Trying to learn the fiddle in the months before my wife delivers our first child has proven to be a tough task, especially when the weather gets nice and running starts to occupy more of my time. Don't even ask me about playing the banjo. The summer should be the time when I while away the evenings playing tunes on my porch, but that's easier said than done. Over the last few weeks, playing music has taken a backseat to running the local trails, barbecuing, mowing the lawn and, more recently, putting together furniture for the baby's room. Only in the last few days have I mustered the courage to see what feeble skills remain since the last time I played the fiddle or banjo. There are only so many hours in the day. And with so many interests, some are bound to get short shrift from time to time. My poor banjo has been neglected the most. My plan was to use jam sessions as my primary outlet for playing the ole five-string, but it's been a couple months since I...
How to learn to stop worrying and love the twang. A journey into old-time music.