Folk Song of the Day 8/1/07

Banjo questions & Boil 'em Cabbage Down

Category:

Music

Tags:

• banjo
• frailing
• clawhammer
• old
• time
• folk
• music
• instruction
• how-to
• Maryland
• Crisfield
• Cheasapeake
• Bay

[daveybox2]

hi after playing contemporary songs on guitar for many years and really interested in playing frailing banjo. Is it possible to play contemporary tunes on the banjo rather than folk songs? No disrespect!

[Dobro33H]

You can play anything on the banjo. I'm sticking to folk songs for this series because they work well in terms of teaching the basics.

What you do when you get the basics down is up to you. Music is music.

[chessfun]

this is "one hell of a nice guy".....thanks for your help to us learners....much appreciated dude......

[bluedanbob]

Of course you can pick with an open back, the open back/resonator choice is really a matter of personal taste. You can play 3 finger style on an open back just fine, typically you'll pick closer to the bridge to get a sharper, fuller tone.

With a resonator, you'll be louder to someone sitting in front of you but no louder to someone sitting right next to you than an open back.

Go with what you like, but don't think any specific configuration is required to play a certain way.

[liverleef]

OK im about to buy my first banjo, like alot of folks, I've selected the deering goodtime to be my first banjo. I had wondered if you could frail on a resonator banjo. You answered that question, thanks a bunch. Does this mean that you can pick a open back?

Also thanks for demonstrating the bum ditty so well. Much appreciated.

[DjPuckFL]

Great series of videos, I just recently got a banjo myself, thanx and keep it up.

[skye131924]

Dammit you make it look easy! - lol

[fabricari]

You really make learning banjo fun. I just started watching your videos a couple weeks ago, and learned that I was frailin' all wrong - some sort of franken-frail. You explained it so well, that I'm finally startin' to get the hang of it.

[twinkleone]

your affinity with the instrument and the joy you get imparting your knowledge to us is amazing, your a star

[daveybox2]

Thanks Patrick. Really enjoying your lessons and your dad's as well! Thank you for the advice and I look forward to all the lessons you provide.