[Dixielandjazz] Pete Seeger Banjo Style vs. OKOM Banjo Style

[Hans en Corrie Koert]

Thank Ivor,

Great to learn that liked the Pete Seeger blog:
<http://keepswinging.blogspot.com/2007/05/to-hear-your-banjo-play.html>

Medicine Shows:
<http://keepswinging.blogspot.com/2007/05/good-medicine-for-what-ails-you.ht
ml>
Keep swinging

Hans Koert



-----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
Van: Ivor Jones [mailto:banjones at sapo.pt]
Verzonden: maandag 7 mei 2007 9:33
Aan: Hans en Corrie Koert
Onderwerp: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Pete Seeger Banjo Style vs. OKOM Banjo
Style


Hello Hans,

Thank you very much, I have been in love with the Weavers and Pete for over
50 years. I have just been to YouTube for an hour reviving old memories. And
then straight to Amazon.

Best Wishes

Ivor


----- Original Message -----
From: "Hans en Corrie Koert" <koerthchkz at zeelandnet.nl>
To: "iVOR jONES" <BANJONES at sapo.pt>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Monday, May 07, 2007 5:17 AM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Pete Seeger Banjo Style vs. OKOM Banjo Style


> Thanks Mike,
> Good to read that you enjoyed my blog with Pete Seeger. If you missed it:
> <http://keepswinging.blogspot.com/2007/05/to-hear-your-banjo-play.html>
>
> Jo posted today a great contribution about Medicine Shows. i'm sure you'll
> like that too:
>
<http://keepswinging.blogspot.com/2007/05/good-medicine-for-what-ails-you.ht
> ml>
>
> Hans Koert
> http://keepswinging.blogspot.com
>
>
>
> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
> Van: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com
> [mailto:dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com]Namens Mike Woitowicz
> Verzonden: maandag 7 mei 2007 2:28
> Aan: Hans Koert
> CC: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List
> Onderwerp: [Dixielandjazz] Pete Seeger Banjo Style vs. OKOM Banjo Style
>
>
> Thanks to Hans Koert for the interesting old videos of Pete Seeger playing
> the banjo. It's been a long time since I've seen him sing and play.
>
> Seeger played a 5-string banjo, in a style known as "drop thumb" and used
> his fingers to pick out the rhythmic melody. This style was used in folk
> music, of the type that he sang, as well as others of the period. This
> style
> is not, to my knowledge used in OKOM, but is used mainly to accompany
> singers, as well as play folk tunes. These banjos also sometime had longer
> necks which allowed for a low tuning to better fit the vocal range of the
> folk singers who used them.
>
> Others who played 5-string banjo used finger picks in a style made famous
> by
> the bluegrass artist, Earl Scruggs. Although he did not invent this idea,
> he
> became so proficient at it and made it so famous, the style was called
> "Scruggs style" pickin.' Usually, this style is also not generally used in
> OKOM (Now that I've said this, someone will probably point out a band with
> a
> 5-string banjo playing Scruggs style).
>
> The four string banjo is almost always used in OKOM as a chordal and
> rhythm
> instrument. It is a derivative of the 5-string and was found to be more
> effective when played with a flat pick and in either a strumming, single
> string mode or a combination known as "chord melody". There are several
> different tunings of 4 string banjos which provide a different chordal
> "punch" as a result of the pitch of the strings (boring technical details
> skipped). However, most people (and band leaders) don't know or can't tell
> the difference or don't really give a hoot.
>
> Interestingly, there's an OKOM banjoist in my area who plays a long neck
> four string banjo which I believe is tuned to a low folk singer range
> pitch.
> The low pitch makes the chords sound so muddy that it's difficult to
> distinguish between chord changes. It's a Chunka, Chunka rhythm with very
> little chord differentiation. I personally find it unpleasant, but I
> happen
> to like the bright sound of a tenor banjo.
>
> Listen to the music on my Banjo Barons page for some tunes played with 2
> four-string banjos (different tunings) and on my Dixie Barons page with my
> tenor banjo providing chords, rhythm and melody solos to traditional
> Dixieland tunes. The sounds are quite different from the Seeger folk
> music.
>
> Mike Woitowicz
> The Banjo Barons Ragtime Band
> The Dixie Barons Dixieland Band
> www.banjomusic.biz
>
>
>
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