Hey! Hey!
Nick here. I thought I would start a new blog that pertains to mainly music related things. I'll try my best not to be too snarky, but I already have two or three ideas that have gotten me into an argument with people here and there...
Anyway, since most of you early readers of this know about me, I'll skip the intro and just jump right into the first topic:
BANJO!
Brief history
Skipping all the origin theories, let's begin with the early American banjo, which was similar to the predecessors in Africa and Asia in that it was some kind of gourd covered with animal hide attached to a wooden stick neck that was strung with a varying amount of strings. It is said that the American banjo began predominantly as an instrument used by slaves, and thus the idea was brought over from Africa around that time.
In the 1830s, Joel Walker Sweeney, developed and began playing a 5-string version associated with what we've come to know and 'love'. Sweeney used a drum-like sound box instead of a gourd, and used 4 string, along with a 5th 'drone/resonator' string. Tunings and modifications have been used and made to fit everyone's specs and today we have what we have. Anyway, there are tons more details to be given, but either look it up, or contact me directly and I'll be happy to share with you whatever I know and you quest for.
On to glorious me!
I picked up the banjo in September 2011, as a birthday gift to myself. It was Nick tested and wife approved, and kicks have been had ever since(get it?)
I originally despised picks, and began my early days playing a sort of
Old-Time/Scruggs three-finger style as well as learning an older style of
banjo called Clawhammer -
'...and I know that sounds like a Kama Sutra position, but I can
assure you it's not' - Steve Martin
Clawhammer is a pretty, softer type of Old-Time music in which you ball up
your hand, extend your thumb and hit down on the strings instead of plucking
up.
Soon, however, I was driven to force myself off the couch, out of the house and to begin making music with others. So, I joined a band and decided after taking a lesson that I would need to 'pick' up some picks. Now I'm louder, and much to the bemusement of my wife, Kelly, I am much better and faster.
Currently I play banjo for Patrick's Beard & The Rusty Razors. We play a rough, dark, foot stomping Country & Bluegrass blend of music. We also incorporate a few covers here and there...anywhere from The Band, Old And In The Way, and Hank Williams to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Corrosion of Conformity.
I am also talking to two other groups about joining in their musical entourages, but it seems that Patrick was the only one serious about banding so far...so, we'll see.
Now, the thing about the banjo...can be summed up in this stupid picture right here.
I can't decide whether I hate whoever did this or not. I personally feel like I chose an instrument that is challenged by the mainstream, and is looked down upon as being an instrument for degenerate hillbillies. That is, Unless you're a sweet little indie band trying to be different. Then you have haters from the elitist side of the coin saying that, 'oh you're just trying too hard with an instrument that takes little practice to play.' (Trust me, I'm on a strict diet of haterade myself. So, I know people say these things) ;)
The point is, people don't care about the banjo, but do care about cute little indie girls playing some chords on the ukelele. For example, Bon Iver's Skinny Love has only 16 million, while Birdy's 'cover' has over 27 million. What the hell.
Oh, hey have you heard Rufus Wainright's brilliant song, Hallelujah? He's an unintentional realistic-intellectual-pontifical, omniscient-flawless-fantastic artist.
So, back to the limbo thing.
I'm between this -
And this -
Oh, and speaking of which - (Just in case you didn't know, now you do!)
...understad too that there's the fact that I'm doubly caught in limbo since I'm between a dude who has a gigantic beard, and a 'cute', 'adorable' fiddle player.
The banjo player just becomes filler sometimes...which only means I have to work harder. Good, maybe that's what I need to do.
I digress. Mainly, it would seem that only the like of Zooey Deschanel digs the banjo.
Now, I know some are fuming, or rolling your eyes and saying 'shut up already, Nick.' So, let's just put it this way.
What would you rather listen to?
This? -
Or this? -
Me? I'll choose this every time -
OK, idiotic, soap box, pointless rant over!
The Banjo
Basically you have four strings that get fretted, and then you have a resonator that is tuned higher than the rest that you don't fret.
The banjo is tuned to a major G/A chord, with the resonator being tuned to a high root note.
I have been playing guitar since 1997, so picking up the banjo was easy in a way. The main difference is to get used to the different tuning, as well as using the Scruggs style fingerpicking method. With that being said, speed is not a concern, but getting there is. There are nights where all I do is play something slow, and gradually add tempo until I get to a breaking point. Then I'll play it some more. No big deal...
Scales are slowly making there way into the practices, an I'm beginning to have the individual notes of the fretboard memorized, which is obviously key in being able to come up with leads/solos/fills/MUSIC!
I'm pretty proud of my accomplishments in the time that I've been playing, but I think I need to push harder. I mean we all know ho to get to Carnegie Hall right? I'd like to set a goal for myself. In 5 years, I'd like to have my own album out, and be able to use music to fund part of my life.
What can I say, I've been bit by the banjo bug. I love it, I hate it, no I love it.
Thanks for reading to the end, I love you.
