Any Tips on Learning to Play the Banjo?

[UB 40]

The nickel strings on a banjo might be an issue. With an arthritic hand I would go for softer nylons as a uke might offer. The fluke is a already mentioned and a good one. A soprano is nice, but the frets are really narrow spaced. A Tenor has a much wider space. It depends a little on how big your hand and arm is. You can also provide a tenor with a deep g-string without problems in intonation. Yes of course it is a serious instrument and a lots of fun.

 

[LeafErikson]

I agree with the nylon string suggestions in regards to a ukulele. I would still steer clear of a nylon string guitar as the wide-neck will likely aggravate your arthritis.

 

[RookieGuy80]

My old guitar teacher gave me some advice many decades ago. "Practice for a half hour a day. It doesn't matter if you want to or not. It doesn't how many dogs howl. It doesn't matter if neighbors leave nasty notes on your door. Practice a half hour a day. Keep it up until the dogs stop howling and neighbors smile when you pull out your instrument."

 

[mawnansmiff]

even if you buy a cheap banjo, you’ll still have to take it to a luthier to be set up.

Alas luthiers are a bit thin on the ground here in rural south west Cornwall. In fact I doubt there is one this side of the Tamar*.

I think I shall just bite the bullet and go for one of the many offerings on Amazon (likely as not the one with the most positive reviews) and muddle along from there.

I see there are loads of tutorials available on Youtube so that will likely be where I visit once I've acquired the instrument.

Thanks for the input chaps, it made for interesting reading.

Regards,

Jay.

***The River Tamar divides Cornwall from Devon & the rest of England.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Alas luthiers are a bit thin on the ground here in rural south west Cornwall. In fact I doubt there is one this side of the Tamar*.

I think I shall just bite the bullet and go for one of the many offerings on Amazon (likely as not the one with the most positive reviews) and muddle along from there.

I see there are loads of tutorials available on Youtube so that will likely be where I visit once I've acquired the instrument.

Thanks for the input chaps, it made for interesting reading.

Regards,

Jay.

***The River Tamar divides Cornwall from Devon & the rest of England.

You might have a go at doing a setup yourself. If you stick with the banjo you’re going to have to learn how to do it all anyway. Generally out of the box those will need at minimum head tensioned/tuned, action rods adjusted, and bridge height set. There are lot of videos on tube on how to do those things. If it needs any fret work you might want to find someone set up to it.

 

[nathaniel]

I play guitar, slide guitar, banjo, mandolin, and piano. I have for over 20 yrs now, with a fevered passion. Im better than most at each (except perhaps piano), and better at all than any ive met. Its my "forte".

That said, banjo is my absolute favorite. I play primarily in 3 different tunings and clawhammer style mostly.

Its the last Instrument I learned but a BLAST to do so! So much fun! Its also easily the easiest to play in my experience. Both physically and theoretically.

I suggest The How and the Tao of Clawhammer by some guy named Patrick. Find him online, free ebook, and YouTube tutorials. Very fun and helpful for beginners.

However, if your left hand is too arthritic, slide guitar or dobro is an excellent option. Also fairly easy to pick up, but you need a decent ear to play the right intonation. If you can sing mostly on key, you'll be fine.

Deering goodtimes are good banjos for most people that never take it too seriously and any acoustic steel string guitar can work for slide, but both should be set up by someone knowledgeable for their intended use/style.

Im left handed. Always played right handed Instruments. Left hand Instruments are stupid and a money waster/option killer.
Dont play left handed Instruments. Just get a normal one. Learning wo t be any more difficult either way as all movements and positions are foreign to you regardless and will need to be trained.


Have FUN! Show us what you get!

 

[bassbug]

The key to banjo success is perfect pitch.......

That means being able to pitch the banjo into a dumpster without touching the walls.....

 

[cosmicfolklore]

My wife's great great grandfather was Lamar Lunsford. He was the doctor in Western NC who first brought the banjo out of the mountains down to the Grand Ol Opry. Her family is an extreme musical family. So, when we go visit, I will take my banjo, but set where I can watch someone else make the chord changes, so that I don't end up lost. My wife plays the fiddle by ear, which blows my mind. That woman can hear something being played for the first time, like an Ed Sheeran song, and she can pick up her fiddle and just start playing it, even if it didn't have a fiddle in the song.

If you just want to learn something for fun, like the banjo... look into a resonator ukulele. I have one, and it is fun for just hanging out at home. It has a distinct sound, but banjo'ish sounding. I can easily play the banjo parts on it just for fun with Mrs Cosmic. They also don't take up much space, and usually come ready to play. There are also some banjoleles out there.

Hell, if you just want to play something fun, easy to learn, the ukulele is great! I got into it before meeting Mrs Cosmic to help me quit cigarettes. Something to keep my hand busy. It will teach you the chords which are the exact same on a banjo. The only difference is playing style.

 

[UB 40]

My wife's great great grandfather was Lamar Lunsford. He was the doctor in Western NC who first brought the banjo out of the mountains down to the Grand Ol Opry. Her family is an extreme musical family. So, when we go visit, I will take my banjo, but set where I can watch someone else make the chord changes, so that I don't end up lost. My wife plays the fiddle by ear, which blows my mind. That woman can hear something being played for the first time, like an Ed Sheeran song, and she can pick up her fiddle and just start playing it, even if it didn't have a fiddle in the song.

If you just want to learn something for fun, like the banjo... look into a resonator ukulele. I have one, and it is fun for just hanging out at home. It has a distinct sound, but banjo'ish sounding. I can easily play the banjo parts on it just for fun with Mrs Cosmic. They also don't take up much space, and usually come ready to play. There are also some banjoleles out there.

Hell, if you just want to play something fun, easy to learn, the ukulele is great! I got into it before meeting Mrs Cosmic to help me quit cigarettes. Something to keep my hand busy. It will teach you the chords which are the exact same on a banjo. The only difference is playing style.

That’s funny I also used the process of getting on the uke to quit smoking. As you said to keep the hands busy. Had the small instrument lying on my desk, while working and every time I was longing for a smoke I fetched it for a few strums. It worked out perfectly.

 

[mawnansmiff]

Hell, if you just want to play something fun, easy to learn, the ukulele is great!

Actually I've been looking at a 4 string banjolele on Amazon for a good price.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kmise-Banjolele-Concert-Ukulele-Multifunctional/dp/B07PJQT4ZB/ref=sr_1_12_sspa?crid=1M2OOWIDRRRYU&keywords=banjo&qid=1695398085&sprefix=banjo%2Caps%2C103&sr=8-12-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.cc223b57-2b86-485c-a85e-6431c1f06c86&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&psc=1

Regards setting the bridge, my pal has offered to pop over & help out with that.

Regards,

Jay.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Actually I've been looking at a 4 string banjolele on Amazon for a good price.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kmise-Banjolele-Concert-Ukulele-Multifunctional/dp/B07PJQT4ZB/ref=sr_1_12_sspa?crid=1M2OOWIDRRRYU&keywords=banjo&qid=1695398085&sprefix=banjo%2Caps%2C103&sr=8-12-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.cc223b57-2b86-485c-a85e-6431c1f06c86&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&psc=1

Regards setting the bridge, my pal has offered to pop over & help out with that.

Regards,

Jay.

I'm not familiar with that brand, but it has some interesting accessories. Go for it. But, you might scan Ebay for a used vintage one before pulling the trigger. That's where I got my resonator. The 40's and 50's had some really well made instruments.

And, kudos to your pal. That sounds like a plan.

 

[AcesAndEights]

Just equal parts pickin’ and grinnin’.

 

[mawnansmiff]

This guy seems to know his onions, great clip.

So with his video in mind, I just bought one of these....

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PJRBDB7/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07PJRBDB7&pd_rd_w=3D3kD&content-id=amzn1.sym.84ea1bf1-65a8-4363-b8f5-f0df58cbb686&pf_rd_p=84ea1bf1-65a8-4363-b8f5-f0df58cbb686&pf_rd_r=T4X60XM9S7JH8D9CG9WF&pd_rd_wg=clkJP&pd_rd_r=d5744b30-2fe8-4c09-a68f-8139d9515e12&s=musical-instruments&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw

Regards,

Jay.

 

[UB 40]

Actually I've been looking at a 4 string banjolele on Amazon for a good price.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kmise-Banjolele-Concert-Ukulele-Multifunctional/dp/B07PJQT4ZB/ref=sr_1_12_sspa?crid=1M2OOWIDRRRYU&keywords=banjo&qid=1695398085&sprefix=banjo%2Caps%2C103&sr=8-12-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.cc223b57-2b86-485c-a85e-6431c1f06c86&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&psc=1

Regards setting the bridge, my pal has offered to pop over & help out with that.

Regards,

Jay.

That looks good. It comes with all you need. You may become a second George Formby leaning on the lamp post.

 

[simong]

 

[georged]

ALL string instruments are stupid easy to play, with the banjo being the easiest.

Don't belive me?

The guys in this video recorded it at 2:00 in the afternoon... and not one of them had ever touched a musical instrument of any kind before noon that same day.

The stuff was just piled on a table, they walked into the room, messed with it for a couple hours, and flipped the record switch.

 

[AppalachianPipe92]

Listen to JD Crowe non stop. Start with tuning and intonation - these are probably the most important things and many new players breeze past them without ever mastering them. Get a metronome and make it swing - make it speed up and slow down. Really focus on timing, the banjo is a driver of an instrument and good timing is key. Listen to more JD Crowe.
Learn simple roles. Starting with traditional songs in the key of G is probably the easiest place to start. Practice, practice, practice.
Oh, and have fun.

 

[AppalachianPipe92]

ALL string instruments are stupid easy to play, with the banjo being the easiest.

Don't belive me?

The guys in this video recorded it at 2:00 in the afternoon... and not one of them had ever touched a musical instrument of any kind before noon that same day.

The stuff was just piled on a table, they walked into the room, messed with it for a couple hours, and flipped the record switch.

Power house of a lineup.

 

[warren]

First, you must admit you are starting late in life. Second, accept that you will no doubt get frustrated. Thirdly acknowledge that it's all on you and then, somewhere down the road, if you doggedly keep at it, you'll experience an epiphany, And it'll all come together, you can play, not at the level you wish, that'll come, but, all of a sudden you have an understanding of "how" the instrument "speaks." Hard, continuous work will get you there. Enjoy the trip!

I wish you well. Without two things, my dog and my feeble efforts at making music, life would be fairly dull, even sad, for the most part.

Again, enjoy the learning and you will be rewarded at some level.

 

[anotherbob]

Alas luthiers are a bit thin on the ground here in rural south west Cornwall. In fact I doubt there is one this side of the Tamar*.

I think I shall just bite the bullet and go for one of the many offerings on Amazon (likely as not the one with the most positive reviews) and muddle along from there.

I see there are loads of tutorials available on Youtube so that will likely be where I visit once I've acquired the instrument.

Thanks for the input chaps, it made for interesting reading.

Regards,

Jay.

***The River Tamar divides Cornwall from Devon & the rest of England.

that also raises an important question. Which is why are you doing this? Or more accurately what do you want to get out of it? If you just want to make some nice noise tutorials will be great along with just messing around a lot.