Confessions Of a Guitar Player Discovering the Magic of the Banjo
Great guitar players are said to be able to think “outside the box”. It’s said they are “fresh and original”. If this describes you
then great! Probably like me and I think, the bulk of guitarists, we hit periods of dullness and times that aſter playing the same thing over and over we get downright bored.
If you have felt this then maybe it’s time to re-energize your playing; a time to think way out of the box and discover the “Magic” of the 5 string banjo. As primarily a guitar player I recently took up the banjo and I can tell you this 5th string is truly magical! So much so that I can’t stop playing this crazy banjo.
Like many, I learned guitar through chord books of songs I wanted to play. Chords are great when you can sing the melody. Unfortunately as a guitar player I never thought much about the melody, I just sang the song and made sure I learned the right chords. Not until picking up the banjo did I start thinking much about the melody as the banjo seemed to be more of an instrumental instrument to me. Tis opened up a whole new world that is easily translated back to the guitar.
Learning the way I did, I was not a guy who could “shred” on the guitar. I never developed the skills to play fast, but upon picking up the banjo I discovered speed was built into the instrument and this magical 5th string made speedy licks within my grasp.
I was never much of a bluegrass fan. Consequently I never listen to it or other banjo music. Other banjo music you ask? Like the guitar there is not one way to play the banjo. Name the genre and it is being played on the banjo. Finger style, rock, alternative, jazz, latin, classical; it is all playable on the banjo. I had a very narrow view it turns out as I had the idea if it wasn’t bluegrass it wasn’t Banjo. I never really considered playing the banjo since the “ice-pick in the ear” music I associated with it was of no interest to me. I was wrong. Te banjo actually lends itself to most every genre of music out there. I can now enjoy Bluegrass and I especially like the musicianship needed to play it, but that is not what one has to play to play the banjo. As with most instruments, the banjo especially, is only limited by the creativeness of the player.
• Only 4 strings to worry about fretting •
Similar Tuning (4th-1st ): Guitar DGBE / Banjo DGBD
• Half the battle is won -
you already have left hand technique • You don’t have to play just bluegrass
• All styles of music can be played on the banjo.
• Become multi-instrumental and more in demand.
• Improve your fingerpicking skills.
If you have had the thought, “Why would I spend the time learning the banjo when I could spend that same time on the guitar and be that much beter?” I can tell you I had that inner dialogue many times but all that it did is prevent me from learning a new instrument and reinvigorating my musical creativity. I never did put that time I thought it would take to learn the banjo into the guitar, so I lost on both counts.
Since learning the banjo, I am looking at music in fresh new ways. My guitar playing has improved. My hammer-ons and pull offs have improved greatly on both instruments. Most of all, I am having fun again!
Te banjo is easy to learn especially for a guitar player. Your leſt hand is already there and the strings are mostly the same. A litle right hand work, which is mostly mechanical and you’ve got it! I encourage you to play the banjo and discover for yourself the Magic of the 5th string!
P.S. I can still play my guitars and love them dearly but find myself playing more banjo these days. My biggest fear turns out was only in my mind since I still have all my teeth and didn’t start wearing overalls! I do have to confess, I put a pickup on my Deering and have been trying out all my pedals, what fun! - Gary Hill
You Don’t Have To Play Just Bluegrass To Play the 5-String Banjo
Te 5-String Banjo Is Far Easier To Learn Tan You Might Tink
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