Skip to main content

See the Sights: Sites to See

In the old days, Old-Time music was passed down person to person by direct contact. That is the nature of folk music. However, the Internet is changing that. True isolation is becoming rare in the United States, as an increasing percentage of the population has access to computer networks. Now, Old-Time music is passed down avatar to avatar by broadband connection.

As a beginning banjo player, the Internet is an invaluable resource for learning tunes and accessing information on anything from buying an instrument to researching musicians. Of course, you have to be wary of some sources that might be misleading, but the Internet is for the most part a great tool for any banjoist.

My top five banjo and Old-Time websites are:

I'll go into more depth about these sites later, but take some time to peruse their offerings. You'll find a number of other like-minded sites on the right side of this blog, and I'll be linking you to many more as we go along. There is a healthy community of Old-Time enthusiasts and banjo players online, but you might have to hunt a little. I hope to make that search a bit easier.

However, a word of caution: While cyber communities can be helpful, you'll find a few people who are empowered by the anonymity that these online forums afford them. My advice is to avoid confrontation and ignore the nastiness. Furthermore, while these online sources are helpful, nothing beats true one-on-one interaction. This music is meant to be played with others. Go find your local Old-Time community and join in the fun.

Comments

  1. Nice. As a wanna-be guitarist, the internet has really proven useful. Wish I had this resource when I was a kid starting out. Kids today have it so easy - thanks to us.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You're right about that. I've been teaching myself banjo through a variety of books and online sources. Had these been as accessible when I was in high school, I probably would have kept on playing guitar instead of giving it up. It's amazing what's out there now.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Ultimate Banjo Joke Compendium

This post is dedicated to my friend Joel Specht. Ever since the Olitsky & Moskovitz concert last month, my son has been obsessed with banjo jokes. During one of the MANY tuning breaks, they asked the crowd to fill the time by telling their favorite quips about the old five-string. Joel told many that night. I've been trying to remember them, along with best ones I've heard over the years for when my son asks again, so I thought I'd make this list. Question: What's the difference between a banjo and an onion? Answer: Nobody cries when you cut up a banjo. Question: How do you know if the floor is level? Answer: The banjo player is drooling out of both sides of his mouth. Question: What's the difference between a banjo and trampoline? Answer: You take your shoes off to jump on a trampoline. Question: What's the definition of perfect pitch? Answer: When you can throw a banjo into a dumpster without hitting the sides. Question: How do yo

Clawhammer Picks and You: A Review

Clawhammer picks are a useful tool for increasing volume or to overcome fingernail challenges, such as broken, too short or weak nails. There are all sorts of commercial and homemade solutions available for banjo players, but it can be difficult to decide which options to choose. Thankfully, I've already done some of the work for you. Just to be clear, I prefer my natural fingernail for frailing. However, there was a time when I experimented with regularly using a pick, and there are instances now where I find that a pick is necessary. Today, I'll take you through the five options I've tried. These are all available online at prices ranging from about $1 to $13. Reversed/Reshaped Dunlop Pick ($0.75) This was the most common suggestion before other companies started addressing the gap in the clawhammer pick market. Take a bluegrass pick, flatten it out and wear it backwards. The problem is that it's hard to get the fit right. While Dunlop picks are cheap and r

Summer Blockbusters: Top 10 Banjo Movies

We’re nearing the end of the summer movie season, which this year has included blockbusters like Avengers: Infinity War , Solo: A Star Wars Story , Incredibles 2 and other movies, including some that weren’t produced by Disney. However, none of these films showcases a banjo in any way. It's not like the banjo hasn't been featured on the silver screen throughout film history. The five-string has starred in numerous movies, sometimes in its proper context as a musical instrument and other times as a comedic prop. Whether making a cameo or starring in the hands of the main character, it's well past time to present my Top 10 Banjo Blockbusters: O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000) Written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, this movie sucked me into the realm of old-time , bluegrass and country music in general. The banjo is featured in a number of songs on the soundtrack and shows up on screen a few times throughout the movie. Top Banjo Moment: Delmar picks the banjo b