Category Archives: Advanced Banjo

Angeline The Baker: Melodic Banjo Lesson

In this banjo lesson we’ll take a look at a great arrangement of the traditional tune, Angeline The Baker. The tune is in the key of D Major and we are in ‘aDGBD’ tuning, which works really well for this melody using the D major scale. This is a popular session tune, and in this arrangement we’ll be using the melodic techniques. Go to lesson...

Arkansas Traveler: Melodic Banjo Lesson

G’day! In this jam packed Arkansas Traveler: Melodic Banjo Lesson, we’ll take a look at a fun & challenging arrangement for the intermediate/advanced picker. The arrangement has 2 variations of the melody for both Part A & B. Arkansas Traveler is a traditional fiddle tune in the key of D. The banjo is tuned to ADGBD for this arrangement. Go to lesson...

Auld Lang Syne: Banjo Lesson

Auld Lang Syne is a traditional Scottish song, traditionally sung to farewell the old year at the stroke of midnight on New Years Eve. In this banjo lesson, we’ll learn two variations, the basic melody played in a melodic style, plus a chord melody variation, played up the neck (advanced). In the key of G (standard tuning), both variations sound great on the banjo. Go to lesson...

Back Side of Albany: Banjo

The Back Side of Albany is a traditional American reel in the key of Em (dorian). In this arrangement there are 2 variations, the first uses the melodic technique, up the neck, while the second moves down the neck combining both single-string & melodic. Both variations are quite demanding, suiting the more advanced picker.  Go to lesson...

Bill Cheatham: Melodic Banjo Lesson

Bill Cheatham is a popular, traditional American fiddle tune, in the key of A (capo 2 – string 5 spiked to fret 7). With a melody that is often picked at a fast tempo, this banjo arrangement features the melodic technique, double stops, and some challenging rolls. If you’re familiar with the melodic major scale, it will certainly help, as I’d suggest this tune is suited to the advancing picker. Go to lesson...

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...

Blackberry Blossom: Melodic Banjo Lesson

Blackberry Blossom is a traditional fiddle tune, played in the key of G (standard tuning). This is a very popular session tune, and this arrangement features the melodic technique suited to the advancing picker. In a bluegrass setting, the tempo is usually fast with a pretty straight feel; and yet, it’s also a tune that can be played at a medium tempo with a bit of ‘bounce’.

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Blues (Rhythm & Lead): Banjo Lesson

In this banjo lesson, we’ll learn a Shuffle Blues in G, combining both rhythm & lead in the one arrangement. With 2 variations over the 12 bar blues, lots of melodic & single-string licks & rhythm variation, this is a lot of fun on the banjo! It works well at a variety of tempos, as a solo piece or with accompaniment. Go to lesson...

Blues Lead In G: Banjo Lesson

Blues played on the banjo always sound great, and in this lesson, we’ll explore a captivating lead break performed over two complete cycles of the 12 Bar Blues with a shuffle feel. The solo is in the key of G and incorporates a plethora of cool licks spanning up and down the neck, utilising both single-string and melodic techniques.

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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...

Connaughtman’s Rambles: Banjo Lesson

The Connaughtman’s Rambles is a great jig in the key of D (standard tuning), played at a fast tempo, and suited to the advanced picker. There are two parts to the tune; both of which are extremely challenging for the picking hand, with some unorthodox combinations appropriate for the movement of the melody. Go to lesson...

Cooley’s Reel: Banjo Lesson

Cooley’s Reel is a traditional Irish reel in the key of Em (Dorian) and we’re in standard tuning on the 5 string. It has a great feel and features some difficult passages that use arpeggios and triplet slurs, all while giving your right-hand a brilliant work out, combining single-string, melodic & rolls. Go to lesson...

Da New Rigged Ship: Banjo Lesson

Da New Rigged Ship is a traditional Scottish reel, with a 3 part form. Part A & C are in Am (dorian), while part B modulates into A Major, and the banjo is tuned to aDGBD to accomodate the melody in an easy way. Incorporating both the melodic & single-string techniques, the melody is easy enough to pick, but this tune would suit the advanced picker due to the tempo and will be a great addition to your repertoire.  Go to lesson...

Drowsy Maggie: Melodic Banjo

 

A melodic banjo arrangement of the traditional Irish reel “Drowsy Maggie” for the 5-string banjo. Arranged by Heath Joyce, there are 2 breaks in this version. The first is down the neck, a fairly straight ahead take on the melody, while the second is up the neck and a little more intricate. Go to lesson...

Estudio: Banjo

Estudio is a piece composed by Dionisio Aguado (1784-1849), who was a Spanish guitarist & composer during the late Classical & early Romantic periods. It is a popular beginner classical guitar piece, that sounds quite intriguing & haunting when picked on the banjo.

Typically played in Am, this arrangement is in key of Gm for the banjo, played up the neck to allow for the note range required. Go to lesson...

Father O’Flynn: Melodic Banjo Lesson

Father O’Flynn is a lively tune, in the key of D (standard tuning). It’s a traditional Irish jig, and in this lesson we’ll cover how to capture the rhythm and pulse for the 6/8 time signature. This arrangement uses the melodic technique, played at a fast tempo and is well suited to the advanced picker.

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Forked Deer (V2): Banjo Lesson

Forked Deer is an awesome fiddle tune, played in the key of D (aDGBD). This is the second version on Pickin’ Lessons, and this arrangement mainly features the single-string technique, with a little melodic on the side. It’s well suited to the advanced intermediate picker, working as a great study for the single-string technique.

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Handsome Molly: Banjo Lesson

Handsome Molly is a traditional ballad and in this banjo arrangement we’ll look at a Scruggs style version in the key of G (standard tuning). There are three variations of the melody, up and down the neck with a focus on Scruggs style, but also featuring a little melodic at times and I’d suggest this would suit the advancing intermediate picker.

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Hark! The Herald Angels Sing: Christmas Chord Melody Banjo

‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ is a beautiful Christmas carol and in this banjo lesson, we’ll learn a lovely chord melody arrangement. In the key of G, the melody is supported by 3 & 4 part harmony, with some challenging chord positions, which would be suited too the advanced picker. This version sounds great as a solo banjo piece and is a great addition to your Christmas repertoire!  Go to lesson...

Harvest Home: Melodic Banjo

A melodic banjo arrangement of the traditional Irish hornpipe “Harvest Home” for the 5-string banjo. Arranged by Heath Joyce, there are 2 breaks in this version, in the Key of D, in standard tuning except for string 5, which is capo’d at fret 7 (A). The first is down the neck, a fairly straight ahead take on the melody, while the second is up the neck and a little more intricate. Go to lesson...

John Ryan’s Polka: Melodic Banjo Lesson

John Ryan’s Polka is a well known, traditional Irish tune, played at a fast tempo. In this lesson, we’ll learn a melodic arrangement that contains two variations, in the key of D (standard tuning). The techniques used in the arrangement, combined with the tempo make this a challenging endeavour, suited to the more advanced picker. Go to lesson...

Kid On The Mountain: Banjo Lesson

The Kid On The Mountain is traditional Irish slip jig (9/8), played at a fast tempo, in the key of Em (standard tuning). There are five parts to the tune, each containing some excellent picking passages that require us to accent the 3 beats found in each measure, whilst ensuring we apply an appropriate picking technique, that incorporates both the melodic & single-string techniques. Go to lesson...

Liberty: Banjo Lesson

G’day! In this Liberty: Banjo Lesson, we’ll take a look at the basic melody of the tune for the progressing intermediate to advanced picker, focusing on the melodic technique. Liberty is a traditional fiddle tune in the key of D, and this arrangement is played in standard open G tuning. Go to lesson...

Lord Inchiquin: Banjo Lesson

In this Celtic 3-finger banjo lesson we’ll take a look at a pretty arrangement of the Turlough O’Carolan tune, Lord Inchiquin. The tune is in the key of D Major and we are in ‘aDGBD’ tuning. Interestingly, the time signature we are in is 6/4 (six quarter note beats per measure). Go to lesson...

Maid Behind The Bar: Banjo Lesson

The Maid Behind The Bar is a traditional Irish reel, with a 2 part form. In the key of D, the banjo is tuned to aDGBD to accomodate the melody in an easy way. Incorporating both the melodic & single-string techniques, the melody is sweet, the tempo is fast, and this tune would suit the advanced picker wanting a challenge! Go to lesson...

Merrily Kissed The Quaker: Banjo Lesson

This is a fun trad tune, with three parts, played in 6/8 time. In the key of G (standard tuning), this arrangement features the single-string and melodic techniques, and playing both up and down the neck and is well suited to the advanced intermediate picker, working as a great study for the techniques featured.

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Merry Blacksmith, The: Banjo

The Merry Blacksmith is a traditional Celtic reel in the key of D. We’re in standard G tuning for this arrangement and the tune features the melodic technique, with a little single-string technique and a grace note pull off which helps spice up the melody! Played at quite a fast tempo, this lesson would suit the more advanced student.  Go to lesson...

Monaghan Jig: Banjo Lesson

The Monaghan Jig is an awesome tune in the key of Em (standard tuning), played at a fast tempo, and suited to the advanced picker. There are four parts to the tune, each presenting their own challenges; melodic, single-string, 16th note rhythms plus ensuring the 6/8 feel is accented. Spend some time on this tune, it will certainly develop your picking and will be a great addition to your repertoire! Go to lesson...

Munster Cloak, The: Banjo Lesson

The Munster Cloak is a Waltz that has a fun, yet challenging melody. In this lesson, we’ll learn a single-string & melodic arrangement that contains two variations, in the key of G (standard tuning). The techniques used in the arrangement combined with the tempo make this a challenging single-string tune, suited to the intermediate banjo picker, while the melodic part of the arrangement, up the neck, will be suited to the more advanced picker. Go to lesson...

O’Carolan’s Dream (Chord Melody): Banjo lesson

O’Carolan’s Dream has a beautiful melody composed by Turlough O’Carolan. In the key of Am, this arrangement features the banjo tuning gCGBD, giving us access to the lovely sounding open C on the 4th string – a real feature of the arrangement. Using the chord melody technique throughout, we’re able to support the beautiful melody with the chords we find in the harmony, allowing this piece to sound great as a solo banjo arrangement.  Go to lesson...

Red Haired Boy: Banjo Lesson

G’day! In this banjo lesson we’ll take a look at 2 different ways of playing the same melody for Red Haired Boy on the banjo. The first version is played with a single string technique, using the open position and approached in a way that the guitar or mandolin might pick the tune. Go to lesson...

Salt Creek: Melodic Banjo

 

Melodic, single string, bluesy licks – Salt Creek – hold on tight! In this lesson, we’ll look at 2 variations for the advanced picker, in the key of A (standard tuning – capo 2 – string 5 spiked to fret 7), using the mixolydian scale with the addition of the minor 3rd (b3) passing note giving it a great bluesy feel. Go to lesson...

Temperance Reel: Melodic Banjo Lesson

The Temperance Reel is a popular fiddle tune, with a fantastic melody and chord progression. In the key of G (standard tuning), there are 2 parts, played at a quick tempo. The techniques required (melodic, single-string & rolling) as we cover the movement of the melody are suited to the advanced picker, but we’ll break this down within the lessons. Go to lesson...

Ten Penny Bit: Banjo Lesson

G’day! In this Ten Penny Bit: Mandolin Lesson, we’ll take a look at the melody of the tune for the advanced banjo picker. The Ten Penny Bit is a traditional Irish Jig in the key of Am (dorian), sharing the same key signature as G (F#).The left hand note combinations are relatively straight forward, but is quite a challenge for your right hand! Go to lesson...

The Swallowtail Jig: Melodic Banjo

Video Lesson

Learn how to play this melodic style arrangement of The Swallowtail Jig on the 5 string banjo in this video lesson. Arranged for the 5 string, in this version, there are two breaks. The first is down the neck, the second ventures way up the neck! Standard open G tuning (gDGBD). Go to lesson...

Three Sea Captains: Melodic Banjo Lesson

The Three Sea Captains is a traditional Irish jig, played at a medium tempo, in the key of G (standard tuning). With a jolly melody, both the A & B parts are longer than the usual fiddle tune, making for a more substantial tune to pick. I’d suggest that you need to be comfortable with the jig structure, as this tune takes it up a notch with a variety of rhythmic variation featured throughout, making this tune more suited to the advanced intermediate picker.  Go to lesson...