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Waysideback in time chords3/6/2024 ![]() Over the past few months I've been attending some open jams with my banjo and agree with other folks that knowing some common guitar chords is important for a beginning banjo player when they start playing in a group situation. It didn't help my banjo playing but it did open up a different way of looking at stringed instruments. Since the mandolin is tuned in 5ths it really helped me to understand music theory and I love the relative simplicity of picking out the melody notes because of the way it's tuned. I found it difficult to switch between both instruments and basically stopped playing banjo for 4 months as I focused on mandolin. I am most happy that my fiddle skills are returning pretty quick too, not that I am real good at it, but will be.Īny other multiple instrument players see this kind of effect in their experiences?Īfter 6 months of banjo lessons I picked up a used mandolin on a whim. Does not really make sense to me, but it's working. For whatever reason it is crossing back and forth and making both go better. I am finding that somehow the work on the fiddle is making some aspects of banjo come more quickly, in particular finding a melody and working up a solo around it. Definately takes time away from my banjo work, BUT. Now after a couple years of hard work on the banjo, I am back into fiddle too. But a lack of folks to play with, and life got in the way and it got put away. I studied fiddle for several years back in the 80's and worked very hard at it for the love of the music. They were just blessed with something most of us aren't. I always figured it was like people who can speak and read multiple languages. Great topic! There are so many talented people who play several instruments well out there, You use rolls, slides and such, but with the dobro it's not so much about rolls and fast picking as it is those loooong slides that sound so good. I would think dobro would be the easiest to learn because it's tuned similar to a banjo (GBDGBD - at least I think that's how it's tuned, I don't have one with me to be sure). Had to stop and refigure - one hour on the banjo, half hour on the mando and half on the guitar - or whatever works. When I first got my mandolin, I found I was spending hours on it and not much time on my banjo. Doesn't work very well.įorgot one of your question: Yes, it will definitely take away from your banjo picking because you'll be learning new stuff and it'll take longer to get used to the chords, fretboard, tabs,etc. I play banjo, guitar and mandolin (a little dobro and bass) and occasionally I'll mess up and try banjo chords on the guitar or mandolin chords on the banjo (G). You may be one of those who can handle two instruments and not get them confused. The guitar might also help you with single string style picking (if you're interested in that).Ī mandolin is tuned entirely different (GDAE) and might be more confusing - and maybe not. And the guitar is tuned "similar" to a banjo (the 2nd 3rd and 4th strings are the same). You'll learn more about chords and their structure and how they're used in songs. I agree with Richard: if you want to learn a 2nd instrument, try guitar. Thanksįorgot to ask, would a more simple instrument like a strumstick, or single string dulcimer be a better option as to give me something to fool around on without tackling a more complicated instrument. Or would the benefits of a second instrument help me more with the banjo playing( such as left hand fingering and my ear for music) Im not so much looking for the mandolin to help but was just wondering if the 2nd instrument would take so much time as to put a damper on my banjo playing. I was just wondering if starting a second one at this time would take too much time away from the banjo playing. I came across the rogue mandolin for 50 bucks and i figure i cant really go too wrong for 50 dollars, especially with my main focus being the banjo. Ive been teaching myself bluegrass style for about 9 months now, and ive recently became interested in either picking up dobro or mandolin. Ive been toying with the idea of starting a second instrument. Wasn't exactly sure where to post this one.
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