Monthly Archives: February 2009

What if we awarded belts for banjo playing like they do in martial arts?

Posted on February 22, 2009 by Phill Gibson

What banjo belt would you be? I’ve taken several different forms of martial arts, including Ju-Jitsu, Karate and Tae-Kwon-Do; each one seems to have different belt systems, but they all seem to start at white and go to black, at which … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophical Ramblings | 2 Comments

A few notes on my own practice – Improvising

Posted on February 12, 2009 by Phill Gibson

I’ve been so busy at work these past few weeks I’ve only just gotten caught up with things here at home! I’ve got a lot of banjo topics to blog on – I just need the time to sit down … Continue reading →

Posted in Tips & Techniques | Leave a comment

A Bit of Banjo History – Part 1

Posted on February 8, 2009 by Phill Gibson

What do you think of when you imagine a banjo? If you’re like most folks, you usually see a picture of a 5-string banjo being played by a white southern man, perhaps in a rural mountain setting or at a … Continue reading →

Posted in History | 2 Comments

A few notes on my own practice – Reno Style

Posted on February 2, 2009 by Phill Gibson

Love unrequited – that’s what Reno style banjo playing is to me. You see, I love that rapid staccato barrage of notes flowing from a banjo picked in Reno, or single-string style. Few sounds produced on a banjo can match … Continue reading →

Posted in Reno & Single-String Style, Tips & Techniques | Leave a comment