BS: One Big Happy Banjo Family

Subject: One Big Happy Banjo Family
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 04 Sep 01 - 07:53 AM

This was written by Peter Roehling for Banjo-L

  The reason that I love to play the banjo is that all banjo players are one big happy family. Except for those Bluegrass guys, with their five thousand dollar, twenty pound boat anchors.  Those guys will  never let an open-back banjo player jam with 'em, and they look down their noses at anybody who can't play "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" at 180 beats per minute.  They all love gold-plated and engraved tone rings, and they play with those funny-looking things on their finger tips as well.  So I really hate those Bluegrass guys, and will never admit them into the one big happy family that comprises all of the other non-bluegrass banjo players.

  Well, okay, I've gotta admit that the guys who play those funny four stringed things aren't REAL banjo players either.  First of all, they use flatpicks instead of playing with their nails the way God intended the banjo to be played.  Next, those banjos they play LOOK an awful lot like Bluegrass banjos, and you know what that means; they're probably part of that vegan conspiracy to outlaw real calfskin heads, and you can't allow somebody into a family if they're plotting against you, right?

And while we're at it, we ought to wonder about those strange folks who play fretless, or worse, gourd banjos.  Those weird plunka-plunka noises certainly aren't what I'd call banjo playing.  It would probably be best if we just left them to themselves.  (I'm sure that the Boy Scouts wouldn't let any of THEM join.)

  But still, you've got to admit that there's nothing like being a member of that all-inclusive happy family of banjo players.

  Oh darn!  I forgot the ones who insist that all banjo music must be politically correct:  "Southern Old-time music" is bigoted stuff according to them.  And on the other side of the scale are the ones who won't play anything BUT "southern Old-time music".  All of those jokers are trouble makers, and we can toss them out without a moment's hesitation!

  And how about those right and left coast types?  I don't think that anybody from New York could possibly be considered a real banjo player, right?  And Californian?  Oh, give me a break!

So; now our big happy family of properly located, open-backed, non-picking-using five string players who don't use fretless banjos (Or plastic heads!  I forgot about those damn plastic heads!) and don't discriminate in their choice of material can get together and really enjoy themselves.

But I'm beginning to wonder about the ones that use capos...... P.  

Subject: RE: BS: One Big Happy Banjo Family
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 04 Sep 01 - 08:26 AM

I love it Bonnie!

Only one problem I have is that the bluegrass bit does ring true to me. I have rarely found players of that style welcoming to others unfamiliar with their music and as for tenor banjo - forget it.

I remember one big exception though - it was during the Conwy Bluegrass Festival. There was a young band, forget thier name but they were (I think twin) sisters on who played 5 string and one who played fiddle (I think there was a brother with them too) from California who took a break from the Bluegrass Jam and came over to listen to some of our regular weekly Sunday night bash and were quite fascinated with the tenor! I had quite a long chat. I even learned of a different tone ring that night - she played a Deering with a wooden one - I seem to remember finding out later it was a John Hartford model.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: One Big Happy Banjo Family
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 04 Sep 01 - 08:39 AM

Jon, you're talking about the Schankman twins, who do indeed play banjo and fiddle, and usually tour with their brother playing bass.

As for the OBHBF, my husband plays a big ole bluegrass banjo, and also an openback. We always welcome different types of music at our jams, and when another banjo player walks up and joins, he often switches to whichever one isn't covered. Clawhammer and 3-finger style actually play well off one another and make for interesting breaks, in the right hands.

However, any more than two banjos in a jam can bring on rain.

Subject: RE: BS: One Big Happy Banjo Family
From: Bluebeard
Date: 05 Sep 01 - 12:55 AM

Funny piece ! What is is it about many of my fellow banjo players that pisses me off ? Why are so many concerned about the "correct" method of playing ? There isn't one! I have played open-backs for thirty eight years and use finger picks much of the time. I don't play bluegrass. I play folk from different periods and play as others in the past played.... You find your instrument and play it from the heart.

Subject: RE: BS: One Big Happy Banjo Family
From: Jon W.
Date: 05 Sep 01 - 01:34 AM

I saw a great local band a couple of weeks ago and they had both a tenor and a resonator banjo player. The reso guy played his breaks bluegrass style and his backup clawhammer style. And they both played together on guess what--"Dueling Banjos" (guess they had to please the audience too).

Subject: RE: BS: One Big Happy Banjo Family
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 05 Sep 01 - 08:51 AM

Worth sharing.

Subject: RE: BS: One Big Happy Banjo Family
From: GUEST,Steve Latimer
Date: 05 Sep 01 - 10:38 PM

Hi Bonnie, haven't seen your posts in a while.

Steve

Subject: RE: BS: One Big Happy Banjo Family
From: black walnut
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 08:42 AM

Hey, Bonnie. This isn't a BS thread. It's about banjo. Oh, wait a minute.....

~b.w.

Subject: RE: BS: One Big Happy Banjo Family
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 11:03 AM

Hi Guys,
Well Mrs Walnut, I figured BS stood for Banjo Society.
Steve I haven't been around much, this is true. Been too busy wiping up my drool.
Hi Jon,
Personally I've found bluegrass players really open to playing with me. They have generously helped me out in jam sessions (that is why they call it a jam) and they have really been enthusiastic about the tunes I play. I've observed the religious attitude towards different styles of banjo playing but at the same time there is an openess within the groups if you are willing to be open yourself.

Miss Bonnie

Subject: RE: BS: One Big Happy Banjo Family
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 08:59 PM

Subject: RE: BS: One Big Happy Banjo Family
From: black walnut
Date: 07 Sep 01 - 09:26 AM

Oh...not Brewed Strong?

~Mrs. Walnut