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Tag Archives: Mandolin
The Bluegrass Ensemble
The bluegrass ensemble isn’t a term you’ll find being used much, if any. But I think it well describes what it is when you are talking about the various instruments used in a typical bluegrass band. If you’ve been playing … Continue reading
Posted in Banjos & Bluegrass, Beginning Banjo
Tagged Banjo, Bull Fiddle, Chopping Chords, Dobro, Fiddle, Guitar, Mandolin, Off beat, On beat, Upright Bass, Violin
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The Fence We All Straddle
When it comes to ways to learn the banjo or mandolin, there are a couple of different paths we can follow. Each path uses the same set of tools and so can look very similar to the other, but the … Continue reading
Posted in Beginning Banjo, Music in General
Tagged Banjo, Duplication, Improvisation, Learning, Mandolin, Tablature
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When can you say that you're a banjo player?
That question surely pops up in every beginning banjo player’s mind. It’s very natural to want to see progress happening as we practice and improve. I think I started thinking of myself as a banjo player on two different levels. … Continue reading
Posted in Beginning Banjo
Tagged Banjo, Beginning, Cripple Creek, Freed-Hardeman College, Improve, Mandolin, progress, Tim Alexander
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The Practice Banjo & Bluegrass Jam Session at The Coffee Tree Books & Brew
As usual, this is on the third Saturday of each month; Septembers jam will be on the 19th. It’s from 4:00 – 5:00 pm at The Coffee Tree Books & Brew across Bailey Cove Road from Grissom High School in Huntsville, … Continue reading
Posted in Beginning Banjo, Venues
Tagged Banjo, Coffee Tree, Huntsville, Jam Session, Mandolin, Practice
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What I Would Do Over
I went to visit my folks out in the country this past Sunday afternoon, just as I often do. While there, I took the opportunity to go visit my old bedroom. The furniture has changed in there since the days … Continue reading
Posted in Banjoists and Others, Music in General, Philosophical Ramblings
Tagged Banjo, Change, Communication, Dulcimer, Experience, Faith, Home, Mandolin, Pray, Wisdom
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Building Up Endurance
Very frequently I have students tell me they have some problems with cramps, shaking, or just an uncomfortable tenseness in the arms and hands. Let’s talk about it. I remember getting those sensations as well as I was first learning … Continue reading
Posted in Tips & Techniques
Tagged Banjo, endurance, Guitar, Mandolin, muscle stress, Practice, tension
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Back to 16th Avenue
I finally got back up to 16th Avenue in Nashville a few weeks ago. I was there to retrieve two of my banjos after getting them repaired at Classic Ax on Music Row. Plus, we brought the kids with us … Continue reading
Posted in Banjos in General, Reviews
Tagged 16th Avenue, Banjo, Classic Ax, Mandolin, Music Row, Nashville, Repair
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The Banjo & Bluegrass Jam Session is Tomorrow!
The Practice Banjo & Bluegrass Jam Session at The Coffee Tree Books & Brew As usual, this is on the third Saturday of each month; Augusts jam will be on the 15th. Kind of early for the third Saturday, but … Continue reading
Posted in Beginning Banjo, Venues
Tagged Banjo, Bluegrass, Coffee Tree, Experience, Folk, Guitar, Jam, Jazz, Mandolin, Practice
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When New Skills are Like a Magnet
When you learn repetitious musical techniques, it can also be human nature to resist things that are very close to what you already know. Continue reading
Posted in 2-Finger Style, 4-Finger Style
Tagged Banjo, Bugs Bunny, Determination, Guitar, Learning, Mandolin, New Skills, Perseverance, Play, Yosemite Sam
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