I've inherited a banjo!

clive swindell · Post by **clive swindell** » 24 Feb 2003 5:29 am

I have just inherited my great grandmothers 5 string banjo. Can anyone point me to a site where I can get information on strings and tunings and instructional material.

No, I shant be playing it but my bands guitarist will be!

Frank Parish · Post by **Frank Parish** » 24 Feb 2003 5:54 am

All you need now is a beeper and you can be called an optimist!

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 24 Feb 2003 6:30 am

I'm not sure about the UK, Clive, but at least in the USA, there's no law saying you have to accept everything that someone wants to leave to you.

John Steele (deceased) · Post by **John Steele (deceased)** » 24 Feb 2003 6:46 am

In the old days if they wanted to brush you off, they willed you One Dollar.

Clive, if it's possible for you to lay your hands on "How to play the 5 String Banjo" by Earl Scruggs, it is the bible. Nearly every banjo player I know cut their teeth with that book. I believe it's still in print.
-John

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 24 Feb 2003 7:29 am

If it was your great grandmother's it is most likely an open back instrument best uyesed for frailing style. If your guitarist intends to play bluegrass style a different instrument would be more appropriate.

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 24 Feb 2003 7:59 am

If it's an open back, it can be converted to a closed back style. I had an Alvarez Silver Princess which I bought the chrome ring and Wooden back and installed them on it. They're available from Stewart/MacDonald as a pretty reasonable price.......As far as giving it to your guitar player you might not be able to do that. I had a banjo which I left in my car once on the front seat and was worried it might be stolen, when I returned, someone had put another one there. Now I've got two of them and can't get rid of the damn things.

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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 24 Feb 2003 10:00 am

You could always bury it out in the back yard...cause deep down, you know it's a good instrument...

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 24 Feb 2003 10:22 am

Gee, I don't even have to say anything.

Chris Forbes · Post by **Chris Forbes** » 24 Feb 2003 10:32 am

My condolences on your aquisition of a banjo (I'm sure this is what Bob really wanted to say!!).

Anne Marie O Keeffe · Post by **Anne Marie O Keeffe** » 24 Feb 2003 11:21 am

Lots of banjo stuff here too Clive, just click http://www.chapmanfamilyband.com/BanjoJokes.htm

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 24 Feb 2003 12:40 pm

One of the main creators of bluegrass style Dobro was Josh Graves. He played banjo before switching to Dobro. The banjo is tuned in open G. So is the standard bluegrass and country Dobro. So Josh had a wealth of knowledge about playing single string stuff, multiple string patterns, and chords on the G neck before he ever picked up a Dobro, and it showed to great effect in his playing. The Dobro off course was the forerunner of country steel guitar. So there is a connection between banjos and steel guitar. Learning some banjo would probably be very good for a Dobro or steel player. That being said, I've never gotten up the stomach to try this piece of advice myself. Do they make earphones for banjos?

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 24 Feb 2003 5:13 pm

Clive,
Check out Duanes Banjo Page.
Lots of info.dont tell anyone but I've
played 5 string for 20 years.Maybe thats why
my first wife left me,so it cant be all bad!!
ha,ha.good luck.
[This message was edited by Larry Robbins on 24 February 2003 at 05:24 PM.]

Ken Lang · Post by **Ken Lang** » 24 Feb 2003 7:47 pm

I've still got my Earl Scruggs-5 string banjo book on my shelf. A punishing reminder I guess.

I lent my 5 string to our fiddler about 5 years ago. He has since moved from California to Colorado and forgot to give it back. (he he)

clive swindell · Post by **clive swindell** » 25 Feb 2003 1:13 am

Thanks guys, I havent laughed as much for ages!.

Seriously though, I have the links that I want.

By the way, it is a closed back 'Windsor' banjo and must be about 100 years old. Do these things have any value?

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 25 Feb 2003 6:44 am

I've got a banjo, too, Clive - I'm about to play a six-week show on it ('Chicago') after which I'll be offering it for sale.

Maybe b0b should attach a 'Hazardous Waste' column to 'Buy & Sell'...

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 25 Feb 2003 7:37 am

A banjo player left his banjo on the back seat of his car when he went shopping. On the way back to his car he saw the back window was busted out and he ran over to see if his banjo was gone. It was still there and next to it was another banjo.

I read that joke on this Forum somewhere.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 25 Feb 2003 8:16 am

Yeah, like maybe in Jerry Hayes' posting in this thread, above yours?

David! Pay attention! There's gonna be a pop quiz on this stuff!

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 25 Feb 2003 11:28 am

Yeah David, get you own stuff....I stole that from a guy who used it about an accordian....Later, JH.

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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 25 Feb 2003 1:53 pm

I'd like to see an amnesty declared on banjos and accordians (rather like we had on handguns a few years ago in the UK) - ideally, we'd all get three months to hand them in to the proper authorities (who would dispose of them in an environmentally-friendly manner), but woe betide you if you get caught with one after that.....

RR
PS: Edited for spelling I managed to misspell the word 'of'!!! Not even Bobbe Seymore could do that![This message was edited by Roger Rettig on 25 February 2003 at 01:55 PM.]

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 25 Feb 2003 2:17 pm

Oh yeah, sorry Jerry. I dozed off and woke up from a nightmare about banjos multiplying in the back seat of cars. It was horrible. Okay, now I gotta study for that pop quiz, hope I don't nod out again.

[This message was edited by David Doggett on 25 February 2003 at 02:18 PM.]

David Cobb · Post by **David Cobb** » 25 Feb 2003 9:00 pm

Does it have value?? Sure, it's got BTU value.

Bill Bailey · Post by **Bill Bailey** » 28 Feb 2003 11:55 am

I never could understand the attitude here on this forum about banjo. When I started playing steel a lot of players I met who played with any speed also played a banjo. The touring bands who came to my town also featured multi instrumentalist, some steel players doubled on guitar and some doubled on banjo. I don't get my banjo out much anymore but I know if I ever need or want to pick it up I know where it is. I know I am not the only steel player on this forum who is also a 5 string player. I could drop a few names, but would just as soon let Anyone who wants to remain silent do so.Take care all.
Bill Bailey

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Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 28 Feb 2003 12:07 pm

Bill, it's just a long-running joke, that's all. If we had accordian players here, we'd probably pick on them instead. Don't take it too seriously.

Tom Olson · Post by **Tom Olson** » 28 Feb 2003 12:23 pm

How about nose flutes?

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 28 Feb 2003 12:30 pm

'Ditto' to what Jim said, Bill - I love banjo, especially when I hear Bobby Thompson's work....

(PS: What's the difference between a banjo and a trampoline?
Anyone....?)