5-String Banjo Online Lessons Section Questions & Answers
Subject: Banjo Books with Standard Notation
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2004 09:37:39 -0400
I love your online lessons for banjo with standard notation above tab. Can you suggest publishers and/or banjo books/methods that have this format? Thanks. John Crews
Greetings John,
I'm not too sure...some of the early Mel Bay banjo books have standard notation...even without tablature.
It appears that most banjo books are written in straight tab...I believe that this is very practical for banjo considering that it's quite a bit easier to determine finger placement. In open G, there are many possibilities for playing a G note...and standard notation could make it quite difficult to find the exact inversion...now, for single string work, it's quite a bit easier to correspond to the standard notation...when playing rolls over chord patterns, the tablature is very direct.
Check out:
www.melbay.com
Keep on Pickin', Mickey
Subject: Wildwood Flower
Date: Fri, 11 Jun 2004 21:38:04 +0100
Mickey
I don't understand the fretting instructions on this page.
The first line indicates that the chord should be G, so I have four fingers
on the strings.
But most of the notes are indicated as played open; what is the point of
using that G and not the 'tuned' G ( completely open ) ?
The same thing essentially happens with the D7 chord - again more than half
the notes are to be played open.
Could you please explain this.
Thanks,
Jack
Greetings Jack,
The chord symbols above the piece are for strictly back-up purposes...these chord symbols are placed so that you can learn to play the back-up while someone else may be singing or playing lead...or, if you have another banjo player playing lead, you can use these back-up chords to support the lead banjo. Therefore, the chord symbols above the piece are separate from the arrangement itself and really only establish the rhythm section. I had considered placing guitar chord symbols above the piece, which is the norm in sheet music, however, it made more sense to use the same instrument portrayed in the tab itself in case the student wanted to learn the back-up to the piece separate from the lead....
I hope this is on track with your questions posed...
Keep on Pickin', Mickey
Subject: Where is the melody ?
Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2004 13:26:36 +0100
First of all thank you for the excellent web site and tutorial. I have been learning at a pace that I can only describe as startlingly quickly, and I put it down to the good fortune of stumbling across your website.
I have been looking through some of the lessons which I will be encountering - since knowledge is built upon knowledge, if one knows one will be learning something based upon current learning, the current learning gains added depth.
So, with that in mind I was looking at <http://www.folkofthewood.com/page217.htm>http://www.folkofthewood.com/page217.htm, Adding Melody. (I'm currently working on <http://www.folkofthewood.com/page4552.htm>http://www.folkofthewood.com/page4552.htm, <>Forward/Reverse Rolls with Chords )
I haven't yet tried to play this tune, but I can't see how it differs from any of the 'Rolls with Chords' lessons, with the possible exception that there are several different rolls used, and the order of the chords seems more complex.
So, my question is, "where's the melody ?"
Thank you for your time,
Jack
Greetings Jack,
I guess the best way to further enhance this lesson would be to include sound files...and, that is something we're currently working on. So, please keep working on the lessons and stay tuned for the upcoming sound files...
You'll notice the difference between the roll exercises and the tune: "Wildwood Flower"...if you'll look closely, you'll see numbers that do not follow the chordal patterns in the roll exercises...these will make up the melody pattern...a few of the numbers will still fall in the chordal pattern, and the roll patterns are relative too...and that's why it appears to be similar to the chordal roll exercises....
Mickey
Subject: Printing copies of the lessons.
Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2004 19:48:15 -0400
Hello,
I am interested in learning how to play the banjo. Your web site looked
like the best place to go. Unfortunately, I am unable to print the entire
lessons out. Starting with lesson 1d. I understand the copyright laws and
this is only for my personal use. Can you please help me? My e-mail
address is pasalmon@att.net.
Thank you,
Patricia
Greetings Patricia,
Thanks for staying tuned with us...
Unfortunately, our online lessons were not designed to be printed out...they are posted for the highest visibility possible on a computer monitor...by making them small enough to print out, they would have lost their visibility on the monitor...we're working on creating a PDF of all of our lessons...and, in this case, they will be downloadable to print format...only, time is of the essence and we're not sure when we can complete a project of this size...
Please stay tuned on our website for future updates...Mickey
Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2003 06:12:42 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Wild wood Flower
I am confused with the tabs on 11-12 of this song;
when I slide from 2 to 4 on the G string, am I to play
a B on the 2nd string at the same time? (I've had
this question for some time now, and finally found
someone to ask it to!) Thanks, Stephan Wisecup
Glad to assist Stephan,
These measures consist of the thumb in & out roll...make sure you feel comfortable with the skeletal frame of the roll itself before trying to apply the fretting with the left hand.
Now once the roll flows, try sliding the 2 to 4 on the third string G as it's spelled out...the 2 is picked with the thumb and followed by the 0 played with the index finger...by the time the note has slid up to the 4th fret, the B string rings with the index.
In other words, the B string is not played simultaneously as the thumb picks the G string...it's played directly after...and remember keeping the flow of the roll is most important.
I wish I could show you in person...what I really need to do is include a video of this song demonstrating how its played. I'll try to include this sometime this coming month or two.
Thanks for staying tuned with us, Mickey
Subject: Your Banjo Lessons
Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 10:11:20 -0800
Dear Sir,
Thank you Mickey for your banjo lessons. I have been trying to play banjo for the last 2 years. The main problem I have is that my right hand ring finger is too weak to stay put. Everytime I do a backward roll, it caves in and wants to move backwards too. On forward rolls it is fine. Right now I am using a Grip Master to strengthen my right hand fingers-- especially my ring finger. Have you any other ideas about what I can do to develop a strong steady hand?
Thanks,
EM Whitney
Greetings,
Sounds like you are on track...be aware, I only support my right hand with the pinky on the head. I cannot support my picking hand with both the ring finger and the pinky. I believe everyone's hands are built differently..hence, for many it's easy to support the right hand with both the ring and pinky; for others, it's next to impossible. There's a lot to be said for the bluegrass banjo tradition in supporting the right hand with both the ring and pinky. Since Earl Scruggs set the standard, as he himself supports his right hand with both fingers, and if you're dedicated to the purism of the bluegrass standard, then supporting with both fingers would be most critical. Now, if you're an eclectic player, such as myself, then supporting the right hand with one finger is fine. Note, there are many bluegrass banjo players who also support their right hand with only one finger...I personally don't believe that it's necessarily better one way or another. If you're limiting your playing ability, just because your hand is not built to be supported with both fingers, then by all means, it's time to redefine your goals with the banjo.
A note about the floating right hand technique: I play some tunes where I'll float my right hand while playing...almost always, these tunes fall into the classical/ragtime category... However, I do believe that it is best to learn to support your right hand before floating the right hand. During some bluegrass pieces, I will float the hand if I'm attempting to use the middle finger on the fourth D string.
The Grip Master is a great idea...any strengthening exercises should certainly be contributory to your future playing facility.
Let me know if you have further questions...Mickey
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