Are you in a banjo learning rut?

If your in a rut in learning how to play the banjo, here's a few suggestions to help you get out of it:

Try taking one or two of your favorite licks from one of the songs you know and try to find where you can substitute them into some of the other songs that you know. That way you can develop different variations for your songs and you're not playing them the same every time through.

Find simple intros and endings for them as well.

And if you don't know your chord shapes, think about learning them (both up and down the neck if you think you're ready).

And once you get that down you can start working on fuller arrangements for your songs, such as adding a simple intro - adding different breaks - add a simple ending. That'll keep you busy and maybe start to get you thinking a bit more musically about what's going on. Not to mention JAM -READY!!

Keep on pickin'
Angie's Banjo.com

Perfect Touch Finger Picks

Hi! Angie,

Well, I received my Perfect Touch finger picks about four days ago. I ordered the flat faced nickle ones in medium size.

Before I go further, let me tell you that I have been hoarding my supply of 40+ year old National finger picks since I bought them new way back then. I have never found anything that I liked as well, including the newer ones with the National name stamped on them but are not the same. I have about eight of them and would never considered letting anyone else use them or letting them get out of sight.

These Perfect Touch picks change everything. They are absolutely marvelous and are exactly as functional as is implied in their description. They don't hurt my fingers, I can't imagine them causing hangnails, and there is no way they will ever come off until you want them to. An additional benefit that is not mentioned in their ad is that they are very easy to adjust to accomodate your angle of attack. One problem I have always had is the picks are not at a right angle to the strings due to my hand position. These picks allow you to easily make minor adjustments which correct that. A genuine revelation. I adapted to them very quickly. I have already sent emails to all my guitar and banjo playing friends extolling the virtues of Perfect Touch. You can quote me if you like. Thanks again for all your great services and the monthly messages that you send.

I read that Perfect Touch is working on a clawhammer pick. I will most certainly send for one of those too.

I sent your ad to Dick Weissman, who used to be a part of the Journeymen, my all time favorite 60's folk trio. He is still very active in the business and knows just about everyone and everything that is going on. He mentioned that it would be great if someone could come up with a finger pick that would allow you to play both down-strokes (like clawhammer) and up-strokes (like bluegrass) at the same time. I guess they would have to have a double edge. Do you know if Perfect Touch or anyone else has every tried to come up with something like this? It would be very useful, especially for people like me who have fragile fingernails." Thanks again, Bob Scott - Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Hi! Angie, I have been using the Perfect Touch banjo picks now for several weeks and I really like them. I still enjoy my Nicks Picks but the Perfect Touch Picks are the most lightweight and comfortable picks that I have ever played with. Thank you, Wade Williamson - Littleton, Colorado

Angie - These picks are well worth the money. I was convinced the Shelors were the ultimate fingerpick but after three hours playing I prefer the Perfect Touch picks.Comfort-wise there isn't much difference, both are extremely comfortable. However the Perfect Touch picks produce noticeably less 'click' when they hit the strings. I wouldn't have called the Shelors bulky but there's less bulk in the PT's. There's also another certain something about the PT's I like but can't quite put into words. Both the PT's and the Shelors are fantastic products and ooze quality, perhaps like comparing BMW to Lexus (says he who drives a 10 year old VW Polo heh heh). I can still remember the wrecked cuticles and caught hangnails when I used Dunlops. I remember someone on the Hangout describing them like having mousetraps on your fingers, good description. I ordered these from Angie's. Five days from ordering to delivery in the UK. Great stuff - Richard"

Angie - Just wanted to let you know how much I like the Perfect Touch Finger Picks I ordered from you about a month or ago, I just got around to using them today, been using my Colbalt BP ones I also ordered from you which are also excellent but I was amazed at the Perfect Touch Picks. At first I thought that I would have trouble with them since they're a little longer & narrower than my Colbalt ones but was I wrong. They are so much easier to hit the strings with the tips of the picks like you're supposed to do. I have been practicing the songs out of Jack Hatfield's 1st banjo lessons book which is an excellent one to practice on. I have all the songs in it memorized except the last one & went though them today using the my Perfect Touch Picks for the first time & plan on not changing picks again. Again thank you for another great product. Randall Rief

Hi! Angie - I have been meaning to write you and tell you how much I appreciate you getting my order out so fast. I love my Perfect Touch Finger Picks. I wish I had found them first. Now I have a drawer full of all the other ones. :) Someone said in a testimonial that they would forget they had them on, well that is true, they are very comfortable and I have no more problems with my fingers cracking. I am soooo thankful that Rusty Thornhill was able to come up with these. I will order another set just to be sure that I always have a spare set. Thanks again Angie for your wonderful work that you do for all us over the hill wanna be banjo players." Ruth Levasseur"

Hi Angie - My perfect touch pick's arrived today an are they ever comfortable, they're also nice an light. Congratulation's to the designer for a nice product. Yours truly, Jeff.

I just got a set of these Perfect Touch Finger Picks, and I must say, they are the best set of finger picks I have ever tried. They wrap around your finger right above the finger nail. They feel like they are part of your fingers. So comfortable and and natural feeling. Rusty Thornhill has really come up with a great product...the first new advance in finger picks in 50 years or so...Terry V."

Keep on Pickin
Angie

Isolating Problems in Your Picking

(from a post on Banjo Buddies)

Isolate problems:

If you're playing a few bars of a song and one little part is more difficult than the others, causing you to slow down on that particular part, isolate it. That is, practice the hardest part that slows you down over and over until you can play it with the ease of the more smooth parts. This is one of the most important points in learning. Isolate. Then play the whole line of music with the same ease.

Failure to do the above can cause timing problems, causing others to politely excuse themselves when you are playing alone with them, and it's your turn to take a short break.

Keep on pickin'

Angie's Banjo.com

Practice Schedule

Here's a suggestion for a practice schedule that was posted on Banjo Buddies.

1. Start off with warm up exercises. As a beginner, probably rolls, making chords, changing chords, licks you're trying to learn. Scales are always a great warm up, but you may not be into that yet.

2. Work on a new song. If you are having trouble with one particular spot in the song, take just that bar or two and work on it until it's easy, then go back and try the entire song.

3. Work on songs you already have learned. Take them slow and easy, being sure to keep timing perfect and try to achieve good, clean, clear notes and chords. Don't try to speed them up very much at this point, just try to make them sound good slow.

4. Break your practice time into shorter segments. Practicing for 20 minutes then taking a break before the next practice section helps to retain what your learning easier.

As you become more experienced, your practice schedule will undoubtedly change, this is just a suggestion.

Keep on Pickin'
Angie's Banjo.com

Banjo Essentials

1. It's essiantial that a banjo player first have a banjo.

2. Scruggs players should have thumb and finger picks. Use them when practicing, even if it feels strange at first. Don't practice without picks with the idea of switching to picks later on. You will be learning the feel all over again.

3. Banjo strap. Use the strap even when sitting down. The strap should balance the banjo. You shouldn't beholding the banjo neck up with the fretting hand. Let the strap do the holding.

3. A hard case for traveling. If you are putting a lot of stuff in the car the banjo needs to be protected. A soft bag might be ok for carrying but it won't protect the banjo if another box falls on it, or the case gets banged around.

4. Other items that help: a capo. A tuner. Make sure you are in tune up before playing in a jam.

Keep on Pickin'
Angie's Banjo.com

Banjo Talk - Call in Internet Radio Show

What is "Banjo Talk?"

Banjo Talk is a "live call in radio talk show." The goal is to keep it interesting each week by getting interesting guests. It's a call in show so listeners can call the show live to ask questions or they can email their questions in if they can't call. The show begins each Sunday from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm (Central time)

The concept of the show is talking the banjo. Discussions include learning the banjo, types of banjo music, banjo pickers, or anything else banjo. The shows are archived, too, so if you miss a show you can listen to it at your convenience.
Any suggestions for the show or who you would like to see as a guest can be emailed to david@banjotalk.com

Check out Banjo Talk at http://www.banjotalk.com/

Keep on Pickin'
Angie's Banjo.com