Q&A from Keshava, Jeff & Ian
Added 2018-02-19 10:52:41 +0000 UTCOver this morning's coffee let's answer a few questions from Keshava Zerr, Jeff Jackson and Ian Keane:
Keshava Zerr"Hey there. I’m loving all the uploads so far and am excited for whats to come. I’ve got several content suggestions but I imagine things just starting you probably have a good amount of ideas for topics to cover. When it comes to playing two finger style what’s the difference/your preference for thumb lead or index lead? Are certain licks or techniques more attainable depending on the lead finger? I’m trying to pick up the style myself and coming from a guitar background I find thumb lead much more intuitive. If you end up making a video answer of this feel free to mispronounce my name. I take no offence. Thanks a lot!"
Jeff Jackson"You're really great at this Clifton, I've been following you for a few years and hoping someday you would teach some of your songs and techniques. St James Infirmary is one of my favorites that you do but they're all awesome. I have 2 questions for you. 1: what do you see as more valuable, playing a song like the old masters played it or adapting it to be your own? 2: do you generally play a tune the same when singing as you do when not singing along, in other words do you strip the melody down to make it easier to sing and play at the same time? Thanks"
Ian Keane"Your content was a huge part of the reason I started playing banjo, and I love your new videos so far. It'd be great to hear at some point how you got into building banjos, and where that's taken you. Do you have any advice for people who may be interested in learning those skills?"
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Thanks everyone for your generous pledges and for these thought-provoking submissions! I'm truly honored to be able to explore this stuff with such a mindful group of fellow musicians.
Comments
Great question, Kit. I will definitely do a video discussing how to maintain and use those old friction tuners. In the mean time, try unscrewing and removing the tuners: there should be two thin cardboard "washers" on each tuner where the metal contacts the front and back of the peg head wood. Odds are your cardboard washers have long ago deteriorated--relatively easy to fix, just cut out some new ones out of some construction paper or playing-card material, etc. Another thing your friction tuners probably want (and this goes DOUBLY for those old violin-style, all wooden tuning pegs) is a good rub down with natural 100% beeswax or violin rosin.
Clifton Hicks
2018-02-22 09:10:47 +0000 UTCHi Clifton and everyone else involved in this exciting project. I have a question about banjo tuners and how to tighten them effectively. One of my favourite banjos is very similar to the two you now have, Clifton. It is from about 1880 and is an English 'John Grey'. My dad won it in a poker game in the 1930s (that will give you a clue to how old I am!) and it has the original tuners. If I tighten them they become too tight to turn, if I loosen them they become too slack. I really do not wish to change them for modern tuners. Should I lubricate them? If so, what product should I use? Oil or grease? Thank you.
Kit Wells
2018-02-22 08:32:45 +0000 UTC
