Roustabout on a Fretless Banjo

[DVDELLYS2010]

C'est Formidable ! vous jouez Magnifique ! vous me rappeler quelqu’un !

[lowdenful]

Boy I love the way you play B. I'm just starting out ,the tuning you use sounds like ?EGsharp.BE help.

[bilbo60]

@lowdenful it is aDAC#E which is the same as gCGBC and capo'd up 2 frets

[zippymanyay101]

Could you explain the tuning? Nice playing by the way...

[bilbo60]

Sure, it is aDAC#E which is the same as gCGBC and capo'd up 2 frets.

[longchalk74]

V nice..........

[jtallen12345]

nice playing!

[fiddlerosin]

Does the brass give a brighter tone than just wood or is it just to prevent wear? I've sen a few instruments with brass fingerboards. Thanks

[tarmenmin]

This sounds great!

[markbowie123]

What is the tuning your playing in?

[luckiebrat27]

This clip proves it all. Feeling and tempo, man, beautiful! Fred would be jealous.

[bilbo60]

Thanks for the lovely comment, but I am afraid that I have a way to go to even get Fred's attention (If he was still with us), Thanks again

[drybonesband]

Great sound and playing.

[kc7fys]

The video artifacts on your vest are the added bonus in this video. If you are in Minnesota--I might have photos of your banjo there on Flickr. I stopped in to the Second Moon jam one Saturday morning and took a lot of photos of the notable headstocks and instruments that were nice-looking.

Jonathan Haynes

[bilbo60]

Yep, it took quite awhile to get those artifacts just right, I am in Northern California, never been in Minnesota, but the headstock was inspired by the old minstrel banjos, I always wanted one with that headstock design, and also a fretless with the brass finger board so I made this one, the neck was made from an old hardwood post I found laying in a field about 30 some years ago that looked a bit like mahogany grain but lighter in color.

[cdragotta]

Are you plucking the melody notes, or are you using your nail as in traditional frailing?

CD

[bilbo60]

Hi, I am down picking the tune, as well as drop thumbing, some call it clawhammer style, or frailing.

Though when I first started learning the banjo, many years ago, frailing was considered a style that was more backup, strumming chords and clawhammer was more melodic,

But I am no longer what any of that all means except they both or a down picking style.

lol, hope that answers your question

[rottinculobastardo]

nice fealling , really nice

[huntinvt]

Just beautiful! I've played the fiddle my whole life and want to start playing the banjo -- would you recommend starting right in on fretless? Any advice on brands or makers?

[djypsydjazz]

If you can figure songs out on the fiddle without the music then fretless might be a good option. The frets add some structure but its all about personal preference.

[djypsydjazz]

if you want makers? Hmm. Thats a hard one.

[Artcarnie]

Thanks for putting this up!

[johammond]

A great tune nicely played. How is your banjo tuned?

[bilbo60]

Thanks, I tuned it to aDAC#E

[rottenhubert]

Lovely - that's just about as good as music needs to get...

[bowrocker]

Very nicely played.

[banjozane]

Sounds great!!

[locustvalleystring]

Nice playing. I am just starting my fretless foray....I dabbled for a bit, but getting that accurate pitch was a problem for me. I have a couple tunes worked out.....

[Banjer]

Hi bilbo...good job and sound of your banjo is very old time style..post more please!!!

[Wishuey]

Great job on a favorite tune.

[achnamara]

As with your other videos this is excellent. I really like the gentle playing rather than the harshness of bluegrass.  More please -quite inspiring.