Learn to play the banjo

Grandad always wanted to play the banjo. Nana didn’t, of course. But he got one a few week ago, I think he got to have a go on it once or twice on his good days.

I have it now, ..he only died on the 15th and I’m already taking all his stuff that I want. Would he really expect any different though, I think not. He would have wanted me to have it anyway.

I’m going to focus on learning this for him, it’s going to be totally different to my learning guitar. I will stay focused.

Well, my girlfriend left me, my house is getting repo’d but my truck is still shiny.

At least she left me a banjo. Now I’m terrorizing my cat with incessant plucking of the mad instrument of jolly good times.

Thanks to this site, I’ve learned Netflix has some DVD’s about this sort of thing, so I’ve done queued some up.

Life is starting to look up!

I just found out how expensive banjos are. I decided that I wanted a used Deering Goodtime. The kind with the open back. I definitely don’t have enough money for that yet. So I think this goal is just going to have to wait.

to my Netflix queue

I’ve been practicing almost every day for a while now, and I’ve increased my repertoire quite a bit. It gets more and more fun as I learn more songs, too.

I am getting much better! I can play around five or six songs, and three of them all the way through while singing. Singing at the same time has got to be the hardest part. But I am going to keep at it. I am almost ready to set this to done. Soon!

I have been playing the banjo for almost three weeks now, and I am making some progress. I can play through all of Sufjan Stevens’ The Transfiguration, which is one of my favorite songs. I play for at least an hour every day I can.

Sufjan’s songs definitely make me want to play more and more as I listen to them. If you haven’t listened to Sufjan Stevens, I can’t recommend it enough! His music literally changed my life.

I have wanted to learn to play the banjo for a while now, but I’ve been really inspired by Sufjan Stevens and his beautiful music. I love Sufjan’s music enough to really give me something to strive for.

I’ve got one, and I can play some slow stuff but I can’t do any traditional banjo playing. I’m working on it!

Been practicing about 1/2 hour per day this week.