I'm learning banjo and at my session I spend most of the time not playing as I just dont know enough tunes. This is frustrating as hell but things improve each time.
Quite often someone asks to borrow the banjo and with me not playing it seems petty to refuse. So they then play the hell out of it, and they always play really really well.
My question is this: is it ok to get them in the car park later?
“I'm learning banjo and at my session I spend most of the time not playing as I just dont know enough tunes.”
So conversely, most of the time you are learning and playing is outside of sessions, right? Or is it that you are “learning banjo at my session”?
“Quite often someone asks to borrow the banjo and with me not playing it seems petty to refuse. So they then play the hell out of it, and they always play really really well.”
So, why are you going to the session again? What are you learning there?
I guess you’re at the session trying to develop your hearing skills are you?
Isn’t it great that since the advent of the internet and other technologies really from around the mid nineties that there are other ways to spend most of your time learning tunes and developing your hearing skills, other than just the weekly session excrucionado.
You could always take up the pipes, no one asks to play them. Last resort, I know, I know.
"why are going to the session again"
well they might want to have a good time. i know i do at every session i go to.
and please nobody take up the digeri-don't. all mandolin laws abolish them.
Just tell them that you're just getting over a bout of flesh-eating disease, but that you'd be happy to let them borrow your banjo 'cause it's probably past the contagious stage.
You have several choices:
1. Don't let them have your banjo - can seem mean though and you'll feel like a dick sitting there silently gripping your instrument
2. Let them have it but demand it back as soon as you hear a tune you can play. This is easier than you think. "Here, give us the banjo, it's the only tune I know"
3. Take a second instrument and play that while gritting your teeth at the showoff banjoist
4. Take a second instrument, say a cheap and very quiet mandolin, (every banjo player has one) and offer him/her that instead. They can thrash away in virtual silence.
Sometimes it all works out - a certain banjo hero of mine tuned up at our session a couple of weeks ago and we had a great tune with him thanks to him borrowing my banjo
ok I have to fess up here. Since the last session I've been thinking alot about the guy playing (who borrowed the banjo) and I watched his hand very carefully and realised my hand was nt in its best position. To cut to the chase I am doing decent triplets for the first time as a result and improved tone.
Learning is not always pain free.
hands off
hands off
I'm learning banjo and at my session I spend most of the time not playing as I just dont know enough tunes. This is frustrating as hell but things improve each time.
Quite often someone asks to borrow the banjo and with me not playing it seems petty to refuse. So they then play the hell out of it, and they always play really really well.
My question is this: is it ok to get them in the car park later?
# Posted on January 12th 2010 by Eòsaph
Re: hands off
yes, perfectly legal under article 12 of the bylaws of the great code of BANJO. Whack 'em good esp if they're a prissy mandolin player!
# Posted on January 12th 2010 by shanty
Re: hands off
well under article 4321 of the bylaws of the great code of MANDOLIN it says
"if banjo players arn't playing, nab their banjo!"
and we arn't prissy
# Posted on January 12th 2010 by mandolinist
Re: hands off
Both articles have been superseded by the Human Rights Bill. (though some countries have decriminalised possession)
# Posted on January 12th 2010 by llig leahcim
Re: hands off
Get them in the car park later?
Check out this thread ....
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/19812/comments
# Posted on January 12th 2010 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: hands off
“I'm learning banjo and at my session I spend most of the time not playing as I just dont know enough tunes.”
So conversely, most of the time you are learning and playing is outside of sessions, right? Or is it that you are “learning banjo at my session”?
“Quite often someone asks to borrow the banjo and with me not playing it seems petty to refuse. So they then play the hell out of it, and they always play really really well.”
So, why are you going to the session again? What are you learning there?
I guess you’re at the session trying to develop your hearing skills are you?
Isn’t it great that since the advent of the internet and other technologies really from around the mid nineties that there are other ways to spend most of your time learning tunes and developing your hearing skills, other than just the weekly session excrucionado.
You could always take up the pipes, no one asks to play them. Last resort, I know, I know.
# Posted on January 12th 2010 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: hands off
You could always take up the digeri-don't. Then the banjo players would have a reason to get YOU inthe cark park after the session...
# Posted on January 12th 2010 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: hands off
"why are going to the session again"
well they might want to have a good time. i know i do at every session i go to.
and please nobody take up the digeri-don't. all mandolin laws abolish them.
# Posted on January 12th 2010 by mandolinist
Re: hands off
Just tell them that you're just getting over a bout of flesh-eating disease, but that you'd be happy to let them borrow your banjo 'cause it's probably past the contagious stage.
# Posted on January 12th 2010 by grego
Re: hands off
Mix-
What a thread, I skip through if they're long and read the last to get the gist.
The last entry was:
"Since I used up the whole can of insect repellent, I did have to buy some more after we got home"
: )
Duijera-
I've always fancied wheeling a six foot gong into pub mid session just to signal the change of tunes.
# Posted on January 12th 2010 by Eòsaph
Re: hands off
You have several choices:
1. Don't let them have your banjo - can seem mean though and you'll feel like a dick sitting there silently gripping your instrument
2. Let them have it but demand it back as soon as you hear a tune you can play. This is easier than you think. "Here, give us the banjo, it's the only tune I know"
3. Take a second instrument and play that while gritting your teeth at the showoff banjoist
4. Take a second instrument, say a cheap and very quiet mandolin, (every banjo player has one) and offer him/her that instead. They can thrash away in virtual silence.
Sometimes it all works out - a certain banjo hero of mine tuned up at our session a couple of weeks ago and we had a great tune with him thanks to him borrowing my banjo
# Posted on January 12th 2010 by Bren
Re: hands off
You could just go and listen without your banjo in tow.
# Posted on January 12th 2010 by Bredna
Re: hands off
well presumably he's already been doing that for 30 years before even daring to turn up with an instrument
# Posted on January 12th 2010 by Bren
Re: hands off
You could pretend to to play the banjo or play
it very softly under the other players so you
are picking up some of the music.
Oh I forgot it's a banjo.
Seriously, even if you only pick a note or
two here and there, you can refuse the
request to borrow it.
# Posted on January 13th 2010 by dogmageek
Re: hands off
Just say no to loaning your banjo.
# Posted on January 13th 2010 by Earl Cameron
Re: hands off
ok I have to fess up here. Since the last session I've been thinking alot about the guy playing (who borrowed the banjo) and I watched his hand very carefully and realised my hand was nt in its best position. To cut to the chase I am doing decent triplets for the first time as a result and improved tone.
Learning is not always pain free.
# Posted on January 13th 2010 by Eòsaph
Re: hands off
Remind him that he is not currently using his wife, and since he's got your banjo....
# Posted on January 14th 2010 by Gringo