"Will my fingers get any faster?"

"Will my fingers ever get faster?" this question was posted to the Banjo Buddies group and Ross May gave some good advice.

From Ross: "I have taught hundreds of students of all ages and have found that the same methods of learning pretty well cross age lines.

The KEY is evenly spaced repetition in a slow rhythmic pattern. Do an exercise thousands of time, and then some more.

Here is a test: Put your hand up, and wiggle your index, middle, and thumb as if you were picking. If you can wiggle them faster than you pick a banjo at this time, then you can play fast.

The Scruggs instruction book for example, says to practice a certain roll or lick 1000 times. That is minimal, not maximal.

This is a fact. If you can think well enough to type or do ANYTHING that takes coordination, such as drive, thread a needle, hammer a nail, or any other learned motion, then you have the ability to do banjo rolls.

The brain is a strange thing in the human body. It can intellectually do something easily, but the subconscious mind, which controls hand, eye, leg, finger, mouth, etc. movement must be trained consciously by concentrated motion.

If you carefully do ANY motion enough times, then an automatic motion will imbue itself into the brain, and you will not have to think about it to do it, at least not after enough motion has been performed. It will be automatic.

Look at any great banjoist playing complicated melodic or Scruggs stuff. Do you think he or she has time to think about the roll which he will use at a given instant.

Another thing, for some reason, after you have been doing this many, many times, seemingly not improving, the mind will take a "quantum" jump and all at once it will all come together. Repetition at an even rate will "suddenly" after you think that you will never improve, jump a long stride, and you will be able. Ask others who play, and you will find this is true. Some just can't explain it.

Keep on keeping on. Don't say that you can't do it because this is nonsense. Hang in there, do it, do it, do it, and never give up. Then.....suddenly..............wow!!! Just like walking and chewing gum, and thinking at the same time. Anybody can do this.

Addendum: Don't TRY to play fast. Don't TRY to play fast. It will come automatically. If you try to play fast, you will stumble and that stumbling will become a part of your playing."

Keep on Pickin'

Angie
www.angiesbanjo.com
www.Bluegrass.cc
http://www.clawhammer-banjos.com/
www.tenor-banjo.com
Banjo FAQs and more!

How to stay motivated learning the banjo

There is no universal method of teaching that is best for everyone. Every human being learns in different ways. Each of us responds differently to input and for this reason. Some people need a teacher in order to learn something and some people can teach themselves.

There are some very good instructional materials on the market for teaching yourself the banjo. These include instructional books, CDs and DVDs for learning bluegrass banjo, clawhammer banjo and tenor banjo.

Another way to learn and keep motivated is to attend banjo workshops. There are many across the US each year. It's great to meet others in the same boat you are in the learning process.

There are many discussion groups on the internet that are also valuable in keeping inspired and motivated. Banjo Buddies is a friendly discussion group mainly made up of folks learning later in life.

The main thing is to realize if you have the desire to learn the banjo you can learn the banjo. We all have our different goals in doing this. Read "Silver Strings" for inspiring stories of folks learning the banjo later in life for the first time.

Have fun and keep on pickin'

Angie

http://www.bluegrass.cc
www.clawhammer-banjos.com
http://www.tenor-banjo.com/
Banjo FAQs and more!

Muscle Memory

This information is from Randy Torno in the Sept. issue of "Silver Strings."

Learning to play any instrument is a curious blend of intellectual and mechanical skills. No matter how advanced your knowledge of music theory may be, if your brain can’t get your fingers to perform the way they are asked to, you will never be able to successfully play the instrument. Certainly, some people are born with more coordination than others over the small twitchy hand muscles that make playing possible.

Muscle memory plays a great part in our ability to play an instrument, however if your biomechanics are getting in the way, then you will never be able to progress past a certain point. Muscle memory is gained by repeating a movement so many times that the neurons controlling the muscles are actually firing faster than we can consciously think about them. However if the action we are repeating is biomechanically incorrect, then what the muscles are learning will be self-defeating.

As an example, if the position of the fretting hand is incorrect, as we try and increase speed the natural tendency is to increase the amount of pressure that we are applying to the fretting finger. As we increase pressure, we will begin to use more of the thick forearm muscles, which will override the fine twitchy finger muscles, and the player will hit a wall in terms of progress. I have often heard as an instructor “I know every note in this piece, and can play it perfectly, but as soon as I start to speed up I fall apart”. The reason…biomechanics.

Keep on Pickin'

Angie
www.Bluegrass.cc
www.clawhammer-banjos.com
www.tenor-banjo.com
http://www.goldtonebanjosite.com
Banjo FAQs and more!

Drawing for Gold Tone EC1 Openback Banjo

An anonymous donor has generously donated a very nice Gold Tone EC1 Openback banjo with hard case for another raffle drawing to help raise money for little "Katyra." Katyra was diagnosed with a rare eye cancer - bi-lateral retinoblastoma earlier this year and has been going through chemo treatments. She had to have one eye removed.

Here's an update on her condition to date from her grandmother, Jodi Cornelius.

"Katyra had her 4th chemo treatment this past Wednesday and she is getting sick now. She is running a low grade fever and she's got a runny nose. Her blood count has dropped to the 400s - so far her blood count has dropped about 200 points each treatment - she was at 1000 something when she started and after her 4th one she's in the 400s.....not good. The tumor on the outer peripheral vision is almost gone - however, the one in her center vision is not
responding as well. They have gone from saying the vision should be really good to they are just trying to save her vision. There is also something else in the eye that wasn't there before....they are not sure if it's another tumor or just a "fluid" pocket. Dunno when we will get any info on that. She is getting tired quick now - the chemo has finally caught up to her. However, she is still her smiling self and her new eye looks great. It's not tracking like it should but this is ok as they can work with that.

Otherwise, she's doing as good as can be expected - she hasn't lost any hair nor weight (yet) and as I said, she's a really happy little girl. Hope that part doesn't change.
Thanks much for the prayers - I know they are helping!!" Jodi

The winner of the drawing will be picked on Oct. 16th.

Keep on Pickin

Angie

www.Bluegrass.cc
www.clawhammer-banjos.com
www.tenor-banjo.com
Banjo FAQs and more!

Banjo Teacher's Directory

Need a banjo teacher? Check out the Banjo Teacher's Directory to see if one is available in your location.

Are you a banjo teacher and would like to be a part of the free teacher's listing? Just follow the instructions at the web site to get your information listed.

This directory is updated regularly so bookmark it and check back frequently for new listings.

Keep on pickin'

Angie

www.Bluegrass.cc
www.clawhammer-banjos.com
www.tenor-banjo.com
Frequently Ask Banjo Questions

Banjo for Sale

If your not quite sure which banjo style you want to learn or which banjo to pick for a particular style of playing, we have a web site that may be useful in answering those types of questions.

Just to go Banjo-site.com where frequently asked questions are available about learning the banjo and about how to choose the right banjo for a particular style of playing.

We also have a free banjo ebook, Silver Strings, with stories from other folks learning the banjo later in life at.

Keep on pickin'
Angie

Win a Gold Tone EC1 Openback Banjo and help a child with cancer

An anonymous donor has generously donated a very nice Gold Tone EC1 Openback banjo for another raffle drawing to help raise money for little "Katyra." As most of you know Katyra was diagnosed with a rare eye cancer - bi-lateral retinoblastoma earlier this year and has been going through chemo treatments. She had to have one eye removed. (Her full story can be found in the June Issue of "Silver Strings.")

Here's an update on her condition to date from her grandmother, Jodi Cornelius.

"Katyra had her 4th chemo treatment this past Wednesday and she is getting sick now. She is running a low grade fever and she's got a runny nose. Her blood count has dropped to the 400s - so far her blood count has dropped about 200 points each treatment - she was at 1000 something when she started and after her 4th one she's in the 400s.....not good. The tumor on the outer peripheral vision is almost gone - however, the one in her center vision is not responding as well. They have gone from saying the vision should be really good to they are just trying to save her vision. There is also something else in the eye that wasn't there before....they are not sure if it's another tumor or just a "fluid" pocket. Dunno when we will get any info on that. She is getting tired quick now - the chemo has finally caught up to her. However, she is still her smiling self and her new eye looks great. It's not tracking like it should but this is ok as they can work with that.

Otherwise, she's doing as good as can be expected - she hasn't lost any hair nor weight (yet) and as I said, she's a really happy little girl. Hope that part doesn't change.

Thanks much for the prayers - I know they are helping!!" Jodi"

Keep on Pickin'

Angie

www.Bluegrass.cc
www.clawhammer-banjos.com
www.tenor-banjo.com
Banjo FAQs and more!

Bluegrass Style Banjo

There are numerous styles of banjo music and banjo techniques. Your main concern as a beginner should be to pick the correct banjo for the style of music you plan to play. If your not certain you should listen to many different styles of banjo music--much can be found on the numerous banjo web sites.

Five String Banjos - Bluegrass

Presently the most popular style of five string is the bluegrass style. This is played on a banjo with a resonator. The tone preferred is loud and attacking as you normally play with other bluegrass instruments.

The right hand is a three finger style, played with finger picks and was popularized by the legendary Earl Scruggs. The style is not difficult to learn but requires much practice to achieve the desired fluency and tempo.

One advantage to this style is that it lends itself very nice to jamming as most players have a similar bluegrass repertoire. There are numerous bluegrass festivals around the world and a very strong bluegrass community.
Keep on pickin'

Angie
http://www.angiesbanjo.com/
http://www.bluegrass.cc
www.clawhammer-banjos.com
http://www.tenor-banjo.com/
Banjo FAQs and more!

Chord Position Exercise

A good way to get familiar with chords and chord shapes up and down the neck is to do a simple exercise where you start with:

the 1st position F chord at 1, 2, 3, then change tothe 2nd position D chord at 2, 3, 4, then change to1st position chord at 3, 4, 5 (G chord)the 3rd position C chord at 5, then change and continue going up the neck, changing back and forth, calling out the chords as you change.

Or, an easier one is as said above: go from the 1st position G chord at 2,4, 5 to the C chord at 8, 9, 10 and the D chord at 10, 11, 12. This will get you used to moving up and down the neck.

Keep on Pickn'

Angie

http://www.angiesbanjo.com/
http://www.bluegrass.cc
www.clawhammer-banjos.com
http://www.tenor-banjo.com/
Banjo FAQs and more!