Learning Frailing

[sazji]

Good start, keep it up!

[StacyNYC]

@sazji It's been so long, now it's more a matter of "Give it another try!"

[sazji]

@StacyNYC Oh, I didn't even look at the date when I wrote that. Of course, there's always another try! :) And another, slower try....and on it goes.

[claudiafrei]

Ha! Today was my second day of practising how to frail and I'm glad that it sounds just like this lol How long did it take you to get the hang of it?

[StacyNYC]

@claudiafrei Honestly, I don't remember, but not all that long. The bigger issue was building up callouses!

[joeshea1010]

very sweet

[StacyNYC]

@joeshea1010 Thank you for saying so!

[MrPerry61]

hey! a lefty. Im having a hardtime finding a lefty banjo. I'm havng to order one, nice laugh there at the end.

[StacyNYC]

@MrPerry61 I had to special order the lefty banjo. But good luck to my fellow lefty!

[sisseeboy]

keep it up. it starts to come together quick

[StacyNYC]

@sisseeboy The video you uploaded really inspire me! Time to pull the banjo back out.

[nromando]

not bad lol

[StacyNYC]

@nromando Thank you!

[nromando]

@StacyNYC i saw this was added three years ago hahaha, i started to learn like 4 weeks ago and i basically have it down

[StacyNYC]

@nromando Keep going!

[MrBanjotrucker]

Keep at it ok it will come to you. I'm a left handed player my self. There are so great books out there for the clawhammer banjo. My favorite isany thing by Wayne Eberson.

[StacyNYC]

@MrBanjotrucker Thanks, I'll keep an eye out for his books.

[MrAckwood]

Some 60 years ago I talked my mothr into buying me a banjo at sears & roebuck. I promised to pay for the lessons by mowing lawns or whatever it took to get the $1 for my weekly lessons. I asked the man at sear& roebuck if he knew a teacher. He said he was. I got excited found my mother and took her over to talk to the man about a $15 banjo. The first question was is he left handed and forget it. Forget him. I pick right handed and still love it after more than 50 years. If you like it do it!!

[StacyNYC]

@MrAckwood Thanks for telling that story. It just made me feel very nostalgic. (That banjo I'm playing is a left-handed banjo, by the way.)

[seminar6]

i have had my banjo for about 2 years,,,i didnt have much luck being a leftie..like you are...and watchnig you has given me incentive to get it out the wardrobe and try frailing...you must be the only leftie on youtube....good on you....just gonna watch you again!!!

[StacyNYC]

@seminar6 Good luck!!  I have to get back to it myself!

[nightfrailer]

All hail Patrick Costello, Saint of the Banjo. Who ever heard of someone giving so much away for so little. It was a privilege to buy his book.

[joachim95687]

Hey,I am trying to learn frailing also. What resources have you found to be the best. I just can't seem to get the rhythm right. Thanks

[StacyNYC]

@joachim95687

As I said here, Patrick Costello's videos right here on YouTube! He also has books and other aids so you should start with his videos here. And good luck!

[30inchcoal]

you'll notice that every time you pick it up, you'l be better than you were when you put it down.(if you practice ) so, the trick is put it down and you've heard "practice makes perfect" well I've found that perfect practice makes perfect. speed will come with time. Go for accuracy and speed will follow. Please post an update on your playing I'd love to hear it...

[StacyNYC]

@30inchcoal I haven't picked up the banjo is so long! I wrote another book instead and now I've started another.  I'm so mad at myself -- I would be at least playing songs by now.

[fightingnate]

did you grow up in nyc or did you just move there?

[marcericjo]

Excellent! I can't do that yet!

[chkerout]

Good start there Stacy. I am looking for a banjo myself. That's how I stumbled on this. I suppose you are a virtuoso by now? How about an update performance?

I will be looking for it!

Rich

[strollby]

just got mine watched the experts and suffered, so it is really nice to see someone playing who is in the early stage, thanks for sharing.

[therestwasjustsilenc]

what the fuck

[banyo5]

nice going stacy

[bad2thebanjo]

I just learned this too! Its nice to see someone else learning the same thing. What help me was to start the frail strumming down on the first 3 strings in the beginning, then hitting the fifth, then back to the first. Same pattern just a different starting position.  But then again I'm just a beginner...

[sleaponit21]

I get a nice warm feeling watching you stace, but have fun with your goodtime put your capo behind the 4th fret then find ralph stanley on here singing JOHN HENRY and get goin  xx graham

[markyboyz1300]

you sound just like I did, I never thought I would get it right but I am starting to, there is a guy called patrick (dobro33h)on here somewhere and his videos will really help you as he has me and many others, stick at it, its hard work but its worth it

[robob12]

I also have the goodtime special. Taking the back off definitely makes it more comfortable, plus it helps reduce the volume, so now it will go from being obnoxiously loud to just plain loud :-)

[StacyNYC]

Hi! I put the banjo aside because I got caught up in this book I'm finishing (I'm a writer). I'm so ashamed. But I will pick it back up in a couple of months.

My banjo is Deering Goodtime banjo, made for a lefty! You may not have noticed that I'm a lefty. I'm happy with this banjo, but I was thinking of taking the back off so it was smaller and lighter.

[AllRequired]

How could anyone not have noticed you were a southpaw?  I don't think you used a mirror.

[Aetherus7]

I leave mine on a stand in my living room, just pick it up for a few minutes here and there and you'll come a long way soon.

[StacyNYC]

Oh. Great suggestion!

[bad2thebanjo]

How is your playing going? I learned "Nothing but the Blood of Jesus" but I want to learn more.  Just checkin' in.

[StacyNYC]

I totally dropped the ball, alas. You should upload a video of you playing "Nothing but the Blood of Jesus." Is it one of those great, O Brother Where Are Thou type of songs?

[MCPRE]

I am just starting also, I have been fumblin on the guitar for 30 yrs so it does help me out some. Your banjar looks like mine - is it a mastercraft?

[pit032]

Once you get over the starting hump it will start getting easier..then you will start to enjoy it,dont stop

[StacyNYC]

Thank you all for the encouragement. I put the banjo aside to finish up a project I was working on, so now I have to get back into the habit of practicing again. (But I know exactly what you are talking about barely, I was doing that at first too.)

[barelysoup]

I love it, Stacy!

Bought my first banjo (Goodtime II) two years ago. Learned to frail by watching/reading Patrick's stuff.

One problem: couldn't consistently hit the single-string note at the start of the bum-ditty.

Turned out, I was flicking my finger instead of keeping my hand in a "claw" and driving the motion with my forearm (the "hammer").

Your banjo has a nice clear ring to it.

[Logan5312]

Nice, I just started watching Patrick's vids too, I can frail at about the same speed you're at. Patrick just takes off flying in some parts though. I'm following along ok and then all of a sudden he'll whip out this crazy lick.

[NOSMOJEFF]

Keep it going..I am not even as good as you.

The deal is 15 minutes a day right?

[aztecmummy]

Hey, great start, don't stop for nothin'! One thing that helped me a lot was the dvd series by Bob Carlin...there might even be some of that on here...he's got a great method for starting out, you'll be jamming on "Shortenin' Bread" in no time..as far as your fingers killing you, that'll go away before too long if you stick with it...always does.

[BanjoNaps]

keep going! I <3 my good time by the way. A very fine choice.

[daddywaltg]

Stacy you are very brave for sharing!!! Looks like you are off to a great start.....

[Hottub111]

keep it up... i watch patricks videos too, having recently took up banjo myself.. thats a real nice one you got there!

[StacyNYC]

Thank you! I saw that someone had commented on my video and I came here, terrified that someone said something mean. I'm a total beginner! Aren't Patrick's videos great? I love his dad, too. I emailed Patrick to ask about modifying me banjo and he answered, and was as charming in email as he is in his videos. I ordered his book The How and the Tao of Old Time Banjo and it just came yesterday.

The strings kill my fingers, the ones that make the chords. I hope I build callouses soon.