Thank you. I really enjoy hearing your knowledge applied to music, especially the banjo. I am reading your Brainjo book, and it is encouraging me in my pursuit of banjo learning. I have wanted to play the banjo for over 40 years, and have run into the problems you mention in your book over and over, which stopped me from continuing. I am hoping the knowledge you are providing, will push me through. Thanks again.
I read your article on Quality Practice in your website about 3 years ago, when I was just beginning my journey with banjo and it helped me a lot. But what I wanted to talk about is the third point: Feedback. I haven't played my banjo in a while, as I'm trying to learn the electric guitar and decided that I should train my ear if I want to actually learn songs without relying on others or making simple backup arrangements. The banjo is a bit too flexible, even for covers. With the electric guitar, I should almost always play the same riff as the original song. So it helps me keep the focus on training my ear. And on the first day I did this, I was totally frustrated after over 1h of practice (which is more than I usually have). I wasn't frustrated because I couldn't figure the riff of my choice by ear (a very simple one at that), but because I didn't even know if I played it right or not. It sounded right to me, but that may be because I played my version of the riff too many times and got used to it. I considered giving up, but remembered advice from more experienced musicians. That couldn't be end. I'd have to headbutt the wall a couple times first. I also remembered your lessons on how the brain will learn as I sleep. Moving to the next day, I picked up the guitar and said "here goes nothing...". Well, turns out I was already doing a lot better. I could at least tell I was playing most parts wrong. That's from one day to the next. Now I can at least have the feedback 90% of the time and it really is essential to improve during practice. Lacking feedback on that first session was devastating. Even negative feedback is better than none. I'm glad I did not give up.
Thanks for this comment - that’s a really great point. One of the reasons why training your ear is so helpful is because it improves the quality of your feedback. We’re able to hear details that previously weren’t perceptible, just like you describe.
You are such a good teacher. A lot of great information. Delivered in a logical and clear manner. You are credible, yet humble. Great job. I could listen to you teach me about anything.
I just received "The Laws of Brainjo" today. I read the first couple of chapters and know this will prove to be quite valuable to as I deep-dive into flatpicking guitar. Thanks, Josh!!
Thanks so much. You are reaffirmed what I have read in your book. Clarity of what to practice and the use if a metronome is some of the points I need to keep in mind Your gifts help me share my gifts!
Yet another well presented and comprehensible discourse on your approach to learning the Banjo. I am far from arriving at my goal musically however I have greatly benefitted from your video's on UA-cam. I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge and insights with the hordes of Banjo enthusiasts out there. Thank you so much !!
Love your Banjo Bites. This hits on the mark for me. My tendencies I have IS trying to do too much AND trying to get to my goal so I can play the tune I'm focusing on. I definitely find myself wondering how long "professionals" work on a specie piece before it's ready to play publicly. I'm starting to think its much longer then I want. Any advice will be helpful, And I'm really looking forward to your next lecture on addressing stage fright. I keep asking others how they've dealt with it, but not gotten a clear, direct, and dare I say easy answer.
Thank you, Ray. I know we can all relate to trying to bite off too much at once! I’ll be touching on some of what you talk about there in the next episode - so hopefully you’ll find it helpful, with a clear idea of some steps you can take going forward.
I enjoy your brainjo bites. I am a longtime musician and music teacher myself and have worked with the concepts you have discussed over years. I am curious about your thoughts on "handedness" as well. Over the years I have had numerous guitar students who were left-hand dominant in many activities, but have begun to play with right-hand strung guitars. I have read many articles about handedness over the years, and whether there are advantages/disadvantages for a left-hander to play a right-hand guitar, in other words, strumming or finger picking with the right hand and fretting with the left, or dominant hand. I have wondered wheher the "handedness" issue could be a legitimate issue for some, or is it just another restriction or limitation some players add to their thinking to limit their progress? We can point to many great left-handers who played right-handed guitars (e.g., Glen Campbell, Mark Knopfler, Steve Morse, George Van Eps, Richard Smith,, Ted Greene, etc.), but is their progress an exception to what could be a limitation in some, or is it an indication that "handedness" is a false issue or limitation or, on the other hand, an advantage? Have you reviewed this issue in context of banjo or generally and, if so, do you have any thoughts/opinions re. same?
Cheers for yet another amazing video! Can you make one about banjo-related injuries (such as tendonitis etc)? I don't know if clawhammer is as taxing on the hands - especially the right hand - as Bluegrass ( the style I am currently studying), but I am sure there might be some overlap! :-)
I want to get the most out of my practices, I was born with adhd, and am now dissabled because of it, but I can only practice for about 5 to 10 minutes at a time . Im home all day so I practice many times all day long, whats yhe best advice for this .
So I have 3 hrs a day to practice. So with clarity, is trying to learn 4 new tunes in the same session ok? And I expect it may take several weeks to a month to learn these before moving on.
Thank you. I really enjoy hearing your knowledge applied to music, especially the banjo. I am reading your Brainjo book, and it is encouraging me in my pursuit of banjo learning. I have wanted to play the banjo for over 40 years, and have run into the problems you mention in your book over and over, which stopped me from continuing. I am hoping the knowledge you are providing, will push me through. Thanks again.
Thanks so much, Steve - that’s really great to hear. Enjoy the journey!
I read your article on Quality Practice in your website about 3 years ago, when I was just beginning my journey with banjo and it helped me a lot. But what I wanted to talk about is the third point: Feedback.
I haven't played my banjo in a while, as I'm trying to learn the electric guitar and decided that I should train my ear if I want to actually learn songs without relying on others or making simple backup arrangements. The banjo is a bit too flexible, even for covers. With the electric guitar, I should almost always play the same riff as the original song. So it helps me keep the focus on training my ear. And on the first day I did this, I was totally frustrated after over 1h of practice (which is more than I usually have). I wasn't frustrated because I couldn't figure the riff of my choice by ear (a very simple one at that), but because I didn't even know if I played it right or not. It sounded right to me, but that may be because I played my version of the riff too many times and got used to it. I considered giving up, but remembered advice from more experienced musicians. That couldn't be end. I'd have to headbutt the wall a couple times first. I also remembered your lessons on how the brain will learn as I sleep. Moving to the next day, I picked up the guitar and said "here goes nothing...". Well, turns out I was already doing a lot better. I could at least tell I was playing most parts wrong. That's from one day to the next. Now I can at least have the feedback 90% of the time and it really is essential to improve during practice. Lacking feedback on that first session was devastating. Even negative feedback is better than none. I'm glad I did not give up.
Thanks for this comment - that’s a really great point. One of the reasons why training your ear is so helpful is because it improves the quality of your feedback. We’re able to hear details that previously weren’t perceptible, just like you describe.
You are such a good teacher. A lot of great information. Delivered in a logical and clear manner. You are credible, yet humble. Great job. I could listen to you teach me about anything.
I just received "The Laws of Brainjo" today. I read the first couple of chapters and know this will prove to be quite valuable to as I deep-dive into flatpicking guitar. Thanks, Josh!!
Thanks, Glen - enjoy the book!
At work we call this "PDCA" - Plan, Do, Check, Act. Thanks for this video series and the Brainjo book!!
My pleasure!
Thanks so much. You are reaffirmed what I have read in your book. Clarity of what to practice and the use if a metronome is some of the points I need to keep in mind
Your gifts help me share my gifts!
You bet, Rick!
I have been practicing like this since I read laws of Brainjo, and it is working great for me.
Thank's Dr Josh.
That’s great, Thomas!
Yet another well presented and comprehensible discourse on your approach to learning the Banjo. I am far from arriving at my goal musically however I have greatly benefitted from your video's on UA-cam. I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge and insights with the hordes of Banjo enthusiasts out there. Thank you so much !!
My pleasure, Tim. Thanks so much for your comments.
Thanks. That's simple and obvious but I haven't thought about it and made mistakes again and again
great lesson! thanks!
Love your Banjo Bites. This hits on the mark for me. My tendencies I have IS trying to do too much AND trying to get to my goal so I can play the tune I'm focusing on. I definitely find myself wondering how long "professionals" work on a specie piece before it's ready to play publicly. I'm starting to think its much longer then I want. Any advice will be helpful, And I'm really looking forward to your next lecture on addressing stage fright. I keep asking others how they've dealt with it, but not gotten a clear, direct, and dare I say easy answer.
Thank you, Ray. I know we can all relate to trying to bite off too much at once!
I’ll be touching on some of what you talk about there in the next episode - so hopefully you’ll find it helpful, with a clear idea of some steps you can take going forward.
I enjoy your brainjo bites. I am a longtime musician and music teacher myself and have worked with the concepts you have discussed over years. I am curious about your thoughts on "handedness" as well. Over the years I have had numerous guitar students who were left-hand dominant in many activities, but have begun to play with right-hand strung guitars. I have read many articles about handedness over the years, and whether there are advantages/disadvantages for a left-hander to play a right-hand guitar, in other words, strumming or finger picking with the right hand and fretting with the left, or dominant hand. I have wondered wheher the "handedness" issue could be a legitimate issue for some, or is it just another restriction or limitation some players add to their thinking to limit their progress? We can point to many great left-handers who played right-handed guitars (e.g., Glen Campbell, Mark Knopfler, Steve Morse, George Van Eps, Richard Smith,, Ted Greene, etc.), but is their progress an exception to what could be a limitation in some, or is it an indication that "handedness" is a false issue or limitation or, on the other hand, an advantage? Have you reviewed this issue in context of banjo or generally and, if so, do you have any thoughts/opinions re. same?
I like the way you broke that down
Thanks, Matt!
Cheers for yet another amazing video! Can you make one about banjo-related injuries (such as tendonitis etc)? I don't know if clawhammer is as taxing on the hands - especially the right hand - as Bluegrass ( the style I am currently studying), but I am sure there might be some overlap! :-)
Thanks! Good idea for a topic - was planning to do one about preventing dystonia, but will expand to other potential injuries as well.
There's an old saying, if you can't solve problem sleep on it and the next day you may do so - which reflects on your message of training the brain..
great info!
I want to get the most out of my practices, I was born with adhd, and am now dissabled because of it, but I can only practice for about 5 to 10 minutes at a time . Im home all day so I practice many times all day long, whats yhe best advice for this .
I’m curios why this isn’t the first lesson in your course material…
So I have 3 hrs a day to practice. So with clarity, is trying to learn 4 new tunes in the same session ok? And I expect it may take several weeks to a month to learn these before moving on.
Cool
a) Where am I? b) Where am I going? c) How am I going to get there?
I guess that covers everything.