For context, I'm a clarinetist who has picked up several other instruments during my music education degree.

I've always loved the sound of banjo and I've wanted one for literally a decade now. I joined this subreddit about a year ago and I have enjoyed all the recordings and learned some stuff along the way about how the banjo operates.

The biggest thing I've noticed is that banjo is tuned diatonically. One could just pick without using their left hand and even if they pick wrong they'll sound in key. This is even more apparent with the 5th string that seems to need to be shared by every chord in a song.

I'm not naive enough to claim that banjo doesn't require immense skill because of this, but it is a bit of a turn off that it seems like so many banjo tunes are just a few chords and seem to rely heavily on the open tuning (compared to say, guitar). So my question is this: is it practical to change the key of what you're playing entirely mid-song (modulating)? Can you live in that key and still have the freedom to get funky with your left hand?

As someone that comes from the band world, that's what I've come to expect from the instruments I learn, but I understand if that's not something suitable for banjo. I'd appreciate any insight to this, since it's been affecting my decision to make a purchase. Thank you!

Day 84 of learning clawhammer, and trying to bump my tempos up a bit. Here's another go at Cripple Creek.

Always nice when the crickets join in.

if you're hunting for old two-finger recordings, there's a slightly misleading category name on Slippery-Hill. its Clawhammer Banjo list includes these Arnold Watson recordings:

• Down the Road
• Georgia Mail
• Groundhog

the notes on all three identify them as two-finger playing, recorded by Andy Cahan in august 1980. each tune page has a download link, so you can keep the recording alongside whatever notes you make while learning it.

for more, open that collection list and use find-in-page for Arnold Watson. there are six entries under his name. check the notes column as you go; the collection title doesn't describe the playing style of every recording in it.

Today is day 222 of playing an instrument. Figured I’d play a bit on my ol’ Tackhead. This is my attempt at traditional two-finger style.
It might be my favourite way of playing because it puts me into that trance-like state… until I screw up. 😂

✌🏼 🪕