Entering the trad scene? Tenor banjo...

ApeXaviour

Hey all,
Okay I recieved a very nice surprise of a tenor banjo there for christmas. Now my aim is to be able eventually to sit in on a trad sesúin at a pub. Or to play with the trad society in my college. I've played the guitar for a couple years (self taught), so have the finger coordination and some theory behind me already.

I bought the only tenor banjo book Waltons had. It's a collection of Irish jigs and reel solos. Now I know nothing of traditional music. My question is: are these reels and such the type of thing I need to learn to be able to play in an accompanied traditional setting? Or do trad banjo players usually strum chords? Are there certain songs that are usually played that I'd be advised to learn?

Any other advice anyone could offer for a beginner trying to enter this scene?

Thanks

Funkstard

I'm the exact same as you. I bought my banjo last summer, and have had only a Waltons book to help me. I went to a few lessons in Comhltas and the teacher knew the songs I knew, so they must be known.

There's a book I saw which was 50 session tunes or something. I think it might have been in music notation though which rules it out for me.

Tenor Banjo's are almost always picked in a session and not strummed. If you have an ear alot of it seems to just be playing along.

Good luck!

daphil

Another banjo learned from Cork here. I can not read music either ,but use tabs, see http://staffweb.cms.gre.ac.uk/~c.walshaw/abc/
There is free software that converts the "abc tabs" to a readable form or you can listen to it played back. ABCmus 2 and tab edit will work.
If you need more help gime me a shout.
Dave