The style of melodic banjo allows for intricate melody playing on the 5-string, with a very smooth or legato sound. Fiddle tunes can be played note for note, in a way that flows over the banjo neck. In this introduction to the style, we’ll cover:
In part 2 of this introduction to the melodic banjo techniques, we’ll continue to explore scale positions and exercises, while applying these to another great tune, that is sure to enhance your technique. In the lesson we’ll cover:
In part 3 of this introduction to the melodic banjo techniques, we’ll continue to work out of open G tuning, but look at the key of D major. We’ll cover scale positions and exercises for the key, while applying these to another great tune, that is sure to enhance your technique. Go to 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...
Angels We Have Heard On High is a traditional carol set to the hymn Gloria. In this banjo arrangement we’ll look at both a melodic style version (basic) and a chord melody style (intermediate) in the key of G (standard tuning). The basic version of the melody, played in a melodic style is very accessible and is well suited to the beginner melodic picker.
“The Ash Grove”, a traditional Welsh Air, arranged for the 5-string banjo. In a melodic style, this pretty tune is played at a slow tempo and a great starting point for the beginner melodic player. Go to lesson...
In this worksheet there are exercises to help improve strength & dexterity in your left-hand and general coordination between both left & right-hands. Go to lesson...
G’day! In this Bill Sullivan’s Polka: Beginner Melodic Banjo Lesson, we’ll take a look at this great tune for the advancing beginner picker in the melodic style. This tune is a traditional polka in 2/4 time & played in the key of A. The banjo is tuned to standard tuning with the capo placed at fret 2 & the 5th string spiked at fret 7 for this arrangement and features the melodic technique, plus a little single string at times. Go to lesson...
Bonaparte Crossing The Rhine is a traditional tune in the key of D Major and we are in standard ‘gDGBD’ tuning, which works really well for this melody using the D major scale. In this arrangement we’ll be using the melodic techniques.
There are 2 variations within this arrangement. Firstly, the basic melody, played using the melodic technique. Go to lesson...
Bound for South Australia is a traditional English/Australian sea shanty, that has become a popular folk song. In the key of D, this arrangement features the banjo tuning aDGBD, and has 2 variations: a single-string version down the neck, and a melodic variation up the neck. For the advancing beginner/intermediate picker, the lively tune is a great introduction for both techniques, but equally as fun for the more experienced picker! Go to lesson...
In this banjo lesson we’ll take a look at Childgrove; a traditional English Country Dance. This arrangement is in the key of Am and it’s a great tune for the advancing beginner/intermediate picker, with 2 variations that use both the single-string & melodic techniques. Played at a slow/medium tempo, we’ll focus on the right-hand fingering needed to play both the techniques as we work our way through the tune. Go to lesson...
In this 3-finger banjo lesson we’ll take a look at an arrangement of the Traditional Australian Folk Song, Click Go The Shears. The tune is in the key of G Major and we are in standard tuning. The time signature we are in is 6/8 (two dotted quarter note beats per measure). Go to lesson...
Chord chart with major & minor movable chord shapes for the 5-string banjo in standard tuning. Go to lesson...
A bluegrass arrangement of the Christmas carol “Deck The Halls” for the 5-string banjo. Arranged by Heath Joyce, there are 2 breaks in this version. The first is down the neck in a Scruggs style, while the second is up the neck in a melodic style.
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...
G’day! Fanny Power is a very pretty tune composed by Turlough O’Carolan. It is an Air, that has a sweet sounding melody, played in the key of G, in the 6/8 time signature. In this Fanny Power (O’Carolan): Melodic Banjo Lesson we’ll take a look at beginner melodic banjo arrangement of the tune. Go to lesson...
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...
Using the banjo octave pattern to gain fretboard freedom is a crucial and quick step to locate a note anywhere on the fretboard. By using the banjo octave pattern and your knowledge of the notes on one or two strings (see Fretboard Freedom 101: The Musical Alphabet) it becomes quite simple to locate any note on any string, then play a chord, scale, arpeggio, etc. Go to lesson...
In this banjo lesson we’ll take a look at the traditional Scottish tune Mairi’s Wedding, also known as the Lewis Bridal Song. The arrangement sticks pretty close to the melody and is played out of the open position in standard tuning (G D G B D).
Learn to play the G & D major scales on the banjo in this video lesson. A worksheet with all the scales & fingering is also available.
Here’s a beginner arrangement of Nine Pound Hammer for the the banjo! In this arrangement, there are 2 different versions. The first has a basic rhythm structure: one measure of quarter notes, followed by one measure of eighth notes in a forward roll pattern. The second version mixes the quarter & eighth notes within several bars. Go to lesson...
A chart showing the position of notes on the 5-string banjo fretboard in standard open G tuning. Go to lesson...
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 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...
Southwind is a traditional Irish waltz, played in the key of G (standard tuning). It has a very beautiful melody that we’ll first learn in its basic form using the melodic technique, then spice it up with a chord melody arrangement that ventures up the neck. While the basic melody is very simple, I’d suggest the more advanced variation of the tune is suited to the intermediate picker. Go to lesson...
G’day! In this Wayfaring Stranger: Banjo Lesson, we’ll take a look at a great arrangement for the beginner/intermediate picker, containing 2 variations of the melody for both the verse & chorus.
This arrangement is in the key of Em, but can be easily capo’d to other keys up the neck. Go to lesson...
‘We Three Kings of Orient Are’ is a beautiful Christmas carol and in this banjo lesson, we’ll learn two verse variations and a chorus variation. In the key of Am, first up, we’ll cover a basic, melodic version of the melody. We’ll then move on to a pretty chord melody version in the open position for the intermediate picker, with a lovely variation of harmony. The Go to lesson...
We Wish You A Merry Christmas is a traditional English carol and in this banjo arrangement we’ll look at a melodic style version in the key of G (standard tuning). There are two variations of the melody, up and down the neck, featuring the melodic technique and I’d suggest this would suit the advancing beginner picker.