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[pmcd9]

the only banjoist (banjoer? banjobe?) that I'm at all familiar with is Bela Fleck...is there anybody else out there worth listening to?

Ricky Skaggs!!!  And the father of Bluegrass Banjo Earl Scruggs.

~Paul

[AlohaDawg]

Bela Fleck is a banjo player only in that the instrument he has attached all the weird stuff to is a banjo. It's interesting music, and the sounds are awesome but I actually enjoyed it a lot less than I thought I would.

Try some Del McCoury. Many of his/their songs are a lot of fun. Paul sent me a mixtape with a great Del McCoury song on it.

And of course, Earl Scruggs was The Man when it came to Banjo. If you can find a file on the intarnets of Foggy Bottom Breakdown it's worth it.

[Emmoh]

Thanks guys, I'll hit up some limewire and do some sampling when I get home.

Does Bela always play the goofy instrument? I've heard some non-Flecktone stuff he's played on where he seems to be playing just plain old banjo, but I don't know the instrument well enough to be sure.

[AlohaDawg]

I've not heard the non-Fecktone stuff. He must play it in the traditional way because otherwise there would be no reason to modify a Banjo to do all the stuff he does with the Flecktones.

[Limmo]

Why are there so many kinds of stratocaster? Which would you suggest (I want a mexican-made one, price wise, but I'm not sure what that means for my options. Are all of the ones that don't say "American" in the title mexican?)

I feel like I'm buying a damn car. The strat is a minivan, and the jag is a sports car.

Don't agree with the car analogy at all, but whatever.  Just go to the store and play guitars.  One will "feel" right to you, and it's not necessarily going to be the one you originally had your heart set on.  The guitar you don't want to stop playing is the one you'll leave the store with.  Happy hunting. 

Don't ever buy a guitar off of eBay.  In fact, don't ever buy a guitar you haven't actually played.

[Hobot]

Recently I was fortunate enough to accompany my SO to the opening night performance of Béla Fleck & the Flecktones' new tour.  They were phenomenal.  Victor Wooten -- shit, I can't even describe how amazing he was.  He played faster than I could hear.  And during his solo, Béla played what appeared to be just a regular banjo.

[theinevitable]

hmm.
I was under the impression that the banjo was an african thing.

actually, she was bulgarian. it was one of those situations that makes everyone appreciate music all over again... her dad was really conservative, and wouldn't let her listen to american music.

so it was like "oh my god! have you heard of this band called Pink Floyd? they're incredible! I mean, wow!"


also: yeah, I mean, I'm just going to try it. if I like it, I'll get it. if I dont' like it, I'll get another guitar which I do like. I'll try out a variety, etc. But right now, I think that the Jaguar is the guitar for me. Maybe it isnt, but... I'm still young, right?

[miles]

Its origins are African, I think, but of course, in America at least, most people consider it to be about the whitest instrument you can play.

Speaking of bluegrass, I just purchased Dolly Parton's The Grass is Blue and it's really nice.

Topically, I played the piano when I was younger, but got sick of lessons.  My parents were right, and I regret quitting.  I own three guitars, but don't play much anymore.  I've never been in a band, and the last time I played with someone else was like three years ago.  I sing, but poorly.

[miles]

Yes sir. It is a great song by one of the few bands we had in common. One of my all time favorite album-closers.

Mine too!  If not my absolute favorite.  That entire album is sequenced in a way that couldn't be topped by Jesus.  But that song.  Oh!  That song.

[Emmoh]

Mine too!  If not my absolute favorite.  That entire album is sequenced in a way that couldn't be topped by Jesus.  But that song.  Oh!  That song.

That color! Those lyrics!

That album, and the two after (though I don't think End Hits is on the same level as Medicine and Argument) really established them as a great album band, front to end, as opposed to a just (ha!) a great song band.

[Limmo]

Fugazi.  Whatever.  So five minutes ago.

They've been completely outshined by The Marimba Ponies.

[V-Adore]

Fugazi.  Whatever.  So five minutes ago.

They've been completely outshined by The Marimba Ponies.

I especially like the kid on the cymbal, just crashin' all those cymbals together, just having a great old time.

[Carlos del Vaca]

Fugazi.  Whatever.  So five minutes ago.

They've been completely outshined by The Marimba Ponies.

GodDAMMIT the Internet is weird.

[Mr. Gary]

Whoa, so late to this thread. Uh, I play the ukulele, bass, and singing saw. Also, jew's harp. Mostly ukulele.

[AlohaDawg]

For Miles and The Inevitable:

Instrument origin is African. I think Bluegrass Music's origin is Irish folk music. That's a guess on my part, also, Celtic bands sometimes have an instrument that must be a lute of some kind with a drone string. Not, though, a drumlike head like you would find on a banjo.

Good call on the origin, the word is apparently a deriviation of african words for drums (like Bongo).

See here for more.


[link fixed - w]