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Topic: What's the beef with banjo players? |
Alan Kendall
From:
Maury County Tennessee
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Posted 22 Feb 2009 10:44 am |
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Why do so many steel players detest banjo players? At first I thought it was just a joke, kind of like the one about trombone players, but over time I have noticed some serious resentment towards them,especially if they get any TV time. I view banjo players with the same high regard as I do any musician who has learned to play his or her instrument to high level.We all know how many hundreds of hours must be put in to gain any degree of proficiency on any musical instrument, so why the constant berating of banjo players? The banjo is an integral part of country music, just like the fiddle, mandolin,and acoustic guitar, and has been around much longer than the pedal steel. Lets not forget they are fellow "Pickers",and I'm sure they love their chosen instrument just as much as we love ours.
Perhaps I am missing something here,and if I am I would love for someone to tell me what it is. |
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Pat Comeau
From:
New Brunswick, Canada
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John P. Phillips
From:
Folkston, Ga. U.S.A., R.I.P.
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Posted 22 Feb 2009 6:14 pm
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Alan,
It's just really a running joke here on
the forum. b0b has a dislike (as I see it) for
the banjo so we kid him rather
unmercifully about it.
There are steel/banjo pickers that are members of the forum.
There may be serious opinions voiced here but most of it it's
in fun. Personally I love good banjo if
it fits.
_________________
Just remember,
You don�t stop playing cause you get older,
You get older cause you stop playing ! http://www.myspace.com/johnpphillips |
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Papa Joe Pollick
From:
Swanton, Ohio
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Posted 22 Feb 2009 6:15 pm
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FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN[run boy run]   |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Clyde Mattocks
From:
Kinston, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 22 Feb 2009 6:30 pm
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How can you tell which steel players also.......
Oh never mind!
_________________
LeGrande II, Nash. 112, Harlow Dobro |
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Ronnie Boettcher
From:
Brunswick Ohio, USA
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Posted 22 Feb 2009 6:32 pm
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I have played bluegrass, 5-string banjo, a long time before I got my LDG. I still trade time, between classic country, and good standard bluegrass. Still have my mastertone banjo, and wouldn't part with it, or my LDG. Keep playing classic country, and bluegrass.
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Sho-Bud LDG, Martin D28, Ome trilogy 5 string banjo, Ibanez 4-string bass, dobro, fiddle, and a tubal cain. Life Member of AFM local 142 |
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Bill Dobkins
From:
Rolla Missouri, USA
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Posted 22 Feb 2009 6:37 pm
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In the late 70's while living in Laramie Wy I did a duo with Jeff Kimbal who was number three in the nation. After a while I did get tired of the sound of the Banjo. It seemed like every song started sounding the same. Since I've been away from it I'm starting to like it again. As a matter of fact I use to play one pretty good myself.
_________________
Custom Rittenberry SD10
Boss Katana 100 Amp
Positive Grid Spark amp
BJS Bars
Z~Legend Pro,Custom Tele
Honor our Vet's.
Now pass the gravy. |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Mark van Allen
From:
Watkinsville, Ga. USA
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Posted 22 Feb 2009 7:54 pm
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Um, Doug, to each his own. I really enjoy playing with a good banjo player. Try any of these, I thought we had some pretty good blending going on.
http://www.youtube.com/BluegroundUndergrass |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Alan Kendall
From:
Maury County Tennessee
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Posted 22 Feb 2009 8:22 pm
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| Hey Doug I was just on the "Banjo Forum" and some guy was on there talking about how he would never play in a band with a steel player, as the whining sustain of the steel completely ruined the beautiful percussive sound of his Banjo. Honestly the nerve of some people. |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 22 Feb 2009 8:31 pm
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Paddle faster...I hear banjos. 
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 22 Feb 2009 8:38 pm
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I like the banjo,used to play it a lot,don't anymore,Played a show with The First Lady of banjo awhile back Miss Roni Stoneman,[she spent 20 years on Hee Haw]She's a friend of our bandleader,she came down and spent fours days with us,at 70 she has the fire and energy of most teens,and one heck of a banjo picker,she did'nt clash AT ALL with the rest of the band,had a GREAT time working with her. She's a pro,she knows when to play,most important when NOT to play,Wish some of the GUITAR players I have worked with,COULD UNDERSTAND THAT. DYKBC.
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Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC !
Last edited by Charles Davidson on 22 Feb 2009 9:15 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Bill Bailey
From:
Kingman, AZ
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Posted 22 Feb 2009 8:48 pm Banjo
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When I first started playing on the road, most steel players I met working steady gigs all played Banjo and played it well, some just used a wood block to doplicate the sounds of a 5 string on steel, Wayne Gailey was a master imitator of Banjo on steel, and I wouldn't be surprised if he also was a Banjo picker. You can hear Wayne on Rose Maddox Bluegrass album using his steel as if it was a Banjo.
_________________
Bill Bailey
Kingman Arizona
2014 Mullen G2 D 10 8+5 Black
92 Emmons Lashley LeGrande D-10
Two Nashville 400 Amps and Nashvill 112. |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Steve Hinson
From:
Hendersonville Tn USA
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Alan Kendall
From:
Maury County Tennessee
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Posted 22 Feb 2009 9:16 pm
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| Good one Mr. Beaumier |
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Pete Finney
From:
Nashville Tn.
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Posted 22 Feb 2009 9:27 pm
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| Steve Hinson wrote: |
| ...the Osborne Brothers and Hal Rugg seemed to make it all work somehow... |
Maybe it's because they had Leon Rhodes in there too to make 'em behave! 
Those are some great records! |
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Billy Tonnesen
From:
R.I.P., Buena Park, California
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Posted 22 Feb 2009 9:27 pm Tommy Hannum Banjo played on Steel
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Listen to Tommy Hammum on Steel imitating a Banjo. On the John England Album "Swinging on Broadway" He imitates a Banjo on the cut of "Under The Double Eagle". His coordination is just great. IMHO there is a lot of the same coorindation in playing Banjo and " Chicken Pickin" on the Steel Guitar.
How about the style Buck Trent developed on Banjo when playing with Porter Waggoner !! |
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James Jacoby
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 22 Feb 2009 9:40 pm
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I know a guy, who plays five string banjo, Steel guitar, lead guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and bass, and is good at all of them! Not only that, he's a magician, and can do a magic/music show in full circus clown makeup! He , also can run sound. Ya-know, if the musician is doing the right stuff, any instrument can be made to fit with any kind of music! It also helps, if the band is doing the right things, to facilitate the instrument. One example that comes to mind, is Homer and Jethro, playing jazz. One would'nt think of a mandolin as a jazz instrument, but they made it sound like it belonged. Another example is New Grass Revival,( I think I got that name right), a blue grass/jazz fusion group. I may not be a purist, but I love to hear people expanding the parameters of music.(Merle Haggard uses a sax and trumpet in his band)as well as a PSG.
Jake Jacoby |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
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Posted 22 Feb 2009 11:00 pm
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I love plectrum banjos. I also kind of like tenors. But after a song or two the 5 string variety just starts to grate. As someone said earlier said....and better yet as the joke goes, "What's the difference between a banjo and an uzi? An uzi will only repeat itself 500 times in a row." ad infinitum.....
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Amor vincit omnia |
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