Old Dan Tucker ~ Stroke Style Banjo (1st Attempt!)

Comment by Canaan Myskowski on May 8, 2014 at 12:24pm

Any input would be appreciated.  looking at in now I think my hand is taking a more "clawhammerish" position. I need to work on that.

Comment by Strumelia on May 8, 2014 at 4:55pm

Canaan, GREAT to see you doing this!   Coming along just wonderfully!   :)

Try moving your bridge just a 1/2" closer to the tailpiece- on most banjos the tone will be better when the bridge is not right in the middle.  Also, move your right hand more towards the bridge and away from the neck when trying to play in stroke style.  The sound and feel will be crisper as opposed to the Roundpeak-y clawhammer goal.

I was happy to hear you get the ending right on the second time around.  I found it was good to record tunes three times through if at all possible...and not easy to do without mistakes, but good practice!   :D   Great going my friend... love that purty banjer.

Comment by James Pentecost on May 8, 2014 at 5:12pm

Canaan, it sounds good to me! It is better than I was doing 2 days in. The more comfortable you get with this style the more you will love it. You also have a great sounding banjo.

Comment by Canaan Myskowski on May 8, 2014 at 5:25pm

Thank you for the kind reply Strumelia. I moved the bridge and  my hand position as you suggested and I got a more crisp sound, just what I was looking for! I just gotta get the clawhammer mentality out of my head for a bit, it is so similar yet so different from stroke. I probably should have done a re run and played the first part but I wanted the mistakes I made to be obvious so people don't raise there expectations ;-)

Comment by Canaan Myskowski on May 8, 2014 at 5:37pm

Thanks James, I can tell it's gonna be real fun (With practice!)

Comment by Strumelia on May 8, 2014 at 5:41pm

I wanted the mistakes I made to be obvious so people don't raise there expectations ;-)

Devious technique... I'll have to try that!   ;D

Comment by Leonidas (Lee) Jones on May 8, 2014 at 5:55pm

I know what you mean. I recorded the same tune as my first attempt, having not played much longer then you at the time. I put up a take with mistakes and all, to give a more accurate idea of what I could do.

For bridge placement, I measured out an exact 27" scale length, and marked the head so I would have it consistently. You are coming along really well, keep it up! The more banjo, the better!

Comment by Andy Chase on May 9, 2014 at 10:00am

Looking great!

Comment by Strumelia on May 9, 2014 at 10:02am

The good thing about leaving in your beginner mistakes in your first videos is that later on you can feel proud of how you've improved.   :)

Comment by Canaan Myskowski on May 9, 2014 at 10:57am

Yes Strumelia, thats what was I thought.  I may Start a playlist on my youtube channel, "Minstrel Style Progress"

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