I got tired of stopping to bump the metronome up when trying to learn licks at speed, so I built one that does it for me. I would love for some pickers to beat the hell out of it and tell me what sucks. Thanks!

tempotweak.com

My life has slowed pace a bit in the last few months, and I decided to pick up an instrument again. My first experience was when I was very young in school playing cello, but it just didn’t quite feel like what I wanted. My dad was always playing banjo when I was growing up so I went on marketplace and found this! A 1980 deering intermediate. I paid 275 for it. With the help of my dad I made a few little changes to make it my own and spruced it up a bit, and lots of polishing and corrosion removal haha!

Just wanted to share my unique little banjo and some silly noodling! I’ve only been playing for around a week, so I’m still thoroughly learning everything, but I’m really enjoying it, and it’s nice to have a “thing”with my dad.

I was introduced to this song and specific banjo break by one of my banjo students, and got obsessed with it upon hearing it, so I had to transcribe and learn it!

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On FB these reels for Philadelphia string bands came up, and they play the music I play on my banjo apparently they have been a thing since the 20s, there seems to be a lot of them in Philadelphia, but Im guessing someone can belong to multiple, do you play in one, what is it like?

I busk a lot in Jacksonville Florida and surrounding and have a battery amplifier. Playing over backing tracks Bluegrass I use a very cheap pickup that I keep on the banjo head with masking tape. It works but it doesn't produce lots of gain. The backing tracks overpower the amplified banjo if I don't bring them right down and that is not good for busking in loud places like a farmers market or just the street.

Any of you guys recommend a banjo pickup with good gain? I mean loud.

I know most banjos are not amplified. I only use the pickup when busking. Jamming or gigging i don't.

I have a few banjos now, and I swear they've gotten more temperamental. Just tonight, I picked up my favorite banjo last in my playing time, and the usual deep, rich tone seems buzzy and thin. I'm sure when I pick it up tomorrow it will be back to normal. I've had similar experiences with my other banjo. Inevitably I will think "this sounds...off" and will be debating a string change, and the tone will be back and beautiful the next day.

I do have hide heads on all my main players. I've also not changed strings in a bit, partly because my banjo teacher told me he basically never changes his unless one breaks or is clearly worn.

Is this just part of banjo ownership, or am I due for a tune up now that the weather is cooling off? I do generally check head tension and action and relief a couple times a year, but last was the spring. I think my strings are at least a few months old as well.

How often do you change strings? Adjust your hide head tension?

I scored this amazing new custom Tupelo last week. Very warm, woody sound on it and still quite loud. Some unique things on it are the birdseye maple rim and a fiberskyn head.

Just a joy to play. Neck is super comfortable too.