A Decade of Rambling: Celebrating 10 Years of the Glory-Beaming Banjo

Back in February 2011, I decided to start a blog. This is it. A decade later I'm still writing about my journey learning to play the banjo and exploring old-time music. That wouldn't have been possible without YOU, yes, you the one reading this very sentence.

I started playing banjo in March 2008, fueled by my interest in such disparate artists as the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Sixteen Horsepower, Old Crow Medicine Show, Earl Scruggs, the Avett Brothers, Great Lake Swimmers, Roscoe Holcomb and Chatham County Line. What I didn't know then was that all the banjo playing by those musicians was of a different style. I started with Scruggs' style, but started flounder. However, by the end of the year, I discovered clawhammer and found my path forward.

That same year, I met my wife.

Three years later, I decided to start this blog as a way to share what I had learned, banjo things I was interested in, interviews with various banjo luminaries and otherwise flex my creative writing muscles. One of my first interviews was with local banjo hero Mark Olitsky (read Part 1 and Part 2).

That same year, I got married.

At the start of 2013, I started playing the fiddle. My original intent was to gain a better understanding of old-time music as a means to further my banjo playing. I didn't realize how much attention this endeavor would require, and my banjo playing started to decline.

That same year, my son was born.

It's funny how these little musical milestones coincide with major life events. Now, eight years after starting the fiddle, my accumulated banjo and fiddle playing time are just about equal. My blogging has waxed and waned over the years, depending on various circumstances, and it's provided me the excuse to reach out to some of my banjo heroes, as well as the opportunity to start writing reviews for The Old-Time Herald.

I'm truly grateful for those of you who read and comment on my posts. As Olitsky told me 10 years ago, this is community music, and you all are part of my community. Thank you to those of you who have stuck with me from the beginning and to those of you who may have just recently discovered my little corner of the internet.

Now, let's pick some banjo.

Comments

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

Click to continue »

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

Click to continue »

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

Click to continue »

The Glory-Beaming Banjo

Search This Blog