What's the beef with banjo players?

[Alan Kendall]

Why do so many steel players detest banjo players? At first I thought it was just a joke, kind of like the one about trombone players, but over time I have noticed some serious resentment towards them,especially if they get any TV time. I view banjo players with the same high regard as I do any musician who has learned to play his or her instrument to high level.We all know how many hundreds of hours must be put in to gain any degree of proficiency on any musical instrument, so why the constant berating of banjo players? The banjo is an integral part of country music, just like the fiddle, mandolin,and acoustic guitar, and has been around much longer than the pedal steel. Lets not forget they are fellow "Pickers",and I'm sure they love their chosen instrument just as much as we love ours.

Perhaps I am missing something here,and if I am I would love for someone to tell me what it is.

[Pat Comeau]

I'm sure b0b will chime in and explain it to you ...

[John P. Phillips]

Alan,
It's just really a running joke here on
the forum. b0b has a dislike (as I see it) for
the banjo so we kid him rather
unmercifully about it.
There are steel/banjo pickers that are members of the forum.
There may be serious opinions voiced here but most of it it's
in fun. Personally I love good banjo if
it fits.

[Papa Joe Pollick]

FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN[run boy run]

[b0b]

I have nothing against banjo players. No resentment at all. I just can't stand the sound of the thing.

[Clyde Mattocks]

How can you tell which steel players also.......
Oh never mind!

[Ronnie Boettcher]

I have played bluegrass, 5-string banjo, a long time before I got my LDG. I still trade time, between classic country, and good standard bluegrass. Still have my mastertone banjo, and wouldn't part with it, or my LDG. Keep playing classic country, and bluegrass.

[Bill Dobkins]

In the late 70's while living in Laramie Wy I did a duo with Jeff Kimbal who was number three in the nation. After a while I did get tired of the sound of the Banjo. It seemed like every song started sounding the same. Since I've been away from it I'm starting to like it again. As a matter of fact I use to play one pretty good myself.

[Doug Beaumier]

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[Jim Cohen]

It really doesn't bother me at all that some guys hate the banjo. After all, I don't play one.

[Doug Beaumier]

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[Mark van Allen]

Um, Doug, to each his own. I really enjoy playing with a good banjo player. Try any of these, I thought we had some pretty good blending going on.
http://www.youtube.com/BluegroundUndergrass

[Doug Beaumier]

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[Alan Kendall]

Hey Doug I was just on the "Banjo Forum" and some guy was on there talking about how he would never play in a band with a steel player, as the whining sustain of the steel completely ruined the beautiful percussive sound of his Banjo. Honestly the nerve of some people.

[Stu Schulman]

Paddle faster...I hear banjos.

[Charles Davidson]

I like the banjo,used to play it a lot,don't anymore,Played a show with The First Lady of banjo awhile back Miss Roni Stoneman,[she spent 20 years on Hee Haw]She's a friend of our bandleader,she came down and spent fours days with us,at 70 she has the fire and energy of most teens,and one heck of a banjo picker,she did'nt clash AT ALL with the rest of the band,had a GREAT time working with her. She's a pro,she knows when to play,most important when NOT to play,Wish some of the GUITAR players I have worked with,COULD UNDERSTAND THAT. DYKBC.

[Bill Bailey]

When I first started playing on the road, most steel players I met working steady gigs all played Banjo and played it well, some just used a wood block to doplicate the sounds of a 5 string on steel, Wayne Gailey was a master imitator of Banjo on steel, and I wouldn't be surprised if he also was a Banjo picker. You can hear Wayne on Rose Maddox Bluegrass album using his steel as if it was a Banjo.

[Doug Beaumier]

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[Steve Hinson]

...the Osborne Brothers and Hal Rugg seemed to make it all work somehow...I think Buddy Emmons did an album or two with them...

[Alan Kendall]

Good one Mr. Beaumier

[Pete Finney]

...the Osborne Brothers and Hal Rugg seemed to make it all work somehow...

Maybe it's because they had Leon Rhodes in there too to make 'em behave!

Those are some great records!

[Billy Tonnesen]

Listen to Tommy Hammum on Steel imitating a Banjo. On the John England Album "Swinging on Broadway" He imitates a Banjo on the cut of "Under The Double Eagle". His coordination is just great. IMHO there is a lot of the same coorindation in playing Banjo and " Chicken Pickin" on the Steel Guitar.

How about the style Buck Trent developed on Banjo when playing with Porter Waggoner !!

[James Jacoby]

I know a guy, who plays five string banjo, Steel guitar, lead guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and bass, and is good at all of them! Not only that, he's a magician, and can do a magic/music show in full circus clown makeup! He , also can run sound. Ya-know, if the musician is doing the right stuff, any instrument can be made to fit with any kind of music! It also helps, if the band is doing the right things, to facilitate the instrument. One example that comes to mind, is Homer and Jethro, playing jazz. One would'nt think of a mandolin as a jazz instrument, but they made it sound like it belonged. Another example is New Grass Revival,( I think I got that name right), a blue grass/jazz fusion group. I may not be a purist, but I love to hear people expanding the parameters of music.(Merle Haggard uses a sax and trumpet in his band)as well as a PSG.
Jake Jacoby

[Doug Beaumier]

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[Edward Meisse]

I love plectrum banjos. I also kind of like tenors. But after a song or two the 5 string variety just starts to grate. As someone said earlier said....and better yet as the joke goes, "What's the difference between a banjo and an uzi? An uzi will only repeat itself 500 times in a row." ad infinitum.....