After 356 hours of Banjo - All the things I am currently struggling with

In this video I highlight some of my sticking points with the songs I am currently learning.
...And I forgot to include vamping. I'm still struggling with vamping!
My instructor:
Mike Leatherman
www.morganhillmusiclessons.com/

[@KenneyCmusic]

Sounding great mate, keep it up

[@larrychoat]

I smiled when you mentioned MIke Hedding. First let me say that I have always tried hard, but have always struggled with banjo. I met Mike when he was 18 at a weekly jam in a music store in Richfield MN. He was just learning to play Mandolin. I was jamming with another friend, Jim, every Friday night. I invited Mike to join us. Both of us were old guys. My friend was playing guitar and I was struggling to make the banjo sound like something. My banjo sounded better to my ear than it sounded to other people. After a few times, Mike got interested in Banjo and bought an old Gibson Mastertone. Within 2 months he had surpassed my ability by miles. He told me he played about 4 hours daily. From there his ability exploded and mine still stayed crappy. But we, JIm and I, still look at Mike as our musical son.

[@2000HoursofBanjo]

Thank you for sharing that story with me. I showed my instructor one of Mike's videos, and within 5 seconds he said, "oh, this guy's really good." Ever since we have been incorporating Mike's lessons into my practices. If you still keep in touch with Mike, let him know he is very inspirational, and his videos are incredibly helpful.

[@larrychoat]

@@2000HoursofBanjo I haven't seen Mike for a few years as I moved to the Northern part of the state. But Jim does have contact with him from time to time. Being his musical father, he allows me access to his videos for free. But I have no time to devote to it. But if I see him I will tell him what you said.

[@stvnnmnn]

It is very tempting to gloss over a problem measure when you want to play a song. Especially if you are playing the rest of the song pretty well. However, don't do it. Stop, slow down, and play that measure over and over and over until you can do it in your sleep. You have to flesh out that weakness by repeating it until it is gone. Eventually your mind and fingers connect!

[@JacobvsRex]

I’d say you’ve got a good start. Once you feel like experimenting I say try clawhammer and two finger. Made banjo much more fun to me

[@mackplaysbanjo]

Keep going man! Sounding good. Glad to see that you’re not having too much pain with your hand

[@2000HoursofBanjo]

Thanks, Mack. Yeah, the finger pain has been a huge hurdle this first year. For a good month I was dunking my left hand in an ice bath for 10 minutes after every practice, which helps. But as my hand posture gets better the pain has been less and less an issue. I missed my opportunity to blame the banjo and buy a Nechville.

[@ukemaker]

Here's something that has helped me with left hand accuracy - Practice just left hand super slow without making any sounds with right hand, then make looking at target fret with eyes a separate task, making sure your eyes see the target before any movement of your left hand/fingers. Just like dancers spotting a place on the wall in a pirouette, or any ball hitting sport (tennis, golf, batting, etc.) training your eye movement is essential but often non-intuitive for beginners. Watch your own video and you can see that your eyes don't shift to the target before your left hand but try to move at the same time. Steps need to be 1) look at target fret. 2) Then move hand. But you are doing great!

[@2000HoursofBanjo]

Awesome tips. I will give them a try. Thanks!

[@jeffwoldaudio]

Your right hand sounds pretty good. I hope a large portion of your practice session is working on your "rolls." So important!

[@2000HoursofBanjo]

Thank you. And yes, I practice rolls every practice. In general, at this stage of learning I am making more mistakes with my left hand than my right hand.