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AN UNTIMELY BIRTHDAY PRESENT

July 25, 2012, 5:40 am
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Dear All,

It´s been one month since my 65th birthday (the standard retirement/pensioner age in DK) – I did get some indeed fine presents from my kids, grand kids etc. and had a fantastic time at Riverboat Jazz Festival (including a very special solo performance) – but yesterday dear Norbert Susemihl (do Google both him and the festival) presented the best possible (late) birthday present to me – a link to a fantastic YT recording, as edited, restored etc. by him.

Not especially banjo-related – only containing one simple rhythmic/harmonic solo – however also some very interesting banjo rhythms, accents, fill-in´s etc., that I´m going to study this coming autumn.

Gals & Lads – if you´re interested in classic jazz – you´ll simply have to look and listen:

The Original Tuxedo Jazzband - Anno 1964

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkJErPFVNRY&feature=youtu.be

big

Polle

 

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Tips on Re-Fretting a B&D Silver Bell Plectrum?

July 25, 2012, 9:35 am
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Hi Members,

                     The frets on my 1925 Silver Bell Plectrum # 1 are sadly, down to the nub so it's time for a re-fret. Any tips from you players out there concerning what I should ask the techs to do or not do?

  The banjo is sounding fantastic, so I'm planning on asking them to 1) Leave the neck on; 2) Do not adjust the head tension or disturb the set up as much as they can get away with.

 Anything else I should be concerned about?

 

Thanks!

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Plectrums Beyond Jazz?

July 26, 2012, 11:31 am
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Hi Everyone,

Who is taking the plectrum beyond jazz?  (And by "jazz," I mean the music within a generous boundary of jazz that 4 string banjo players usually play?)

Anyone out there expanding the boundaries?

Please email artists, hobbyists, youtube links, etc.

While we love jazz, boogie woogie, ragtime, etc., perhaps many of us would also love to hear with what songs, and how plectrums are being played, in a wider range of music, and I know there are some great players out there so probably doing just that, who are they?

Thank you.

Rockyjo

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Enda Scahill's books available through Ultimate Banjo.com

July 26, 2012, 3:16 pm
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UltimateBanjo.com now carries and is featuring Enda Scahill's Irish Banjo tutors!  These Irish Banjo books are very thorough and begin with the basics such as pick holding, arm direction, single string work, and a whole lot more!  Following from Volume One to Volume Two, you learn all of Enda's picking techniques and intricacies of more advanced playing.  UltimateBanjo is also carrying the We Banjo Three tune book containing 20 tunes that'll win Irish Banjo competition and 20 tunes that'll get you disqualified from Irish Banjo competition!  (Those last 20 are a bit more progressive yet fit the Irish Banjo style.)    Each volume contains two CDs making it easy to hear the practices or play along.  Right now, Enda's books are featured on the home page.  You can also find his books by searching the author's name.  There's more information on these books in the website including tables of contents and sample pages.  Check it out!  www.UltimateBanjo.com  

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Can You Tune A Plectrum CGBD with tenor strings?

July 27, 2012, 3:32 pm
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Hey all,

I am leaving for the Sacremento Dixieland Jazz camp in a couple of weeks.  I am planning on taking my plectrum banjo and guitar.  I just bought some Vega tenor banjo strings and was wondering if you can tune a plectrum CGBD using them.  Thanks.

-Zane

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Irish Tenor Banjo Strings....I've seen the light!

July 31, 2012, 8:49 pm
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For the past few years, based on recommendations on the forum, I have slowly migrated from my off the shelf D'Adario Irish tenor set to my own custom sets as heavy as .014, .022, .032 and .044. in nickel wound. When I picke dup my banjo from Tom Cussen in Ireland last December, he had installed  his own set of .012, .017w, .026w and .036w phosphor bronze. . I was really happy with the lighter strings but later I switched back to the heavier , nickel sets.Ove rthe past few months I have switched back to a similar phosphor bronze in  .012, .018w, .026, .036 and have been really happy with them on all 3 of my tenors (all 19 fret: one Deering GDL, One CE Paragon and one Gold Tone TS-250. I am playing better, cleaner triplets but most importantly, I am getting a great "Irish"  sound.

I am curious what stings the other ITM players use.

 

Cya!

Bob

 

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Testing my Paramount Style 1

August 4, 2012, 12:46 pm
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Hi everybody. I have a little collection of nine Paramounts. This is my first test with the Style one: all original and in good playable condition. The bridge is modern but I have the original one.

http://youtu.be/R_gxi2-x5HY

Marco

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How plectrum is the best? Vegavox I, Richelieu, Bacon and Day Super banjo

August 6, 2012, 6:34 am
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Hi, 

I'm Thinking to of buying a banjo and I am in doubt about which is better banjo (Vegavox I, Richelieu, Bacon and Day Super banjo).

Thanks for the help !

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Learning books/DVD's for jazz tenor?

August 6, 2012, 9:24 am
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Hi guys,

I'm starting out on tenor banjo, I got a copy of the Bud Wachter Homespun DVD. Although it's a great DVD I'd like to expand my library a little. I just can't find any material and there are no teachers in my area.

So what else is out there for jazz 4 string tenor players?

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"Play It Like Perry" now available as an e-book!

August 7, 2012, 5:21 pm
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Now you can carry the famous Perry Bechtel's tenor banjo charts around in your tablet!  www.UltimateBanjo.com has made the entire "Play It Like Perry" available in e-book format for iTunes, Kindle, or Nook!  Simply go to www.UltimateBanjo.com and click the e-book link.  Select the type of tablet you have and download the book directly to your tablet.  This is a milestone for our banjo company and opens the door for future books to be made available - both by us and by the other authors in our online catalog.

This is a true e-book.  It is not available on a disc or in pdf format.  Check out the brilliance of Perry Bechtel in his tenor banjo charts!  Find this and a whole lot more in www.UltimateBanjo.com!

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Here an Octave, there an Octave...

August 10, 2012, 5:22 pm
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I understand that banjo music sounds one octave lower than written in standard notation.

I guess that makes sense from a reading/writing standpoint. Or does it?

In one of Harry Reser's instruction folios in the Melody section he states:

"The difference of the written note to its sound on the banjo has one problem for the student. He must gradually learn to play all song copies one octave higher. This 'octave higher' sound will give the banjo effect that the player expects and it will produce more 'punch.' " <- Thanks to Steve Caddick for pointing this out to me.


Okay then, please help me make sense of of this. Even I can see how everything sounds better played an octave higher. Why have this system in the first place? Why not have the notes always played an octave higher? This isn't just a Reser thing, is it? It's just one more thing a new student, as if there wasn't enough to absorb already, to get his/her head around....

Thanks!

Joe

PS: Mods, since I quoted Harry Reser, please leave this in the 4-string section.

 

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How to attach a string to a banjo peg

August 11, 2012, 8:53 am
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Adjusting the action

August 12, 2012, 1:14 am
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Hi Folks!

 

I am interested in your opinion on this:
I have noticed that sometimes a small piece of hard wood is inserted between the neck and the tension hoop, in order to modify the angle and lower the action. Someone told me that this worsens the quality of the tone as it hinders the neck to vibrate. In addition stressing the tension hoop could deform it. 
However, I have noticed that some Paramounts have a neck adjustement device that works just putting in contact neck and tension hoop.
I do not have any experience of these technical problems ... what do you think?
Thank you for answering!
Marco
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"The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence"

August 12, 2012, 10:53 pm
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Hi

I stayed up late last night and watched this classic John Wayne flick. A great cast and a fine old film. In several sequences in the saloon there is a guy playing a pretty fancy looking Vegavox tenor banjo. Does anybody know who he is? And is the actor with the banjo the same guy who's playing on the soundtrack? There is also some nice Spanish music that emanates from the Mexican cantina.

Regards to all

John Gill

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ABS Advanced Banjo Microphone System

August 14, 2012, 11:47 am
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I play Peabody style banjo.  When amplifying my banjo I prefer a mic. anyday over a pickup system. I currently use an Audio-Technica AT4041 condenser mic. Excellent mic--But prone to feedback. I was thinking of trying an ABS Advanced Banjo Microphone System---anybody tried one? OK for chordal style?. Your feedback (No pun intended!) welcome.

 

 

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J.S. Bach on tenor banjo

August 14, 2012, 11:53 am
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Sacramento Traditional Jazz Youth Camp

August 14, 2012, 8:32 pm
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Hey Everyone,

I just got back from the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Youth Camp 2 days ago and I must say it was one of the best experiences I have had in a long time.  Everyone there was super nice and the faculty and counselors were amazing. The faculty for banjo/guitar was Eddie Erickson and I must say he is one of the nicest guys one will ever meet.   He also knows a thing or two about banjo.  I was put in band 9, which was the second highest band there.  One of the best parts of camp was recieving a 1920s Vega Vegaphone Professional Tenor Banjo from Jan Beuller and Eddie.  I am definetly going back next year.  Just thought I would share this with you guys.

-Zane

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Has anyone gone from a 5 string to an Irish tenor....

August 14, 2012, 9:27 pm
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My Grandpa (Irish) always wanted one of his sons to play the Irish banjo. None of his sons turned out to be musicians and I was always interested so I actually picked up a 5 string and I've been playing scruggs style and a little clawhammer for the last few years in honor of him. I've always loved celtic music...I just liked bluegrass a bit more. Lately I've found myself getting into some irish jigs a bit more and more and I'm wondering if any of you made the switch?

I don't know much of anything about it other then it's 4 strings and played with a pick. I feel like me having played the 5 string for the last few years would actually be a disadvantage. 

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Old-Time Tenor Banjo Writeup

August 15, 2012, 7:19 pm
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For anyone interested in reading about the tenor banjo in American old-time music I encourage you to check out my write-up entitled "Old-Time Tenor Banjo".  I'd also love to hear about any bands, players or recordings I overlooked.  

Here's the beginning:

It’s not unusual to tune a tenor banjo GDAE (one octave lower than a mandolin) and use a plectrum to play Celtic jigs, reels and hornpipes.  This is called Irish Tenor Banjo.  However, it is a bit unusual to use the same instrument to flat-pick old-time fiddle tunes, as I am trying to do.  Don't worry - I play the Irish stuff too!

 

When I first started I could find little or no examples of Old-Time Tenor Banjo players or instruction material.  So basically I just referred information on mandolin, Irish tenor banjo and flat-picked guitar to learn tunes and picking.  But, over time I have become aware of a few players...
 
​Click here or the link above to read more.
 
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TANGO BANJO

August 17, 2012, 1:56 am
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Hy everybody!

This is the first time I see the words "Tango Banjo" written on a label inside a tenor banjo:

http://www.banjoworld.de/1714Tenor-Special-002.jpg

Other pics of this banjo are available at Mr. Amendt's website ("for sale").

Marco surprise

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