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Banjo players of HN, represent! I’m the banjo player for “You, Me, Everybody” < https://youmeeverybody.bandcamp.com/album/you-me-everybody https://youmeeverybod

by gnat 3y ago

Banjo players of HN, represent! I’m the banjo player for “You, Me, Everybody” < https://youmeeverybody.bandcamp.com/album/you-me-everybody https://youmeeverybody.bandcamp.com/album/you-me-everybody >. Our song “Stranger” was featured in S02E04 of Netflix’s “Sweet Tooth”, and that’s us (in make up!) playing it at the start of the episode. My dubious claim to fame is that I believe I was the first person to put banjo tablature on the web, possibly the net as a whole. I used EMACS (eight megabytes and continuously swapping, indeed) in 92 or 93 to make ASCII art of tab: +———0————— +————————- +-0—————0— +————————- +—————0——— We’re living in a real golden age of banjo today. There are technical virtuosos in all areas, prominent banjo players who don’t use it for yuks, and it’s a sound people recognise but don’t pull back from. The article author alludes to the terrible times after “Deliverance” was released. For 20 years that movie dominated perceptions of banjo and banjo players. Every banjo player today still gets asked for Duelling Banjos but, in my experience at least, no more “squeal like a pig” comments or associations with inbreeding. Mumford and Sons, “O Brother Where Art Thou”, and Taylor Swift have all done their part to normalise the sound of the banjo. I love it. It’s hard to be sad when you’re playing the banjo. (Insert obligatory comment about how it’s easier to be sad when someone else is playing the banjo. And yes, I’ve heard all the banjo jokes. And seen the Gary Larson cartoon. And the Thunderstruck video. And the one with the band walking down the train tracks. Every banjo player gets those sent to them on a regular basis, it’s part of the job)

britches11 3y ago
Fun bit of trivia for you: members of my family claim my great grandmother taught Earl Scruggs the finger roll technique he made famous. He was boyhood friends with my grandmother's brother and they would hang out and pick on the porch. His wikipedia page suggests the technique was common in the area, so while she probably didn't teach it to him, there's probably a kernel of truth in there somewhere.
- gnat 3y ago
  It was definitely in the air with players like Snuffy Jenkins. That particular part of North Carolina was full of banjo players and the three finger sound was “in the air” in many different ways at the time. It didn’t serve the Earl Is God hero worship of the time so it didn’t get talked about much in the 50s and 60s but it’s clear he didn’t pick up a banjo and invent everything he did. He perfected it yes, but did not invented it de novo. That’s a great story about your great grandmother! What was her name? I’d love to help perpetuate the story.
- Velofellow 3y ago
  Reminded me of a fun bit of my own trivia! My Highschool guidance counselor, also an acoustic bass player in the folk idiom, babysat Bela Fleck as a youngster! She was instrumental (ha) in fostering my drive to set my sights on Music School, which I did. She also helped introduced FIRST robotics to our small rural highs school. She was an awesome woman.
redmattred 3y ago
Getting sent songs with a “really good banjo part you have to hear” with a guitar player flat picking on a banjo are my personal favorite
- gnat 3y ago
  Ah, the gitjo. I can appreciate it, but like you it’s not the sound that quickens my pulse. I hope it functions as a halfway house, getting people used to the sound of the banjo even if it’s not THE sound of the banjo.
nickzelei 3y ago
I am a recent banjo player (about 2 months). I've played the guitar for years and suddenly got the urge to pick up the banjo. Needless to say, I got a few weird looks. Some tech guy in SF playing the banjo, what? Anyways, there are a lot of folks players that live in my neighborhood and play at the local bar, maybe that had some influence on it. The banjo is a beautiful instrument and it's just so fun to play! I've been learning clawhammer and I find it a complete joy.
- gnat 3y ago
  Clawhammer is a ton of fun! Because you’re already a musician maybe you know this already but my standard advice to new players is to play with tolerant others as soon as you are able to keep time through chords. It helps you keep solid time, feel the groove, let go of mistakes, and it fuels the drive to improve. Maybe you’ll be one of the folks playing at your neighbourhood bar inspiring the next banjo player!
  - nickzelei 3y ago
    Tbh I've always been a bedroom musician. Not really played too often with others, mostly jam tracks off of youtube. It is really fun to play with others though and the times I've done it have been a blast. It definitely is the best way to improve. Similar to speaking a language in many ways. Would be great to find a fiddle to jam along with once I improve a little more.
- fipar 3y ago
  > Some tech guy in SF playing the banjo, what? Hey, Fiddleford McGucket started like that!
  - chrisdhoover 3y ago
    San Francisco has always had diverse music. Hell Jerry Garcia played banjo. If you ever feel sorrow and your down in San Antone, just beg borrow or steal two nickels and dime and call me on the phone. I’ll meet you at Alamo mission.
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]

by gnat 3y ago

britches11 3y ago

Fun bit of trivia for you: members of my family claim my great grandmother taught Earl Scruggs the finger roll technique he made famous. He was boyhood friends with my grandmother's brother and they would hang out and pick on the porch. His wikipedia page suggests the technique was common in the area, so while she probably didn't teach it to him, there's probably a kernel of truth in there somewhere.

gnat 3y ago
It was definitely in the air with players like Snuffy Jenkins. That particular part of North Carolina was full of banjo players and the three finger sound was “in the air” in many different ways at the time. It didn’t serve the Earl Is God hero worship of the time so it didn’t get talked about much in the 50s and 60s but it’s clear he didn’t pick up a banjo and invent everything he did. He perfected it yes, but did not invented it de novo. That’s a great story about your great grandmother! What was her name? I’d love to help perpetuate the story.
Velofellow 3y ago
Reminded me of a fun bit of my own trivia! My Highschool guidance counselor, also an acoustic bass player in the folk idiom, babysat Bela Fleck as a youngster! She was instrumental (ha) in fostering my drive to set my sights on Music School, which I did. She also helped introduced FIRST robotics to our small rural highs school. She was an awesome woman.

redmattred 3y ago

Getting sent songs with a “really good banjo part you have to hear” with a guitar player flat picking on a banjo are my personal favorite

gnat 3y ago
Ah, the gitjo. I can appreciate it, but like you it’s not the sound that quickens my pulse. I hope it functions as a halfway house, getting people used to the sound of the banjo even if it’s not THE sound of the banjo.

nickzelei 3y ago

I am a recent banjo player (about 2 months). I've played the guitar for years and suddenly got the urge to pick up the banjo. Needless to say, I got a few weird looks. Some tech guy in SF playing the banjo, what? Anyways, there are a lot of folks players that live in my neighborhood and play at the local bar, maybe that had some influence on it. The banjo is a beautiful instrument and it's just so fun to play! I've been learning clawhammer and I find it a complete joy.

gnat 3y ago
Clawhammer is a ton of fun! Because you’re already a musician maybe you know this already but my standard advice to new players is to play with tolerant others as soon as you are able to keep time through chords. It helps you keep solid time, feel the groove, let go of mistakes, and it fuels the drive to improve. Maybe you’ll be one of the folks playing at your neighbourhood bar inspiring the next banjo player!
- nickzelei 3y ago
  Tbh I've always been a bedroom musician. Not really played too often with others, mostly jam tracks off of youtube. It is really fun to play with others though and the times I've done it have been a blast. It definitely is the best way to improve. Similar to speaking a language in many ways. Would be great to find a fiddle to jam along with once I improve a little more.
fipar 3y ago
> Some tech guy in SF playing the banjo, what? Hey, Fiddleford McGucket started like that!
- chrisdhoover 3y ago
  San Francisco has always had diverse music. Hell Jerry Garcia played banjo. If you ever feel sorrow and your down in San Antone, just beg borrow or steal two nickels and dime and call me on the phone. I’ll meet you at Alamo mission.

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]