Sign Up for Ryan’s high powered banjo lessons!
Shucking the Corn! Here’s an in depth video of how to play the “A” part of Shucking the Corn on the Banjo. I play the song up to speed first and then break down the licks at a slower pace.
Shucking the Corn has been one of my favorite tunes since the very beginning. I can recall playing it many times for family sitting around at Christmas time. Everybody always enjoys the great up-tempo tune. Have fun with it and remember to add a lick or two of your own in there.
p.s. I just want to say that you guys are the greatest! I really enjoy spending time talking with you over emails, phone, and skype. Have a great week!
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
hi ryan im coming to the states 6 sep to cape cod is there any bluegrass going on around that area do you know regards eddie fingers
i am thinking about becoming a member , so do i have a list of lessons to choose from and i can work on them as i want or do you send a lesson each month? and can i cancel at any time? and do you take out of paypal auto each month? please let me know these questions , i would likt to know what lessons you have to choose from thanks
There are so many. I would use one that you can use to put the recorded files on your computer. You’ll want to save your recordings digitally long term. That’s just my advice. I use my iphone for quick recordings and I use my mac with garage band and a CO1U Samson microphone for more serious stuff. That is a usb mic. Thanks, Ryan
It’s your choice
That’s the beauty of the banjo. You get to decide how you want to play it and how you want it to sound. I would encourage you to try both and see which sound that you like best. I probably used the push off because it was the direction that I was moving on the fingerboard at the time. It was best suited for setting up my next pick stroke and fingering. Always try to use fingering that will set you up for your next move. You have to think ahead in banjo playing. Thanks, Ryan
ryan i do notice that you use a push off rather than a pull off in shucking the corn is this the norm or does it mater which one you use thanks eddie
ryan whats the best recorder to get please advize thank eddie
Well done, I’m more than willing to help you if you need something further on it. Keep up the good work! Ryan
Ryan I figured out the hammer on on the 4th string just took me a bit.
As a very novice beginner I think I could get shucking the corn a little easier with tablature. Are they available? I am playing a deering goodtime classic What are your thoughts on this. Ed Thompson.
Tom, yes this video is now for members only. The membership is the same, just a different price. Some people prefer to pay monthly so they have that option as well. It’s just not nearly as economical. The lifetime price will most likely be raised soon to $99.00 so if you’re interested at all I would jump in now while it’s half off. Thanks, Ryan
you sent me shucking the corn, but it wont play ” says for members its part a’and what,s dif between 47.00 life and reg membership???
They have the exact same benefits. Just a different price. Some people prefer monthly. Thanks, Ryan
what is the dif between 47.00 lifetime &mounthly dues???
Thanks Nick. It sounds like you’re working hard on it and it’s paying off. Keep up the good work and keep me posted on your progress. Thanks, Ryan
Thanks Bob for your good comments. I must say that it’s difficult for me not to post tabs. I actually spent a lot of time teaching myself how to write out tab quickly. I would agree that it’s easier and quicker to learn a song in this fashion. I just personally feel that most cookie cutter banjo teachers teach with tab and I want to be a teacher that pushes you to learn by ear and by watching others fingers and listening to the notes. I know if I had not learned this technique then I would have missed out on a lot of cool licks that I learned by watching at festivals. I guess it’s the principle of teaching a person to fish instead of just feeding them the fish they want. Thanks again Bob for the comment. Take care, Ryan
you make it easy to learn,i love it.
Ryan,
Hello. I’ve been a member for some time now, and have learned so much here. I think that your play by ear theory is correct and works well for younger banjo players. I know from way back when I played guitar regularly; if I listened to something once or twice I could play it.
But to be honest with you,,, this banjo is kick’n my but when it comes to just listening to a song and then playing it. I’m thinking that maybe it’s because of my age (a 51 y/o dog trying to learn new tricks). I really think that I am able to pick new songs up much faster when I have the tabs to glance at. Then, after that initial learning period, I find that watching a video and listening to you play the song allows me to polish up the timing / rhythm. I find the same true with the two buddies I get together with on Thursday evenings. It seems that we can progress a lot quicker if there is a tab of what ever the song is that we are attempting to play.
Just wanted to throw in what seems to work best for me. Many thanks, and keep up the good work!
Bob Rynes
Dear Ryan,
Thanks for the comments regarding the tab. I can see where you’re coming from and will try to work to learn from sight.
I am actually starting to see progress in my learning for the first time. I credit your site and careful explanations for this, so thank you.
Nick
I probably won’t be posting tab as I would prefer you to start learning by sight. It’s a bit more difficult at first but pays huge dividends in the end. I know it’s not quite as easy, but give it a shot. It will come more naturally as time progresses. Thanks, Ryan
Suzanne, when pushing down your fingers on the frets to make the chords the two most important things to remember is that the ends of your fingers are right behind the fret (almost touching it) and you also need to push straight down on to the fingerboard with the ends of your fingers. It’s like you’re using the bones in the ends of your fingers to do the fretting.
I push down the strings fairly solid. It’s definitely not a light touch. When chording, however, there is a time when you let off of the frets while still touching the strings to get a muted sound. You do this at the end of the chord (aka vamping).
Thanks for the great question,
Ryan
Dear Ryan,
Thank you for a very informative lesson again. WOuld it be possible to place the tab on the website as it would make studying much easier.
Thanks again for an amazing site.
Nick
I am a beginner, how hard do you hold down the chords, even though i feel i am not pushing hard, my notes are very flat. Is it just a light touch? With picking & strumming i am fairly happy but with the chords i am bad.
Hello, and welcome to the website. We get this question quite often. I usually don’t teach exactly note for note. I will almost always play something a bit different up to speed as well as each time I run through the song. I’m trying to teach you to do the same thing. Diversity in your solos is very important. It’s nice to know that you’re paying close attention. Not everyone catches it. I probably won’t put up a tab for this song. I’m not a big fan of tablature simply because I want to be the teacher who teaches you to learn by ear (listening and watching people’s fingers). If you can learn to do this then you’ll learn much more in the long run. For example: When you’re out at a festival and you see a pro play an awesome lick you’ll catch it while everyone else will be begging you to tab it out for them
Keep on practicing. Thanks for the email!
Howdy Ryan -
As a “newbie” lifetime member I really enjoy the lessons. Tow questions on “shuckin’ the corn” -
1. On the initial run-through of teh song it looks like you are doing something different than the straight C chord in the following instruction. Am I seeing things?
2. Is there – or will there be – a tab available for this song. I’m not always practicing near the computer.
P.S. Pretty good keyboard work with fingerpicks on, ya think?
Hello, you can click here to check out what’s included in our lifetime membership or if you have any specific questions pleas feel free to email me anytime at ryan@banjoexpert.com. Thanks, Ryan
G’day Ryan,,,Any chance of some Australian folk music,,,,Waltzing Matilda, Click goes the shears etc,,,,Cheers Chris
great tune ryan need more detailes on joining please
Hi Ryan
do have this song written in tabs. I can practice during the day but I dont have my computer with me. I’m really excited out your lessons, I have been trying to learn on my own.
Amy, yes this tune is played in G tuning. I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Keep us posted on your progress! Ryan
Thanks! this is great, i’ll try it out.
Is this in G tuning?
Great instruction, very clear and methodical. Nice relax way of teaching.
Look forward to future lessons.
Thanks Ryan.