Discussion: ToneWay Music Method » Don't Practice... Play!

Hey Carl

I agree with you all the way

wilmot

Discussion: General Discussion » D/F# Chord

Hi Harry

One thing I have learned is to get it right the first time and practice it that way. I found out the hard way that if you practice wrong it will come back to haunt you.

wayne

Discussion: General Discussion » D/F# Chord

As a follow on to what Rex suggests, you can wrap your thumb around to play the F# on the 6th string, 2nd fret. You don’t play this as a chord but when picking the root note and strumming the D, usually when “walking” to the next chord.

Discussion: General Discussion » D/F# Chord

Whenever you see this kind of chord, the note to the right of the slash is your bass note. In this case, you finger the D chord and put your pinky on F#, which is the fourth string, fourth fret. If your hands are big enough, you can also fret the F# on the sixth string, second fret. That way, you can play all six strings.

Discussion: ToneWay Music Method » Hi Luke

Hi Richard!

The introductory class we teach in Santa Cruz is just five weeks long, 90 minutes once a week. (We teach a “Level 2” class of similar length as well.) We don’t have any classes planned until fall. Sounds like you might have been imagining a more traditional school with longer courses, though? (Seeing as you live in another state.)

Anyway, I see from your profile that you’re playing and going to jams, so I’ll take this opportunity to once again point out that playing is the most important part of learning music! You’ll learn the most through observation and stumbling as a child. So, no matter what, keep that up. The rest will come naturally.

Luke

Discussion: ToneWay Music Method » Hi Luke

I am interested in your classes. I do play a Dobro but need more help If you will please explain about your school What is the attendance fee, how long is the course and is there motor home parking avai

Discussion: General Discussion » New member

Thanks Luke, I was beginning to wonder if anyone was Actually out there! lol. I do not mind if my email is posted for other members. I got my first guitar in 1967, when I was 12 y/o, and am willing to help others learn. I am in the fine arts ( theatre, art hisyory, and writing) dept. at a regional campus of Ohio University; and ordered your book for a play I am writing. It is the story of an Appalachian family in 1968, and has a lot of mountain music in it. Ralph should know the campus I am talking about, and can find me there, usually around the theatre.

Discussion: General Discussion » memorizing songs

Oh, this is profoundly so!!! Luke may not know how profoundly so this is because he always knows the songs he sings. (I’ve never seen him sight read). I, on the other hand, spent years (much too many) sight reading. I found that memorize songs too frustrating and slow (which explains why I always resorted to sight reading… well duh).

Now this will sound weird but as I gave up both trying to memorize songs and sight reading, and began to just ‘feel the songs lyrics’ more, song lyrics seemed to stick in memory much better. I suppose the moral here is not try too hard, but just take one step at a time, have faith, feel, be patient, and before you know it you’ll know dozens and dozens of songs by heart and soul.

Discussion: ToneWay Music Method » Don't Practice... Play!

I’ll chime in again on practicing versus playing. I’m defining practice as more goal oriented, and playing as more joy oriented. Of course these always blend to various degrees. The more purely goal oriented, however, the less likely the activity will continue.

I find that the the degree of social fulfillment I get out of an activity really determines how much joy it brings and thus its staying power. Playing music alone compare with playing it with others is like night and day.

The more doable a music is to people of all ages and talents the brighter the day, the more joyful the way.

Discussion: General Discussion » New member

Hey guys,

Sorry I didn’t chime in sooner… if you’re both signed up for the JamPool you can get in touch with each other. Looks like Colt is signed up but Ralph isn’t. Eventually we’ll have a way to message people through the site itself (which avoids the problem of email privacy) but we’re not quite there yet.

Always great to see folks wanting to hook up to learn and play!

Luke

Discussion: General Discussion » alternate tunings

Personally, as a person of lesser talent, I’ve found that the capo (“cheat stick”) is a God send. It allows me to flat pick melody breaks or strum and sing in any key using only two picking patterns and a handful of chords. With such simple basics in hand I am free to give all I have to music making. Again, this view comes from one of lesser talent where the simpler is by far the better!

Discussion: General Discussion » D/F# Chord

Hi Harry, That D/F# chord is just a partial C chord moved up two frets. You get the same thing – only better – by playing putting a capo on the second fret and playing the actual C chord (along with a 4 and/or 5 chord (F and G) when required).

Personally, I just stick with a simple D chord. Keeping it simple allows me to more easily become one with the music I’m making. I leave the fancy stuff to more talented folks.

Discussion: General Discussion » D/F# Chord

Thanks, Luke. No, you’re not missing anything. I’m just making things harder on myself than I have to….as usual!

Someone had shown me how to play “Down in the Valley” in the key of D. He was playing a plain D chord and then put his pinky on the fourth fret of the fourth string. He said the chord was a D/F#. I did look it up and found it on a chord chart. I think what I’m trying to do is run before I can walk. Best I stick to your book!

Discussion: General Discussion » picks

Thanks Rafael for the message. Will respond via email. Sounds like it’s time to start playing yourself! We’ll be in touch.

Discussion: General Discussion » D/F# Chord

First of all, yes, it should be taking you “this long” to get these chords down. It is most definitely “normal”. To really get comfortable with a chord can take months, years, depending on the person…and the chord! (You can start using a chord right away, of course…I’m talking about eliminating the “having trouble getting my fingers to _” stuff.)

On the other hand… D/F# chord? Forgive me, but what does that even mean? The D chord I’ve heard of, but the pinky finger is not used. F# is a chord you won’t need if you’re playing this kind of music and using a capo. Really, don’t bother.

As a beginner, you should be concentrating on four chords we give in Get Started—G, D, A, and C. Maybe F if you want a challenge. That’ll give you the 1, 4, and 5 chords in the keys of G and D. Use a capo to play in the other keys (see page 98 of the Songbook and ToneWay Music Method).

Maybe I’m missing something, though. Please tell me if you think I am!

Best, Luke

Discussion: General Discussion » D/F# Chord

Hi Folks, I’m new and would like to pose a questions. I’m a beginner and I’ve been trying to play the D/F# chord on my guitar. I’ve been at it for a few weeks and really having trouble getting my pinky in position. It’s very frustrating. Is this “normal”. Should it be taking me this long to get this chord down?

Discussion: General Discussion » picks

I am a new member but also a complete new member to the banjo. I dont play and have wanted to learn since I was all of maybe 8 years old when I was a little kid and saw the little boy in “Delieverence” play that banjo.. For whatever reason it sure stuck with me. That being said I have to say Luke’s Picking and singing on the video of “Working on a Building” was second to none! wow.. His singing sounds so much like Old Crow Medicine show. I live in Santa Cruz and often pass by the corner you all were playing at. I wish I could catch you guys. Perhaps post next time you are going to be there. Its inspired me to perhaps buy myself a banjo and make an attempt to learn how to play.

I also would like to ask you a question. I am a photographer by trade and do it full time for a living. I see that you have a nice website and most other bluegrass singers and bands do great music but it seems no one has much more as in photos than some simple snapshots. I was curious if I could mix my two favorite things to me. Which would be Music and Photography. I would like to extend or offer you and your family a chance for some Professional photos. Feel free to contact me at my member email address and I will give you some samples of my work. I feel it only fair to give justice to such great musicians as all the bands that play this beautiful music of bluegrass. Once again thank you for the great music and plucking and a singing. Luke keep it up maybe we will see you at the “Hardly Blue Grass Festiville” or maybe playing with Gillian Welch or David Rawlings one day.

Discussion: General Discussion » alternate tunings

I am primarily a guitarist, but use a three finger picking style. My banjo experience is limited, but I rarely use alternate tunings, only on certain songs. Do use a cheat stick (capo) on some stuff that would be difficult for me to transpose, or if I just want that sound. I think it is best just to use standerd tuning as much as possible. This music, with few exceptions is just three major chord progressions with an occaisonal minor. There are only seven major chords, it is a good idea to learn to use all of them. These seven, with a-m, and e-m (little m = minor, big M = major) will enable you to play hundreds of songs.

Discussion: General Discussion » New member

Hi Ralph, starting this over, think I lost the first one. I do know of Renicks, did not know there was music there. Do you have an instrument to learn with? Are you in or near Chillicothe? I am willing to help you lean if you wish. Do not know this site well enough yet to know how to get in touch or exchange emails or phone #’s. Maybe through profiles.

Discussion: General Discussion » New member

Hi Colt, me too, just purchased books today. I want to learn to play, like the folks who play at Renecks Farm Market (north of South Bloomfield on Rt 23) on weekends in the summer. Have you been there? I have no string experience, and am 72, but willing to learn.

Discussion: General Discussion » New member

Hi, my name is Colt. Just found this site today, and purchased a book. Seems I cannot register it untill it arrives. I am an experienced picker of many years in Chillicothe Ohio. Would like to hear from anyone in my area.

Discussion: General Discussion » alternate tunings

Oh, duh. Capo five. Of course! I do that all the time. I used to capo seven frets up for D too.

Wow… I’ve never seen this Reagan 5th-string capo, Jessica! That’s fantastic! I’ve been wishing there was a way of capoing the fifth string without drilling anything for a while… folks in our classes will sometimes rent banjos, which they obviously can’t drill holes into. Thanks!

Discussion: General Discussion » picks

The cellulosic Dunlops are the ‘shell’ ones, not the white ones.

Discussion: General Discussion » picks

The Dunlop picks made from cellulosic plastic come in different sizes and can be filed thinner. I sometimes wear a thinned, trimmed and shaped Dunlop backwards on my middle finger for playing clawhammer banjo, just to save grinding my fingernail away.

Luke is playing Scruggs style banjo in that video, and for that style (also called ‘up-picking’ or ‘Bluegrass style’) you really need picks to get any kind of volume. In clawhammer you have the power coming out of your wrist action, and a pick isn’t necessary. But in Scruggs style, you are using only only your fingers. Without picks, you just don’t get nearly enough sound.

If you are playing Scruggs style banjo, my advice is to find fingerpicks that fit and are comfortable, and then just keep on playing with them on, even though it feels weird and your playing is clumsy. Eventually you will adapt, everything will get comfortable, and you will be successful. And audible!

Once you are used to wearing picks, you can experiment with switching to metal for even more volume.

I didn’t understand your comment about slides. Do you also play slide guitar?

Discussion: General Discussion » alternate tunings

Do what I did: get a Reagan 5th-string capo from Janet Davis music and capo five!

Heck, I even capo seven to accompany my son when he plays in D on the fiddle.

Its not that I’ve given up on learning to play out of C tuning. I just haven’t done it enough for it to stick yet. And we won’t let a little thing like ignorance stop us from playing, right?

Seriously, that little chunk of brass may look bizarre hanging off your 5th string, but it works, and that’s what counts. And you don’t need to drill any holes in your banjo to install it. Just screw it on and away you go.

Best wishes, Jessica