Extreme Video Banjo Lessons by Ryan Crist! We push learning the 5-string to a whole new level.
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Recent Comments
Allan Collison: Ryan , Thanks this will Help alot . My Hands have been Healing slow but been practice rolls. Always Al
ron gross: looking over your tabs and i dont know what to do when there are 2 differant,(or more), fret numbers above each other in the same bar??
Rick Prince: 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...
bryce whitehead: Thanks man! The split screen is a BIG help.
Ryan: 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
cece: that split screen was kewl. …i have been struggeling with learning cripple creek. could you do a slit screen of that. thankyou.
Keith: 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)
Jack Arnold: Ryan, I’m playing the tune “Pick Along” the Earl way but I need the tab for the up the neck break. Can you help? Thanks, Jack.
Hopkins Jesse: Hello Patricia, I just wanted to comment on the banjo I first bought to learn on. If you are not wanting to spend a whole lot on a beginner banjo, I think you might like the Epiphone MB-250. That is the one I learned on and I am quite impressed with the sound of it. You can buy one...
brucevarney: RYAN, I would like to get tabs for Beulah Land. Thanks Bruce
Gary Morse: Great job guys. Its so good to see the younger ones interested in music….and great job Jason…nice to see you playin it at the speed you could handle, keep up the good work guys..
Andrea Oberheiden: I love it, great!
Randy Moon: I am thinking about joining. I have seen you on another sight and really liked what I saw. My question is I have a Mac computer and iPad I use. Many of the videos fail to load. Have you heard this before?
kevin gibson: pickin anduh grinnin
Jason Edwards: Ryan, Thanks for the response! After reading your post, I went back and started listening to some of my favorite bluegrass tunes and suddenly realized that most of the songs were doing precisely what you mentioned. Don’t know why I never noticed that before! Thanks again!...
donatoaguilar: hi ryan im inerested to have a dueling banjo lesson thenk u till nw im waiting for your reply
jani: For me, the driver buying a banjo comes from Neil Young’s “My Boy”song – banjo played by Bela Fleck. My wife is pregnant and I thought that I MUST get the banjo and learn the intro and chords of this song. Naturally I would like to see this song intro, and also some...
Retha: Ryan, I’ve been looking for the tabs to “Pardon Me” by the Cox family. Is there any available??? Thank you! Retha Cole
Heavy Duty: Hi Ryan, Over my journey of learning to play the banjo, I found myself way too dependent on tablature. That said, I have found what works best for me is: 1. Having the song played at a medium speed and then at tempo. 2. Having the instructor explain the right hand picking pattern and...
kchittenden: It seems to be a problem with Internet Explorer 8. When I use Firefox, it works. So….I will use Firefox!
emilywoody: Hi Ryan, I’d like to learn to play Earls Breakdown, I have een browsing the archives, but haven’t found it. Maybe you can give us a lesson on this one, Thanks , you site is a great help to me.
kitflaata: sorry my imperfections, am new here:-)
- Hawk.
Tom Strauss: 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...
Jay Jay: I’ve been pickin and teaching private lessons for some 30 years. I just viewed your banjo expert site and I am VERY impressed. SON, you know how to do it ! I have relocated far from my original home recently ,kind of leaving my students stranded. I’m going to highly recomend...
David Smith: Hi Ryan, I am considering joining your site. I have a couple questions. After a few years I guess I would call myself somewhere between advanced beginner and intermediate. Do you get into the more difficult banjo tunes, and playing in different keys, and different tunings. Do you...
Peter: Hi Ryan . I’ve just joined the ‘clan’. I’ve been ‘boiling the cabbage’ for some months now and can follow tab fairly well but I think following tab can be a hindrance at times. I would like to memorize a song rather than have to follow the tab but I seem to have a short memory!...
jackh: Maybe color code the lessons in the archives. Thanks, JRH
trevorwoosnam: G’day from land of oz Ryan…i have been playing only for 6 mths…i am 67 years young…and love this banjo..i have surfed the net many times because i am hooked , i have spent a lot of money on getting lessons , videos, dvd,s etc am teaching m,yself because...
dannybrown: Ryan, I am looking for tab for “1952 Vincent Black Lighting”. Can you help? Thanks Danny Brown
Joseph Newns: Ryan I like the demo software I downloaded from you but how do I go about obtaining this software for my personal use (no demo title written across it)? I look forward to hearing from you Regards Joe
bill: I have been banjoing for more than 50 years (11 years in a BG band) but tasteful up-the-neck backup has eluded me – what can you offer? thanks, bill
tina: hey i’m trying to learn how to play the banjo, and i need to know how to start picking something that i can pratace on can you give me a good roll, and a lot of people tell me to not worry about the cords just get down the rolls , hope you can help me i love my banjo, but i...
jeddymorrisonri: I love the new bluegrass sound. The Allison Kraus albums have some really neat banjo songs, but I can’t find any tabs. Just learning a lick or two from their albums would be great.
rabbit: so i litterily just got this banjo the day before yeaterday and i can say ima good beginier ,partily becaust of the 2 years of guitar expirence, and i cant find any dueling banjo tabs and i saw u on youtube …er can you help me out i just need the tabs
much appericiatedRichie Woods: Hello Ryan, I must say I’m very impressed with your website and your commitment to the banjo, If you could help me, I would most appreciate it. I’m from Ireland and I started playing the banjo 3 years ago, and in Ireland there aren’t many 5 string Banjo players...
Donald Hoover: Do you have any Leather Wide Banjo Straps? If so, How much are they? Donnie Hoover
Bob R: I’d like to see lessons on these songs; “Shady Grove”, “Wild Bill Jones”, “Bury Me Beneath the Willow”, and “Billy in The Low Ground”. I signed up to your web site a short time after I started taking lessons at a local music store....
Jonathan: Hi Ryan, I like your ideas of ordering the lessons so it is easier to progress and definately more tabs! Somewhere to buy strings etc with confidence you are getting the right stuff sounds good too. Keep up the good work! Jonathan
Kelly Thompson: Ryan, Are the new tabs going to be it tabledit format? I hope so, I enjoy the flexability tabledit has to offer. Being able to view the fretboard and control the playback speed are a couple of tools that are indispensable to a novice picker.
Ben Frihauf: Hi Ryan, I think all three of those ideas are great and would be really helpful for me. Thanks, Ben
MELISSA: I would also like to see a lesson about what brand of accesseries are the best to buy, like cases, picks, tuners, strings, etc., and where to buy them. Where are the banjo straps you keep talking about? Are you still going to sell them? Please let us know one way or another.
Thomas: Try learning shady grove. I find this to be a good one to start with.
Tony: 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
Randall Smith: 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...
Mark: hi ryan, hope to hear from you soon, i am looking forward to learning somethings, dont quite know how everything here works, hope u help me . i love picken on my banjo. mark
montecassels: 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...
Ray: H Ryan, Just found ‘Down the road’ sounds good but I cannot find the tab for it? Ray
louisricci: ryan:wasgoing to music store for lessons,find your vidios to be a much better teacher am more than happy with the move. hope some day to be able to play well. lou
Louie8ball: Hi, just joined the site and still figuring out the navigation. Has part 2 of this lesson been posted yet?
braden derrow: hi i have been searchin the internet all day for dueling banjos tabs for the banjo and i had no luck at all. if you could sent me them i would be very greatful.
Anthony Williams: Hi Ryan, Merry Christmas from Melbourne,Australia. What’s the best way for me to get the best out of what you’re offering? I don’t have a webcam or skype,but i did see an option as a premium member. Only just beginning but have wanted to be a great banjo player...
Elvin Basinger: What about bela Fleck? He seems to take the banjo to a different level.
jscoboe60: After taking a break from banjo. It was great to have all the lessons to review. Thank you for the great teaching.
Brandel: Another suggestion is Emerson bridges made by Kelly Emerson, the son of the great picker Ben Emerson. There are three different bridges available: Power bridge, Vintage and Sweet II. I have tried the first two and are very satisfied. Bought a Vintage bridge on eBay 3 weeks ago and...
hughcline: What model gibson banjo do you have?
banjosammo: Ryan, my friend and I play hymns every week as volunteers at a local prison. I play banjo, my friend plays acoustic. We play any hymn with just chords. Roll patterns don’t work, so I have learned to constantly improvise to what sounds good with the timing. Do you have any tricks...
taylorclark: Ryan, awesome lesson. I just read how to do it and wasn’t feeling that good about it so I looked up this lesson and ready to go tackle my first restringing! Thank you!
banjo donnie: 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...
Jim: I have been playing guitar for several years and have just recently taken up the banjo. My problem is which rolls to learn and get good at first? I am not having problems with chords. I usually play regular with others and I find that the only banjo rolls I know are not always in time with...
rodneythompson: Hey Ryan, Just logged on for the first time and it looks like this is what I need to further my playing. Thanks for all your help and I look forward to getting the time to use your site. Thanks Rodney in San Diego Ca
charlesbowlin: Hi Bryan, I need a little help. In practcing the forward and backward rolls I seem to get the sane resulting sound no mater what roll I am playing. I it the emphesis you put on the first and second string that make the difference? Thanks for your help. Charles Bowlin
bill musgrove: alwaws appreciate a good new lick. thanks
perrydavis: I see in some of the adds that there two propics.. one is plain and the other is angled.. What is the difference??
kevincampbell: thank you for showing this
Bernie Dotterweich: good stuff – thanks
Wyatt: Hi Ryan–great site. Today I heard a musician talk about “tuning down” his instrument. He was on NPR in Austin and it was after he was done performing. By tuning down, does he mean he is de-tuning (removing tenions) from his instrument to save the life of his strings you...
harrywright: 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
joe: yea I can’t find any tab at all for a tenor other then a few lessons here and there how about a few tabs ahms-ahms for the needy lol
fasteddie: Can’t seem to get through a song without having to think about what I’m playing which ends up being a missed frett or string with my right hand. Other parts of a song can be played without thinking about what I am doing. Doesn’t seem to be the same place in a song...
Donnie Hoover: Many thanks for all of your time & Expertise on the banjo. Everything that you offer to me is a blessing.
Jack: Ryan, Figured it out, got the tabs for Old Joe Clark, amazing what a right click can do… thanks. Jack
Slick Grant: I am looking for dueling banjos tab for a tenor banjo. Can you help me out? Thanks SLick Have a great day GOD BLESS
Pammylu: Ryan, your video of the John Henry tune has fueled me with even more determination about learning to play the banjo. Even though I am just starting, I must tell you and others that after an afternoon of repetitive practicing and trying to have the breakthroughs I need to progress on even...
Randy Cheatham: 1. Kenny Ingram 2. Rob McCoury 3. J D Crowe 4. Earl Scruggs 5. Chris Talley It is tough to narrow it down to just five.
waynev: G’day Ryan I asked a wile ago if you could do a beginners lesson on fire ball mail is this possible ????? or am I up the creek without a paddle . love the site . Wayne
Mark Watts: Is your JOIN NOW area designed primarily for experienced banjo players or would a beginner just learning also find a great deal of beginning video banjo lessons?
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
G’day from land of oz Ryan…i have been playing only for 6 mths…i am 67 years young…and love this banjo..i have surfed the net many times because i am hooked , i have spent a lot of money on getting lessons , videos, dvd,s etc am teaching m,yself because there is no teacher in perth australia close enuff to me…so then i found you..and you my friend, are the best..i find it easy to understand you..your patience with the slow versions of the songs is invaluable to us learners..me anyway..thanks for giving me my opportunity to learn an instrument i have wanted for ever…and keep explaining your versions of the many songs in this easily learned way…good luck mate and thanks again , trevor
Hi Ryan,
I am considering joining your site. I have a couple questions. After a few years I guess I would call myself somewhere between advanced beginner and intermediate. Do you get into the more difficult banjo tunes, and playing in different keys, and different tunings. Do you also teach backup and supply backup tracks? Can I download all the lessons to my computer in case I’m in a situation where I don’t have Internet access? Really hard one! When can I expect to play like you?
Thanks,
David
I’ve been pickin and teaching private lessons for some 30 years. I just viewed your banjo expert site and I am VERY impressed. SON, you know how to do it !
I have relocated far from my original home recently ,kind of leaving my students stranded. I’m going to highly recomend your site to all of them.
Thanks so much. We’re giving it our best shot. If you ever have any ideas or lessons that you would like to add please let me know. I’m always up for new material. Maybe we can meet up at a festival somewhere or do a skype interview. I’d love to hear some of your techniques for teaching the banjo. Thanks, Ryan
David, hello these are really good questions. My favorite lessons to teach are the ones that you are referring to; however, when I do I seem to get a bunch of unhappy emails so I tend to lean toward the basics. Learning backup is a fun exercise and I could go on for hours about that topic alone. My recommendation to you is for me to give you private webcam lessons. You will learn the most in the quickest amount of time. I give them via skype. It’s pretty easy you just need a webcam, headphones, and your banjo. Send me an email at ryan@banjoexpert.com if this is something you are interested in. I’ll try to answer your hard question. If you want to play like me then I can teach you how, but more than likely when you reach and advanced level you’ll want to play your own style. Send me an email. Thanks, Ryan
Trevor, thanks for the kind note. By the way if you’re ever in Indiana look me up. We’ll do some jamming!
I am thinking about joining. I have seen you on another sight and really liked what I saw. My question is I have a Mac computer and iPad I use. Many of the videos fail to load. Have you heard this before?
Hello, this is a great question. I designed this site and solely use Apple products. I can assure you that every video on this site will play on a Mac computer. You may need to download flip4mac to view some of the .wmv videos. Thanks so much. Glad to have you here!