Kay - Tenor Banjo Debut

Well I got a nice tenor banjo a few days ago and here's where I've managed to get so far. It isn't much, but still I've noticed how much easier it is to pick up a new instrument once you've gotten a little experience under your belt.

I'm still very clumsy with the plectrum... I missed the last chord melody note for example. But I've always been about showing humble beginnings, so I kept it.

Wonder what I should try next.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Tenor
• banjo
• beginner
• Boil
• them
• cabage
• down

[thejaewilson]

cool video man, i've played guitar for 15 years and have been trying the 5 string banjo but all that right hand work gets me frustrated. i think i would do better on the tenor but no shops near me carry them.

[bluedanbob]

@thejaewilson That's no problem, Tenors are hard to come by at an affordable price because they've been out of style for so long. An alternative for a guitar player would be to pick up a five string banjo and remove the fifth string; what you'd end with is a plectrum banjo, the other four string banjo that was popular is the 60's and earlier. You can play it with a pick and whip out some pretty scary licks. Have a look for eddie peabody or some of the other old plectrum pickers.

[GeneralBloodbath]

I'm exactly the same, i learned ukulele myself using internet and youtube videos, got a tenor banjo and im finding difficult, i cant stop downpicking, thats what its called apparently when you take your left hand off the strings, and pick them while doing it, i cant stop doing that and it is rather annoying! Im hoping to get lessons for free at college

Where do you learn to play??

[bluedanbob]

I learned to play from the costellos at Pik-ware publishing. :) check out the video that I repsonded to with this one for the first sample lesson on the tenor.

And yes, the tenor is different and a bit more challenging than the five string or the uke. It's basically the result of a banjo and a mandolin getting friendly. :)

[patricegoyaud]

good demonstration

[bluedanbob]

Thank you, I'm still a complete beginner at it, it's so different from the five string! I thought I could just pick it up and start playing but I was wrong! 

I'm practicing though. :)

[thejaewilson]

@bluedanbob well i got a short scale irish tenor banjo off ebay. so far so good. tuned like a mandolin but an octave lower. i love it!

[sushyoshi]

I also came from a 5 string banjo to a tenor. Its really different. On the 5 string i played clawhammer style but on the tenor seems i have to use a pick, so now i am learning how to use a pick . Good thing is i can finally cut my nails.