From the monthly archives:

April 2009

How To Use a Metronome With Your Banjo

Ryan,
One area where I have great difficulty as a lone learner is with timing/using a metronome, is this an area you could cover at some future date?
Thanks,
Peter
Peter, thanks for the great lesson request. Yes, timing is a huge issue when it comes to playing the banjo. It can become a great barrier for [...]

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How do I Smooth Out My Banjo Rolls?

Question:

Hello,
I’ve been practicing and have made it to the point that I can play most rolls “like a machine gun”. My problem is, when I play a song (any one) I can’t quite get that fumbling, clip-a-de clop rhythm down pat.
Do you have any suggestions? I have purchased several instrumental bluegrass [...]

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Bend the 1st String / Chording Basics

icon for podpress  7th Fret Bend / Chording Basics [10:31m]: (Member Videos - click to login)

Hello, in this lesson you’ll learn an advanced bend on the 1st string and also learn some ultimate beginner banjo chording techniques. The advanced part is the fist half of the vid and the beginner chording is the second part.
I probably should have split this lesson into two separate weeks but thought [...]

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Let’s Watch a Powerful Bela Break.

This is one of my all time favorite bluegrass video clips. Tony is a master at “Freeborn Man”. All of the musicians in this vid are phenomenal. See if you can figure out part of Bela’s break. It’s pretty exciting.

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