Quick and dirty banjo lesson number 4

[spiritshiva]

these videos are amazing. i never played a banjo before buying one last week, and your videos already have my friends thinking that i'm good at it :) i subscribed to your videos, please keep them coming!

[rpeek]

@spiritshiva That's awesome! Yea, most people make banjo playin' a lot harder than it needs to be. Glad you're havin fun with it. That's the most important thing. 

[tommybus71]

Ive wached a hundred tutorials for banjo and yours is the only one that really helped. After three weeks I have mastered lesson 4. Cant wait for your next lesson. Thanks alot.

[rpeek]

@tommybus71 Hey that's awesome and good for you! Yea, banjo playin' shouldn't be so hard. It don't have to be. It should be fun! Go for it.

[debifeb]

quick the fire is going out put another log on

Zark

[javabirds]

It is at 0:17...

[rpeek]

@javabirds Yea, it's hard for me not to throw that in there. It's a drop thumb shacka-lacka..

[javabirds]

Your videos are sweet. Thanks! I'm working on #4 and am trying to figure out something... It feels like you are doing a little "turn around" with your thumb on something other than the 5th string at the end of the sections. What is that lick? It isn't just boom-ditty... Is it? I play by ear so maybe I'm hearing something that ain't there but whatever it is, I'd love to figure it out!

[rpeek]

@javabirds Don't think boom-ditty.. Think Boom-shacka-lacka...  It'll all become appearent then.

[chessfun]

nice playing my friend...

[skitzonacid]

rpeek the banjo master thanks buddy! love your work

[DodgeMan360]

Gonna go pick me up a banjo this week I figure, I'll watch your vids to help me learn how to pick, thank ya sir!

[rpeek]

@DodgeMan360 Betcha!  Good luck with it.

[bressloff]

You have helped my frailing tremendously...........

Many thanks

Andy

London U.K

[rpeek]

@bressloff  That's just awesome! Glad to help..

[countorlock100]

@bressloff Thank God for the net and people like Richard Peek ! My playing has improved like I can't beleive. Good luck with yer playing bud.

Regards

MK

[Arniferocity]

now all i have to do is get one

[ozarkwilson]

I have played (mostly) rhythm guitar most of my life and have been interested in the "old-timey" banjo sound for many years. Last week, at age 54, I finally bought a decent used banjo. I spent the 1st few evenings learning the bum-ditty from a couple videos I found and today I ran across your lessons and am already playing much of the song from lesson # 4. Thank you so much for the simple, honest approach you use in your lessons. I am so thankful I found you!!!

[rpeek]

@ozarkwilson Glad you did too.. Always happy when someone finds joy in an old banjo. Good for you!

[donernesto2000]

@rpeek ....slowly but at least a little bit I´ve catched some of your rhythm..... Will there be a new "lesson" soon ?

greetings from Hamburg

[rpeek]

@donernesto2000  It could happen..

[ltrewist]

Awesome vid.

Rpeek, you are the greatest - you single handedly got me into clawhammer banjo, and I really enjoy listening to you playing.

What tuning is your banjer in - doesn't sound like open G...?

many thanks for all your music and teaching!

[rpeek]

@ltrewist Generally, on the teaching vids it's in G but maybe not exactly, Relative G maybe. If you want to get it just right it's GDGBD, but I'm usually somewhere in the neighborhood, or maybe not. I tend to just tune by ear and mood..

[2LateIWon]

as simple sounding as that song is I love it!!

[GameLevelEditor]

After playing guitar for 30 yrs I've still always thought the banjo was a much more powerful instrument so I learned travis picking to get lower end pumping and make guitar not so linear. Banjo has a great droning tone!

[rpeek]

@GameLevelEditor Yea it does, and with a few alternative tunings you can get some really cool sounds out of it. 

[natebosss]

Thank you for putting out a nice simple set of lessons. I have had my banjo sitting in a corner for 10 years. I get it out every few years and try to play a little but never had any luck. I found these lessons and am now beginning to feel like I can play the thing. The banjo is finally bringing a smile to my face. THANK YOU!!

[rpeek]

@natebosss Your welcome. Banjo don't have to be complicated, but it does have to be fun, or there ain't no point to it.. hahaha...

[schnooder]

A question. I'm just starting out (coming from guitar). If I'm getting decent sound and coordination by using my index finger and thumb, does it really matter if the ring and pinky finger are 'clawed" or not? Mine tent to want to straighten out a bit and get out of the way. Thanks for your thoughts!

[rpeek]

@schnooder Nope doesn't matter at all. Sounds like you're doin' just fine the way you're doing it. Good luck!

[TheProphetNabob]

"that's what makes the banjo cool--you don't actually have to know how to play anything."

Love it!

[rpeek]

@TheProphetNabob Yep.. That there is the secret to happiness.. hahahahaha.. 

[magsbulldog]

thanks for the lessons.

finding it hard to get a contstant rythm and the mrs is going crazy haha.

[rpeek]

@magsbulldog Stuff a pair of big heavy socks in the back of the banjo. That'll help with the Mrs..

[fralin1966]

how come you didnt finish your banjo lessons we love them and your sound

[rpeek]

@fralin1966 I thought I did. It's up to you now.. haha

[denrizza]

Question: you think you could do a video of "run rabbit run"? That one and Herd of Turtles I want to eventually learn to play.

[rpeek]

@denrizza I don't know those songs myself..

[denrizza]

@rpeek They are acutally on youtube as well. Look up STRINGBEAN and GRANDPA JONES. They are the ones doing those songs and are playin pretty fast for me to figger them out. Old school bluegrass, they are. =o)

[gw5000]

I wanted to do this all at once, but does it feel so comfortable that the first and fourth string feel the same, and you throw the cluck in whenever you feel like it?

[rpeek]

@gw5000 Yes, it does with practice, and soon as it feels good you just about play anything.... Good luck with it.. 

[gw5000]

you've got a really good sound, I gotta get it!

[gw5000]

pretty damn good mofo....! You should be making money, I could sing and people would pay money! I'm telling you! maybe I'm drunk but could you post cluck ol' hen? but if you wanna clean up let's do it!

[banjobubby]

haha thats what i tell every one you aint got gotta know shit just as long as you know some cool stuff

[rpeek]

@banjobubby  Yep, nothin' to it... hahahahaha

[mrtreebus]

Thanks, I've been playing 3 month and getting it, thanks to you ! take a look at my vid " messing about tell me ma "

Ah funny thing I also have a VW Beetle 1963 had it for 14 years ;-)

[Blackbloodbrigade]

you rock, I wish I had an uncle like you!

Cheers

[bwv998PFA]

Yeah it is! I'm also using that lil ditty you're playin in lesson 4 to try a lil improv of my own but nothin on youtude yet! got a lot more practicing to do first...Cheers!

[rpeek]

Sweet.. Good luck with it..

[bwv998PFA]

Alll righty. Got the old Slingerland from ebay cleaned up with elbow grease, tung oil, new tuners ( friction pegs- yow!) shimmed up the neck so the strings weren't 3 inches high, fasioned my nut for the 5th string from a brass screw, got an arm rest and I'M READY - you can tell I'm a little proud of my self) You taught me the flail - I taught myself a lil song that works real well for a duffer: Frere Jaques - French banjo music Hahaha! You're a great teacher! Thanks!

[rpeek]

That is so cool! Sounds like you've really gotten into the banjo, and you've got a great old banjo to play with.. Frere Jaques.. I had another new banjo player saying he'd learned that song too.. Must be a good 'un to start on.. Good luck with it.. Why don't ya make a video of your banjo.. Love to see it. Sounds like a nice one, 'specially since you've fixed it up..

[sv650pimpin]

banjo is in the mail! cant wait! Mississippi boy here, I want to learn clawhammer sooo bad!

[rpeek]

Sweet!

[docsavage98]

These videos are exactly what I am looking for ...thanks

[rpeek]

Betcha! Have fun..

[pentecostalplayer22]

Thankee much for these videos. I'm from a mountain town in West Virginia and just got a banjo a few days ago. I finally understand how to play clawhammer banjo now!

Pap knowed a little bit about it but you make it so clear. Now I can learn him a thing or two!

[rpeek]

That's awesome... Hope you have as much fun with it as I have..

[pentecostalplayer22]

@rpeek Sure try to!

[xsubmerged]

I think I've watched all your videos about 30 times. I am 25 and from Canada, I just bought a banjo because it's such fun music. I couldn't figure out clawhammer until I watched your videos and I got this tune down. Very nice feeling. I hope you keep making quick and dirty tutorials, you're great. All this information means a lot to me. Thank you!

[rpeek]

Sweet! Seems to work for some folks. That's a good thing. Glad you're havin' fun with it... I know I am.. Thanks.

[hamnhock]

Great little lesson,,i'll be yankin my open back off the wall and givin it a shot,,,again!!!...BTW,,i love the way your oil can banjo sounds,,,

Ham

[rpeek]

Thank YOu... Yessir play that banjo..  haha

[semofolkie]

cold weather movin in? hoverin around 50 in the nights here in southern Missouri

[rpeek]

Yep, winters comin'....

[JeffN727]

Thanks for the banjer lessons. I don't know how to play, or have one, but it would be great to learn someday.

[rpeek]

Yep, I always thought so too..  haha

[panfilo98410]

i always love the sound of the banjo, it reminds me of good times, even thougt music people dont use it were i live

[rpeek]

Music people don't use it where I live either..... Just joking.. That's a banjo joke..

[mechanicwarrior20]

wow you are good...

[rpeek]

Thank you neighbor..