Greg Adams

Maryland

United States

Since 1994

Profile Information:

How did you find out about Ning Minstrel Banjo?
Through the Tom-Briggs listserv
What kind of banjo(s) do you own?
Not enough!

Comment Wall:

  • Carl Anderton

    Santa Claus needs to bring you a nice video camera for Christmas this year. Then you could make youtube videos that we could all enjoy! (Assuming you've been good).

    Dec 4, 2008

  • razyn

    Just befriending the guys I know, from AEBG or the old forum --

    Dec 19, 2008

  • Robert Winans

    Thanks, Greg. I will try to add material to the site over time, maybe even a more up-to-date photo and a better picture of that banjo.

    Dec 20, 2008

  • razyn

    If the Add as Friend button worked, I'd add you. It's blue on my screen -- only the green buttons work. (Well, some of the red ones do.) I assume Bill Gates owns Ning, and makes life here hard for Mac users.

    Dec 20, 2008

  • John Masciale

    Greg, Thanks for posting those videos, I thoroughly enjoyed them. They are lessons in this art, and are worth studying.

    Jan 4, 2009

  • George Wunderlich

    I may be slow, but I am , ......well......slow!

    I am in a meeting until 7, I saw I missed a call from you. The people in my meeting think I am writing down notes :) Talk to you soon

    Jan 22, 2009

  • John Peterson

    Thanks - I'm a hack but I don't stop trying. You guys keep me going!
    John

    Feb 13, 2009

  • Lucas Bowman

    Hey! I joined up! Whatchu been up too? Im trying to swing some thesis work outta these banjos, and Im trying to narrow it down. Its a bitch! What you been working on?

    Jun 11, 2009

  • Len Entrabartolo

    Greg,

    Will do. Right now we're back in the studio and hoping to have the CD out by February. We'll be back out on the road soon and we'll see you then.

    Nov 6, 2009

  • Carson Hudson

    Hey Greg... No, problem... I knew I would see you somewhere, sometime. I'd appreciate any feedback, and also I'd like to talk about akontings. I saw the vid of you in Florida last March and had lots of questions.

    Jan 26, 2010

  • Bob Sayers

    Hi Greg,

    I've been interested in minstrel banjo for many years (though not yet as a player). I'm glad to see that people are getting very serious about the early banjo repertoire. Since I saw you at the Banjo Collectors Gathering a couple of years ago, I've built up a small collection of paper ephemera related to minstrelsy. My main interest is still early Japanese entertainers in America (circa 1860-1880), but there's a lot of crossover. Anyway, thanks for the welcome!

    Bob

    Apr 3, 2010

  • Rob Morrison

    Thank you, Greg. It took my wife Mary and I only about an hour to get one decent picture of me. I guess I'll have to give up my life-long dream of being a male model. It was a pleasure to meet you, as well, Greg and all the other banjoistas. I've played minstrel banjo for a fairly long time, and except for Dave Kirchner, the people at the EABG III were the first others of my kind I've actually come into contact with.


    Rob

    Sep 6, 2010

  • Rob Morrison

    Thanks, Greg. I've spent the last 20 minutes trying to get the captions straight, and I'm still not sure they're right. I'm still getting the hang of this.

    Rob

    Sep 12, 2010

  • Jeff Trace

    Hey Greg:

    Great to hear from you. I really enjoyed the EBG this summer!! Gave me lots to work on. Keep me up to date on what you're up to.

    Thanks,
    JTrace

    Oct 19, 2010

  • Tom Fuller

    Hello! I'm in the Lansing, MI area. I see you're from Maryland. I get as far as Winchester, VA twice a year.

    Dec 26, 2010

  • Tom Fuller

    Whoa! I'm on it. I will check him out this week. Thanks.

    Dec 26, 2010

  • Jack Gellerstedt

    Hi Greg.  Thanks for the welcome.  I am currently building two minstrel banjos.  One is made with a Paulonia neck (light, soft, but strong) and a thin (0.21" thick laminated 13inch rim, and boxwood fingerboard.  It will have a tack head.  Total weight - about 2 pounds.   Any suggestions on tack head installation?  i.e, when wet should it be very tight, snug, or a little loose?  The other banjo has a mahogany neck w/ boxwood f.b., 1/4" thick, 12" rim, and conventional head tension system.

         I enjoy playing the tune very much (for now mostly from Briggs and Converse 1865.  I am still benefitting from all I learned at the Early American Banjo Gathering in 2010.

     

    Feb 4, 2011

  • Jack Gellerstedt

    Thanks Greg.  I just posted a forum discussion item on tack head installation, and I will appreciate any information. 

     I hope to make it to the next Early American banjo gathering in  June.

     

     

    Feb 5, 2011

  • Al Smitley

    Greg:  There are only three 'tunes' (polkas).  All the rest are songs, and I'm not much of a singer.  Three are from 1867, and six other songs I wrote about either my team or vintage base ball in general and put to period melodies.  I don't know how to send audio/video online.  Tim evidently does but I don't know that he would want to clog up the site with two more base ball polkas.  I could send you a CD if you want to give your postal address.  Perhaps directly would be better (alsmitley@gmail.com) than over the banjo site. Up to you.

    Jul 22, 2011

  • Guy de Chalus

    Hello Greg. I've been looking through Buckley's manual. The minstrel stuff isn't "speaking" to me just yet. I am interested in the expanded use of my hands and some of the notated syncopation found among his literature. Let's link up in cyberland at some point. Perhaps what I need (what I always feel I need) is a guide. Are there any indicators in the literature on minstrel playing about how fast to play, or how slow? And I have another question about these syncopated melodies. Are these songs intended to be danced to? Or, are they parlor pieces meant for listening? Your thoughts?

     

    Aug 3, 2011

  • Mark Kinan

    If you are ever so inclined, maybe make a few more videos like your "Selections from Septimus Winner's New Primer for the Banjo" for us beginners.  I found that very helpful.  You know, the easy stuff.

     

    Sep 13, 2011

  • Greg Adams

    Thanks, Mark! I am inclined but just lack the time. Have you had a chance to work through our instructional videos? http://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/page/lessons 

    If they are in anyway helpful, please let us know!

    Sep 14, 2011

  • Roberta Perkins

    Thanks, Greg: I'm looking forward to nailin' "Briggs Corn Shucking Jig":-)

    Nov 14, 2011

  • William J. Graham, III

    Hi Greg,

    Glad you are still plunking away.  I still have the Boucher and built a copy to play at living history.  The old one sounds and plays better.  I recently bought a Vega Whyte Laydie 1927 plectrum and converted it to five-string.  I use it for more modern playing.  I have an ancient Dobson with nylon strings and it plays great.

    Bill

    Jan 10, 2012

  • Andy Gelfert

    Greg, thank you for encouraging me to come to the Antietam Early Banjo Gathering. I am just begining to be exposed to what you might consider "standard" music (most of what I have played has been hymns, and a few of the most popular tunes such as Home Sweet Home, and Long, Long Ago) however, I believe it would be a wonderful experience. I was tentitively asked to lead the Church service at Corbit's Charge on June 24, however, they have not yet confirmed this. At worst I would miss Sunday. Also, I see that there will be a class in reference to guitar, which I do also play, and am very interested in learning more about period aspects. Thank you again.

    May 25, 2012

  • Sule Greg Wilson

    Hey there!  That movie shoot go okay?

    Sep 4, 2012

  • Michael Bean

    Hey Greg! Hope you're staying warm. Finally getting around to order a banjo from Terry Bell and I remember you discussing some new "red" strings that have come out recently, but I cannot seem to remember the specifics. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

    Jan 6, 2014