Need Readers Opinion(s) on Book - Gestalt Banjo
Richard A Hauser
through the net, I found the book "Gestalt Banjo" by Paul Hawthorne. If you
have read the book, what do you think of it ? If you reply, please let me
know if you consider yourself a beginner, intermediate, or advanced banjo
player. From the little bit I read on the net, he (Paul Hawthorne) may
provide me with a little more information on using my right hand.
Conor Daly
There is a section in the book that deals specifically with that issue
in depth and I found it very useful. Overall I found it to be a very
good book especially since I've never been able to find a teacher and
it answers some of the questions that some other otherwise good books
kind of gloss over. The exercises can be very boring and frustrating
but they do help put you on the right track, so quite a bit of
commitment is required. To answer your other question I consider
myself beginner to intermediate.
Rgds,
Conor
Pat Costello
Never read the book, but I've chatted with Paul a few times over the
net. He comes across as a fairly together kind of guy so I'd suggest
going ahead and giving the book a try.
That said, no book, instructor, workshop or video is going to give you
all of the answers. We each have to find our own solutions just as we
each have to find our own voice- and that's not just the banjo but
just about every musicial instrument you can think of. We all process
information in our own unique way, and we all have different bodies.
No two of us are put together the same way.
Whatever your right hand problem is the odds are that there is a
simple solution staring you in the face. In my expierience there is no
"wrong" way to play as all that really matters is that you can get the
rhythm down cold. If you are frailing it's a quater note and two
eighth notes and in bluegrass it's basically a string of eighth notes.
How you get that isn't important. Don't make the mistake of thinking
right or wrong- and don't make the mistake of thinking like a banjo
player.
Think like a musician.
I'd suggest listening to how mandolin players, flatpick guitar players
or any other musician treats the rhythm and melody line. People are so
linear in thier thinking nowadays, they keep running into a brick wall
over and over again rather than looking at the wall from a different
perspective- and when you shift your perspective you find ways to go
around, over, under or through that brick wall.
Give Paul's book a shot (tell him I said "hi") and try other things at
the same time. Ask yourself if there really is a problem. Gather
information and find a solution that works for you.
Patrick