Learning to Play the Melody on Banjo using Christmas Songs
Hello, Ross!
It's now been six months since I received my new Gold Tone OB 150 ordered through you, and I love the banjo, but even more so your platinum instruction membership. Working on chords is an ongoing struggle for me but it really pays dividends, just like you say.
Being a slow learner, I thought I'd better get started on some Christmas songs, so yesterday I was playing your Joy of Christmas examples, and my grandson and I agree that they all are great, but my wife and granddaughter only liked two- coincidentally both Silent Night and Away in a Manger, which are directly melody songs. My grandson and I like them all. He is learning piano on a keyboard and for 10 years old doing very well- and we have a "band". It is fun to try to catch the chord progressions of the songs he plays and do simple rolls in the background, although I'm not sure God ever intended the piano and banjo to go well together!
But as a result of this, I started thinking that people who do not enjoy bluegrass may just not be musically inclined to hear the melody within the embellishment notes, or find the music to "busy". Chord melody and melodic might be a better fit for the musical part of their hearing. If so, I can't help but feel sorry for these poor unfortunates! Seriously, I can understand- riverboat tenor banjo is not really my cup of tea! At least for now!
Can't thank you enough for your great lessons and I brag on you frequently to my guitar friends!
Paul M
