Earl’s Breakdown by the Dallas Bluegrass Jam folks
This is an example of the kind of playing I aspire to. I went to the monthly jam of the Dallas Bluegrass Jam MeetUp group this past Wednesday. The group couldn’t have been nicer or more talented.
This is Earl’s Breakdown, featuring Bob Carabbio, but with everyone (except me!) joining in and playing some great bluegrass.
Bob Carabbio
Yo Paul –
What impressed me about this is that you’ve got all the Hammerons, and Pull-offs in there in the right places, and cleanly done. It generally takes some development of calluses for folks to do a good pull-off left hand technique well, but you seem to have it nailed already. Naturally, it’s a bit slow – but that’s exactly the piece (a bit simpler version) I started on back around ’76, or so (along with “Foggy Mountain Breakdown”). Folks that know always STRESS getting the notes, and the finger order right FIRST, and worrying about the speed later. You’ve got all the pieces in there nicely now.
What you’ll find (if you don’t already know) is that progress will be Exponential, and when you’ve got “Cripple creek” up to speed (and don’t hesitate to play it in jams when you’re just a bit quicker, we’ve got the time).
I’d recommend VanBasco’s Midi player which I believe is a free download – I’ve been using it for years, and you can vary the tempo of the music, and the pitch if you want.
And then go to http://www.bluegrassbanjo.org where there’s all sorts of Midi backups fpr all the “Standards”, so you can get used to picking with a group – without the group.
I noticed that you were playing without picks. I started out that way also, BUT it’ll be easier to get the speed up WITH them, and you’ll sound cleaner, too. they WILL DRIVE YOU UP THE WALL – but after a couple of weeks no problem, you won’t even notice ’em. To get the volume level in a group, it’s gotta be picks.
I noticed a “Scratchy sound” early on with a normal thumb pick (I use National Large) but Scruggs had a tip in his book about twisting the tip of the thumb pick (by softening it with a hair dryer) so that the pick meets the string flat, and not on it’s edge. SO I buy 5 or 6 thumb picks, and bend ’em all in a batch.
I started with light gage strings, but found that MEDIUM gage tuned better, were louder, and weren’t so “Bendy”. I wouldn’t recommend “Heavy gage” they’re hard on the banjo, and break a lot.
Hope you don’t mind me “bending your ear”, but you might find it handy info.
parcher author
Bob, first, let me apologize for not responding to this earlier. I had some problems with my server sending emails, so I missed it at first. I think I’ve got it worked out now.
Second, congratulations on having posted more text on my blog than I have. 😎
Finally, thanks so much for the kind words and encouragement. I really appreciate it!
You’re right, I have been working on precision over speed. Every beginning video I found said to go as slow as you need to, but get it right. Then the speed will come naturally, and it is starting to.
I’ve got a copy of Guitar Pro (my son is learning guitar, so it was worth it for both of us), but I’ll check out the backing tracks. That’s the next thing I need, is to start working on playing with others.
I have actually been learning with picks, although I do play without sometimes (and I’m dabbling with clawhammer). I just grabbed the banjo to do the video kind of on a whim, so I didn’t bother putting them on that time around. I am going to re-record myself in the next day or so. I’ll warm up first and wear my picks. Hopefully it’ll sound better this time around. 😎
I like your tip about bending the thumb picks. I may try that. Eventually, I want to get a couple of Geipel picks to try out (http://banjobridge.com/picks.htm), too.
Thanks again,
Paul