Paddle faster, I hear banjos

[Spots]

I picked up a cheap Sovereign banjo today off craiglist. I paid $50, and it had some new parts that had been installed by a pro, he showed me the receipt. It had a new tailpiece and arm rest installed. I grabbed strings and picks at the flea market and now Im watching a basic beginners series on youtube and practicing. I plan to practice everyday. I dont wanna be a rock star, just able to pick a little when I want. Can anyone tell me anything about these banjos? All the info I can find says its a Harmony made Sovereign and thats about it.







Tapatalk ate my spelling.

Edited October 12, 2013 by Spots

[RED333]

All I can tell ya is, DO NOT SQUEAL LIKE A PIG! :rofl:

[56FordGuy]

I've wanted to learn to play the banjo for years, never made a point to follow up on it. Hardly have time for what I'm doing right now...

 

Good luck! 

[UncleJak]

I think you have a great beginners banjo there. Harmony used to have the market cornered on beginners instruments. I learned to play on a old harmony guitar. Seeing your banjo brings back memories of when I was learning.

Sent barefoot from the hills of Tennessee

[ArmyBrat61]

Hey Spots, when you get a handle on a style and you start hammerin out tunes....will they have an edge on 'em?  :rofl:  :rofl:  The style I used to play was called "claw hammer" but time, age and accidents took pickin out of my hands. When you find your style... guard your hands and fingers!  Good pickin to ya... :usa:

Edited October 13, 2013 by ArmyBrat61

[Fourtyfive]

http://www.guitarcenter.com/In-Store-Vintage-VINTAGE-HARMONY-SOVEREIGN-BANJO-108792617-i3051257.gc

[Spots]

Hey Spots, when you get a handle on a style and you start hammerin out tunes....will they have an edge on 'em? :rofl: :rofl: The style I used to play was called "claw hammer" but time, age and accidents took pickin out of my hands. When you find your style... guard your hands and fingers! Good pickin to ya... :usa:

I'm learning 3 finger Scruggs style first, then I'm glnna try clawhammer style. Ill make sure to watch my hands, though Im already careful with them due to needing them for blacksmithing and masonry.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/In-Store-Vintage-VINTAGE-HARMONY-SOVEREIGN-BANJO-108792617-i3051257.gc

Holy Smokes. That means I must have come out at least decent if this one is worth even half that.

Tapatalk ate my spelling.

[Guest TankerHC]

I think you have a great beginners banjo there. Harmony used to have the market cornered on beginners instruments. I learned to play on a old harmony guitar. Seeing your banjo brings back memories of when I was learning.

Sent barefoot from the hills of Tennessee

 

I learned on Harmony's and K's (Kay) back in the 70's. Played them a lot. Well, at least until the bone popped out the tips of my fingers. Those 1/2 inch actions were a beech. 

[peejman]

My wife took banjo lessons for a few years and got reasonably good at it.  Then we had kids...

 

I strongly suggest you take a few lessons before you get too far into it.  It's a whole lot easier to start out with good technique than it is to fix bad technique later.  AMHIK....

[LagerHead]

Yep, if you can swing it lessons will help you learn a lot more a lot faster. And learn to read music. Reading music will help you learn on your own as well. 

[Spots]

My wife took banjo lessons for a few years and got reasonably good at it. Then we had kids...

I strongly suggest you take a few lessons before you get too far into it. It's a whole lot easier to start out with good technique than it is to fix bad technique later. AMHIK....

Ive been learning with some family and friends who are really good. As well as Uncle jak from this forum who is a musician extraordinaire. I may try to do formal lessons, but its hard to keep bills covered most of the time, much less afford lessons

Yep, if you can swing it lessons will help you learn a lot more a lot faster. And learn to read music. Reading music will help you learn on your own as well.

Ive been able to read music for years, furst from church hymnals, then I played saxophone in the band in high school for a few years. And my qife helps with that. She llays clarinets, bassoon, piano, and some other stuff.
Tapatalk ate my spelling.

[Guest TankerHC]

If your doing this as mentioned for fun and to sit around the house and play, in lieu of learning to read music I would suggest one other thing that makes it a LOT easier. Learn to read Tablature. You can figure it out in about 20 minutes and can be playing songs in another 20. And anyone here who plays will tell you the only thing thats going to get you even satisfied to yourself is practice, and more practice and then some more practice. I used to do 4-5 hours a day, then 2-3 and a couple, then a couple a week then a couple a month until last year I realized I can no longer play after 30 years and didnt want to put the time back into it that it requires to even sound half azz. My brother does 5 hours a day even if he has to stay up until 3AM to do it. He's a guitar NUT.

 

Guitars, Banjo's and other stringed instruments like guns are works of art. And if you start learning to play, this wont be your last one.

 

It takes more practice to learn rudementary guitar and Banjo skills than it does to become an IPSC Professional Champion.

 

As with firearms, Your going to spend a lot of money if you start getting any good.

 

Here's a song by The Traveling Wilburys that tells the story. There are people here who are going to think they wrote this song about them. I was one of them until last year.

 

http://youtu.be/NYDpp2m_hpI

Edited October 21, 2013 by TankerHC

[Spots]

If your doing this as mentioned for fun and to sit around the house and play, in lieu of learning to read music I would suggest one other thing that makes it a LOT easier. Learn to read Tablature. You can figure it out in about 20 minutes and can be playing songs in another 20. And anyone here who plays will tell you the only thing thats going to get you even satisfied to yourself is practice, and more practice and then some more practice. I used to do 4-5 hours a day, then 2-3 and a couple, then a couple a week then a couple a month until last year I realized I can no longer play after 30 years and didnt want to put the time back into it that it requires to even sound half azz. My brother does 5 hours a day even if he has to stay up until 3AM to do it. He's a guitar NUT.

Guitars, Banjo's and other stringed instruments like guns are works of art. And if you start learning to play, this wont be your last one.

It takes more practice to learn rudementary guitar and Banjo skills than it does to become an IPSC Professional Champion.

As with firearms, Your going to spend a lot of money if you start getting any good.

Here's a song by The Traveling Wilburys that tells the story. There are people here who are going to think they wrote this song about them. I was one of them until last year.

I remember sitting for hours and practicing when I was in band. I already know how to read music and ive been learning tabulature. Though what Ive been doing so far is practicing my rolls and how to finger chords right a couple hours a night.

Tapatalk ate my spelling.

[peejman]

Ive been learning with some family and friends who are really good. As well as Uncle jak from this forum who is a musician extraordinaire. I may try to do formal lessons, but its hard to keep bills covered most of the time, much less afford lessons


Ive been able to read music for years, furst from church hymnals, then I played saxophone in the band in high school for a few years. And my qife helps with that. She llays clarinets, bassoon, piano, and some other stuff.
Tapatalk ate my spelling.

 

 

Sounds like you're in good shape then.  I just didn't want you sitting alone in front of youtube trying to learn it (like I did).   

 

Wish I could find more time to play.

[Guest TankerHC]

Sounds like you're in good shape then.  I just didn't want you sitting alone in front of youtube trying to learn it (like I did).   

 

Wish I could find more time to play.

 

I can read music "half azzed" to be honest about it. I am a (or was, tinitis from canon fire doesnt help) learn by ear player. Tried Banjo and have been thinking about it again. Had several, tried the 6 string guitar tunable Banjos but they just arent the same. Darn near every man and women in my family plays, always have. My dad wanted me to go to Peabody, his dream for me, not mine. (He played professionally for years), Im glad I didnt. Have a friend in New Augusta who has a Masters from the School of Music at USM. His job? Grocery Store Manager. Manages a Sunflower. Asked him why he doesn't put that degree to use, has a family to feed, not a lot of jobs for people with Masters in Music. Here are some pics and a video of some of my family in music.

 

Two of my great great uncles (John and James on the left) and two of my Great uncles on the right. Josey and Perry at the family reunion in 1921. josey and Perry died in the 80's. All but the Banjo are still in our family. That guitar is a Martin Model 27 made in 1857, was carried by one of my ancestors during the Civil War and sits right now in my Aunts closet, who will be 100 years old this summer. I got to see it once and she will not show it to anyone or let anyone touch it. She's an old grouch.

 

 

Family reunion in Georgia, same place, 1972 or 3. The guy with the Guitar on the right is my Uncle Watson, carried his guitar all through WWII in Burma and played studio for Chet Atkins and played Atkins style. Far left is my Uncle George. Another semi pro. Middle is my grandfather who played Guitar and Lap Steel. Taught me Steel but not with a bar, he played with a pocket knife so thats what he taught me with. I ended up with  that guitar in the right and several others as well as several 60's Gibson and Fender tube amps and my grandfathers 57 Gretch White Falcon and his Gretsch Electromatic Steel.

 

One additional note. My grandfathers first guitar (He told me about it many times) he built in 1910. He ordered a neck and strings for 50 cents from a Sears or Wards Catalog and attached it to a king edward cigar box. Built his own bridge and played it for a long time before he was able to get his own real guitar. Of course I never saw it, long gone of course.

 

 

My cousin James. Been playing in some really popular bands since he was a little kid, around 50 years now. Owns the far right Fiddle in the top picture, thats his grandfather, recently had it restored and its hanging on his wall. He still plays in front of big crowds With Jette and the Resonators) but in front of State Fairs and large Clubs. The youtube videos dont do their band justice, they are really good.

 

 

http://youtu.be/0FsxBmnrc_k

 

http://youtu.be/RaWM1Wdb6Xs

 

 

Dammit! Thanks Spot, time to pay a visit to Guitar Center.

Edited October 21, 2013 by TankerHC

[Guest TankerHC]

Since this is a Banjo thread, here is my wifes Cousin. One of the greatest Banjo Luthiers and Bluegrass Banjo and Guitar players of all time. Tom Morgan.  First time I met him a decade ago my wife says "Jeff plays guitar" and he says "Yea, I play a little myself". Yea, this guy has played at the Grand Ole Opry, Carnegie Hall, played in Benny Williams and Bill Monroe's bands, and a lot of other famous Bluegrass Bands and with a lot of other famous people. Every time I ask him if he ever met "someone" he has either played with them or done the work on thier instruments. Told me he fixed Ricky Skaggs banjo a few months ago. He also wrote and edited the latest edition of Gibsons Banjo manual. Has some of the most expensive Banjo's out there, Morgans, and I see people popping up all the time on music forums looking to get work done on their Morgan Banjo's. Wanting to know if anyone knows where he is. I know, because I was just at his house a couple of weeks ago. But not going to say since he has told me twice that he's just an old man hiding out. But he does "play a little" and still plays. Here he is with Benny Williams, thats him on the left on guitar.

 

BTW, any family on here will now know who I am.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r17CviKvZHk

 

Heres a list of Who's who of contemporary bluegrass. You will see his name is on there and there are few. Stuff about him all over the web.

 

http://bluegrasstoday.com/country-gentlemen-50-years-old-today/

Edited October 21, 2013 by TankerHC

[TrickyNicky]

Keep doing what your doing Spots, hammer out those chord shapes and get your picking in time, the rest will fall into place in its own time. I never could read music and tablature was even worse, in fact not much real music theory stuck with me either. I learned how to play my chords and how to make the different shapes for them up and down the neck, now when I want to learn something I start with a chord chart and figure out or make up the rest.

I'm not a great player but its kind of like shooting, I'm not great but I have fun.

[Guest TankerHC]

Keep doing what your doing Spots, hammer out those chord shapes and get your picking in time, the rest will fall into place in its own time. I never could read music and tablature was even worse, in fact not much real music theory stuck with me either. I learned how to play my chords and how to make the different shapes for them up and down the neck, now when I want to learn something I start with a chord chart and figure out or make up the rest.

I'm not a great player but its kind of like shooting, I'm not great but I have fun.

 

Banjo?

 

Tab is a problem for a lot of people because they look at it as if it is upside down.

Edited October 22, 2013 by TankerHC

[StPatrick]

Sort of unrelated, but this is Tennessee, where everybody knows a musician or six.  This is a guy I used to run around with playing fiddle (used to be part of George Jones's band until the possum packed it in for greener pastures), graduated from Father Ryan around 2000-ish:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYBeSS1k7IE

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCKx15BXZBI