Updates & FMB

We have been so busy with other projects that I have not had time to produce as many video workshops as usual. I thought I should post an update on how things are going for us here in Crisfield.

While I was at it, I figured, why not knock out a banjo workshop on frailing bluegrass tunes?

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• banjo
• frailing
• clawhammer
• music
• instruction
• folk
• folklore
• Crisfield
• Maryland
• Patrick
• Costello

[therandomguy3]

hey man, i have finally gotten a banjo! its an old inexpensive banjo and it plays really well. the only problem is that the strings on it are 10 years old, really corrosive. and oh yes, nickel-coated. i am allergic to nickel therefore i cant use those type of strings. i currently use phosphorus bronze and stainless steel strings on my other 3 guitars.

so what i'm really asking is. what type of strings can you suggest that are not nickel-plated? and yes, i do have a 5 string.

[Dobro33H]

GHS makes stainless steel strings. I use the PF170 set. They sound great and they last forever.

[kbkelley1]

nice fmb turorial ive been looking all over for a clawhammer one.

[wizhack]

It looks easy but it's not so easy! GREAT PLAYING*********

[wbwillie]

i have to agree with the whole guitar/banjo thing, just 'cause you can play the guitar don't make banjo any easier, I have been playing on a banjo for about a year now, and it's FINALLY starting to get easier

[DarknessHowls]

I just bought a banjo last saturday, and even though I already play guitar a bit, I still feel totally lost in the world of banjo-stuff, so your videos are a great help. It's amazing how you can get so much sound out of one instrument. Thanks again for your great instruction. :D

[bluedanbob]

You know, when I show this to bluegrass folks they're invariably amazed that you can reproduce the sound with frailing, or that you're not using a resonator on that banjo.

I've browsed Banjo forums looking for advice and everything is so black and white absolute. You MUST have a tone ring, you MUST have this, you MUST have that. There was even a teacher who said he'd turn away students if he had a certain brand of banjo (which he called junk)!

Yeesh.

[josh842507]

bad ass patrick !!!

[oldbrutual]

Hi! You're an awesome teacher. One question though. With the Hammer-on (2-3, strum-thumb, pull-off (3-0) strum thumb), I get lost when you leap into light speed. Can you show your strum method (the long verson) in slow-mo?

[mike2601]

Happy Easter - here in London our back garden is covered in snow (global warming) looks pretty, your videos are great, yet another thank you for sharing. Inspirational. Feel like I am gonna have to get me a banjo:)

[chrispizza]

Thanks for the video, and have a happy easter.

[dazzat1]

Hi Guy's, good to hear that the Retreat is going good. I'm gonna try for next year.

The best news is that dear ol' dad is renewing is vow's with mum. My wife and I renewed our vow's last Sunday 16th. Give them my love. Good lick patrick, you are worth every cent. Bless you all.

Daryle Taylor, from the UK.