New Banjo

[JM]

Just bought a fretless banjo by R. K. Smith!

Today I sold a banjo, bought two washboards that turned out to be worth 4 x what I paid and bought a banjo. In the end I'm ahead at least $40 bucks (probably $120).

You can hear a banjo by Smith being played here:

The Old Timers - Run Rabbit Run (fretless banjo) - YouTube

Fretless Banjo Mahogany AND Black Walnut 5 String Ebony Pegs | eBay


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[Hamalas]

I expect videos to be forthcoming.

 

[joejohnston3]

That is very cool, congratulations!

 

[JM]

Thanks for the encouragement folks. The vids may take some time as I learn to make chords without frets.

I'm looking forward to trying some Sacred Harp on it...


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[JM]

Picked up my banjo yesterday from the post office. This is my second practice with my new fretless mountain Banjer from R.K. Smith. Going fretless and playing with nylon strings is a new experience for me and I’m enjoying it.

I’m attempting to play John Hardy who, according to Lomax, was a real fella hanged for a felony around 1895.

[video=youtube;4Ly7c6sSX_s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ly7c6sSX_s[/video]

Lyrics:

John Hardy, he was a desp’rate little man,
He carried two guns ev’ry day.
He shot a man on the West Virginia line,
An’ you ought seen John Hardy getting away.

John Hardy, he got to the Keystone Bridge,
He thought that he would be free.
And up stepped a man and took him by his arm,
Says, “Johnny, walk along with me.”

He sent for his poppy and his mommy, too,
To come and go his bail.
But money won’t go a murdering case;
They locked John Hardy back in jail.

John Hardy, he had a pretty little girl,
That dress that she wore was blue
As she came skipping through the old jail hall,
Saying, “Poppy, I’ve been true to you.”

John Hardy, he had another little girl,
That dress that she wore was red.
She followed John Hardy to his hanging ground,
Saying, “Poppy, I would rather be dead.”

I been to the East and I been to the West,
I been this wide world around.
I been to the river and I been baptized,
And now I’m on my hanging ground.

John Hardy walked out on his scaffold high,
With his loving little wife by his side.
And the last words she heard poor John-O say,
“I’ll meet you in that sweet bye-and-bye.”

 

[Backwoods Presbyterian]

The banjo is the best.

 

[Free Christian]

I’m attempting to play

Sounds like you played good to me there, love the sound they make.

 

[reaganmarsh]

I would love to learn the banjo one of these days! Have fun!

 

[JM]

Patrick Costello has free online lessons and tab books, that's how I learned. Uke is easier. I just taught my son three chords and two strum patterns in 20 min.

The stings/fishing line have settled down and stopped stretching. I think I found the sweet spot just over the pot.

Gospel Ship, a Carter Family classic.
http://youtu.be/Kiqz0HrpWGw



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[reaganmarsh]

Jason, I will have to look into Mr. Costello's online lessons. I've played guitar for nearly 17 years. There isn't that much difference in the two instruments. Thanks for pointing me to that resource!