Comments - Topics... - Minstrel Banjo2024-03-28T21:00:13Zhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profiles/comment/feed?attachedTo=2477478%3ABlogPost%3A106591&xn_auth=noYes, there were/are two topic…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-02-10:2477478:Comment:1067132014-02-10T20:48:46.861ZStrumeliahttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/Strumelia
<p>Yes, there were/are two topics, in two threads. But still then... what's the topic of this one? (so I can stay on it!) </p>
<p>Yes, there were/are two topics, in two threads. But still then... what's the topic of this one? (so I can stay on it!) </p> Here's how you tune your banj…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-02-10:2477478:Comment:1067992014-02-10T20:45:41.904ZStrumeliahttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/Strumelia
<blockquote><p>Here's how you tune your banjo in C and D (where the 2nd string is given as F and not F#); now, go play these tunes that aren't necessarily in C or D...</p>
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<p>Paul, it does seem confusing, but for what it's worth- this is not the first time I've seen old music books make the assumption that you KNOW it's going to be an F# when they say an F when discussing the keys of D or G for example. Note that in the Gumbo instruction for tuning to key of D, they even write…</p>
<blockquote><p>Here's how you tune your banjo in C and D (where the 2nd string is given as F and not F#); now, go play these tunes that aren't necessarily in C or D...</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Paul, it does seem confusing, but for what it's worth- this is not the first time I've seen old music books make the assumption that you KNOW it's going to be an F# when they say an F when discussing the keys of D or G for example. Note that in the Gumbo instruction for tuning to key of D, they even write it as: <strong>The Key of (D.) # #</strong></p>
<p>They just assume you know the F is sharpened in that key.</p>
<p></p> There were two topics. One wa…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-02-10:2477478:Comment:1065942014-02-10T20:39:30.793ZTim Twisshttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/TimTwiss
<p>There were two topics. One was a discussion of the Gumbo Chaff Tutor, and the other one was about the absence of a thumb string. It all ties into early repertoire and how it was played.</p>
<p>There were two topics. One was a discussion of the Gumbo Chaff Tutor, and the other one was about the absence of a thumb string. It all ties into early repertoire and how it was played.</p> So, maybe I've already veered…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-02-10:2477478:Comment:1067982014-02-10T20:33:04.723ZStrumeliahttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/Strumelia
<p>So, maybe I've <em>already</em> veered off the topic of this thread. If so, I apologize, truly.</p>
<p>What is the actual topic of this thread, then? </p>
<p>or maybe I should just shut up and go peruse the Gumbo Chaff! Actually, I just ate two bowls of a great vegetable gumbo soup I made yesterday, and I think I <em>WILL</em> take a look at the Gumbo offerings ...<em>right now!</em> lol...</p>
<p>So, maybe I've <em>already</em> veered off the topic of this thread. If so, I apologize, truly.</p>
<p>What is the actual topic of this thread, then? </p>
<p>or maybe I should just shut up and go peruse the Gumbo Chaff! Actually, I just ate two bowls of a great vegetable gumbo soup I made yesterday, and I think I <em>WILL</em> take a look at the Gumbo offerings ...<em>right now!</em> lol...</p> Oh sorry...
Mark Weems...tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-02-10:2477478:Comment:1067122014-02-10T20:11:00.950ZTim Twisshttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/TimTwiss
<p>Oh sorry...</p>
<p>Mark Weems...</p>
<p>Oh sorry...</p>
<p>Mark Weems...</p> Tim, I'm sorry, I'm confused!…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-02-10:2477478:Comment:1065932014-02-10T20:06:43.711ZStrumeliahttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/Strumelia
<p>Tim, I'm sorry, I'm confused!- so you mean:</p>
<blockquote><p>And much of the idea came from a discussion where <strong>Sweeney</strong> suggests that Sweeney may have played in a more melodic way, as opposed the fashion demonstrated by the Briggs book. <strong>Sweeney</strong> suggests this may be an actual reflection of <strong>Sweeney's</strong> playing style. I thought that was an idea worthy of exploring.</p>
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<p>Surely that's not what you mean? Who is this…</p>
<p>Tim, I'm sorry, I'm confused!- so you mean:</p>
<blockquote><p>And much of the idea came from a discussion where <strong>Sweeney</strong> suggests that Sweeney may have played in a more melodic way, as opposed the fashion demonstrated by the Briggs book. <strong>Sweeney</strong> suggests this may be an actual reflection of <strong>Sweeney's</strong> playing style. I thought that was an idea worthy of exploring.</p>
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<p>Surely that's not what you mean? Who is this 'he'?</p>
<p>Not trying to bust your chops, honest- I just get so confused when you refer to various books, people, and tunes using pronouns only- maybe I didn't read a sentence from some previous thread, but I fall off the train of thought once it's been removed from the original track and . So sorry!</p>
<p></p>
<p>I guess I will need to choose a tune from the Gumbo that I haven't already heard a lot and/or experimented with at some point using fingerings from some tab or tutor already, fingerings that might be already seeded in my head for that tune. I'll try to pick one out tonight. I tend to learn slowly so I'm afraid I can't just whip one off immediately- I'll give it my best!</p>
<p>It makes me wonder though- here's a thought to discuss-</p>
<p>Once a person is fairly comfortable with stroke style, having learned the fingering of a couple dozen tutor tunes....Just how necessary or desireable is it to continue to follow intricately written out banjo fingering for all these relatively simple folk song melodies? Is it possible that much of these 'arrangements' are simply the natural result of playing melody phrases using the typical playing and fingering movements that a banjo player of the time might use anyway, once they were comfortable with the innate African-influenced banjo rhythms and syncopations, drone strings, and open tunings? I mean, it's not an orchestral arrangement of a movie score, after all. just pondering. :)</p> Strumelia, I meant Joe Sweene…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-02-10:2477478:Comment:1067112014-02-10T19:00:04.238ZTim Twisshttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/TimTwiss
<p>Strumelia, I meant Joe Sweeney. btw...try those without fingerings...and get back to me.</p>
<p>Strumelia, I meant Joe Sweeney. btw...try those without fingerings...and get back to me.</p> And, has been stated before,…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-02-10:2477478:Comment:1065132014-02-10T18:34:13.157ZPaul Draperhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/PaulDraper
<p>And, has been stated before, those 2 1/2 pages are... interesting. Here's how you tune your banjo in C and D (where the 2nd string is given as F and not F#); now, go play these tunes that aren't necessarily in C or D...</p>
<p>And, has been stated before, those 2 1/2 pages are... interesting. Here's how you tune your banjo in C and D (where the 2nd string is given as F and not F#); now, go play these tunes that aren't necessarily in C or D...</p> And much of the idea came fro…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-02-10:2477478:Comment:1067972014-02-10T18:28:07.400ZStrumeliahttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/Strumelia
<blockquote><p>And much of the idea came from a discussion where <strong>he</strong> suggests that Sweeney may have played in a more melodic way, as opposed the fashion demonstrated by the Briggs book. <strong>He</strong> suggests this may be an actual reflection of <strong>his</strong> playing style. I thought that was an idea worthy of exploring.</p>
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<p>I'm sorry, but who do you mean by "he"?</p>
<blockquote><p>And much of the idea came from a discussion where <strong>he</strong> suggests that Sweeney may have played in a more melodic way, as opposed the fashion demonstrated by the Briggs book. <strong>He</strong> suggests this may be an actual reflection of <strong>his</strong> playing style. I thought that was an idea worthy of exploring.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I'm sorry, but who do you mean by "he"?</p> I actually just printed out t…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-02-10:2477478:Comment:1067102014-02-10T18:24:23.074ZStrumeliahttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/Strumelia
<p>I actually just printed out the Gumbo Chaff book that you linked to (thanks again!), and was planning to noodle around with some of the tunes this evening.</p>
<p>Have to say I kind of like the fact that the banjo fingering is not laid out for you already in this book, as in the 'tutors'. It's just the melodies of popular tunes of the time, including tunes and songs known to have been played by the Christy Minstrels. That the banjo fingering is not indicated gives me the freedom to allow…</p>
<p>I actually just printed out the Gumbo Chaff book that you linked to (thanks again!), and was planning to noodle around with some of the tunes this evening.</p>
<p>Have to say I kind of like the fact that the banjo fingering is not laid out for you already in this book, as in the 'tutors'. It's just the melodies of popular tunes of the time, including tunes and songs known to have been played by the Christy Minstrels. That the banjo fingering is not indicated gives me the freedom to allow the banjoistic quirks to assert themselves in (hopefully) a natural way that is also appropriate to the genre.</p>
<p>The cover states that it contains "all necessary instruction", with a large collection of music...</p>
<p>So apparently 'Mr Chaff' felt that two half-pages of instruction are really all one needs to play the banjo...give 'em the tuning and shove them over the cliff... but I bet there has been many a great banjo player who started out with less instruction than that! ;D</p>