Pete - Minstrel Banjo2024-03-28T22:36:43Zhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/forum/topics/pete?commentId=2477478%3AComment%3A105891&feed=yes&xn_auth=noSome great reminiscences here…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-02-01:2477478:Comment:1058912014-02-01T01:18:21.079ZGreg Adamshttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/GregAdams
<p>Some great reminiscences here. It's been a surreal week at the Center for Folklife with Pete's passing. For those who might be interested, here's something that I had the chance to share with a archival collections blog at the Smithsonian: <a href="http://si-siris.blogspot.com/2014/01/remembering-pete-seeger-1919-2014.html" target="_blank">http://si-siris.blogspot.com/2014/01/remembering-pete-seeger-1919-2014.html</a></p>
<p>Some great reminiscences here. It's been a surreal week at the Center for Folklife with Pete's passing. For those who might be interested, here's something that I had the chance to share with a archival collections blog at the Smithsonian: <a href="http://si-siris.blogspot.com/2014/01/remembering-pete-seeger-1919-2014.html" target="_blank">http://si-siris.blogspot.com/2014/01/remembering-pete-seeger-1919-2014.html</a></p> It's funny, and somewhat of a…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-01-30:2477478:Comment:1057222014-01-30T18:47:27.453ZAl Smitleyhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/AlSmitley
<p>It's funny, and somewhat of a relief to read that others also had difficulty figuring it out from Pete's book.</p>
<p>Like I said, when he took a moment from "Rainbow Quest" to demonstrate it, it then seemed obvious. Sounds like others had similar experiences.</p>
<p>It's funny, and somewhat of a relief to read that others also had difficulty figuring it out from Pete's book.</p>
<p>Like I said, when he took a moment from "Rainbow Quest" to demonstrate it, it then seemed obvious. Sounds like others had similar experiences.</p> I wasn't aware of Pete Seeger…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-01-30:2477478:Comment:1059722014-01-30T17:12:29.638ZTom Meisenheimerhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/TomMeisenheimer
<p>I wasn't aware of Pete Seeger until I had been enticed to learn the banjo by some local banjo folkies in the Milwaukee (Wisconsin) area. Bill Ross and Peter Stampfel turned me towards the instrument. I bought Pete Seeger's instruction booklet and (confused to the point of utter frustration) was about to give the whole idea up until Bill Ross strolled past me while I was trying to duplicate the "frailing" approach and uttered the immortal words: "bump titty". It never occurred to me that was…</p>
<p>I wasn't aware of Pete Seeger until I had been enticed to learn the banjo by some local banjo folkies in the Milwaukee (Wisconsin) area. Bill Ross and Peter Stampfel turned me towards the instrument. I bought Pete Seeger's instruction booklet and (confused to the point of utter frustration) was about to give the whole idea up until Bill Ross strolled past me while I was trying to duplicate the "frailing" approach and uttered the immortal words: "bump titty". It never occurred to me that was the rhythm Pete was aiming at. I had kept counting! It was smooth sailing (away with ladies and such) from that moment on.</p> I'm another life-long Pete Se…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-01-30:2477478:Comment:1058522014-01-30T15:51:13.815ZBob Sayershttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/BobSayers
<p>I'm another life-long Pete Seeger disciple. Bought the red book and a Harmony plastic-rim banjo while in high school in the early 1960s, as well as a lot Folkways albums. Shifted my loyalty after awhile to Mike Seeger and the New Lost City Ramblers. Still more Folkways albums. Played old-time music for years and years, with occasional forays into bluegrass. Met Pete and Toshi a couple of times while working for Ralph Rinzler at the Smithsonian Institution. </p>
<p>Who would have…</p>
<p>I'm another life-long Pete Seeger disciple. Bought the red book and a Harmony plastic-rim banjo while in high school in the early 1960s, as well as a lot Folkways albums. Shifted my loyalty after awhile to Mike Seeger and the New Lost City Ramblers. Still more Folkways albums. Played old-time music for years and years, with occasional forays into bluegrass. Met Pete and Toshi a couple of times while working for Ralph Rinzler at the Smithsonian Institution. </p>
<p>Who would have guessed that at the end of the day I'd be exploring the very earliest banjo traditions. The only down side is that transitioning from Pete's bump-ditty, bump-ditty to more traditional banjo styles (Buell Kazee and Tom Ashley, then Round Peak, and now stroke style) has proved fairly daunting. But I'm keeping on keeping on.</p>
<p>Banjos aside, I'll most remember Pete Seeger for his singular commitment to issues of social justice, not only in America but around the world. His voice will be sorely missed. </p>
<p> </p> I attended a class that Peggy…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-01-30:2477478:Comment:1059542014-01-30T03:47:46.026ZStrumeliahttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/Strumelia
<p>I attended a class that Peggy Seeger taught, on how to accompany ballads on the banjo. She taught a simple up-pick/pinch thing and talked about it being similar to Pete's method- she said it was a nicer quieter way of accompanying yourself in a delicate rhythmic way while not overpowering or distracting from the ballad you were singing. It was terrific while she sang various ballads.</p>
<p>I attended a class that Peggy Seeger taught, on how to accompany ballads on the banjo. She taught a simple up-pick/pinch thing and talked about it being similar to Pete's method- she said it was a nicer quieter way of accompanying yourself in a delicate rhythmic way while not overpowering or distracting from the ballad you were singing. It was terrific while she sang various ballads.</p> Isn't using an up pick with t…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-01-30:2477478:Comment:1059472014-01-30T02:56:55.098ZAl Smitleyhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/AlSmitley
<p>Isn't using an up pick with the index finger, (instead of down) the difference that Pete cites between frailing and the basic stroke? I thought that Pete usually accompanied songs (at least quieter songs) with the basic stroke.</p>
<p>Isn't using an up pick with the index finger, (instead of down) the difference that Pete cites between frailing and the basic stroke? I thought that Pete usually accompanied songs (at least quieter songs) with the basic stroke.</p> On the Rainbow Quest show you…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-01-30:2477478:Comment:1057022014-01-30T02:24:58.262ZBell Banjoshttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/TerryBell
<p>On the Rainbow Quest show you can see Pete eyeing Clarence Ashley's playing. The index picked up, the fingers brushed down, and then the thumb. Crazy. About a year ago my son Dan was sitting here playing like that. I said "Where did you learn that?" He said it was the 'easy' way to clawhammer. After 30 years I can't get it though.</p>
<p>On the Rainbow Quest show you can see Pete eyeing Clarence Ashley's playing. The index picked up, the fingers brushed down, and then the thumb. Crazy. About a year ago my son Dan was sitting here playing like that. I said "Where did you learn that?" He said it was the 'easy' way to clawhammer. After 30 years I can't get it though.</p> Mike's banjo playing was grea…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-01-30:2477478:Comment:1059462014-01-30T01:24:16.252ZRob Morrisonhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/RobertRMorrison
<p>Mike's banjo playing was great, but totally unlike Pete's. As far as I know, nobody else really played much like Pete did. It was just sort of his own thing. Good, though. Maybe my problem with Pete's method was that I never did the bum ditty.</p>
<p>Mike's banjo playing was great, but totally unlike Pete's. As far as I know, nobody else really played much like Pete did. It was just sort of his own thing. Good, though. Maybe my problem with Pete's method was that I never did the bum ditty.</p> And how about brother Mike Se…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-01-30:2477478:Comment:1058452014-01-30T00:12:34.175ZBell Banjoshttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/TerryBell
<p>And how about brother Mike Seeger? A true banjo family. Last year I had the honor to make a replica of one of Mike's banjos, a fretless, friction peg 1800's looking little beauty.</p>
<p>And how about brother Mike Seeger? A true banjo family. Last year I had the honor to make a replica of one of Mike's banjos, a fretless, friction peg 1800's looking little beauty.</p> I coveted Pete Seeger's banjo…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-01-30:2477478:Comment:1057722014-01-30T00:10:46.288ZBell Banjoshttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/TerryBell
<p>I coveted Pete Seeger's banjo book. I liked all the history and 'How to make a banjo bag.' But didn't have a clue when it came to the tabs and patterns. Then a guy showed me how to do the bum ditty and it all made sense. One thing's for sure, Pete loved the banjo.</p>
<p>I coveted Pete Seeger's banjo book. I liked all the history and 'How to make a banjo bag.' But didn't have a clue when it came to the tabs and patterns. Then a guy showed me how to do the bum ditty and it all made sense. One thing's for sure, Pete loved the banjo.</p>