I realized recently (2017), with actually somewhat of a shock, that I have been playing banjo for almost 60 years! Really, however, this should not be that shocking to me. Looking back, I do not clearly remember a time when I didn’t play banjo. During all this intervening time I have been very fortunate to have received great pleasure from performing for lots of appreciative audiences. Hopefully I have been able to give them, at the very least, equal pleasure in return.
During the 1970s and early 1980s most of my performing was as a soloist or in a duo or trio. Since then the bulk of my playing has been in Traditional Jazz bands, first with my own Golden Gate Rhythm Machine and then primarily with the Bob Schulz Frisco Jazz Band. Playing in these bands with great musicians (like Bob Schulz, Doug Finke, Ray Skjelbred, the late Jim Rothermel, Jim Maihack, and many, many others) frequently becomes an almost spiritual experience, when the total reaches far beyond the sum of the parts. These times—when the music takes on a life of its own, the “team” is in perfect sync—have been the greatest pleasures of all.
I started this “blog” partially in response to a very enthusiastic fan from Brazil who watched and listened to some videos on Facebook of the “Hot Cookies” (aka “Finke’s Hot Cookies”) recorded by Susie Miyata (credit also to Bill Schneider for alternates on YouTube) at the 2016 Fresno Mardi Gras. This fan asked me to give him some long-distance banjo lessons that I hope will start as soon as I can get some instruction materials put together. I am quite flattered that there is a person, perhaps more than one, who would like to have me share some insights into how I play the banjo. I know that I learned almost entirely by listening to (and wearing out!) LPs of my favorite players and now with video and the internet, viewing as well as listening is very easy.
This promises to be fun! I hope you enjoy it.
Hello 🙂 Your blog looks good. have a nice day. the blog was absolutely fantastic!
Scott, where do I find chords for 4-string banjos? I find a lot for 5-string on the Internet.
Jim Bottorff’s web site jbott.com, or join a local banjo band, and they’ll share all their music with you.
Hello Bev,
I have known Jim Bottorff for over 40 years and know his website very well. He is a fine player and has definitely put an incredible amount of work and effort into the site.
Thanks for the suggestion!
I enjoy hearing these stories im a tenor banjoist who have been playing since three years of age.i was a violinist for peter nero phiily pops and a real close friend of roy smeck.i play the 4 string tenor harry reser style because of the violinist i was.i enjoy reading these stories and relate to them.i play and teach to this day and enjoy the many years i was lucky o had
Your banjo lessons are great and am anxious to see more lessons. I’ve played tenor tuning since 1947 — Dick Roberts was my first teacher (Dick was the only non-Disney employee in the Fire House 5+2 and, with “Red”Roundtree on plectrum, led the Banjo Kings in the ’60s.) I’ve played in various SoCal bands for some 30-ish years and in pit orchestras for musicals — both tenor banjo and guitar.
Nevertheless, I do like the plectrum sound on some numbers, such as when our band does a hymn sing. Hymn’s slow tempos, with most tunes in Bb or F and simple chord forms, makes playing chord melody easier. But I have much to learn and I’m looking forward to more of your lessons. But then there’s the “III 7” shape . . . hmmm…
dear Scott, for many years I adore how do you Play the Banjo. I have heard that you are playing the HOT HOUSE RAG.
Are you able to help me out with chords for playing in the band?
That would be fine.
I have the Sheets but can’t, my friend who plays behind the tenor banjo a little bit piano says to diffult to find out the chords.
Hi Scott,
Congrats on a great looking site completely dedicated to the plectrum banjo. I’m so glad to see what you’ve done here and I wish every success. (I tried to drum up some interest in the plectrum on another well known banjo site by posting a lot of my own music and some diagrammed material with accompanying MP3 files. It was largely to no real avail. Too bad, but that’s to be expected in a universe populated by 5-stringers and tenor students.) Nice to see your reference to Charles McNeil’s book: one of the best things I ever bought in my life. Recently, I discovered that Alfred Greathouse’s plectrum book has also gone out of print: both absolutely great plectrum methods based on McNeil’s chord formation system. Thanks again, Scott. The banjo world needs this site and the beautiful instrument it preserves in the great plectrum tradition of Perry Bechtel and Eddie Peabody.
—(Feel free to delete this comment if you like.)—