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Message Board - Banjos
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I've been fingerpicking guitar for a long time, using metal fingerpicks. I just picked up a 5-string banjo, an instrument I've always been interested in but never made to move to learn.
I have two questions:
I paid $100 for a Fransican which has never been used. A little sticker on the back of the head says "220 M". It has a truss rod, and the resonator is solid wood, but I really don't know what to look for. Either way, the case alone is a great one, hard with sheepskin lining, so I know I didn't do badly with just that. Any ideas on how I did with my money?
My other question deals with the fact that I don't want to play it like a guitar, which I can see would be an easy rut to slip into.
Most guitar fingerpicking is based on the thumb picking a steady beat while the index and middle fingers do the rest. I know that banjo (bluegrass style) is called a roll.
My conception of a 4/4 roll, unlike guitar, would take four measures instead of one to complete. The first measure might be Thumb, Index, Middle Thumb. The second would be Index, Middle, Thumb, Index. The third, Middle, Thumb, Index, Middle, then the fourth would be the same as the first. To an absolute layman like me, it seems a good way to keep the fifth string popping.
But, am I making any sense?
I just stumbled across this site, and it looks like a great one. Thanks for letting me add.
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Dear Beginner,
Thank you for your interesting posting. I took a copy across the street to the Double Stop Fiddle Shop operated by Mr. Byron Berline, well known musician. You should contact him at [email protected]. He is exactly the man to know in making that transition from guitar to the five string. Thanks, Best Wishes, John
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re: I'm a beginner
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posted by: Randy @
8:49:33 AM · 9/7/2001
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Last week I too bought a slighty used Fransican Banjo for $20.00 and I am learning to play.
I dont know the numbers on the back Ill look at them when I pick it up today from the store were I had it restrung, the neck adjusted and tuned.
It is a very nice banjo and everyone I have shown it too has told me it could get $200.00 easy. Good Luck!
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