[Dixielandjazz] Question about Banjos for Trad Jazz

[Gluetje1 at aol.com]

Hi Barb,
I know this in not the question you asked, but I want to throw in that if I 
 were doing it all over again, I would first listen to LOTS of jazz banjo 
players  which one can do these days via YouTube.  I would decide who I 
really liked  to listen to and whom I thought did a good job for the band.  Next 
I would  ask them if they teach and what tuning they teach.  (There are a 
number of  fine jazz banjoists giving lessons via Skype or some such these 
days and that  process works very well.)  Ask for their recommendations if they 
don't  teach.
 
You know way more than I originially did already by knowing you would  like 
to play trad jazz.  I played tenor for maybe 5 years before switching  to 
standard plectrum tuning, trying to keep going with both for awhile.   When I 
switched to plectrum I did it because I like to listen to myself doing  
hours of practice more on the plectrum than the tenor, not because I had a  
goal of playing trad jazz.  When I finally realized how interested I  was in 
doing some trad jazz  the challenge then became how I could learn  and adapt 
on the tuning I preferred so that other band members gave me  affirmation 
once in awhile.
 
Ginny
 
 
 
In a message dated 12/25/2011 1:41:03 P.M. Central Standard Time,  
jordan_barb at hotmail.com writes:

Hi  listmates,

I know someone can answer this question:

What is the  best type of banjo to get to learn how to play trad jazz 
music?  17 or 19  fret Tenor or Plectrum?


Thanks,

Barbara  Jordan
Burlington, Ontario Canada