Just another Thurs or Not a terribly terrible loop tune
Old Indiana A study on jumping onto a moving vehicle. Learning how fast it's going. Fun with a looper. Starting with fiddle, adding bass. Then adding banjer. Then getting up to rolling speed on the fly.
View ArticlefDGCD tuning chords
idk, seemed like the internet needed this. I just had to hunt to figure out the 1, 4, 5, and 6m for the fDGCD tuning.
View ArticleAvailable banjos
I like ultra wide spacing at the bridge for clawhammer, but most builders are locked into skinny necks. Why is there not more variation in neck widths and scale length - I like 24.75" scale. There is...
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TOTW 6 March 2026: The Baltimore Fire
This week’s song is “The Baltimore Fire,” which was first recorded by Charlie Poole in 1929. The song commemorates the February 7-8, 1904 fire that destroyed much of central Baltimore. The song first...
View ArticleGibson Banjo Setup Question
Good morning all,I have an issue with my banjo and just wanted to get some opinions from the group to see if I can get it resolved before upcoming shows this weekend. It's a 2012 Gibson RB12. I took it...
View ArticleCan I switch from steel strings to nylon?
I have an old Japanese-made banjo (5 string) that’s starting to get a bow in the neck and a hairline crack where the neck and heel meet.It had steel strings when I bought it. I was thinking about...
View ArticleAnthony Howell Interview
Anthony Howell is an amazing, hard-driving, innovative player, now picking for Seth Mulder and Midnight Run. I hope you'll swing by Banjo Head Magazine, read the interview, and maybe even try the tab....
View ArticleA Bluegrass Quote
Rather than going back and listening to all 4 hours of "Country's Family Reunion - Simply Bluegrass," does anyone remember Ricky Skaggs' comment quoting what someone (I believe it was Grandpa Jones)...
View ArticleWinning With Some Banjo Backup
Backed by Victor Furtado on the banjo, Andrew Vogts triumphs over the competition at Lyons Fiddle Fest in one of his many Grand Championship performances
View ArticleSuperstitions
I’m kinda beside myself today, “things” are perhaps bringing me to a dark place, dunno. I was busking for an hour at the farmers market earlier today and garnered $66 ,, trouble is it’s the 6th of...
View ArticleDoes anyone have a digital copy of the Peggy Seeger book?
Hi my name is Pil, i love all sorts of folk styles on the banjo.I would like to know if anyone has like a PDF of Peggy Seeger's' 5 string banjo American folk styles, or just some photos of the pages in...
View Article"Dead" 17th fret
Hello - Acoustic Physicists: Here is a challenge for you :-)I have noticed a strange effect on my banjo: Without a capo everything is fine (the sound is beautiful , the notes are reverberating nicely)...
View ArticleRare Five String "Rag Time Banjo" Marked Bacon & Day "Gretsch Product,"
When the man opened the case at the BEE-3 Vintage Guitar Show in Asheville, I did a double take. I've never seen anything like this banjo. It is a "Rag Time Banjo" When I took off the resonator, I saw...
View ArticlePlectrum playing in a band (rhythm) context?
I'm beginning to play more plectrum banjo after years of playing tenor in Chicago tuning. The more I do it, the more I like it!However, I have found very little in the way of performance videos...
View Articlehold what you got lick
Having trouble with this lick. i think it starts on the 6th fret but it is so one sting I cant do it with any speed. so..obviously I have it wrong. Hold what you got J.D Crow playing with Jimmy Martin....
View Article"Tennessee" Resophonic banjo
Facebook marketplace find. Is this from Tut or Mark Taylor? Headstock inlay seems to match. Seller claims it's an ultra-rare museum piece and is asking a pretty penny. I'm not so sure. Any ideas?
View ArticleCutting a pre war rim
Has anyone ever cut a pre war rim for a tone ring in style 1,2,10,11 ect and later regretted it ? Obliged
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New old stock Mastertome
Recently a Dr. friend of mine asked me to sell his Mastertone 5 string banjo. Purchased and never played. Serial number 250-93-68. Would someone please tell me the date this was produced please. Also...
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Help on making or attaching banjo strap - tight space behind j-hooks
I'm a new learner and bought a Recording King RKOH-06 open-back banjo for learning clawhammer... it seems important to have a banjo strap on it. I tried a Deering cradle type strap ... but space in...
View ArticleRhythm in opening bar of cripple creek.
I’m practicing this 1500 time per day in 100 set increments but I keep messing up. I have the banjo capo’d to A. the version I’m playing which I learned a couple of years ago through my private lessons...
View ArticleWhich one today?
I have gotten to the point that I have accumulated enough banjos that when I go down just to play banjo, or when I go to jam with my buddies, or when I have some less that prime time gig at a senior...
View ArticleWeight of bridge
Hello everyone, I wanted to know how to determine the weight of a bridge? I'm looking for a slightly heavier bridge than the one I have, to get more bass on my banjo. However, I never see the weight...
View ArticleUnited to Kona with Active soft case.
United says hard case only, for a carry on banjo. My Access case is well padded and pretty stiff. I need the shoulder straps of the case since I need a cane to walk.The other option is rim in a suit...
View ArticleNeedle in a hay stack
I have a late 70's or early 80's Aria 5 string banjo and have been trying to identify the model. It has the makings of a Pro or Pro II but I don't believe it is, yet I cannot find another Aria model...
View ArticleMost Difficult Round Peak Banjo Song
Hey all - Round Peak uses mostly a handful of different mechanics. I’ve been practicing them obsessively. either on my fretless creed — woo hoo! — or Formica fretless from Round Peak banjosCurious what...
View ArticleStockport Road
Uncle Jake and the 18 Wheel Gang perform Stockport Road live at Berks Fiddle Fest
View ArticleSeeking advice on home manufactured banjos by Dan Drabek
Many of the folks on this website knew my brother Dan Drabek. He was an avid banjo player as well as an artisan who became very proficient at manufacturing his own instruments. Unfortunately, Dan...
View ArticlePunching a Pre-War Tenor Tailpiece?
Yes, it borders on blasphemy but I can't see a Tenor Tailpiece being of much future use as is? Unless someone talks me out of it or lightning strikes cautiously close, I am planning a new hole, under...
View ArticleAnyone else not play well with others?
I love playing and practicing my banjo. I find that I hate playing with others in jams or pick ups or any sort of group get together. It’s my least favorite to big to do musically. I know that for most...
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Disappearing posts
I've posted 4 times in the topic "Rhythm in opening bar of cripple creek." Initially, all appear to be posted OK, because I can scroll down through the thread and see them. But later on when I...
View Article“Michelle” , Beatles fingerstyle guitar
A Grammy winner in 1967 from their Rubber Soul album. Paul McCartney said it was inspired by Chet Atkins' recording of “Trambone” with its moving bass line and repeated note up top. This arrangement is...
View ArticleAmerican Made Banjo
Does anyone know if this business is still a going concern? I've left a few messages in the last week, and none were answered. Just was wanting to make a purchase from them.
View ArticleBlue Ridge Cabin Home using Stanley style techniques
Just trying to keep the little series I have been doing going on this cloudy and dreary day here!
View ArticleRemo heads - the history of the drum head
My knowledge of how the drum/banjo head went from vellum to synthetic (mylar) was somewhat sketchy so I asked aunty Google. I am unsure just how accurate this info uis, but I post it for your reading...
View ArticleGarden/Lawn Ripoffs at Lowes, Home Depot, etc..............
Well maybe not rip-offs if you understand what you are buying ...... but ......... you are not getting a lot for your money.I went to Lowes to day to buy some tile cleaner, since I had re-grouted my...
View ArticlePicky Finger Banjo Podcast host Kieth Billik
Some really interesting insights into adding podcasting to your musical life - with Keith Billik, host of Picky Fingers Banjo Podcast, and Mike Willner (me!), host of Bluegrass BKLYN podcast. Link to...
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Open G guitar (DGDGBD)
My banjo is in the shop :-(. So I dusted off the guitar and tuned it to open G, which is pretty much like a banjo. I used a flat pick, but I found myself naturally playing the melody like Clawhammer,...
View ArticleAdvice transposing
Looking for some advice here and I apologize for the dumb question. I play Shady Grove in Dm but need to transpose to Am. I’m torn between playing in an open position around the Am chord or...
View Articlenew russian microwave weapon
The programmable weapon is designed to be concealed and silent, but doesn’t create heat like a traditional microwave oven. It can be controlled remotely and can penetrate several hundred feet through...
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