Category Archives: Banjo – Chords, Scales & Theory

Billy In The Low Ground: Melodic Banjo Lesson

G’day! In this banjo lesson, we’ll take a look at a melodic arrangement of Billy in the Low Ground. Played in the key of C, the banjo is tuned in standard G tuning. We’ll also take a look at a number of ways to play the C Major scale in this tuning, in a melodic style, open position and box pattern. Go to lesson...

Bluesy Melodic Licks: Banjo

 

Bluesy melodic licks! In this lesson, we’ll look at many lick variations for the advanced picker, in the key of G (standard tuning), using the major, mixolydian, blues & chromatic scales & arpeggios with a great bluesy feel to help ease you into the world of melodic improvisation! We’ll analyse the licks, looking at chordal notes (arpeggios) and how the licks are constructed & how they may also be altered or applied to other chords. Go to lesson...

Congress Reel: Banjo Lesson

G’day! In this banjo lesson we’ll take a look at the traditional Irish tune, Congress Reel. A challenging reel played in a melodic style, the tune is in A Dorian, a minor mode, played in standard tuning. Being the 2nd mode of G Major, it shares the same key signature and contains the notes A B C D E F# G. Go to lesson...

Exploring The Banjo: Single-String Major Scale

In this banjo video lesson we cover the single string formula for the major scale in the key of G. The major scale in G is found in many styles on the banjo and the notes are used to form many melodies. Understanding how the scale is built will help you gain a greater knowledge of the banjo fretboard and music in general. Go to lesson...

Fretboard Freedom 101: The Musical Alphabet

Fretboard Freedom: The Musical Alphabet is the first lesson in a course that will help you unlock the fretboard, enabling you to find any note, double stop, chord, scale, arpeggio in any position. It will give you the freedom to find your way in any key and have the ability to transpose/reposition breaks, melodies & chord progressions and improve your ability to improvise. Go to lesson...

Scales & Technical Practice | Banjo | Level 1

A course focusing on the melodic & single-string techniques including scales, arpeggios, chords, rhythm (back up), improvisation, speed development, general technique exercises & sight-reading.

Scales & Technical Work should form an important, structured part of your practice routine. It will improve your general technique, practical theory knowledge, improvisation, understanding of melody & harmony, rhythm, tone, and so on. Go to lesson...

Scales & Technical Practice | Overview

Scales & Technical Work should form an important, structured part of your practice routine. It will improve your general technique, practical theory knowledge, improvisation, understanding of melody & harmony, rhythm, tone, and so on.

Check out the Pickin’ Lessons structured, 2 part, scales & technical practice below. Give it a shot & I’m positive you’ll find yourself moving forward in no time! Go to lesson...

St Anne’s Reel: Banjo Lesson

G’day! In this banjo lesson we’ll take a look at an arrangement of the traditional tune, St Anne’s Reel. A very pretty tune, played in a melodic style, we’re in the Key of D and the banjo is in standard tuning (G D G B D).

In this jam packed lesson we’ll also cover two variations of the D Major scale in standard tuning, plus a back up arrangement on the banjo (avoiding the 5th string when needed!). Go to lesson...