January 2025 Forum Hangout- New Year Goals
beginner banjo Free lesson
Free to watch — signing in is what remembers where you got to.
This lesson has no tabs or jam tracks.
Gear from this lesson
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Matrix MR-800 Metronome
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Peterson SC-HD Stroboclip HD Clip-On All Instrument Tuner
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Banjo Ben Stainless Steel Wound 5-String Banjo Strings (Light or Medium)
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Ben Clark Leader ·
https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/january-2025-forum-hangout-new-year-goals-banjo-beginner Hope you can join us on our next Banjo Ben forum hangout!
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Zachary Russell ·
OH NOOOOO!!! I’m in that video!!! I look so grumpy!!!
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Bill McElvogue ·
I’m learning patience and perseverance. A pupil of Rachmaninov was playing a piece for him on the piano and he told her she was playing too fast for her ability at that time. But she replied I’ve practiced this for 3 weeks. No my dear the master replied you must practice this for 3 years. Now I finally get it. Trouble is I’m going to be 76 this year and 3 years may be a stretch.
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Archie Cairns Leader ·
Hi @williamchikin311 Bill at 77 I am still learning patience and perseverance.
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Christopher Boling ·
Well, if the shoe fits, @Zachary, put it on! Just kidding, I promise! Well, at least your other siblings look pleasant!
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Emilie Dunn ·
Hated to miss this but glad I get to watch it now!
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Jae Thomas ·
Awesome video! This is so good to see how each person is working through their own struggles! I am still working through the beginner checklist and you mentioned possibly offering a progress chart or a goal for a month by month…. Any of that would be so helpful! I need a few goals so I can track progress and also the challenge of a deadline to work a little harder at the more difficult stuff.
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Ben Clark Leader ·
Jae: you mentioned possibly offering a progress chart or a goal for a month by month…. Any of that would be so helpful! Howdy @Jae! I can’t create your goal for you as I don’t know what you’re working on/through right now, but how about you create one for yourself and check in on the forum hangout at the end of February and tell us about your progress. You can also share in the hangout about your current struggles and I can then suggest a goal for you to strive for.
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Jae Thomas ·
I gotcha. I understand that. I guess my goals would be big. And that’s where I struggle. I often set goals that are out of reach and then get discouraged for not reaching my goals. I want to play bluegrass rhythm well and then play solos with a few cool licks. But at only month 2 of your program, this seems like unattainable goals. Should I set smaller goals like, just learn to efficiently play rhythm at a moderate tempo, also the same for solos? I hope I am making sense, it’s hard to put into words.
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Ben Clark Leader ·
Yes, you are describing a long term goal, which is great, but we have to get more specific. I can help you set shorter-term goals that will get you there. But I do need to see where you’re “at” right now, not so much where exactly in the learning track but your proficiency. Feel free to make a video and either post a link here in the forum or send it to me in a message/email. FYI, I’m about to be out of country for 10 days so excuse the delay.
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Archie Cairns Leader ·
Hi Jae no goal is every out of reach it just takes time to achieve it. Don’t sit down to eat the whole birthday cake. It’s best to manage a portion a day.
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Ryan Spillers ·
@Jae your long-term goals sound a lot like my long-term goals. And I’ve been at it a little over 5 years now. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you feel like you’re not progressing at the pace you would like. It takes time…a lot of it. I’m still nowhere close to where I want to be, but I’m a whole lot closer than I used to be. I second what Ben says about setting some short-term goals. Set one that should be fairly easy to achieve - maybe pick out one lick that you want to learn and work on that. Maybe getting a win on a short-term goal will help you feel encouraged rather than discouraged.
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Jae Thomas ·
I love this forum!! Everyone is so willing to help. Attached is a video. Sorry, it’s not great. Haha. But am I tracking good or do I need to change up some stuff? My first goal I feel like I accomplished, playing without tabs or the chord walk down pdf! So I am really happy with that. But where do I go from here? I know more fluid or rhythmic and cleaner notes, but what else!
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Jae Thomas ·
I can’t get video to load. Not sure what the deal is. I will work to get it posted soon.
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Archie Cairns Leader ·
Hi @Jae Upload your video to YouTube and post the link here. Make sure it is public & not private
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Jae Thomas ·
I think I got it! See if this works!
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Jae Thomas ·
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Ben Clark Leader ·
Good job! I do wish I could see your pick hand better, but you can adjust that on your next video. All in all, looking good! I like both your hand positions. A few things to be mindful of: in your first video there are pauses here and there as your transitioning to the next chord. I encourage you to take a Pickalong, like Unclouded Day, and put these skills to use. Playing along with the video will keep you honest, and that’s a good goal to work on b/t now and the next forum hangout. In the second video, lots of good stuff going on! I like your hands and the good clear tone you’re getting. We need to start introducing songs that have more up strokes in them, Try out a song like Greensleeves (https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/what-child-is-this-greensleeves-basic-guitar) or add strums with Amazing Grace Build a Break: https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/amazing-grace-build-a-break-guitar
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Jae Thomas ·
Woohoo!! Thank you. Also for some reason when I would press record I would completely fall apart and forget everything. Hahaha. Thanks for your feedback! I will be working on your suggestions this evening. I will take all the feedback I can get, good bad and ugly!!
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Archie Cairns Leader ·
It happens to us all @Jae it’s called red light syndrome. I used to keep the camera running all the time when I practiced eventually I overcame the anxiety. There is a tendency for us to hold our breath when we hit that record button. So it helps if you do some deep breathing exercises just before you begin recording.