I’d love to see a more in depth video on ostinatos and building a banjo vocabulary. My primary interest in clawhammer is improvisation and having a vocabulary to build more complex structures on the fly would be invaluable.
Very good advice. I learned saxophone in a typical structured band environment. Basics mattered. Posture, breath support, scales and tongue work/timing, fingering all mattered a lot. Tunes are where the fun is. Sandbox time is a bit more difficult to describe, but that is where my original stuff resided. I love your teaching style, and use your UA-cam stuff quite a bit. Will join your patrion soon. Making the switch to banjo has been a lot of fun and certainly a lot of work.
This is lovely! Thank you, I really appreciate how you communicate :). I am looking into getting a banjo and learning, largely for the purpose of supporting my mental health recovery and generally having a good time with myself. I'm very pleased and grateful to see how many resources youve made available on this channel. I feel confident with your help I can do this!
Mattie....that is so kind of you to say! I think of the banjo as more than an instrument to play with others. I think of it as an instrument to help people enjoy their lives more. The universe brought you to this video, so I'd humbly suggest that the universe is telling you to: PLAY THE BANJO. Don't wait! Seize the day! You CAN do it!
The sandbox, I have never heard anyone else ever say anything like this, but I do this alot. Ive been playing for just iver a year but have experience with other stringed instruments, so maybe its not the traditional first year. Anyhow, I love to just play with sounds and slides hammer ons/offs and so on. Its funny because many times as Im learning a new tune to me, Ill think, I already do that while "playing around". That just did happen the other day when learning "False Hearted Lovers Blues", more of Levon Helms version compared to Doc Boggs. I'm glad you brought that up... I can now say I'm practicing, when foolin around...lol.
Wow, I'm soooo glad you didn't give up!! I tell folks that there's only one surefire way to not be able to play the banjo, and that is to quit! Keep at it...you WILL get it.
Eli Gilbert on youtube made a great video series in a "30 day" format, but it was for bluegrass style. I think that would be super super super cool if you did your own 30 day clawhammer course. I find it hard to learn on my own without somebody or something to set some sort of expectation of progress or goals. Something to follow along and compare myself to every single step of the way. Would be even cooler if you or him would upload some more advanced "30 day" practice regiments too some day.
I have a "year of banjo" instead. 52 lessons for clawhammer banjo. It's called Banjo Blitz...check out the playlist on my main page. I also host banjo boot camps quarterly. One is starting on April 1st for Patrons. Definitely worth it: www.patreon.com/tomcollins
Absolutely! And if you have questions between sessions, you can ask them on Patreon and I'll answer them for you in the following session...whether you're there or not. Sorry you can't make any of the live sessions! It's real tricky to find a time that works for everyone given how many time zones folks are in. Hope to see you there....in the archive at least!
My question is i have big hands im 6'4 and i use my middle finger, but any tips on my index finger not curling up tight? Or just keep (knocking)ob the banjo to build up muscle memory bc my hand eventually gets tight! Thanks for any feedback
Hey Stephen! Have you tried the basic stroke using the middle finger while extending the index? Your hand shape would be a basic kid's "cowboy gun" shape: thumb and index extended and everything else curled gently. That might give your hand a counterpoint shape, and allow you to release the tension that causes the index to curl. Also, go slow, slow, slow until you can do the stroke comfortably with minimal tension! Let me know how this works!
Hey Tom! I just wanted to say thank you very much for the advice about the (pistol shape)it's working out! I'm able to speed up and slow back down with no tension!! Even getting to the 2nd,3rd, and 4th strings is easier!! So I'm very grateful!! Also have a banjo bolster coming! No more dish rag! Lol have a good day!!
I’d love to see a more in depth video on ostinatos and building a banjo vocabulary. My primary interest in clawhammer is improvisation and having a vocabulary to build more complex structures on the fly would be invaluable.
Very good advice. I learned saxophone in a typical structured band environment. Basics mattered. Posture, breath support, scales and tongue work/timing, fingering all mattered a lot. Tunes are where the fun is. Sandbox time is a bit more difficult to describe, but that is where my original stuff resided. I love your teaching style, and use your UA-cam stuff quite a bit. Will join your patrion soon. Making the switch to banjo has been a lot of fun and certainly a lot of work.
excellent advice here, very insightful! Love the philosophy of "having a practice." Thanks for sharing!
Glad the vid was useful, BoomChuck! Thanks so much for the comment.
This is lovely! Thank you, I really appreciate how you communicate :). I am looking into getting a banjo and learning, largely for the purpose of supporting my mental health recovery and generally having a good time with myself. I'm very pleased and grateful to see how many resources youve made available on this channel. I feel confident with your help I can do this!
Mattie....that is so kind of you to say! I think of the banjo as more than an instrument to play with others. I think of it as an instrument to help people enjoy their lives more. The universe brought you to this video, so I'd humbly suggest that the universe is telling you to: PLAY THE BANJO. Don't wait! Seize the day! You CAN do it!
You are a mighty good teacher!
Thank you! 😃
The sandbox, I have never heard anyone else ever say anything like this, but I do this alot. Ive been playing for just iver a year but have experience with other stringed instruments, so maybe its not the traditional first year. Anyhow, I love to just play with sounds and slides hammer ons/offs and so on. Its funny because many times as Im learning a new tune to me, Ill think, I already do that while "playing around". That just did happen the other day when learning "False Hearted Lovers Blues", more of Levon Helms version compared to Doc Boggs.
I'm glad you brought that up... I can now say I'm practicing, when foolin around...lol.
Hahaha! Yeah, I'm a big believer in chasing ideas. If that banjo is in your hands, you've won! Thanks for the comment.
Thanks for this very helpful video. I was just about to give up the banjo, This really gave me a whole new perspective.
Wow, I'm soooo glad you didn't give up!! I tell folks that there's only one surefire way to not be able to play the banjo, and that is to quit! Keep at it...you WILL get it.
Thanks! I intend to keep on practicing. I love old time banjo music,
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh Nice One Tom. Respect. STP..
right back at ya, STP. Cheers!
Eli Gilbert on youtube made a great video series in a "30 day" format, but it was for bluegrass style. I think that would be super super super cool if you did your own 30 day clawhammer course. I find it hard to learn on my own without somebody or something to set some sort of expectation of progress or goals. Something to follow along and compare myself to every single step of the way. Would be even cooler if you or him would upload some more advanced "30 day" practice regiments too some day.
I have a "year of banjo" instead. 52 lessons for clawhammer banjo. It's called Banjo Blitz...check out the playlist on my main page. I also host banjo boot camps quarterly. One is starting on April 1st for Patrons. Definitely worth it: www.patreon.com/tomcollins
You shold make that into a t-shirt
Eat
Sleep
Pray
BANJO!!!
You inspire me
Thanks!
For those of us unable to make the livestream of the boot camp, would there be an archived recording? I have to work during the scheduled times...
Absolutely! And if you have questions between sessions, you can ask them on Patreon and I'll answer them for you in the following session...whether you're there or not. Sorry you can't make any of the live sessions! It's real tricky to find a time that works for everyone given how many time zones folks are in. Hope to see you there....in the archive at least!
"Pi day 3.14" ❤
Missed it by a couple days … dang!!
My question is i have big hands im 6'4 and i use my middle finger, but any tips on my index finger not curling up tight? Or just keep (knocking)ob the banjo to build up muscle memory bc my hand eventually gets tight! Thanks for any feedback
Hey Stephen! Have you tried the basic stroke using the middle finger while extending the index? Your hand shape would be a basic kid's "cowboy gun" shape: thumb and index extended and everything else curled gently. That might give your hand a counterpoint shape, and allow you to release the tension that causes the index to curl. Also, go slow, slow, slow until you can do the stroke comfortably with minimal tension! Let me know how this works!
@@TomCollinsBanjo I will definitely try that! It happens when I try speeding up! I'll take your advice and slow down ! Thanks
Hey Tom! I just wanted to say thank you very much for the advice about the (pistol shape)it's working out! I'm able to speed up and slow back down with no tension!! Even getting to the 2nd,3rd, and 4th strings is easier!! So I'm very grateful!! Also have a banjo bolster coming! No more dish rag! Lol have a good day!!
Got me I've been looking for You. I have a gretch 5 string no resonate
Let's go, Steve! Boot camp starts on April first....you should join us!
I 'think' you almost said... welcome to... banjo blitz ;)
Banjo Blitz is very much on my mind as I play Banjo Blitz 2. Shhhhhh. Hope you're doing well, my friend. Much love to you and yours. Tom
@@TomCollinsBanjo OMG. I’ll tune in. That would be awesome. I occasionally tune in to BB when I’m feeling nostalgic, true story.
Obstinatos
New one pie in my face
Wow, steveprudell...this made me legit laugh out loud. I love it!! I'm gonna steal this for the upcoming boot camp ahahahahahha!!!