Видео

Hallo Mark na moje 70 narozeniny jsem dostal jako gag banjo od te doby cvicim jako samouk pomoci youtube denne 2 roky .Myslim ,ze jsme asi na stejne urovni.Preju ti do dalsich let mnoho uspechu.Zdravi Vaclav

N

Noticeable progress Mark. It's a cool, and interesting project you're doin'. How often do you see Mike? I'm waitin' on strings to come from Amazon. I wrecked a new one while changing out the old ones. The loop slipped off without me noticing, till after I kinked it around the post, arrrrg. I was never accused of being the brightest.

Tangible progress in speed and in smoothness. Good job! Did you notice how Cripple Creek requires only 1/2 of one chord to be played? How does one get solid in chord-learning by playing songs with few/no needed chords? Chords are the sine qua non of backup which, in jam sessions, is mostly what we do. Since the melody is found within, or very near chords, your emphasis would be wisely placed on chords. A beloved banjo picker, now passed, once opined, "Scruggs picking is chord arpeggiation; without chords, you have nothing to arpeggiate."

Playing in jam sessions encouraged me to practice speed more often and plying in different keys. It sucks to have a break practiced for a song but not be able to play it at the speed the group is going

Mark, I've been playing since JAN 1961 and I still warm up for 40 minutes. So no concerns there. You need to learn how chords are constructed; do not try to memorize them!

Did you say that it was worse than the first one? I disagree. Sure, you passed when you shouldn’t have, but came back strong at the end. And learned at least a couple of good lessons. The first is that you can do things better than you think you can. The second is that your jams are a learning process, not a chance to show everyone how good you are. I bet when you look back, you’ll value this jam more than you think you will.

A good message. I want to encourage you. Just showing up is contributing - that's the unvarnished truth. Contributing to a group isn't about playing anything specific, it's more about being present, listening, and fitting into the music in your own personal way. The best thing about offering a tune would just be the practice. The more you crash and burn the better. Everyone learned to play so everyone understands. Playing in a group is very complicated. Trad music in some ways has a high bar from the outset. Nothing is written, and you are either supposed to remember it or play by ear. In those situations just tell them how long you've been playing. Unless they are super serious or super snobby, I'm sure no one will care what you play (or don't play) as long as you are considerate, and are playing the changes (more or less). The more spirit you add the better. For the most part they'll just be glad you are there. You can play two or three instruments just as bad as one, so I wouldn't think too much of that. Some people probably bring more than one for practice, or in case there are 20 guitars.

Are you familiar with Victor Wooten? He's a virtuosic bassist, who actually has some strong overlap into the banjo world because he's the bassist for The Flecktones. Anyway, he does a lot of good music philosophy, and his approach is that music is a language, but we don't treat it that way. When a child is learning to speak, we speak with them, and they babble and try their best to talk, and that's normal. But with music, we say "oh, the kids can only go talk over there, and only experienced talkers can be in this conversation." What you did is basically the kid going and sitting with the adults' conversation. Don't be hard on yourself, or think you shouldn't be there. You know how to speak a little bit, and the more you talk the better you'll get at it.

This video is so helpful, and as an advanced player, i can honestly say, we've all been there. Thanks for documenting the process. Tip: think geometrically for 1, 4, and 5 chords. Your g chord that's around the 5th fret is 1. The 5th fret c chord bar is 4. The 7th fret bar d chord is 5. Now you have 1, 4, and 5 in moveable shapes everywhere on the banjo.

You’re playing really well. Trust me, the guys that you’re worried about have played with people who have rhythm like a rock in a hubcap and can’t carry a tune in a bucket and they smiled through their song. You’ll be a breath of fresh air. Slow jams are your friend. These days I’d rather show a beginner some stuff than jam. Don’t be afraid to ask. I’d be so excited to show a guy like you something because you’re obviously practicing and catching on.

This is a great idea for a channel! You will def make some progress with 2000 hours of deliberate practice.

What kind of jam was it? An old time or bluegrass one? Because most traditional bluegrass songs usually don't have so many chord changes in the standards. Also watching this reminded me exactly how I felt when i first went to the jam when i just started playing the banjo. It's so good that you are going to jam sessions because they absolutely will help you improve. You've noticeablely improved since the last time i watched one of your videos. What helped me improve so much from just starting bluegrass banjo was going to jams and it's already helping you. I will be wishing you well on your banjo journey 🙏 we are all always learning our instruments because its a lifelong journey.

Love your videos. I’m on 215 hours so far but curious to know what type of banjo you have. I’m playing with a bronze ozart but it sound very dull and the slides don’t sound like slides at all. It cost me £900 but thinking of upgrading as the sound is putting me off. What would you recommend

Don' let it worry you none ... Banjo's the kinda thing that will still be yer friend. Jus' stick it out an' you'll get it in time. First I started - same as you !

Great message thanks

Opening song sounds great.

Keep at it.

Thanks Mark for these great videos, you are still inspiring a lot of people including myself, it's amazing really how one simple idea from one person can have such an impact on so many, u never know the inspiration and motivation from you and your videos could keep an instrument in someone's hands who otherwise may have given up! Thanks again and keep up the good work!

Bravo, keep it up!

Hey Mark, in a couple of the vids, I've noticed a guitar. Are you learning that as well? Jim

Great video on this really important topic. Just to share additional anecdotal evidence, my brain is even more extremely uneven in the learning curve. I often, very often, will end up worse on a skill at the end of practice (and I try to manage things to avoid this, but nothing is fool proof). Sometimes this happens two or three practices in a row. But also what happens is a practice eventually comes where I start off with the skill magically close to mastery after going nowhere previously. It is kind of magical and nice when that happens, but there are a lot of potential soul crushing practices along the way. It evens out over time. Main point being, for some of us the red line is dramatically more erratic than normal. Like hard to even see the line for all the scatter. But it is still there. Maybe some others run into times like this. Well, if so, there is at least one more out there working through it too.

I’ve only dipped into these videos, so I’m possibly making some assumptions, but my advice would be to focus less on individual tunes and just get the rolls up to speed. Also, although it’s maybe comforting to have the tablature and books I’d ditch them and try to start working things out by ear. Listen to bluegrass records and see if you can work out the chord changes and learn some of the stock licks and turnarounds. Ralph Stanley is a good player to listen to, because he accomplished a lot with a limited number of rolls (lots of forward rolls, IIRC). As someone else said, the Nashville numbering system is also worth getting acquainted with. 99% of bluegrass songs only have three chords in varying orders: I, IV, V. In G these would be G (I), C(IV), D(V), in D they’re D, G, A, in A they’re A, D, E, in C they’re C, F, G. It’s highly unlikely you’ll be playing in other keys unless you’re jamming with a very particular singer. Sometimes you’ll get a ‘II’ chord too, which is a tone up from the root. So A in a G tune, E in a D tune, and so on. If all that’s too complicated just get a capo (and some railroad spikes) and use the same fingering for everything. Remember, it’s an aural tradition, not written, so use your ears and your instincts and don’t over complicate it! Of course, if you get fed up with jams you can always teach yourself clawhammer, which works much better unaccompanied. I switched from bluegrass to old-time years ago and never looked back! Of course, it’s your journey and you should go about it however you want, but this is just some well-meaning advice from someone who’s been there. Hope it helps!

The fun thing about a jam session is hearing how others playing along with you makes you sound better than you think you are. The hard thing about jams is trying to find your spot on the many tunes you do not know. I play mostly at jam sessions and it is both frustration and rewarding.

This jam might be "over your head" right now, but if you can keep at it you will feel better. The idea you had with Boil was perfect and it worked! So pick another song next and try the same again. Really try to learn some of of the songs they do all the time and just learn the chords, then when they call them, you feel good about backup only...pass on the break. As you get more comfortable with their songs, add more you can follow until you follow along with most of the songs doing backup only. Then you can start working out simple breaks. And there are some jams I won't go to because they are just not fun (maybe too advanced, only play unusual fiddle songs, odd people, etc), so keep looking for other jams too.

I think at 800 hours you deserve a new banjo man. You’re in it this far and a higher quality instrument will not only sound amazing but will be easier to play.

I was determined to get over stage fright at first, being an introvert doesn't help. I can now play in front of a hundred people.

I like your systematic approach. I think you'll find that this technique will be in that song also... so eventually, new songs will come faster, as your floor rises.

You can continue to sing while driving, practice fretting, or (be a rebel and play mando, or guitar cause you could hold a pick).

Your 3 jams ahead of me. These videos are really encouraging to watch. All the best from the other side of the pond 🇮🇪

Awesome! It sounds like you got to play some backup at the end too, so that's definitely contributing!

Hi! I’m one of those dreaded multi instrument people. 😀 Going out in public playing is real intense. In the 3 months I’ve been playing, I’m still getting up the nerve to go out to a jam. You’ve helped me decide to go out and find a jam. You’re absolutely right that playing with others improves your skill. Thanks.

We all start somewhere. You did it, and survived! It will get easier, and more fun as you learn more songs, and tunes. Good job there Mark.

Stop looking at other players hands and learn the Nashville Number System !

Mark, those notes exist in other (easier) locations of the fretboard. Try this pattern (string @ fret) : 4@7, 4@7, 2 open, 3@5, 1 open, 2@5, 5 open, 1 @ 7. This is derived from an A minor (but with the F shape at frets 5 thru 7: remove middle finger and barre with index). You'll cover much less fingerboard area and therefore will play it smoother and faster. I must tell you, a professional touring musician is not always the best possible teacher. I am available when you desire to progress. ~Julio

Don’t stop going to the jam and keep the jam updates coming well done

Keep it going

Maybe if you tried putting on the blindfold when you're playing in front of people, it will help you until you get used to playing in front of people. Either that or try some of those special gummies you can get in certain states.

counting the hours of doing something that is supposed to be fun and artistic, seems totally miserable and futile

Also I tune on my phone. I like it much better with its visible gauge that has longer range than the electric tuners

It takes me awhile to warm up. I just picked banjo up as well right after ukulele. I would consider buying another banjo. A true bluegrass resonator style. What you have there is like my mini. Its built like a clawhammer banjo. They are tuned the same but its the tone that is different. Hence why mastertone banjos whether old or new have that old school tone.

One of the things that helped me get better at an alarming rate was to go to jams. The one I go to plays all manner of stuff from bluegrass to The Rolling Stones. Nothing will make you learn to play in other keys faster than the embarrassment of sitting out 2 songs in a row because you can’t play of if g position

Hey Martin, once again I love your honesty. It’s refreshing

You are really brave doing this on RUclips! If you can face the camera and do what you do, it really won't be long before your nerves calm done. Remember, some of these guys have been playing for 40 years! Hang in there. Make friends with a guitar player who is local to you and practice with him a few times...that will really help.

Ha, you are right, the first jam is scary. Suggestions: 1. Sign up for Strum Machine...they have every bluegrass song with chords. You can practice playing backup with this, starting slow. 2. Bring your phone with you and when they pick song you don't know, you can find it quickly and at least see the chord in the key they call. 3. Try and remember a few of the songs they like and practice the chord patterns. Practice the chords until you remember the structure of the song. Just focus on vamping. You'll do fine.

Awesome, keep on going to the jams. Based on your motivation, You will get there. Sometimes at jams it helps to get out of your own head and just listen to a song or two. Also, some jams have advanced players. Others have players learning songs. Both are fun. Best of luck.

Glad to hear everyone at the jam is being nice, that's what its all about. Forgetting your tuner suuuucks

That cripple creek sounding real nice at the beginning

This was my first time coming across your channel, and I just want to say You Are On the Path - I always tell students to go to a jam, for two reasons: one, social playing and connecting with others is the heart and soul of bluegrass music. And two, as you're learning, playing at a jam will instantly clarify what you need to be learning and getting into your hands/mind. It forces you to look at the mountain path, and start figuring out how to work your way up it, what tools you're going to need, etc. This is daunting, but also what it's all about :) You're doing the right thing, you're well on your way, I just want to encourage you to keep at it, and you *will* get there with time!

Have you tried a free 7 day trial of Strum Machine? That program should really help you. It helps all levels of players and on any instrument. You need to have the ability to hear the words in your head as you go along. Try Blue Ridge Cabin Home as a first starter.