Look! Some Miscellaneous Tips and Sundry Things We Hope You Find Useful:

Tying a Bowline Knot:

The hottest new banjo strings are Nylguts, a proprietary synthetic gut string from Italy. These are fairly high-tension, and not only feel good, but sound wonderful on banjos! But, how does one tie them onto a tailpiece designed for loop-end strings? Simple: just click here for step-by-step photos and a very short video!

String Changing:

Ever get stuck trying to change strings? In response to a customer's request, herewith is a handy-dandy how-to guide to string changing (if you have a slow connection, be aware that this page has several photos to load).

Goodtime Banjo Disassembly/Assembly:

Need to know how to take apart and reassemble a Goodtime banjo? Here are step-by-step instructions and photos (if you have a slow connection, be aware that this page has several photos to load).


Positioning a Banjo Bridge:

Another handy-dandy how-to tip--this time, it's How to correctly position the bridge on your banjo (or mandolin, FTM).

Tone Rings:

Want to see a bunch of open back banjo tone rings? Look at http://zeppmusic.com/Tonerings/

Stockwell Moon brand Bridge Comparison Sound Files:

Moon brand banjo bridge sound comparison files. For comparing the tonal effects of the three weights of bridge made by Randy Stockwell.

Sound Files:

In response to some specific requests, here's a page with links to some MP3 files that I have made for demonstrating instruments or for my students' lessons. (Please read the disclaimer on that page.)


Clawhammer ClearHead™ Video Clips

After listening to me play clawhammer, if you're curious to see how my right hand moves you can watch several short video clips of my clawhammer-style right hand motion as seen from beneath, through a clear banjo head.

Banjo String Set Gauges:

For those who might have interest in such things, I have compiled a list of most of the major brands of banjo string sets, and then sorted them by gauges, lightest to heaviest, based on the 1st, then 2nd, then 3rd, and finally 4th strings . Might help you find what you're looking for...

Raleigh, NC Area Teachers:

Sorry, but after 8 years of keeping this list here post-retirement, I'm abandoning this service because:
I'm sure there are many excellent teachers whom I don't know and who do not know of this list,
No one has provided any updated information, and
At least one of the people who had been on the list is now dead, although no one told me.
--dbz 03 Jan 2022

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