Hey all,

I know that for many people the banjo is either a love/hate thing. I love it!

As I go deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole of single-ended sticking, I cannot help but receive constant reconfirmation of the similarity between my right hand sticking patterns and those used by traditional banjo players and some of the more dynamic guitar players.

I'm looking for recommendations from members (perhaps some MP3s if you are a hot 'banjist') that I can use in a future tutorial to demonstrate these parallels. So far (but without strict analysis) I've been able to match pretty much every banjo right hand pattern that I've come across in the traditional idiom.

I think there's a natural rhythmical link between the two instruments, it is no surprise that JJK is a pretty good banjo & mandolin player.

Anyway I'm just asking if you have particular recommendations or perhaps a musical contribution.

Cheers

(FYI I'll be claiming a legitimate educational fair use for copyrighted examples)

i'll look around and see what i can find in my collection of stuff here....

i am also not surprised at the correlation. although they are melodic instruments, the guitar, banjo and mandoline are all categorized technically as percussive instruments. maybe that's what made the transition to the goat abuse so easy for me after 40 years of guitar playing....

be well,

jim

Hi Paul,

just a few first thoughts.

When I hear a banjo play I tend to reach for my spoons. They fit very well together, especially in the triplet section. I remember playing spoons along with Guido Plueschke's banjo at Inisheer a few years ago.

Brian Morrissey is playing the banjo as well as JJK, so he's another example of your theory. And double sticking too.

Banjo player Angelina Carberry is very nice to play along with. Look for 'Memories from the Holla' with her father Peter and "An TRAIDISIÚN BEO" with her husband Martin Quinn.

much pleasure to come...

Dirk De Bleser, Belgium

Hi Paul
Are we thinking tenor banjo - just love it - a natural rhythmical link for sure and the greatest sound to accompany. And yes, if it isn't a banjo it's a mandolin. Look forward to the tutorial...
John

Gerry O'Connor especially "Time to Time" (or any of his albums would be worth looking for) 4 Men And A Dog "Barking Mad" or "Shifting Gravel" have some great stuff, also Seamus Egan "In Your Ear" De Dannan's early stuff with Charlie Piggot, Enda Scahill, Brian Kelly, Darren Maloney, and John Carty are also great.

I agree with most of the previous suggestions -- especially Enda Scahill & John Carty. Carty's "I will if I can" album features absolutely perfect, solid accompaniment by Johnny Ringo McDonagh. Another great album is "Kieran Hanrahan plays the Irish tenor banjo." Keep up the search -- there's always more great stuff out there.

Mr. Bodhranhead (aka Tom Schultz)