Today marks 15 years since I started my banjo journey. Sometime in late 2007, I got the idea that I might like to play the banjo. Pretty much all the music I was listening to at the time had a five-string, whether it was indie rock, alt country, bluegrass or old-time. Although back then, I didn't know the difference between bluegrass and old-time or that there were so many different ways of playing this plunky instrument. I didn't know what I was getting myself into, but I wanted to take the leap. I try not to look back at my life with regrets, as I consider the mistakes I've made as opportunities to learn new lessons. That said, I did have one major regret. When I was in high school, I started to learn to play guitar. However, after a year or so, I gave it up. I can't help thinking how good I would be today if I had just stuck with it. The idea of playing music has always appealed to me, but I didn't want to make the same mistake I made with the guitar as a teen...
How to learn to stop worrying and love the twang. A journey into old-time music.