| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| ShakeyShake |
Posted - 05/17/2005 : 03:54:24
And I need you all to summon the hillbilly within and lemme know some choons to play.
Also if anyone knows how to adjust the action of the strings it'd be mucho appreciated.My initial thought was just to go and buy a taller bridge but erm...I dunno.
Shemales have rights too... |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| VoVat |
Posted - 05/18/2005 : 17:50:01
The banjo is severely underrated these days.
I was all out of luck, like a duck that died. I was all out of juice, like a moose denied. |
| BrendanT |
Posted - 05/18/2005 : 10:03:04
Don't get caught up a tree with your banjo.
Strummer-man
I had me a vision!
All of a sudden my water broke!
"There was a man Who made a boat To sail away And it sank.". |
| KimStanleyRobinson |
Posted - 05/18/2005 : 09:47:48
the action is too low?
ain't a whole lot of adjusting on a banjo unless you start taking stuff apart.
Is it used or new? Make/model? Adjustment rod style?
The head may need to be tightened or you may be correct in replacing the bridge...though the over-the-counter Grover bridges are a standard height.
Mine is a 45 year old Kay...cheap, single support rod/turnbuckle type set up.
I have had it completely (yes, completely) apart and have shimmed the neck as well as replaced and shaved (sanded) the saddle to adjust my action.
I have it about right for what I want - which is two-finger style.
I don't do the three-finger bluegrass style that everyone thinks you must do in order to "play the banjo" and I have a loose grasp on clawhammer. Clawhammer style wants a higher action and for god's sake, take that damn onbnoxious resonator off the back of it. It will be much more soothing and fun to play.
Tuning it is another story. I usually have a dry washcloth between the support rod and the head (this is why you keep the resonator off) to minimize the sometimes un-tunable overtones generated by the head.
I think I have two full turns on all of the lugs (things that hold the head down) after they were finger tight.
I keep mine tuned to double-C because when I first started researching it, I was going for old time/clawhammer style and this was said to be a very common old time tuning...it has grown on me. I can do about an hour straight of material (original and covers) on this thing now. I've been playing since around September?
There is a world of tunings out there.
I absolutely love it.
It is so different.
Everything is a melody.
First tune I played was Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land".
Play anything you want and do anything you want on it.
Experiment.
You will be rewarded.
One bit of advice:
Rest your thumb on the fifth string.
The fifth string is the short one on the top.
Oh, and cool chicks DIG banjo players.  
|
| Carl |
Posted - 05/17/2005 : 18:41:07
I would love to learn the banjo. I'm sure it's quiet tricky, though. |
| whoreatthedoor |
Posted - 05/17/2005 : 07:42:04
Opossed to violins. We were talking about violins, weren't we?
El amor es la distancia más larga entre un punto y otro |
| hawken |
Posted - 05/17/2005 : 05:49:14
Mandolins, guitars, banjos, ukuleles....they all have frets.
ShakeyShake, I think your bridge thought was probably right on. Here's a great site....I linked directly to an article about banjo bridges. But you can browse through www.frets.com to see other info. Enjoy the new toy!
www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/Banjo/Bridge/SagFix/sagfix.html" target="_blank">http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/Banjo/Bridge/SagFix/sagfix.html
Tunes w/ banjo that I like:
Coastline - FB and the C's
Perfect Desguise - Modest Mouse
O' Brother Where Art Thou tunes - just pick up the banjo book for it
Anything by the Avett Brothers - These guys are great...pretty much every one of their tunes includes banjo. |
| Scarla O |
Posted - 05/17/2005 : 05:39:36
as opposed to? |
| whoreatthedoor |
Posted - 05/17/2005 : 05:18:50
But a mandolin have frets on it...
El amor es la distancia más larga entre un punto y otro |
| Scarla O |
Posted - 05/17/2005 : 05:05:11
It's a bit like a '12-string' but with a banjo instead of a guitar...and those strings really resonate. |
| Cheeseman1000 |
Posted - 05/17/2005 : 04:54:20
Heh, may be some time Xavi. I think it's strung the same as a violin (if Louis De Bernieres) is anything to go on, so should be pick-upable (I played violin as a kid).
As serious as your life |
| whoreatthedoor |
Posted - 05/17/2005 : 04:45:18
Can you please tell me about it when you finally get it, Simon?
I want to buy one some day.
El amor es la distancia más larga entre un punto y otro |
| Scarla O |
Posted - 05/17/2005 : 04:16:09
My brother brought me back a mandolin from Peru...it's got a great natural sound but it's not the easiest to play. |
| Cheeseman1000 |
Posted - 05/17/2005 : 04:12:37
I've decided I want a mandolin. That's no help to you, just an observation.
As serious as your life |
| whoreatthedoor |
Posted - 05/17/2005 : 04:12:06
Lucky bastard 
El amor es la distancia más larga entre un punto y otro |
| Cheeseman1000 |
Posted - 05/17/2005 : 03:55:04
Good gravy. Welcome back Monsieur Shakey!
As serious as your life |
