Banjo lessons in Houston?
July 30, 2010 1:08 PM Subscribe
Any recommendations for banjo lessons in Houston?
I'm a complete beginner (this is the first instrument I've ever owned - my parents decided I was going to be the athlete in our family) and am looking for someone to help me learn to play. I primarily want to play folk songs and banjo versions of my favorite tunes. Thanks! (Oh, and I live in Montrose, so near there would be best, but I am willing to travel for an awesome teacher.)
I'm a complete beginner (this is the first instrument I've ever owned - my parents decided I was going to be the athlete in our family) and am looking for someone to help me learn to play. I primarily want to play folk songs and banjo versions of my favorite tunes. Thanks! (Oh, and I live in Montrose, so near there would be best, but I am willing to travel for an awesome teacher.)
You might try asking this question to the staff at Fuller's Guitars, near I-45 and 610 (on the north side of 610). I haven't seen any musical instrument store in Houston that has more or better banjos than there, so they probably know or even are some good banjo teachers.
I believe (but may be mistaken) that Pete Seeger's book teaches a style called "frailing" which is different than the Earl Scruggs 3-finger picking style. If you're wanting to learn Scruggs style (like most bluegrass, e.g. Foggy Mountain Breakdown, etc.) then you probably want to get Earl Scruggs and the 5-string banjo. It came with a cassette tape when I got this book in 1979 or so (in which Earl refers to fingers as "fangers") but maybe it comes with a CD nowadays. (at least one reviewer on amazon says it does come with the CD.)
A good first Banjo tune is "Boil dem cabbage down."
Banjo versions of your favorite songs... hmm, those could be tough to come by.
posted by smcameron at 3:34 PM on July 30, 2010
I believe (but may be mistaken) that Pete Seeger's book teaches a style called "frailing" which is different than the Earl Scruggs 3-finger picking style. If you're wanting to learn Scruggs style (like most bluegrass, e.g. Foggy Mountain Breakdown, etc.) then you probably want to get Earl Scruggs and the 5-string banjo. It came with a cassette tape when I got this book in 1979 or so (in which Earl refers to fingers as "fangers") but maybe it comes with a CD nowadays. (at least one reviewer on amazon says it does come with the CD.)
A good first Banjo tune is "Boil dem cabbage down."
Banjo versions of your favorite songs... hmm, those could be tough to come by.
posted by smcameron at 3:34 PM on July 30, 2010
And, by "on the north side of 610", I mean, er, it's on the south side of the northern part of the loop.
here.
posted by smcameron at 3:45 PM on July 30, 2010
here.
posted by smcameron at 3:45 PM on July 30, 2010
I know you're not asking about this but here are a couple of things to get you started while you look for a teacher.
You can tune your banjo and learn some chords.
Good luck!
posted by snsranch at 4:13 PM on July 30, 2010
You can tune your banjo and learn some chords.
Good luck!
posted by snsranch at 4:13 PM on July 30, 2010
If you want to play and sing folk songs, make sure to find a teacher who can teach you to frail—most people can't sing while doing that Scruggs stuff.
posted by interrobang at 11:21 PM on July 30, 2010
posted by interrobang at 11:21 PM on July 30, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Elmore at 1:48 PM on July 30, 2010