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Forum - Banjo Ben Clark

Changing your practice for jams

“Why can’t I play at jams like I play at home?”

Seems like we’ve all experienced this. I was noticing that I had this experience at almost every jam, so last week I decided to test a theory. When I practice, I’m at my desk and my monitor and a wall at about 2 feet in front of me. There’s a lot to echo my banjo’s sound back. When I’m at a jam, it’s a pretty big room, and I noticed that I was playing a lot harder because I couldn’t hear my banjo the way I could while practicing.

So, I started practicing facing away from my monitor. Not nearly as much in front of me to bounce that sound back. Well, last night I went to a jam and it actually felt good! Now, it was a smaller jam, so the jury is still out, but I feel like getting used to hearing less from my banjo helped.

Has anyone else tested this theory?

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Vewy vewy intewesting…

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A few years back I was practicing outside on my front porch when a neighbour from the top end of the street came down to see who was making all the noise. I had just finished playing Cripple Creek and she said that just sounds like Billy Connolly. Not sure if she meant that as an insult or a compliment. Billy play’s Clawhammer. Some comparison eh!

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It always amazes me how some people can get so wild with their right hand playing claw hammer. Like, how in the world does he ever hit the right string? I’m in awe.

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Billy doesn’t always hit the right string especially after a few sherbets. He also plays a mean autoharp but be warned his on stage comedy act is full of profanities. His full title is Sir Billy Connolly he received an Knighthood from HM the Queen. He is semi retired now.

That is true Mark. You will have a tendency to strike the strings harder in open spaces because of lack of reflection feedback. This affects timing. Second thing to to do is have any backup music (at home) on split speakers so the other instruments are coming at you from other directions, just as in a jam circle. It can make a difference in training the ears. An old “trick” if one doesn’t have many jam opportunities. If you’re jamming a lot, it really doesn’t matter for refresher practice.

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Went to another jam tonight. Felt better again. I think there’s something to playing toward the room rather than playing toward my desk. It just feels more familiar at the jams now. That’s the best way I can describe it.

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The I go to is in the corner of a bar/brew-pub with brick walls and often the door is open to the street. It’s loud - sometimes I can barely hear myself play and will put my head down near my banjo head to make sure I’m actually making the sound I think I am haha. When I’m making an attempt at a break, I’m really laying into the strings, much more than I ever would at home. I like the idea of just playing along to some music in my room with the volume up but I can only do that when no one else is around!

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Yeah, I’m convinced playing harder than normal is why I mess up at jams so much. Whatever you can do to duplicate the atmosphere of the jam at home, I’d do it. In your case, I might even try putting on/in some hearing protection to mute the volume.

Not being able to hear your own banjo…. Wow! That’s a loud jam!

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