Banjo.

I love the Banjo. I do not know what it is about this instrument, but something about the twang of those steel strings just does it for me and ya just can't help but feel moved to ether start tapping your toe or shedding a tear or two.




If you have a 5 string and just don't know what to do with it, or, if you are feeling a little rusty check out Patrick over at Tangier Sound. He is awesome and is more than willing to teach you how to pick and strum that 'ol banjer like it is no bodies business. If the banjo is not your thing then how about some blues guitar? He shares his know how on that as well as all sorts of other goods. And he does it all for free through open source file sharing and youtube. Here is a link to his video tutorials. If you are really serious you can also download all of his books for free. Now go play something!
Cheers.

Hang It With a Strap.

This time away from a standard 9-5 has given me chance to get back into a few of the things that I enjoy or would like to do more of. While at work on a few occasions I would spend lunch brake viewing and learning about banjo playing from the daily frail master himself Patric over at Tangier Sound. Now I can actually spend time learning and play along with it were at work I just watched and that was that.... Anyway, so I need to get myself a banjo strap and since I no longer have spare change available cause of the current circumstance I had to do what I preach to "fix it up, wear it out, make do, or do without" so I happened to clean out my closet and was getting rid of a few belts and it came to me to just make a strap and of course I have a few good ones to choose from so I had to make more than just one....
I decided that I must use this one... I think I will name the ol' banjo 'lil miss Earl'

here is the second one I made I just liked the ornate work on the belt so it was hard to pass up.

Detail* I decided to use jute twine as an accent detail on the leather ties that I used to hold the strap to the banjo. I like how it gives it a bit of a rustic detail. Good Fun!

And now she hangs on her own.