not found tabbed out elsewhere (but a lot this is too.) One thing to be careful of is that Bob has made some changes and additions to some of the tunes that are not 100% what was in the period manuals.

Hope this helps!

[Possum Skinner]

Re: Starting out on the Banjo

I must agree with Mr. Adair, don't get sucked into modern frailing/clawhammer guru tapes or books. These are excellent players in their own right, but they are not period correct, and the style is much more driven than minstrel style. The techniques are similar, but minstrel style has more tricks and techniques.

His recommendation for Bob Flesher is spot on, but I would also add Marty Liebschner at http://www.minstrelbanjos.com

He also has a few period books that he has reprinted; however, they are not tabbed. You will need to read music.

I have begun collecting as many copies of cd's and tapes by period style musicians as I can find, and listening to them constantly. You have to divorce yourself from modern rythms and styles for a while to get a feeling for the music. When I first started trying minstrel banjo, I found myself being sucked into that bluegrassy/frailing style so common in Appalaicha and the Round-Peak area, because that was what I had primarily heard. I am still learning and practicing daily, and I don't consider myself to be an expert, but reading the tabs and hearing the music are very different. If you get Bob Flesher's CD's, keep what Mr. Adair said in mind. He is a professional musician, and he often takes the music to artistic extremes with lots of drop-thumbing and runs that are not in the books.

Just my meager offering.

[Gil]

Re: Starting out on the Banjo

I must agree with Mr. Adair, don't get sucked into modern frailing/clawhammer guru tapes or books. These are excellent players in their own right, but they are not period correct, and the style is much more driven than minstrel style. The techniques are similar, but minstrel style has more tricks and techniques.

His recommendation for Bob Flesher is spot on, but I would also add Marty Liebschner at http://www.minstrelbanjos.com

He also has a few period books that he has reprinted; however, they are not tabbed. You will need to read music.

I have begun collecting as many copies of cd's and tapes by period style musicians as I can find, and listening to them constantly. You have to divorce yourself from modern rythms and styles for a while to get a feeling for the music. When I first started trying minstrel banjo, I found myself being sucked into that bluegrassy/frailing style so common in Appalaicha and the Round-Peak area, because that was what I had primarily heard. I am still learning and practicing daily, and I don't consider myself to be an expert, but reading the tabs and hearing the music are very different. If you get Bob Flesher's CD's, keep what Mr. Adair said in mind. He is a professional musician, and he often takes the music to artistic extremes with lots of drop-thumbing and runs that are not in the books.

Just my meager offering.

Many Thanks for the info guys.
It's good to know where to get the appropriate stuff, much like buying new kit it's important to start on the correct footing.

Regards
Gil Howard
LazyJacks Mess