View Full Version : Help! i've joined the dark side!
I've been playing the mandolin quite intensively for a couple of years now. I'm not all that good yet, but I'm getting better at least. But for some time (over a year) I've been thinking more and more about an openback banjo. The sound is just haunting to me! I almost pulled the trigger on one about a year ago, but it didn't happen. I figured I ought to keep my focus on the mandolin instead.
That was then. Yesterday I couldn't take it any longer. So I ordered a nice openback banjo, and I'm happy about it! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif
I just hope I can get that eerie unearthly haunting sound out of it that I love to hear. And I hope I can still find time to play the mandolin, which is my passion.
Anybody else on this board who plays both mandolin and clawhammer banjo? Any good advice to give?
Mike Snyder
May-07-2008, 2:08am
Oh yeah, that's a good lookin open back 5. I,ve been Jonesin' for one for quite a while. I got an old
frankenbanjo with a tenor neck, and I'm all over the place about whether to rehab it into a tenor or Deering sells Goodtime necks (seconds) at Winfield for cheap. The rim and hardware are good to go for a frailer I think. On the other hand, tenor is more the Celtic/Irish style ax, and bein' tuned in fifths it might make more sense to this old dumb*ss
mando wannaB. Dunno, whata ya think?
Ivan Kelsall
May-07-2008, 2:18am
That's a nice,clean looking Banjo you have there Jonas. I especially like the way the frets end at the 15th fret 'like they used to' at one time.
#I've played Bluegrass Banjo for over 40 years,but i adore the sound of 'clawhammer'frailing' Banjo(i don't play that style). Try to find a copy of "Banjo Haika" by Kathy Fink. It's one of the best collections of clawhammer Banjo pieces i've ever heard,
# # # # # Enjoy - Saska
Yes, it's pretty is it not? Very plain but still beautiful. It's made by Kevin Enoch.
I'm thinking it will be a bear to get used to having a treble string on top!
Mr. Loar
May-07-2008, 5:10am
I've been wanting an open back for a number of years. I'd like to learn clawhammer banjo. I can pick the hell out of my Vega Earl Scruggs model banjo.
JGWoods
May-07-2008, 5:31am
Nice Enoch Tradesman, I had 2, one each fretless and fretted.
Now I have a Fielding Rooster and it is delightful.
I've played both banjo and mandolin for many years., fiddle and guitar too.
SOme folks say they're all one big instrument, a way to express yourself musically. Certainly they each contribute to your sound on the others and overall make you a better musician, although there is the challenge of dividing up your practice time in a beneficial way.
Richard Russell
May-07-2008, 6:17am
I bought one of the Deering Goodtime Special Openbacks last summer and have had a blast since! I too was haunted by the sweeter, more mellow sound of the open backs. I have found that it has not been difficult to learn the basics and it is so fun to change the sound of the banjo to what I prefer. You can stuff something soft like a sock or a small sponge between the head and the coordinator rods and dampen the sound and control the overtones, or just let it ring out! It is easy to change parts on the banjo too, so you can easily customize your sound. I used the Wayne Erbsen clawhammer book to get started, but there are many good ones out there. You have a great banjo, the Enoch models are well know to be fantastic open backs! Enjoy!
Gutbucket
May-07-2008, 6:28am
Nice looking banjo. I love the sound of clawhammer. (whisper) (cough) i even have one. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
MikeEdgerton
May-07-2008, 6:51am
Boys, it may be time for an intervention here....
Sorry about the banjo posts! My original intention was to get advice from mandoplayers that play clawhammer as well. It's a delicate line I guess...
MikeVB
May-07-2008, 7:15am
No, no, no. #You have not gone to the Dark Side, my friend. #Rather you have finally taken the first of many steps on the true path to Enlightenment - Old Time Music.
OT rules! #The early stages of The Way only look dark because it's a test. #Only the most pure in musical spirit will allow themselves to hear the Siren's drone and only will the most hardy and fearless follow it to the end.
Since I took up OT fiddle and CH banjo I play my mandolin rarely and only then to decipher fiddle tune melodies by ear to transfer to the fiddle. #Ironically enough it was trying sawmill tuning on mandolin after watching Mike Compton's Jenny Lynd youtube video that got me hooked on first OT fiddle and now CH banjo.
I love BG, especially traditional, but I never had so much fun playing music until I got into OT. #Best groove I ever felt was playing Angeline TB for 20 minutes while watching a bunch of tipsy folks stomp muscadines at a wine & swine festival last summer. #And all I played that day on it was rhythm guitar.
What I wish I had now instead of my F-style, f-hole mando is an oval-hole A-style octave mandolin for playing fiddle tunes. #That would get me back heavy into mandolin.
Down with the Chop, Up with OT!
BTW, an Enoch Tradesman was the third open-back banjo I acquired in less than six months. Loved it, but be warned - looking for The Plunk is a consumptive sickness.
mandoplyr70
May-07-2008, 7:15am
went to a banjo convention once they all played a tune together. There was 1 banjo so far out of tune some of the players actually noticed. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
Ken Berner
May-07-2008, 7:17am
No need to apologize! I have been playing mandolin for the last 12 years, starting at age 60 and began my clawhammer journey last November. It is never too late to expand your musical interests. Come on over to BanjoHangout for all the assistance you need to get started.
TomTyrrell
May-07-2008, 7:22am
I have one of those odd looking mandolins myself.
http://www.ninecats2.com/MinstrelBoy.jpg
Bertram Henze
May-07-2008, 7:57am
Remember, Darth Clawhammer, I AM YOUR FATHER http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Ivan Kelsall
May-07-2008, 8:30am
Hey Jonas,don't be sorry for the Banjo thread - there's enough 'Banjo lurkers' on here to take over if need be.
Seriously,whatever musical instrument you take up is worthwhile & the style of Banjo that you've chosen is the most 'Banjoey' style i know. It's a style that really DOES make a Banjo 'ring out' - BE PROUD !!!!,
Saska
BlueMountain
May-07-2008, 8:38am
I consider an open-backed banjo mandolin-friendly, as it's a gentle instrument that is much quieter than one with a resonator. Bear in mind that you don't need to use the drumming effects of clawhammer style, and you don't even need to use fingerpicks, but a flat pick won't cut it, as banjo tuning is not too conducive to playing melodies. But the drone of open strings and the ease of slides and hammer ons and offs is delightful. I get a similar effect from my long-necked mandola.
I have a Gold Tone bandola or whatever they call it with a wooden top and back like a zouk. It has really lovely tone, sort of like a cross between yours and a guitar. Definitely mandolin friendly. Not that it matters, as I can't play them both at the same time, and the mandolin wins 99% of the time.
Adam Tracksler
May-07-2008, 8:44am
I have an amazing wildwood banjo and an just finishing up my #2 Banjo, a 12" Internal Resonator. I love playing clawhammer. Pat Costellos How aand tao was critical for me getting that bump ditty down, also Dwight Dillers "Just Rhythm" DVD is hreat for getting that right hand stuff down.
MikeVB
May-07-2008, 8:59am
ad-
Have photos & wisdom you can share on building your internal resonator?
Maybe better over on BHO than here for sharing about banjos, though.
Snakebeard Jackson
May-07-2008, 9:23am
Ok you asked for help
I say don't stop picking mandolin. Keep the time set aside for it. maybe you could make it a goal that everything you can play on open back you can also play on mandolin.
That's as much help as I can give.
KanMando
May-07-2008, 10:16am
Check out Donald Zepp's videos on youtube (search "zeppmusic"), and also his store's website:
zepp music (http://www.zeppmusic.com/frameset.htm)
I just bought my first decent open-back last year and I'm really enjoying it. I did the Zepp conversion on it - the Moon bridge and a renaissance head, and it sounds killer.
Ken Olmstead
May-07-2008, 10:34am
There is nothing that we can do for you now. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif For some reason, this disturbing news has brought to mind the climax to the movie Poltergeist!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
sgarrity
May-07-2008, 10:37am
At lerast you wanna learn clawhammer and not the dreaded bluegrass banjo http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
mandomurph
May-07-2008, 11:21am
I played clawhammer before I took up the mando. The mando has helped my left hand a lot on the banjo. More quick and nimble now, although you really don't need to play as many notes with the left hand because of the unfretted 5th string drone fills. I love both instruments. The real secret to clawhammer is the right hand. Took me several weeks of concentrated practice to get it down and I still work on it. I love the chunky sound. I played mando in a jam on Sunday and a guy was playing a fretless Enoch. It sounded great. Perfect accompaniment to the fiddles. You made a good purchase.
F5GRun
May-07-2008, 11:32am
One bit of advice...play softly when jamming http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
fred d
May-07-2008, 4:01pm
I play both and seem to enjoy them equally it seems that the same songs sound different with different instruments and it keeps my frustration level down do to the fact that I'm very music challenged http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
man dough nollij
May-07-2008, 4:21pm
I've also been captivated by the sound of clawhammer banjo, and have tried to learn for a bit. I can't stand having long fingernails, though. Is it possible to CH with picks? I tried it with metal finger picks turned around backwards, but I'm not sure if that would work.
Lee Callicutt
May-07-2008, 9:12pm
I'm thinking it will be a bear to get used to having a treble string on top!
That fifth string will be your best rhythmical friend before you know it. Seriously, you won't believe what playing banjo as well as mandolin will do in the way of training your ear. Enjoy!
Eddie Sheehy
May-07-2008, 10:00pm
I play Mandolin(5 actually), Mandola (Gypsy), Octave Mandolin(Garrison), Bouzouki(Beard), Kay 5-string Banjo, Gretsch Tenor banjo, and 6 guitars. All the instruments get played daily - except the guitars which haven't been out of their cases in a while. It's fun to play the same tune on the different instruments. One of these days I'll figure out how to record and mix them to sound like a supergroup.....fame and fortune! I'm currently negotiating for a Tenor Guitar - I've got the MAS bad.
Keith Newell
May-07-2008, 11:19pm
I guess I play an open back tenor for about 50% of the Irish weekly session.
Keith Newell
http://www.newellmandolin.com
Lefty5
May-07-2008, 11:31pm
i learned how to frail "you are my sunshine" once but my fingernail wore plumb off so i went back to scruggs style. love the sound of it though and OT music in general and it's not too hard once you get the stroke down.:p
Thanks for all the advice and cheers guys! I sure won't stop playing the mandolin, it's really my passion. But it will probably see a little less practise time for a couple of months.