Premium Members
New members click here to go straight to the video archive. Each video has it’s own post detailing the video.
There are currently around 100 videos banjo lesson on the site and over 1,100 members so you are not alone. We will get you picking very shortly. 
Step-by-step guide on how to login and watch a member’s video.
1. Go to banjoexpert.com
2. Click login on the right sidebar (at the top).
3. Enter your username and password.
4. Click “Bluegrass Banjo Lessons” at the top left of your profile.
5. Now, go to the Premium Members page and click the lessons link.
You are now officially logged into the site (even though it looks the same).
If you need any additional assistance feel free to contact me anytime at ryan@banjoexpert.com. You’ll find it easy to use once you have downloaded a video or two.
You can also call or text me at 317- four five nine -8865
You must be logged in to view premium member content.
You can update your personal profile by clicking the profile button at the top left of the dashboard.
{ 98 comments… read them below or add one }
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Hi Ryan: I am a new lifetime member. I would consider myself a medium level player. I play a Huber Lexington and I also have a Stelling Red Fox that is for sale.
I have viewed a number of your video’s and they look great. I’m looking forward to setting up skype and getting setup with the upstream videos.
My favorite all time break is by Jack Hicks on the Bean Blossom (73) album.The song is Roll On Buddy by Bill and James Monroe. The break is melodic. chromatic. Would it be possible to learn the ascending and descending licks on this break. It seems to be so busy I get lost in the first ascending lick. Any help would be appreciated. I could send you an Mp3 of the song if you haven’t heard or don’t have it.
You are doing a great job with the site.
Len
Ok, thanks Thomas
@Ryan
I will get a pic of the tabliture for you.
Yes, I’ve created the site to peak the interest of students at all levels. This isn’t always easy but I try to sprinkle a little bit for everyone throughout all of the lessons. Just start scrolling down from the top and watch a lesson that looks interesting to you. I would first start with our 10 part beginner lesson series. Thanks, Ryan
Thomas, I’m trying to get a good understanding of your questions. Are you asking how to play a chord with your left hand on the neck of the banjo? I’m not sure if you’re identifying the strings as the tab is asking you to do. Give me a little more detail or email the piece of tab that’s giving you trouble and I’ll help you fix it. Thanks, Ryan
Couold you give me some idea on the sight navigation of this sight?TYVM
THomas
Ok, I have been a premum member for a while and have serched for a question to ask. I myself play with the normal level of discomfort that comes with the inability to know if I am actually producing the music. I just cant seem to get the rolling sound that the cds and ppl produce. However, right now I want to know: if the music tabs say to place my fingers at third fret, (small string is one), 3,4,and five strings how do I hold that? Right now I just lay P finger across all three is that right?
Thanks Phil for the kind comment. Keep up the great work. It does take time. I’ll work on a lesson for the Ballad of Jed Clampet. I’ll put it on the Lesson “to do” list. Thanks so much. Ryan
Hi Ryan
just signed up for the life membership.
I’m new to the banjo.
Just to say thanks for the great lessons.
I cannot seem to concentrate on one tune but not doing to bad for a novice.
A quick question have you done a lesson on the Ballad of Jed Clampet?
Thankyou again
Phil from Sheffield, England
I have issues like this too. Now, I have no computer and get this site by my driod phone. I myself would love to know if what I’m playing is right. At this point its a little frustrating, but soo relaxing. @banjo donnie
Did I say the Duelling Banjos ending was cool? Well, yeah! It’s cool! Bryan, Ivybridge, Devon, UK.
Thanks Ryan!
Hi Ryan,
I like the new format. I do miss the ability to download the video to my desktop. I have a satellite link which is slow enough, but it also has a daily usage limit. Watching videos ove the internet isn’t an option for me. But keep up the great lessons. I eenoy them.
Thanks!
Hi Ryan,
I just signed up for lifetime membership and I was wondering how do I download the tab e-book mentioned in your sign up section.
Harry
Carter, I would probably check out bluegrasscountry.org. I’m sure there may be others. Maybe a member will chime in on their favorites.
Ryan,
Can you recommend a good bluegrass radio station that we can stream, either through itunes or otherwise?
thanks!
Yep, this is it. Keep me updated on your progress@NickBanjo43
Rick, add me as a friend on skype “ryancrist” and I’d be happy to lesson to some of your tunes.
Hi Ryan, i don’t expect you’d remember me ,i joined as a life member quite a long time ago,at that time i had a Crappy Banjo,and no WebCam and probably had on older Computer,well i have a nice Custom built Banjo scored off Ebay,copy of an old Gibson Bowtie ,i have a logitech Web Cam,my Computer isn’t up to snuff for my web Cam’s needs but it’s functional,i also have a SKYPE account . I’m in dire need of a Mentor who can send me feedback on my tunes i play and learn,i’ve just figured out some of “Hotel California” by the “EAGLES” ,i’m probably clasiffied an intermeadiate . i’m probably going to re-join as a lifetime member,would that give me access ,so as i could make small vids and sent them to you for Critique ? Rick from California
Yes you can download any video that you would like and then burn them to a dvd for your television. Let me know how you’re progressing. Thanks, Ryan
Hi Ryan,
Am I able to download videos on to my hard drive so I can burn to dvd and watch on the tv?
regards
Keith (UK)
It seems to be a problem with Internet Explorer 8. When I use Firefox, it works. So….I will use Firefox!
It sounds to me like you’re using a mac, in which case you will need to download a wmv player such as flip4mac. Click this link and check it out. Thanks.
Ryan – I am able to log in successfully, but when I try to access the Windows Media files I get a message that says, “Internet Explorer cannot display the web page”. This does not happen with the Quicktime media. Any idea what is going on?
Very good question. You need to start with our 10 beginner lessons which start here. Once you’re done with those if you feel like you’re still having trouble then email me and let me know. I always encourage folks to communicate. I will more than likely at that point set up a little skype lesson with you and evaluate your playing. You’ll be playing soon. Write me anytime. Thanks, Ryan
OK, what am I missing here? Looking for a logical progression of lessons for a total beginner and haven’t found them yet. What I see is a bunch of video’s that have no sequence or apparent steps to learning. If I have to view each of these video’s to determine if they are right for my absolute beginner level I could spend days just trying to find out where to begin. Where’s the total beginner guide-I can’t even hardly hold a banjo let alone figure out if I need a “D” tuner-whatever that is. Help!
Do you have any Leather Wide Banjo Straps? If so, How much are they?
Donnie Hoover
Hi Ryan,
I am fairly new to finding my way around the site. Are there any lessons on basic back-up techniques anywhere please?
Thanks
Tony
Ryan,
I am a brand new premium member and am very excited about your website and the potential for learning alot of great new stuff!
I do have a question. Can your videos be downloaded and saved to a hard drive. Right now, all it does is open a Media Player Window but has no option to save it. It would be really great if one could do that.
Randall
What about the leather banjo straps? How much are they & do you have any in stock?
Later, Donnie Hoover
Ryan: I think that if I could get tabaltures and possibly tabatures with the words I could progress faster. All the music I know is ( words) I learned years ago. If I could relate the tabaltures to words It would sure Help. If you know where I can get tablatures with words, please direct me in that direction. I also need an arm rest and strap for my banjo which is a Johnson JB 080. It is a 18 Bracket Hooks. The songs that I am working on are: Dueling Banjos, Cripple Creek, Amazing Grace, Banjo in The Hollow and Red River, I an going to concentrate on these ones first, I can relate to them. After I master these songs , I will try to pickup on that fancy stuff you guys play.
Your Help will be greatly appreciated .
Monte
PS: How do I send you a picture of ths fat ole banjo picker for your collection?
Monte, I’m so glad to have you on the site as a premium member. You’re going to learn a lot of good new banjo material. You’ll first want to start learning your rolls (forward, backward, and alternating). Once you’ve got these under your belt you’ll progress to chords. Let me know how you’re coming along and always send me your questions. Thanks, Ryan
Ryan: Today is my first, I am a 76 year ole bluegrass loving ole man with no muscial ability except good listening over the years, I have collected quite a collection of ole timer Autographs with a lot of them now in Glory playing for our Lord. Any way I got my banjo last year and have been very slow in understanding how to play like you guys. HELP, treat me like I don’t know nothing, Music Or how To Play and start me from (scrach-scrach) and bring ne along. I have one handy cap and that is that my middle finger on my right hand will not bend down but about 70%. I am trying to compensate and use my index finger more on picking the 1 string and can keep my pinkee finger down on the head instead of the 2nd finger. Is’s coming slow but I belive I can work it out. Looking forward to working with you in making a me a faily good Picker.
Monte
Most of those lesson were made on a mac. I’m in the process of converting them to wmv format. It should be complete soon. Good question. Thanks, Ryan
Donnie, don’t be too hard on yourself. This is very common for new pickers. I’m glad to hear that you’re getting the rolls down. You might focus on picking out the melody notes without rolls and then add the rolls in later. Keep it simple and don’t get too overwhelmed. I would work on Bile Them Cabbage. It’s a great tune to pick out the melody and then inject some rolling patterns. Keep it up!
Ryan
Been making some progress on the banjo which I’ve been practising for 9 months now. Seem to do rolls OK, but tunes are a problem. I can hit the right notes but have no rhythm and fail pretty much in accenting the melodies, so what I play is hardly recognisable. Actually I don’t always know which are the melody notes anyway!
Ryan, I am getting alot out of your videos and I’m spending way more time playing than ever before thanks to you! I do have one question so far; I am experiencing difficulty viewing the lessons with the blue Q icon (mp4)? The ones with muticolored arrow button work fine. Do I need to download some special program to read or view these lessons?
Bryan, what a great site–very, very useful and helpful.
I am having trouble knowing what to do with the left hand while in this case picking the forward roll. I,m a month old premium member, so try to be patient, hehe.
Does the left hand fingers stay on the same strings as the right hand fingers are picking? What I am trying to say is when I am picking the 2,1,5 roll pattern, does a left hand finger have to be fretting the same string the right hand is picking? This would be a great lesson for me on your site.
Thanks muchly,
Charles Bowlin
I see in some of the adds that there two propics.. one is plain and the other is angled.. What is the difference??
Harry, it’s probably your connection speed. You will need to have something higher than dial-up in order to download the vids. It should take no more than 3 minutes or so to download our largest videos. Feel free to call me or email me anytime at ryan@banjoexpert.com and I’ll be happy to help you troubleshoot the issue for you. Thanks so much. Ryan
Ryan,
I have tried all evening toto get the patterns (9 minute video to come up on my computer, I have all the basics Icons but cant get any of them to down load? Please help me. Thanks Harry Wright. hrwrg3@aol.com
Jack, in the past all of our tabs were located in the tab book that you have downloaded. I have decided to switch to another method which is to have the tabs listed along with the lessons. I’m in the process of getting them all lined up with the lessons. Thanks for the question.
Ryan,
Figured it out, got the tabs for Old Joe Clark, amazing what a right click can do… thanks.
Jack
Ryan, I am a new member, love the videos. Having challenges finding and viewing the tabs that accompany the lessons. I have tabedit and downloaded the tab book. I am going to start some work on old joe clark and am having trouble finding and downloading the tabs to accompany the video lessons. Thanks for the help.
Jack
Just read your article. I especially like #6 that says I’m not too old and #7 where I don’t have to be afraid. With all of the people that go through our home (my daughters run a music studio here) I have an audience whenever I want (which is usually never). It keeps one humble.
Hi Ryan,
Just want to thank you. I used your step by step video for changing banjo strings and have accomplished the feat. This is major for a 58 year old who has no experience tampering with instruments. All my facebook friends have been cheering me on. You made it very easy.
Sheila
Looks Like I found the members page
Thanks John, It’s good to know we have a fellow student from England. Keep us posted on your progress. We’re curious.
Hi Ryan,
Love the new layout, I need to focus more on my learning – I flit about from book to U tube to banging away on my own – hopefully this will help me to stick to one thing.
Appreciate all the work you put into the lessona and the site.
Regards,
John from Devon, England
Yes, you get every lesson we produce! We want you to learn the banjo.
Ryan, when you mean life-time member for 47.00 does that mean I pay only the 47 dollars just the one time and have all your lessons for as long as I want?
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