— the more you play, the faster you progress. Focus on one new skill at a time, and don't spend too much time on the Internet finding out what everyone else thinks about this or that aspect of banjo playing. Just play (and check out Chapter 16 for more great practice suggestions). After you've gained a few basic skills, find other musicians at your ability level to play with as soon as possible. Playing with others will significantly speed up your progress.
In the following sections, I present just a few of the skills you should strive to master as a banjo player (and as you make your way through Banjo For Dummies).
Making wise purchase choices
I cover everything you need to know about what to look for in banjos and playing accessories and how to find them in Chapters 13 and 14.
Tuning and holding your banjo
Keeping your instrument in tune is something that you practice each time you play — and an absolutely essential skill when playing music with others. Tuning your banjo can be frustrating at first, but with careful listening to compare one pitch with another and some trial and error, you can have this skill mastered in no time.
After you're in tune, you want to adopt a comfortable playing position for both sitting or standing. You have a lot of individual options in this regard. Just remember not to raise the neck too high and try using a strap. If you follow these two suggestions, you'll be well on your way to finding your personal comfort zone.
I cover getting your banjo in tune in Chapter 2. Check out Chapter 3 to help you get comfortable holding the banjo and fitting the strap.
Fretting chords with the left hand
A chord is three or more notes sounded together. Chords support a melody and are the building blocks for accompanying other musicians. The best way to begin your playing adventures is to become familiar with well-used chords such as G, C, and D7. A comfortable left-hand position makes forming these chords much more fun. Let your thumb touch the top of the back of the banjo neck, relax your shoulder and elbow into your body, and be sure you're using the tips of your fingers to press the strings just behind the frets — now you're in business.
In Chapter 3, you can dig deeper into finding a comfortable left-hand position and get used to fretting chords up and down the banjo neck.
Playing authentic right- and left-hand patterns
Coordinating right-hand picking techniques with the left-hand work of making chords and creating new notes is a full-time job for banjo players! Mastering exercises that isolate what each hand does by itself lays the foundation for making great banjo music with both hands together.
In Chapters 5, 6, 8, and 9, you take a look at these techniques, because you need them in clawhammer and bluegrass banjo to create melodies and to play with others in jam sessions.
Practicing some real tunes
After you get the feel for the scales, you can use the right- and left-hand techniques you master to capture as many melody notes as you can and create arrangements that sound good on the instrument.
In Chapters 7, 8, and 9, you can play beginner and more advanced versions of tunes in clawhammer, old-time fingerpicking, and traditional and contemporary bluegrass styles. Chapter 11 explores early banjo styles from the 19th and early 20th centuries. The online audio examples allow you to hear me play musical examples from this book, and now you can check out video online for the most important exercises and tunes presented. We banjo players have to stick together, and I'm there for you, online 24/7!
Jamming in good company
Banjo players love to make music with other musicians — guitarists, fiddlers, mandolin and dobro players, and bassists. When you're playing your banjo with others, remember to play in a way that enhances the sound of the total group. Active listening and playing in good rhythm play a big role in your efforts to make other musicians sound their best.
In Chapters 4, 10, and 12, I discuss the unique techniques and skills you need to accompany other pickers and singers on familiar bluegrass and old-time tunes in informal jam sessions. I also cover some of the unspoken ground rules of jam etiquette to make your transition into group playing go smoothly.
Meeting other banjo lovers
You may be amazed at how many opportunities you have to share your enthusiasm for the banjo with other like-minded players. From finding a teacher to attending a workshop, camp, or festival, you can have more fun with the instrument and become a better player faster by connecting with others who share your enthusiasm for the banjo. As a new player, don't wait until you've already acquired some playing skills before seeking help from others. You'll become a better player much more quickly by seeking out help at the very beginning of your banjo adventure. In Chapter 12, I talk about the world of banjo that lies beyond your doorstep.
