Banjo
Piano
Guitar
I like the bluegrass or 3-finger picking style with two metal picks on the index and middle fingers and a plastic thumb pick. The father of this style was the great Earl Scruggs. Did you know that the comedian, Steve Martin, plays banjo? My current banjo is a Deering Golden Era, sold to me by my dear friend Todd. I like the old classics like Foggy Mountain Breakdown, the Ballad of Jed Clampett, Jesse James, Salty Dog Blues; in addition to Gospel Bluegrass like I’ll Fly Away, I Saw the Light and Will the Circle be Unbroken.
The piano is also one of my favorite instruments. I have been playing for a long time and I like Ragtime and Classical pieces the best. Ever here of The Entertainer, Maple Leaf Rag or Pineapple Rag? I also like the old time music like Let Me Call You Sweetheart, Beer Barrel Polka and a lot of others. This piano is a Wurlitzer, my first one that I bought about 18 years ago but I sold it when we down-sized and just ordered the electric Casio PX-870 to replace it.
The guitar is another awesome instrument. Next to the trumpet, I’ve been playing this the longest. I like playing acoustic dreadnought guitars. These are the ones with the biggest boxes so they give the louder, more bass sound. I just bought a Carvin acoustic and am playing a lot more recently. Current songs are by Simon & Garfunkel, Kansas, Fleetwood Mac’s Never Going Back Again, etc. I love the 1970’s easy rock music.
Deering Golden Era Banjo
Wurlitzer Piano
Carvin Acoustic Guitar
Other Instruments
Trumpet
Flute
Harmonica
Mandolin
The trumpet was my first instrument. I started in fifth grade with it and played through tenth grade. I liked to listen to Al Hirt, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass and Doc Severenson. Sold my silver plated trumpet in 2021, had it for about 50 years. I also played Bugler’s Holiday.
I never had my own flute but I played my friend’s for about a year back in the seventies in my Jethro Tull days, listening to Ian Anderson. The flute is a very fun instrument to play. I have a neighbors flute now and am starting to pick it up again. Think Stairway to Heaven & Color My world.
I play harmonica a little bit. I play it when I am playing the piano song Piano Man by Billy Joel. I’ve learned to play harmonica with my guitar. I play Neil Young’s Heart of Gold and America’s Lonely People. I want to learn Long Train Runnin’ by the Doobie Brothers.
I love the picking of a mandolin. I got the opportunity to play one for a few weeks a few years ago. I will probably pick one up sometime in the future. I love the bluegrass feel of the instrument. Ever hear of Bill Monroe or Ricky Skaggs?
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