Banjo

Cynthia in Connecticut writes: Just looking for more opportunities to learn more banjo playing skills and to play with other banjo players. How can you connect with others? Zoom? DVD’s? When and where are your classes/jams? Been playing for 4 years with absolutely no previous music experience. Still so much to learn! Have a teacher and I belong to a jam but I am the only banjo player and the least experienced.

Cynthia,

I don’t think finding other banjo players is what you need. Banjo players typically need other bluegrass instruments to play with as bluegrass is a team of different instruments. A group of banjos doesn’t make as good a jam as one each of the different instruments.

Of course, I can imagine how you’d like to be around other banjo players, as seeing what they do would be of interest and educational.… More Info!

This one was not asked as a question, but I felt the topic is important enough to share my post in response.

Bob writes on BgnrBanjo@yahoogroups.com: A guitar player (a fellow programmer) I met here at work once played with a group that had a banjo — his comment was — the banjo was too #$&#* loud! Obviously, this banjo player wanted to be a star instead of a contributor.

I think this is probably the biggest complaint about banjo players in general, as well as the biggest reason for the continued popularity of banjo jokes, and the subtle downplaying in some quarters of the role of the banjo in bluegrass.

I can’t understand why so many banjo players speak so glowingly of *volume* as one of the primary desirable characteristics of a banjo.… More Info!