5-String Banjo FOTW Online Lessons and Instructional Material
Subject: Banjo Lessons
Date: Tue, 25 May 2004 07:03:59 -0400
Hi,
I really like your banjo lessons, but cannot print out a hard copy.
The ends of the sheet music are cut off. Do you have a hardcopy that I can
purchase?
Dale Hunter
Greetings Dale,
Thanks for your interest in our lessons...sorry, the online lessons were designed for visibility by monitor...if you'll go to our FAQ's on the lessons page, you'll that a few of our other readers have found ways to make the printing work...we've been asked many times about a book based on our lessons section...I guess we'll have to produce something due to the demand...so, please stay tuned on our website for future updates...Mickey
Date: Sat, 17 Apr 2004 10:40:18 -0500
Subject: Banjo Lessons on the Web page
Mickey: I'm looking at the banjo lessons on the Web (I'm a fairly new banjo player). I'm noticing that (look at lesson 17, for example) that there are no T, I or M indicated on the tab. Am I missing something or just confused?
Thanks, John C Payne
Greetings John,
Yes, by the time you get to lesson 17, it's assumed that the patterns are learned...since this is just major scale exercises, you only have to alternate your thumb with your index fingers on eighth notes...and, on the quarter notes, use only a down motion with your thumb...
Hope this helps, Mickey
Subject: Bano Lessons
Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 11:42:11 -0600
Hi,
I just received your Banjo Tape "Introduction to the 5-String Banjo" and was trying to print out some banjo lessons on your website. Some of the lesson pages will print correctly. I find that the last part of the page (showing staffs) is left off. Is this intentional or am I doing something wrong. I usually don't have a problem.
Thanks,
Bob
Greetings Bob,
The online banjo lessons are created for high visibility on the monitor and were not created for printing purposes...even so, there are ways to adapt these manuscripts to printing:
1. if your printer has a fit to page feature, you may be able to print out the music staffs to fit the printed page...
2. you can always save the music as a graphic element...onto your desktop and reopen it in another art program...of which it can then be resized for printing...
On the upside, we're now in the process of printing a series of instruction books under the Wisdom of the Wood publishing name, that will include all of the online lessons and more...
Since you have our "Intro to the 5-string Banjo" video, you might be interested in knowing that we will soon be transcribing most of the exercises and studies to be posted in our 5-string online lessons section...so please stay tuned...
Keep on Pickin', Mickey
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2004 12:53:46 EST
Subject: banjo
where can i find banjo notes that are represented by numbers. I am asking as a a friend cannot read so he thinks that numbers would be easier to understand, he is very keen to learn how to play. Also a list of country and western songs that he could play would be much appreciated.
David Black
Greetings David,
We have an extensive lessons section that's offered up free on our website. This section covers most of the basics in learning to play, including lessons on reading tablature (using a number system) and standard notation for most all acoustic instruments...additionally, there are many lessons on building a foundation through exercises and studies...making our lessons section more of a methodology approach to teaching...and, outside of building a foundation, there are many songs that are offered up to add support to your cumulative lessons accomplished.
Link to: http://www.folkofthewood.com/page3.htm
The free lessons section is being added to periodically, so that if you get through the first so many lessons, there are always more on the way...so please stay tuned and most of all, have fun with the learning journey ahead of you...
Keep on Pickin', Mickey
Date: Fri, 5 Dec 2003 23:05:38 EST
Subject: Banjo Lessons
Hi, I love the lessons, but could you explain the slide in lesson 6 in a little more detail. Thank You John
Greetings John,
This is referenced as "2slideto4"
The 2 represents the 2nd fret; the 4 represents the 4th fret.
The space, of course, represents which string to play...on the 3rd space from the top, this would be the 3rd string (G string).
You would place your 2nd finger on the 3rd string, and after picking the note, with your thumb, the 2nd finger would slide up to the 4th fret..after sliding to the 4th fret, you'll let the note sustain...you would not pick the note a second time. You only need to pick the note once, while on the 2nd fret...then slide up letting the note carry itself from then on.
Hope this helps...Mickey
Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2003 09:17:06 EST
Subject: ?? on beginner lesson No. 4
HI
In lesson no. 4 is it ok to use the 5th string when playing the roll in D chord. That being a G note it doesn't sound right. It seems that I should only be able to use the first 4 strings. Could you comment on this please? Thanks
Kenny
Greetings Kenny,
Sure...it's done all the time...let's analyze this note in reference to the D chord.
A D chord is the Dominant Chord of the G Chord Progression...it's also the 5th tone of the G Scale. If a song is in the key of D, the G drone would certainly be out of place...however, if the song is in the key of G, as depicted in our lessons, the G drone string (5th string) leads the ear to the final G chord. In further analysis, the G chord is made up of the G, B and D triad...the D chord is made up of the D, F# and A triad...this means that the G tone is a fourth above and if added to the D chord it becomes a suspended note...this sounds really cool on the guitar...as you play a D chord and add the G note it gives the chord a suspended feel...a really nice effect...well worth experimenting with...and certainly not discordant on the banjo. Even the D suspended (with added G note on the guitar) would not work in the key of D...it truly works best in the key of G.
My suggestion would be to pursue the theory behind this further by acquiring any and all music theory books you can find...
Hope this helps shed some light...at your disposal, Mickey
Subject: Question about first chord progession lesson
Date: Sun, 1 Sep 2002 19:52:23 -0400
I have a question about this lesson below is the link.
<http://www.folkofthewood.com/page45.htm>http://www.folkofthewood.com/page45.htm
in this lesson you show a C chord as G open B fretted at first and D fretted at second.
However at this site:
<http://www.volstate.net/~mitch/newpage19.htm>http://www.volstate.net/~mitch/newpage19.htm
They show a C as D fretted at second B fretted at first and D fretted at second
Which one is correct?
Thanks for your time
Mike
BTW
Awesome site I am teaching myself to play and your site has been a huge help!
Greetings Mike,
The complete C chord is played with the High D fretted at the second fret...the B string fretted at the first fret...the Low D string fretted at the second fret.
Our tablature is only showing a partial C chord.
When playing banjo rolls, it's not necessary to fret every note of the chord. Only the notes being played by the roll need to be fretted. By freeing up the second fret Low D, you've freed up this freeting finger to play melodies on top of the chord...which as you advance, you'll find yourself doing quite often.
Therefore, both are correct...and, the decision to use a partial chord, or a full chord depends on the song being played.
Hope this helps...Mickey
Subject: Lesson 6/Wildwood Flower
Date: Sun, 14 Jul 2002 16:55:36 -0600
I'm confused by your directions at measures 5&6 on starting at > and >>. Do
I play through 5 and go back to 1? Then play through 6 and continue at the
? I'm an absolute beginner.
Thanks,
Dennis Anderson
After the 5th measure, on the first time through, start back at the 2nd measure...on the second time through, after the 4th measure, skip the 5th measure and jump to the 6th measure.
Sorry about the confusion on this one...we're now loading real manuscripts on our future lessons...therefore, we no longer have the problem of writing in symbols for the html tablature.
Thanks for staying tuned with us...FOTW
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 08:44:46 -0800 (PST)
Dear Folk of the wood,
I would like to thank you for the free banjo lessons. I play the Bass and the flat top guitar; and I'm trying to learn the banjo. I was wondering if you could send me the tab to Foggy Moutian Breakdown.,and if you could,please me some stuff that could help me. PLEASE!
Steven P.S- I'm only 13
Greetings Steven,
We're glad to assist...
Our banjo lessons' section is due for an update...please stay tuned for more material to come available on our site.
I do know the song: Foggy Mountain Breakdown...unfortunately, it is copy written and cannot legally be passed around. However, there's a great book out that tabs out all of Earl's classics; it's written by Bill Keith. You can find it on Ebay fairly easy.
Hope the above helps in some way...Mickey--
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