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ezFolk Forums > Banjo > Beginner Questions - Banjo > Rank beginner...new to forums...and wanting to learn |
| Moderated by: Tony Provencher, Richard Hefner |
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| Rank beginner...new to forums...and wanting to learn | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Sun Sep 18th, 2005 02:50 pm |
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1st Post |
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Ed Caffrey Approved
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Good Morning! First, a short introduction... My name is Ed Caffrey, I'm retired military, and currently run my own business as a full time Bladesmith/Blacksmith in Great Falls, Montana. I've always loved listening to banjo music, and for years have had the urge to learn how to play. I have two banjos, and I know what they look like, but that's about the extent of my knowledge. I've messed around a few times, attempting to get started, but I never had enough knowledge to get very far. Now, at 42, I'm ready to get serious and learn. One of my questions about tuners (chromatic) was answered as I browsed these forums. Now I need to figure out what I need for finger/thumb picks, and some suggestions for learning materials. I've been looking at the "Murphy Method" but thought I would get some input prior to taking that path. Any suggestions on any aspects of learning would be greatly appreciated. Ed Caffrey
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| Posted: Sun Sep 18th, 2005 03:36 pm |
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2nd Post |
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Richard Hefner Administrator 
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Hi Ed, Welcome to ezFolk! If you're playing clawhammer you won't need any picks at all, but I'll assume you're wanting to play bluegrass, and you should use picks for that. There are a lot of different types of picks. Most people use a plastic thumbpick and two metal fingerpicks on the index and middle fingers like in the picture on the following page: http://www.ezfolk.com/bgbanjo/intro/howhold/howhold.html I use Dunlop metal fingerpicks which come in different thicknesses. The lighter they are the easier they are to mold to your fingers, but the heavier ones are a little louder. I like the lighter ones myself but you might want to try different ones and see what suits you best. There are a lot of different types of thumbpicks. My very favorite is the ACRI thumbpicks. They are a huge improvement over any other thumbpick I've ever used, very comfortable and designed so they don't catch in the strings. Here's a link to a place where you can see them and buy one if you're interested... http://www.thestringman.com/picks/thumb-picks.htm As far as the Murphy Method, I've heard it's really good although I haven't seen any of the videos. It's particularly good for somebody who doesn't want to mess with tablature since there's no tablature involved. It's good not to get hooked on needing tablature for everything, although it's nice to be able to learn things from tablature too since there is so much of it available. I'd do both... get the first Murphy Method bluegrass video (or DVD or whatever) and learn a little bit of tablature too. There's a lot of free tablature on the Internet, including the stuff on ezFolk. Good luck. Feel free to ask any questions you might have. There are a lot of helpful people here.  Last edited on Sun Sep 18th, 2005 03:53 pm by Richard Hefner ____________________ Richard Hefner MP3 Page: http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/richardhefner Running Blog: http://old-runner.com |
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| Posted: Sun Sep 18th, 2005 03:49 pm |
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3rd Post |
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1four5 Approved 
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Hi Ed! Welcome to ezFolk, and don't listen to me about learning banjo because I don't follow the rules too well  . There are some GREAT beginner lessons linked off the home page here. I started without picks, and so far prefer my fingernails...but that's the problem, as a mechanic, I can't rely on them . I got my first set of real live banjo finger picks yesterday...YIKES!!! It's like starting over...they just might end up as cat toys or something. I do like the thumb pick though, and may stick with it.Sorry I can't offer brilliant advice...just want to let you know I started at the age of 43 with a guitar, and got my first banjo this July, and you will never regret the time and effort you put into music. I'll be 45 this fall, and It's changed my entire outlook on life. Well maybe I can offer a little general advice. Leave your banjo out on a stand, never hide it in a case. That way it's always there calling you to pick it up. Sometimes I pick mine up 5 or 6 times a day or more. Even if only for a few minutes, it all counts. If at all possible, find some friends to jam with. It really doesn't matter what instruments, because a G chord is a G chord no matter what instrument your playing. An hour with friends jamming is worth 100 books or lessons. If you can, record your playing. This has helped me tremondously. When I listen to it, I get into a sort of zen mindset of trying to make what I hear, turn into what I want to hear...because very often what a recording sounds like is totally different than what it sounds like to you when you are actually playing. It's also fun to go back and listen to old stuff, especially during "brick wall" times...it's encouraging to actually hear how far you've gotten. Even if you don't know what your doing, play. Play some more, then play some more. Every time you fret a note and pluck a string, you are learning...where the string is, where your fingers are, how hard or soft to pluck it, what it sounds like. Now for the stuff that might get me in trouble. There are tons of guidelines, but there are no rules. It's your instrument and you can do anything you want to with it. If you don't have anything new to learn, play what you know until it bores you to tears. This will inspire you to start messing around, and find cool new stuff. This realization is what opened up my mind to all kinds of fun, and i've been winging it ever since.
____________________ These are the good times! |
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| Posted: Sun Sep 18th, 2005 07:39 pm |
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4th Post |
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Ed Caffrey Approved
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Thanks for the warm welcome...and the good advice. I've been looking at chromatic tuners (I assume the banjo must be in tune before I attempt anything?) on Ebay. Just not sure which one(s) I should be looking at. Thanks for the input on the picks too! With tomorrow being Monday, I think I'll take an hour or two out of the shop and see if I can locate picks and/or a tuner locally. The idea of sitting the banjo out where you always see it......makes good sense! Ed
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| Posted: Sun Sep 18th, 2005 08:14 pm |
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5th Post |
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Ed Caffrey Approved
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Couldn't help myself....I got to looking around on ebay, and found a couple of chromatic tuners. What's your opinions on the following: http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Qwik-Tune-QT-9-Lightning-Fast-Chromatic-Tuner-QT9_W0QQitemZ7351268430QQcategoryZ64388QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Korg-CA-30-Chromatic-Tuner-CA30-CA-30-BATTERIES_W0QQitemZ7351103040QQcategoryZ64388QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Either one better for a beginner? Or is it six of one, half dozen of the other? Thanks! Ed Last edited on Sun Sep 18th, 2005 08:16 pm by Ed Caffrey |
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| Posted: Sun Sep 18th, 2005 10:58 pm |
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6th Post |
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UkeForever Approved 
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I'm digging my Intellitouch PT-1. Backlit, can read the tuning through the vibration of the instrument (they all do, but there is no speaker hole on the Intellitouch). It's fast and chromatic. Sometimes it takes a second for it to read, or you have to reposition it on the headstock, but I highly recommend it. PT-1 On E-Bay  The E-bay price isn't bad, but if you go to Guitar Center, or an instrument shop and buy something else, they might be able to give you a deal on the tuner. Having a tuner hooked onto the instrument will allow you to change tunings on the fly, for example, from open G to "Mountain Minor". Don't be scared of tuning the banjo in different ways, as the patterns will be more or less the same; the tuning will yield different sounds. I am new to banjo too...in fact, mine will arrive in two days. I can't wait. Keep us informed. What kind of banjo did you get? I got a "hybrid" Banjola--it's like an acoustic mandolin with a banjo neck. Last edited on Sun Sep 18th, 2005 10:59 pm by UkeForever |
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| Posted: Mon Sep 19th, 2005 02:10 am |
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7th Post |
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Richard Hefner Administrator
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Hey Ed, About those two chromatic tuners you were looking at on ebay, either of those should work fine. I have two tuners that I use myself: one is the Korg CA-30 just like the one on ebay and the other is the Intellitouch PT-1 that UkeForever mentioned. I haven't used the Qwik-Tune but it should work fine. Any of these will help you get your instrument in tune. The advantage the Intellitouch has over the others is that since it works off vibration instead of sound, if you're in a room with a lot of noise or other instruments, you can still get in tune regardless of what's going on around you. Also, it clips right on to the back of the peghead and tilts out of the way (pretty much) until you need it. 
____________________ Richard Hefner MP3 Page: http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/richardhefner Running Blog: http://old-runner.com |
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| Posted: Mon Sep 19th, 2005 02:17 am |
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8th Post |
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Ed Caffrey Approved
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Thank You! I'm really glad I joined this forum. I'm more cranked up than ever now! I'll jump on one of those tuners, and gather the other "goodies" I need to get rolling. I've also been studying the information on those "Murphy Method" DVDs, and I think I'll give them a shot. Again, Many thanks! You folks have been great! I'm sure I'll have a million questions once I get going. 
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| Posted: Mon Sep 19th, 2005 06:43 pm |
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9th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator 
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The Murphy Method is good, if you want to learn the tunes she teaches, but I still think you need to look into doing some tab learning, also. Murphy teaches note-for-note learning (you are basically copying the way she does it). I always learned by reading music (on guitar - tab on banjo), and am finally beginning to be able to pick stuff up by ear. Welcome to the club! Keep on pickin'Brad
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Mon Sep 19th, 2005 07:58 pm |
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10th Post |
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Charlie Approved 
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Can some one explain what the Murphy Method is, I have not heard of it before, I find learning chords and tab and by ear the only way I can make heads or tail out of making music, mostly by ear because I can not read music fast enough toplay by notes. But learn the best way you can. I played trumpet from age 8 till high school and could read music then ,But never played again till age 65 after retirement and now can't get enough playing on my button accordion and ukulele's and mandolin and now 5 string banjo. Never will be real good on any of them but sure enjoying them all. keep then strings and reeds a buzzing Charlie 
____________________ Yesterdays Tomorrow is Today http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/charlesculbertson |
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| Posted: Mon Sep 19th, 2005 08:02 pm |
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11th Post |
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Richard Hefner Administrator
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Charlie, Here's a link to the Murphy Method website... http://www.murphymethod.com/ 
____________________ Richard Hefner MP3 Page: http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/richardhefner Running Blog: http://old-runner.com |
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| Posted: Sun Sep 25th, 2005 11:37 pm |
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12th Post |
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Patrick_Woolery Approved
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Mr. Caffrey, welcome to the world of banjos! I was startled to see your name up because I actually have heard of you! (I read a lot over at knifeforums and actually make the occasional knife myself.) I personally suggest trying both bluegrass and clawhammer (frailing is another name for clawhammer). I have tried both and settled on being a frailer. Just fits my personality better. If you want a beginner's book on it, I really like Wayne Erbsen's books _Clawhammer Banjo for the Complete Ignoramus_ and _Bluegrass Banjo for the Complete Ignoramus_. His method uses tablature (almost every written method does). His bluegrass book is different from every other I have seen because he doesn't tab out a complete arrangement. He tabs out the melody and gives several different ways to dress it up with rolls, pinches, and so on. I think for actually learning to be a musician this is better than just learning the note-for-note way to play. To be fair, though, my best tunes were learned note-for-note from a video... If you are into old-time banjo, check out the clawhammer book. Don't fear alternate tunings. They are a little irritating if you have to retune more than a couple of times in a night, but that's okay. You'll live. Regarding tuners, I have the Korg and I have a Quik-Tune. Both work fine. If you are going to be near other people when you tune up, get one of the clip-on tuner pickups (any music store will have them). It means the tuner only hears your banjo, not the banjo of the guy next to you. Also, have a couple of extra sets of strings on hand. I have never broken a string, but when you need to restring, it sucks to have to make a special trip to the music store. -Patrick
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| Posted: Fri Sep 30th, 2005 05:48 pm |
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13th Post |
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nando Approved 
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I don't know much about tuners but, the one I got with my banjo package (so, it can't be that expensive) has a setting specific for banjo. It saves my life, because I don't think I would go any further if I wasn't sure the banjo was tuned. Its a Gold Tone. On the box they presume to be the best banjo tuner ever! I don't know, but it works and I know the banjo is tuned the way it should!
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| Posted: Fri Sep 30th, 2005 07:22 pm |
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14th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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Nando- What happens when you try to use an alternate tuning? Does the tuner allow you to select, say, a "double C" tuning (gCGCD), or a "G modal" (gDGBD)? I use a chromatic tuning, which tells me what note, and how close it is to 'exact', not just the notes of a standard tuning. This way, I can tune the banjo, guitar, ukelele, and fiddle with the same tuner. Just asking. Keep on pickin'Brad
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Tue Oct 4th, 2005 02:21 pm |
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15th Post |
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nando Approved
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Have not tried yet.
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| ezFolk Forums > Banjo > Beginner Questions - Banjo > Rank beginner...new to forums...and wanting to learn | Top |
