Question from Gar

Question:

Hi Ryan-

I just joined BanjoExpert.com a couple days ago and am searching your site for things to learn. I’m a beginner and recently bought my Gold Tone “Cripple Creek” banjo from the manufacturer in Titusville, FL (about a 30 minute drive from Winter Park / Orlando). The owner of Gold Tone was very helpful and it was a fun experience seeing how their made in the factory!

As of today, I can play the basics of Cripple Creek and I watched your video and now I can play your “Cripple Creek – up the neck!” I’m slow, but working on individual notes and trying to get a little quicker every week. As a true beginner, it is VERY exciting to be able to play something that a friend would actually recognize! I’m ready to pick out a second tune to start working on…perhaps something easy, but a little longer. (Any suggestions?)

I look forward to learning more from you and your website.

Best regards,
-Gar

Answer:

Gar,

Hello, I’m glad to hear that you’ve picked up Cripple Creek. Here are three tunes that I would recommend next; Bile them Cabbage Down, Foggy Mountain Breakdown, and Shenendoah Valley Breakdown.

Foggy Mtn will be the most advanced of the three but will teach you some very crucial banjo techniques and it has many versions that you can incorporate into a break that you like.

Keep us updated on the Gold Tone. I’m curious to hear how you like it.

p.s. I’ll pick these three tunes on our next member’s video lesson so you can get a good idea of the basics and what you should be working toward.

Thanks and keep the good questions coming,
Ryan