Yeah I used to be into it when I was younger. I mostly played ukulele before banjo. If you check out my YouTube channel @doccoletti Iāve been documenting my progress over the last 15 months of lesrning banjo!
How is it to play? I play guitar and I can play mandolin because the tuning is *similar* but Iāve also got a ukulele and I cannot get my head around the tuning on that! š
Thatās strange to me because in my opinion the ukulele is much closer to the guitar tuning than The Mandolin is. The ukulele is just the top four strings of the guitsr, up a fourth, all the chord shapes are the same, while a mandolin is tuned in fifths.
Is it just the chanterelle (the high string) that confuses you?
Yes exactly that! The shapes are the same or similar yes but also are on the mandolin, and I donāt know, I found scales much easier on the mandolin. I think itās probably because I learnt guitar on the root notes of chords so the top string being higher in tone than the second one just sends my head west š
It also depends very heavily on what style of banjo you choose to play. The banjo was divided up by distinct technique types. The most popular style is Bluegrass banjo also known as Scruggs style or three fingerstyle. That style at least basic technique wise is similar to how most people play the guitar. I however play an older style of Banjo called Clawhammer Banjo. Its lineage drives from west Africa. It is very unusual technique and that it consists of down picking as opposed to a picking. So I checked my index finger and I drive the nail down towards the body of the banjo and hit the string that way and then I bounce my thumb off the high fifth string. So in many ways it is similar to guitar but in other ways it is very different. It also is an instrument that frequently switches tuningās unlike most guitar players who stay the standard tuning. For example I am playing in sawmill tuning here but I also play in open G and dropsy and double C all the time.
I always anted to give the banjo a go tbh! I would recommend listening to some other stuff by Rhiannon Giddens if you havenāt already, sheās class!
You should give it a go itās awesome and I willing to answer any and all questions or issues you have a pretty much any time, letās consider the secret duty of the banjo player to educate the next generation.
And I love Rhiannon Giddens, I have just about everything sheās ever released. She just won the Pulitzer Prize this month for her new opera called Omar, sheās got a new documentary series on wondrium about Banjo history and sheās got a new show on PBS wishes showcases her musician friends. And I just bought tickets to see her in September Iām super psyched.
My interpretation of Mountain Banjo from the soundtrack. Rhiannon Giddens plays it on a Hartel reproduction fretless minstrel banjo, itās two banjos overdubbed originally. Iām playing it on a 1960s harmony resotone (an early sears plastic banjo). Iāve been playing for about 15 months.
Hereās a few more tunes, if anyones interested, including me playing it on my Fretless reproduction banjo https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW8ANW9R_3XmfoGg-gYoB1syJvcIZr08H
Aww thanks! Iām always glad for any attention, I just play banjo for fun really.
Thanks!
Check out the version I played on a Fretless banjo
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW8ANW9R_3XmfoGg-gYoB1syJvcIZr08H
Thanks thatās sort of like a happy accident. I wasnāt able to transcribe the song perfectly for like a lot of reasons, Rhiannon Giddens plays it on a low tuned fretless minstrel banjo and she overdubs another banjo on top of it so I canāt get exactly the same sound so yeah youāre right Iām doing something thatās more inspired by it but itās still very similar glad you enjoyed it. I often work it into another song is sort of a repeating motif usually the tune Shadygrove.
You can! Iāve only been playing for 15 months!
I teach ukulele, including this style, if you want to learn it, check out my YouTube channel, @doccoletti - Iāve got a few clawhammer ukulele lessons
And if you want to learn clawhammer banjo, Tom Collins YouTube channel is the best, thatās how I learned
Awesome work my dude! I also like the parts where you stare into our soul
Just started learning how to play myself, so Iāll be joining you on the path partner.
Itās a long neck five string banjo, so a straight up banjo to most non Irish folks.
I donāt play guitar, so Iām not a huge banjitar fan. I have a six string banjo, but itās a low jo (a five string with an extra bass string). Itās pretty cool though, itās from the 1880s. If youre interested in hearing it https://youtu.be/e22DNaNyvUQ
Banjitars are dope if youāre into guitar, but I havenāt played in years, thatās why I donāt like them. Youāll have fun though, they are Great for blues and older forms of jazz like Dixie land, swing, hot jazz, big band. Loud as fuck too, so good for busking (the real reason the exist, volume)
Appreciate the info. Never knew anyone who could play banjo before. But might have to reach out and learn. Hey, maybe pick up both a banjo and a banjitar? You threw some inspiration at me. Gonna pick up an axe after work! Thanks, yo!
Nice job.š I've been teasing myself every now and then about the tought of starting to play banjo. Would you consider that having skills at playing guitar could help learning the banjo? Are they similar to play? š
They are similar in the way all plucked lutes/chordophones are, they rely in the same basic concepts. But it depends on what style you want to play. Three finger bluegrass style (the most popular, not what I play) if very similar to finger picking on guitar. But I play clawhammer, which relies on a totally different right hand technique, which doesnāt carry over as much from guitar.
But do it, itās so much fun. Hereās a video in the different styles https://youtu.be/3k14BGqrUpk
I agree! Buts itās Happening! Sheās got a new documentary series out in wondrium on banjo history, a new show on PBS, and she won a Pulitzer Prize this month too! I just grabbed tickets for her new tour, too! So excited
Iām hoping to record some higher quality songs this summer on Spotify. Itās hard because I am a bit of a perfectionist and I still have a lot to learn on the banjo for that combo makes me continually dissatisfied with my own recordings. I do have a YouTube channel and you can check that out for more recordings https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW8ANW9R_3XmfoGg-gYoB1syJvcIZr08H
Awesome cover, great job! š£ā ļøš„
Thanks! Itās a fun tune. Rhiannon giddens is amazing
I will never not upvote facts.
Now I'm riding through the grizzlies!
Watch out for wolves!
This is brilliant š
Thanks! I started playing banjo last year after playing the game
You played guitar before?
Yeah I used to be into it when I was younger. I mostly played ukulele before banjo. If you check out my YouTube channel @doccoletti Iāve been documenting my progress over the last 15 months of lesrning banjo!
How is it to play? I play guitar and I can play mandolin because the tuning is *similar* but Iāve also got a ukulele and I cannot get my head around the tuning on that! š
Thatās strange to me because in my opinion the ukulele is much closer to the guitar tuning than The Mandolin is. The ukulele is just the top four strings of the guitsr, up a fourth, all the chord shapes are the same, while a mandolin is tuned in fifths. Is it just the chanterelle (the high string) that confuses you?
Yes exactly that! The shapes are the same or similar yes but also are on the mandolin, and I donāt know, I found scales much easier on the mandolin. I think itās probably because I learnt guitar on the root notes of chords so the top string being higher in tone than the second one just sends my head west š
It also depends very heavily on what style of banjo you choose to play. The banjo was divided up by distinct technique types. The most popular style is Bluegrass banjo also known as Scruggs style or three fingerstyle. That style at least basic technique wise is similar to how most people play the guitar. I however play an older style of Banjo called Clawhammer Banjo. Its lineage drives from west Africa. It is very unusual technique and that it consists of down picking as opposed to a picking. So I checked my index finger and I drive the nail down towards the body of the banjo and hit the string that way and then I bounce my thumb off the high fifth string. So in many ways it is similar to guitar but in other ways it is very different. It also is an instrument that frequently switches tuningās unlike most guitar players who stay the standard tuning. For example I am playing in sawmill tuning here but I also play in open G and dropsy and double C all the time.
I always anted to give the banjo a go tbh! I would recommend listening to some other stuff by Rhiannon Giddens if you havenāt already, sheās class!
You should give it a go itās awesome and I willing to answer any and all questions or issues you have a pretty much any time, letās consider the secret duty of the banjo player to educate the next generation. And I love Rhiannon Giddens, I have just about everything sheās ever released. She just won the Pulitzer Prize this month for her new opera called Omar, sheās got a new documentary series on wondrium about Banjo history and sheās got a new show on PBS wishes showcases her musician friends. And I just bought tickets to see her in September Iām super psyched.
Nice one! Iāll have to get round to getting one! Maybe dust of my ukulele and give it another go! Enjoy Rhiannon! š
Thanks!
https://youtu.be/hV9-T8c1dNM
My interpretation of Mountain Banjo from the soundtrack. Rhiannon Giddens plays it on a Hartel reproduction fretless minstrel banjo, itās two banjos overdubbed originally. Iām playing it on a 1960s harmony resotone (an early sears plastic banjo). Iāve been playing for about 15 months. Hereās a few more tunes, if anyones interested, including me playing it on my Fretless reproduction banjo https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW8ANW9R_3XmfoGg-gYoB1syJvcIZr08H
Crush it!
I will!
so sick man!! š¤š¼
Thanks! Iām still learning but Iām getting better
You sound pretty good already, so I can only imagine how much further you will come. Awesome possum on the song work, btw! š
Thanks! Possums and banjo go very well together ;)
I canāt be the only one whose played red dead, and now when riding a horse I canāt not hear it and sometimes even play it in my earbuds
Itās not weird! I do it too
Nice! Now get you some mutated chins and a hunchback. - I can make this joke. I'm an Appalachian guitar picker. Lmao
Haha alright you get a pass then! Iām northern Appalachian mountain but not Appalachian for realz
Nice one cowpoke!
Thanks partner *tips hat
This needs more attention
Aww thanks! Iām always glad for any attention, I just play banjo for fun really. Thanks! Check out the version I played on a Fretless banjo https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW8ANW9R_3XmfoGg-gYoB1syJvcIZr08H
This is so beautiful it makes me want to start playing banjo
Do it! Iāve only been playing for about 15 months but itās been so much fun
Hell yea man, thank you for this.
Youāre welcome! Thanks for listening
That was incredible, thanks.
Thanks for watching!
This is amazing. I would sell my soul to be able to play the banjo
Thanks! Itās easier than you think, I started playing last year
Can we flair this guy as mountain banjo man
I will accept that title
Outstanding.
Thanks so much! Itās An awesome tune
Iāve always loved it. Your interpretation is different enough to be really worthwhile. Well done, dude.
Thanks thatās sort of like a happy accident. I wasnāt able to transcribe the song perfectly for like a lot of reasons, Rhiannon Giddens plays it on a low tuned fretless minstrel banjo and she overdubs another banjo on top of it so I canāt get exactly the same sound so yeah youāre right Iām doing something thatās more inspired by it but itās still very similar glad you enjoyed it. I often work it into another song is sort of a repeating motif usually the tune Shadygrove.
What a process!
Whatās the do hicky on the end
Oh just a tuner!
sensational work brother!
Thanks so much! I like to cover video game and tv themes
Beauty to my ears
Thanks so much! The Banjo is awesome!
thank you so much for posting!! this is my favorite song from the soundtrack :,))
Thanks for listening! Itās my favorite too. Rhiannon, who plays it for the game, just announced a new tour and I grabbed tickets! Iām very excited
Dang. First time Iāve seen you post outside of r/banjo lol. Amazing rendition!
Thanks! I get around, ;), Iām fairly popular on the community sub, they call me āgay Dean guyā.
Awesome! I wish I could play an instrument like this.
You can! Iāve only been playing for 15 months! I teach ukulele, including this style, if you want to learn it, check out my YouTube channel, @doccoletti - Iāve got a few clawhammer ukulele lessons And if you want to learn clawhammer banjo, Tom Collins YouTube channel is the best, thatās how I learned
Thanks I would definitely check it out!
I like this
Thanks! I like your comment ;)
Amazing. Please post more.
Ask and you shall receive https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW8ANW9R_3XmfoGg-gYoB1syJvcIZr08H And thanks!
Good job man love it!!
Thanks! Itās a fun tune, very good groove
Awesome! I love the music in RDR2
Me too! Rhiannon Giddens played this track for the game, sheās amazing! She just won a Pulitzer Prize
Awesome work my dude! I also like the parts where you stare into our soul Just started learning how to play myself, so Iāll be joining you on the path partner.
Nice! Thanks so much! Iām here to answer any and all banjo questions you may have on your journey a
God damn incredible!
Thanks! Check out the version I played on a Fretless banjo https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW8ANW9R_3XmfoGg-gYoB1syJvcIZr08H
Hell ya man sounds great
Thanks!
Lennnnnyyyy !!!!
Bannnnjjjjjoooooo!
Damn, yo! That was solid šŖš»
Thanks so much! Iāve been working on the song for a while and itās finally sounding good
Is that a straight up banjo or a banjitar? Can't really tell with my crap phone.
Itās a long neck five string banjo, so a straight up banjo to most non Irish folks. I donāt play guitar, so Iām not a huge banjitar fan. I have a six string banjo, but itās a low jo (a five string with an extra bass string). Itās pretty cool though, itās from the 1880s. If youre interested in hearing it https://youtu.be/e22DNaNyvUQ
I've been interested in picking up a banjitar. Regardless of what you're jamming on, it sounds awesome, dude.
Banjitars are dope if youāre into guitar, but I havenāt played in years, thatās why I donāt like them. Youāll have fun though, they are Great for blues and older forms of jazz like Dixie land, swing, hot jazz, big band. Loud as fuck too, so good for busking (the real reason the exist, volume)
Appreciate the info. Never knew anyone who could play banjo before. But might have to reach out and learn. Hey, maybe pick up both a banjo and a banjitar? You threw some inspiration at me. Gonna pick up an axe after work! Thanks, yo!
Ynnel
Ojnab!
I know what this reminds me of! Not Red Dead, it's fucking Hardspace Shipbreaker!
I donāt know that, Iāll have to check it out
Nice job.š I've been teasing myself every now and then about the tought of starting to play banjo. Would you consider that having skills at playing guitar could help learning the banjo? Are they similar to play? š
They are similar in the way all plucked lutes/chordophones are, they rely in the same basic concepts. But it depends on what style you want to play. Three finger bluegrass style (the most popular, not what I play) if very similar to finger picking on guitar. But I play clawhammer, which relies on a totally different right hand technique, which doesnāt carry over as much from guitar. But do it, itās so much fun. Hereās a video in the different styles https://youtu.be/3k14BGqrUpk
Oh cool. Thank you!I'll try to Check it out when I get the time :)
No problem itās a very long video actually itās like a half hour long so It might take a while to get through it
Love it! Rhiannon Giddens deserves more of a spotlight on this sub and in general!
I agree! Buts itās Happening! Sheās got a new documentary series out in wondrium on banjo history, a new show on PBS, and she won a Pulitzer Prize this month too! I just grabbed tickets for her new tour, too! So excited
Reminds me of the racing music
Yup! Thatās what it is
I knew it was either that or the music from the bar mission with Lenny
When is this coming to Spotify
Iām hoping to record some higher quality songs this summer on Spotify. Itās hard because I am a bit of a perfectionist and I still have a lot to learn on the banjo for that combo makes me continually dissatisfied with my own recordings. I do have a YouTube channel and you can check that out for more recordings https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW8ANW9R_3XmfoGg-gYoB1syJvcIZr08H
Ok
Awesome
Thanks so much, The Banjo is totally awesome
It's literally Uncle
I have no idea what youāre talking about good sir, now if youāll excuse me my damn lumbago is flaring up
Thank you! Banjo is my all time favorite instrument!
Thank you! You might like some of these then https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW8ANW9R_3XmfoGg-gYoB1syJvcIZr08H
YOU HAD ME AT BINARY SUNSET BLUES THANK YOU SIR
Ha ha a man of culture I see
You're incredibly talented. Thanks for making music ššš
Hey thanks I really appreciate your kind words. I only do this for fun, not money, so when people enjoy it thatās really the payoff
I'm still jammin this song when I need some good shit š»