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"marking time" on a tenor banjo

June 28, 2012, 1:36 am
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I've lately become increasingly involved with the Irish-style GDAE tenor banjo, and the local pub-session scene. I have a particular problem, though. I started by taking along my 5-string banjo and frailing along, because if you don't now a particular tune it's often possible to "mark time" and follow the chord changes, or just mark time in the root chord, or just not play at all. 

This doesn't seem to work for the tenor. Going to DGBE "Chicago" tuning and following the guitar players just seems to be an advert that I need to practice more, which I already know, that or just buy a guitar. 

 

So, I'm open to suggestions? Some sort of repetitive pattern in the root and 4th is probably the answer, anyone?

 

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Finally found her!!!

June 29, 2012, 3:06 am
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Had the chance to talk to an old friend a few weeks back who I hadn't spoken with in a long while. When the discussion came around to banjo hunting, he made the comment that if you keep looking, you'll eventually find what you're looking for. That statement turned out to be an omen, as four days later, I found THE banjo I have been searching for since I started playing in 1977. An all original, Groton built plectrum B&D Serenader. And she is a real beauty in wonderful condition. I hope to post better pics soon.

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Enda Scahill Needs Professional Help

June 29, 2012, 7:40 am
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Hi Everyone.

I'm Enda Scahill, an Irish banjo player. I know some of you and I know some of you know me. I need your help. But not for no return. My new band We Banjo 3 are playing at Milwaukee Folk Festival in August. As we're a new group and haven't yet performed in the US we can't command a huge fee. Yet the opportunity to play at the worlds biggest Irish festival is one that all bands would jump at. I am asking for your help to get us there. Our flights are mental expensive and we also need work visas. Although playing the banjo ought never be considered work! If it is, then you need my banjo tutor on relaxation!!!!
Therefore we have launched a fundraising campaign on www.fundit.ie the Irish version of kickstarter . For the Americans reading this- DO NOT BE AFRAID the Euro is a real currency despite what Fox News might say!!!
We need 2000 euro and so far have raised €876.
But this is not something for nothing. There is a generous reward scheme.

  • For 25 euro you can get a signed pre-release copy of our debut album. In a few months time this will cost you 17.50 including postage so it's only an extra $10 and you're supporting our campaign mightily.
  • We also have copies of our new book of Irish banjo solos (Have a look at it here http://www.webanjo3.com/tunebook3.html). 
  • Better again we're offering Skype lessons. These would normally cost about $50 but now you get lesson, a cd and a book for only €69. A bargain in any currency! 

Please help us out if you can. 
Here is a sneak preview of our new video from our new album https://vimeo.com/44850969 and our Fundit appeal video is here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=657QVFIulV4

The Fundit campaign can be viewed here http://www.fundit.ie/project/webanjo3-go-to-milwaukee

Thanks for reading and do please share. Adopt a banjo player today!

And if you come to Milwakuee give a shout and say hello

Enda Scahill

www.webanjo3.com

www.endascahill.com

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Playing plectrum banjo on my 5 strings-How I do it!

June 30, 2012, 6:06 pm
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I play both 5 string and plectrum styles on the same banjo often switching back and forth between styles. I own both styles of banjos but often will take my 5 string even on 4 string jobs and play the whole evening. I file a slight notch as the picture shows just enough to catch the 5th string. It gives plenty of room for strumming without hitting the string.  One can also pick over the B string and have 3 strings tuned in 5ths like a mandolin (CG-D (caped 1st fret DA-E)), so one can play fiddle tunes or Celtic banjo. If I only had one banjo, or if traveling- I would take a 5 string. Banjo shown is my 63' Gibson RB170, I also have a Deering Calico that I do this with also. One banjo, many styles.

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The Banjo Crossroads - Continue with 5 string or move on to a Plectrum?

July 2, 2012, 2:30 pm
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I'm a guy who used to dismiss the tenor/plectrum families as being too brash or shrill. It's just that stereotypical 'Peabody sound' that doesn't strike a chord (ugh.) with me. But through just having a general interest in all things banjo I found a few 4 string players like Dom Flemons, Mercedezzz (YouTube) who crank out jazz and blues that's actually pleasing on the ears..

So right now I'm at the point of my 5 string playing where I want to upgrade to a luthier build custom. But then I got to thinking about my future as a banjo player and where I want to take the instrument; song accompaniment. While that works just fine and dandy with the 5 string - I also want to break out of the old time repertoire and get into jazz standards, Bossa Nova (a la Jobim), French Chansons..

So I'm looking to expand my horizons further; any learning material or good examples of song accompaniment on a tenor or plectrum.. any advice is welcome. I'll probably detune my fifth tonight and see what I can conjure up by myself.

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Banjo pathways - Buddy Watcher

July 4, 2012, 1:50 am
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Is there any news of Tenor Banjos Pathways buddy watcher? Where can I find them?

Thx

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Enda Scahill's We Banjo 3 & Triplets

July 5, 2012, 11:28 am
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Got the new tunebook by Enda and it's filled with great tunes, notation and tab. Good listening and tons of work inside!

Here's the thing: I've fed Tom Billy's jig and Cronin's reel into an Amazing Slowdowner and wishing to mimic Scahill's triplets, I've discovered he is often muting the first and maybe second notes in his triplets. This creates a staccato sort of sound that I have to think is a deliberate approach by Enda. Prior to hearing this, I was operating under the assumption that my triplets should be three clear notes but maybe not?

Wayne

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Swannanoa Banjo Week with Seamus Egan

July 5, 2012, 4:04 pm
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Anyone else going to this? It's my first time (I was supposed to go last year but Darren Maloney canceled).

Seamus Egan is known for his work with the celtic band Solas but in his early days, he was an all-Irleand Irish tenor banjo champion. There are other styles of five string banjo, mandolin and guitar too. Looking forward to the experience.

http://www.swangathering.com/catalog/mb/staff.html 

Wayne

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When 5 Meets 4

July 7, 2012, 10:34 am
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Tenor Banjo tuning FCGD

July 8, 2012, 7:50 pm
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I've been experimenting with one of my tenor banjos tuned FCGD a fifth below the standard CGDA tuning.  I have read that some Jazz age banjoists preferred F tuning and I like to experiment to see what results might be got that way.  It does seem to work well with the key of Bb.

For CDAE tuning I've been using a standard medium set gaged: 010, 012, 020w, 028w with stainless steel windings. Tuned a fifth lower than standard, this set seems a little soft. For F tuning I'm thinking some improvement may be gained by increasing to heavier string gages.  I'm considering a custom set with gages 011, 016, 026w, 040w.  

Any thoughts?

 

Michael

 

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Buying a keeper Plectrum

July 11, 2012, 6:02 am
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Hey Guys,

I've been playing plectrum for a little bit now but I'm already *really* into it. I want to hop on the queue for a custom made plectrum early, that way I can ditch the old 5 string somewhere down the road 2 years from now. Gives me a goal to work towards too, which is always a good motivator.

Just looking at a few options "off the peg" if you will; Deering seem overpriced for what you get. The Sierra doesn't do it for me although I've only played the Mahogany version. If you're getting a Maple Blossom or up you might as well go OME.. who surely turn out some of the best banjers money can buy, but at the 4k mark I'd rather go fully custom.

Jason Romero is top of my list right now, he makes resonator backed instruments and has experience with tenors & plectrums. His pricing is very competitive, if I count all the options I'd ever want in a dream banjo he's somewhere between Deering and Ome, or $3700~ roughly.

Just looking for input here, perhaps someone knows more 4 string specific luthiers that I should take into consideration.. !

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Advice for learning a 4 string banjo

July 12, 2012, 4:53 pm
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Hello,

I recently inherited a 4 string banjo from my Grandfather.  I've never played a string instrument (I play brass), but I've always been a fan of both bluegrass and celtic music.  This seems like an opportune time to jump into the world of strings...or at least dip my toes in...  I've kinda poked around the site (nothing too indepth yet), but I was wondering if anyone could recommend a starting point for me.  I'm feeling a bit lost, and most of the instructional materials seem to be on a 5 string banjo...which I don't have...  It appears to  be a Sun Ray banjo, and is probably pretty old. This is my banjo!

 

Thanks!
Frog

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Question Regarding Stuttered Triplets Like Enda (hint...hint) Does

July 17, 2012, 7:49 am
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A simple but confusing question: when performing a stuttered triplet is it important to mute the exact note that would be otherwise played if it weren't muted?

Example: playing a stuttered triplet on the first string from g to f sharp and back to g, with the final g note being the one fully sounding, should one place the muting fingers on the first two notes (g and f sharp) or is it sufficent to leave the muting finger on the third fret for all three notes, muting the first two of course?

Wayne

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Robert L. White Music Company

July 19, 2012, 3:30 am
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Does anyone have any information about the Robert L. White Music Company of Cleveland, Ohio?  They made tenor banjos years (?) ago.

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Tenor, vintage Jazz

July 19, 2012, 10:01 pm
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I have just started learning tenor banjo, in C G D A tuning, i want to find some solo work on cd, or youtube, vintage jazz, to listen to and maybe som tabs, any idea where to look ?

(when i started playing 5 string banjo, i there was a lot of videos and tabs to find, but i have found its more rare to find material on the tenor)

 

Kind regards Michael

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Plectrum question

July 20, 2012, 3:41 am
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What's the difference between a 5 string and plectrum besides the high 5th string? Can you play a 5 string banjo like a plectrum if you remove the 5th string? Is the tuning the same? I watched Ed Peabody play on a video that amazed me. I am a 5 string player that would like to dable a little and can't afford another banjo smiley

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Pietsch Mastervox

July 20, 2012, 10:39 am
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Hi , 

anyone know the banjos Pietsch Mastervox Plectrum ? I see in some videos of Sean Moyses and they seem to be very good. They look a lot like the vega vox that Eddy Peabody    use.

Anyone know the prices ?? 

Thanks !

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Workshop advice

July 20, 2012, 12:25 pm
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I am planning on attending a private workshop in Ireland with John Carty on tenor banjo. Has anyone taken any classes with him? Curious what he is like as a teacher. Thanks.

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The Re-Education of Tony

July 23, 2012, 12:07 pm
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About two and a half weeks ago, I started a blog on Tumblr about what I call my musical re-education.  For the next year, I plan on (a) cutting down on gigs and (b) really focusing on learning play tenor banjo, guitar, and 8-string lap steel much better than I play them now.  I'm calling this process a re-education because I'm rethinking a lot of what I've taken for granted for a long time in terms of practicing, listening, strings, picks . . . . everything.  The blog is a scrapbook of what I'm doing to get better.  There isn't a preconceived design to the blog.  Whenever something pops in my head, I write it down.  It's all pretty much spontaneous.  Like I said, I've been doing this for about two and a half weeks, and I'm up to about 66 posts already.  I'd love you to subscribe to the thing--I have only two subscribers so far--if you's like to do so.  Unfortunately, I don't know how to tell you how to get to it.  I know it's on tumblr.com, and I know my user name is super400.  The title of the blog is The Re-Education of Tony. Other than that, I'm clueless.  (If one of you computer wizards can post a live link, I would appreciate it.) Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.  I've really enjoyed doing it so far.  Eventually, there will audio clips, video clips, text essays, photos, and who knows what else on this thing.  Please let me know what you think of it. 

 

Sincerely

Tony L.

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Planxty 1973 Live Video (no banjo)

July 23, 2012, 4:35 pm
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