Dwight Diller Program Upgrade

Because he was my mentor in teaching me the banjo, I'm including Dwight's entire interview, here. He was a complicated, sometimes challenging human being. But when it came to teaching the banjo, he had a singular mission... for you to learn to play... ideally, better than him. He loved you for putting yourself out there to accomplish that task. Once you got to really know him, you found out he was always about love. A preacher from the banjo pulpit. Dwight was one of a kind. Gone too soon.

[@carolynleedonovan]

tears come to my eyes seeing this. Can’t believe he’s gone my teacher and friend RIP DW

[@danamoyers6065]

My first memories of Dwight was him playing bass with the Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys. They were the best band in Pocahontas County. RIP my friend

[@donaldfransson2827]

Thank You for this most interesting talk and music - art in life... Donald Fransson, Sweden

[@Mamlishmike]

Thanks for this treasure.

[@dorindacontreras1094]

Really miss him so much 😢he was my true friend and eventually my banjo 🪕 teacher. May God grant him peace and joy.

[@autismhangout]

Mine, too.

[@somerandomnification]

Really nice interview. Great music, too. But are my eyes deceiving me or is the 5th string nut up at the 6th fret? Are there many banjos like that? This is the first one I think I've ever seen.

[@autismhangout]

Whoa! Keen eye! Yes, I'm pretty sure you're right. Dwight had a few Jeff Kramer (former student of his) banjos made for him and his sweetie. Pretty sure that WAS a modification he'd requested but don't know why. I never talked to him about it (at the time of this interview) because I was more interested in his story.

[@somerandomnification]

@@autismhangout Thanks. I've just gone down the rabbit hole looking up Jeff Kramer's banjos, and I see that the 6th-fret thing is listed as a "Dwight Diller preference". I agree with you that Dwight's story was more interesting than his banjo, but it's a cool banjo, too.

[@dorindacontreras1094]

Dwight told me the reason he wanted the 5th string key on the 6th fret was because when you slide on the 4th string the 5th key won’t get in your way if it’s on the 6th fret. That’s what he told me.

[@somerandomnification]

@@dorindacontreras1094 Thanks. Mystery solved.

[@leighcecil3322]

Great Technic..no finger Pick's...! 😮