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November 2009 Blog Posts (27)

3 string banjo

im just exploring the unique sounds of a 3 string banjo 1 g string 2 high e strings tuned gdg it sounds amazing esp. with slide happy pluckin and happy thanks giving to all u usaers

Added by michael greene on November 27, 2009 at 5:05pm — No Comments

what a buzz

i was sitting on the verandah at work playing one of my cbgs when a lady come up and offered me $200 for it as a present for her son .
i was blown away

Added by michael greene on November 26, 2009 at 5:10am — 1 Comment

Nice to be back with the CBG folks. I've been gone for a couple of years. Trying to find time to get back into building and have a question for the group. Does anyone know a good source for those cheapie wood bridges that you insert the strings through the end of the bridge? They are usually anchored to the instrument by a couple of bolts and nuts that are capped with a couple of pearloid buttons like fret markers. You see these kind of bridges on the cheap imported "backpacker" guitars on… Continue

Added by Ron Moucka on November 24, 2009 at 11:11am — 1 Comment

An introduction, of sorts

I currently own 2 acoustic and 3 electric guitars, 1 electric bass guitar, 1 fiddle, a banjo, 2 autoharps, 1 mandolin, a few harmonicas, a melodica, 2 old electronic keyboards, an electric piano, and a Peruvian ocarina. I am almost finished building a lap steel using wood from my late Great Grandfather's house.

*Hopefully* I will finish that in the next day or two and finally start on a CGB.

I've been playing guitar for a little over 30 years, and making horrendous noises on… Continue

Added by Jeff "Strat Fink" Tinsley on November 23, 2009 at 1:32am — 2 Comments

By and By I'm Goin' to See the King

Open G tuning on 3 string - (D)GBd

By and By I'm Goin' to See the King
Traditional based on Jean Rene Reming version
Open G 3 or 4 string (D)GBd

This is repeated throughout the song:
d-----3-----3-2-0---0---||
B-------(0)-------0----*||
G---0------------------*||
(D)---------------------||

Added by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on November 22, 2009 at 11:00pm — No Comments

The authentic one stringed instruments called "canjoes".

Hello CBG makers, I joined this site after viewing comments that I discovered from a forum discussion on this site about the one-stringed musical instruments called "canjoes". Though I saw several comments regarding Herschel R. Brown's canjoe instruments in the discussion, I also noticed that the actual history of these cool little instruments (that Herschel did originate) needed to be included. Herschel Brown was a very close and long time friend of mine. He introduced me to his canjoe… Continue

Added by CanJoe*John on November 22, 2009 at 9:07pm — 7 Comments

The Donkey's Dilemma

I have a nascent blues song in my notebook with lyrics that start:

   I've got an ocean of gin to the right of me,

   I've got a river of whiskey to my left,


   And just like a donkey, for the life of me,


   I can't figure which one is best.





   I feel just like a stubborn donkey,


   Stuck between two bales of hay,


   No matter which way I turn my head,


   I have to let something sweet slip away.

and go on from there.

I… Continue

Added by Tres Seaver on November 18, 2009 at 8:00pm — 2 Comments

fretless bluesboy jag cbg with hand wound magnetic pickup video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ7Tt285xG0

Added by Bluesboy Jag on November 18, 2009 at 6:27pm — 2 Comments

"Don't Do That" original tune on CBG live video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93wKR9bJwaI

Get the "A Bump and A Beer" CD that this song is on here.

http://www.jagshouse.com/music/a_bump_and_a_beer.html

Added by Bluesboy Jag on November 18, 2009 at 6:26pm — No Comments

YouTube CBG instructional video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXDhtwCSfgo

Added by Bluesboy Jag on November 18, 2009 at 6:23pm — 1 Comment

Bluesboy Jag CD's with CBG

8 CD's of cigar box guitar blues n boogie: http://www.jagshouse.com/music/jagsolo.html

Added by Bluesboy Jag on November 18, 2009 at 6:20pm — No Comments

Captain Beefheart's Ten Commandments For Guitarists

1. LISTEN TO THE BIRDS...That's where all the music comes from. Birds know everything about how it should sound and where that sound should come from. And watch hummingbirds. They fly really fast, but a lot of times they aren't going anywhere.

2. YOUR GUITAR IS NOT REALLY A GUITAR...Your guitar is a divining rod. Use it to find spirits in the other world and bring them over. A guitar is also a fishing rod. If you're good, you'll land a big one.

3. PRACTICE IN FRONT OF A… Continue

Added by Nathan King on November 18, 2009 at 10:16am — 1 Comment

none

Added by Niba Tee on November 18, 2009 at 7:31am — No Comments

Banjo mock up

My box has eventually arrived - a montecristo No. 2

It's a decent size - about 27cm x 17cm x 5cm.

Here's a picture of a mock up of something like what I'm aiming for with a stencil of my potential sound hole design (although it's got a uke bridge on it and fishing line strings and I haven't put the 5th string peg in yet and....etc. etc.)

On my to do list I've got to:

Reinforce the box

Build up the neck under the last 6… Continue

Added by Andrew Hughes on November 17, 2009 at 4:56pm — No Comments

Hello brother Thank you for yours comments By the way, it's a cookie tin and not a safe money box Best regards

Hello brother
Thank you for yours comments
By the way, it's a cookie tin and not a safe money box
Best regards Continue

Added by Mr Dark Blue Eyes on November 17, 2009 at 11:37am — No Comments

Canjo Plans

All, Here is the plans for the Canjo based on Herschel Brown, et al. They are freely available and the intent is for us CBGers to make them for schools, hospitals, as a Boy/Girl Scout project, Church project, or any other act of community good will.

You must download the free Google SketchUp to open and work with this file (.skb).

Use them for fun. Use them in peace ;-)…

Continue

Added by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on November 15, 2009 at 10:30pm — 12 Comments

Cigar Box Banjo underway

Hello.

First post , and I'm not entirely sure what I'm doing, so sorry for any mistakes.

So I've actually started on my banjo. I bought an old egmont acoustic 6 string guitar in pieces for a couple of quid. I've taken the neck and cut it down to 5 string banjo proportions.

I took most of the varnish off to find some quite nice beech.

I've also, very badly, modified the headstock - taking my design inspiration from a roll of masking tape.

I like the look though.

To… Continue

Added by Andrew Hughes on November 15, 2009 at 12:32pm — 2 Comments

Trying to get back to teaching CBG building

I was at the conservation corps. yesterday seeing if the funds were there for me to start the classes again. I'll know next month. I am excited to get back to teaching cbg building again.

Added by Larry McPheeters on November 13, 2009 at 10:43am — No Comments

Trying to get back to teaching CBG building

I was at the conservation corps. yesterday seeing if the funds were there for me to start the classes again. I'll know next month. I am excited to get back to teaching cbg building again.

Added by Larry McPheeters on November 13, 2009 at 10:43am — No Comments

In the beginning

I thought I would write about how I came to be a CBG builder and player. It started when I was about ten years old. I decided I wanted to play the guitar, that christmas I got one. It was more of a toy, but it had strings and frets and it looked cool, so I was happy.

Then I started trying to learn to play, boy it wasn't all that easy. I practiced and struggled, but didn't get much better.

There were no books or video lessons like there is today to lead you along the path of what… Continue

Added by John C Predmore on November 12, 2009 at 4:21am — No Comments