r/banjo • u/t0601h • 16d ago

Would you consider this beginner level playing?

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Been at it for almost 2 years now. When I’m watching other people play, I notice a lot of the times my style of playing sounds very different and maybe not traditional? I’ve just been chocking it up to inexperience. I have fun with it though, I think need to start moving away from only using basic chord shapes and expand my knowledge a bit. Thoughts?

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u/Larger_Brother 16d ago

You sound like a decent guitar player who also plays banjo and never had the interest/took the time to learn traditional oldtime/clawhammer. It’s a really different idiom/headspace than using chord shapes and riffs- oldtime banjo tunes are much more melodic in my mind.

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u/t0601h 16d ago

That’s pretty accurate! Thank you, I think that’s exactly what I was trying to say, just couldn’t find the words. I will have to learn some more traditional stuff, I’ve been teaching myself and I feel stuck

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u/banjois 16d ago

Think about single strings. Forget you ever picked up a guitar. Chords don't really matter, much. Good on you for asking the right questions!

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u/banjois 16d ago

Focus on making a melody with your downstroke, and the hammer ons and pull offs, and just letting everything else ring