I can try to play the banjo...

[judifilksign]

My father has let me bring home the family heirloom banjo to try to learn to play it. My grandfather played it back in the twenties, and my father played it some, too. It is a four-string banjo. (I think they call this kind of banjo a tenor banjo?)

My father and I found a couple of web sites for beginners, and beginner chords. For those of you who read my LJ and play banjo, can you recommend some beginner books for me? I am all excited to play!

It has a very sweet tone, which surprises me for a banjo! And it cuts through all other sounds in the house, even when played quietly, so I shall only be able to practice when my DH is awake, or not home.

I am geeked in a happy way that I am going to be playing grandpa's banjo! I hope I can do it justice.

And now, I need to find a good icon for LJ for my banjo, just for good luck. Maybe with my guitar.

Comments

[hsifyppah.livejournal.com]

You should borrow this icon! It's from a valentine's day card vixy drew for me.

I don't know anything much about four-string banjos, so I don't have any advice for books, but YAY BANJO! You should bat your eyes at Mary Bertke until she confesses.

You can mute the banjo by stuffing a sock in the back, or a sock under the strings between the bridge and the headpiece, or by using an actual banjo mute that you buy at a store, which is a weight that clips on to the bridge. It makes the sound a bit weird and muffle-y, but cuts the volume a lot for practicing. I used to have a circle of yellow fun fur taped under the head of one of my banjos to make it quiet enough to practice in an apartment building.

'Course then I ended up buying a banjola as a practice instrument because it would be quieter, and fell in love. This is dangerous!

[ladymondegreen.livejournal.com]

That's really useful to know!

February is traditionally the month where I try once again to learn to play the banjo. It will perhaps take me away from my current obsession with the harmonica, but we will see.

Congratulations!

[robin-june.livejournal.com]

I can't suggest a tenor banjo instructional method book, but I can suggest a music store, and a luthier to set it up.

Bluegrass Musicians' Supply, on High Street south of German Village, is the best bet for books, instructional DVDs, strings, straps, cases, capos, etc. It's a small shop with a bluegrass jam down in the basement every Saturday, and the owner's family living on the floor above the store. (In fact, it looks just like a house, except for the huge guitar on the sign out front.) If you get down there, tell the proprietor John that Robin & Alan say "hi" and she says she'll be back in soon.

For vintage instrument repairs and setup, I recommend J. Thomas Davis, on High Street in Clintonville.

And don't be afraid to play an instrument that's "better" than you are a player -- that's the only way you get to grow & improve.

Re: Congratulations!

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much!

I was worried about the leather strap used as a handle on my case; it is pretty old and weak. And I can make sure the banjo itself is ready to sing and snap!

Re: Congratulations!

[robin-june.livejournal.com]

Yes, handles on vintage cases frequently give way before the rest of the case goes, so that sounds like a good thing to ask about.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on your new banjo! And what a pleasure to be able to play a family heirloom!

The folks at the music store may be able to advise you about whether it's okay to use the strings that have been sitting in the case to replace the broken string.