Leather Britches is a great old-time fiddle tune, played at a medium/fast tempo, in the key of G (standard tuning). This arrangement features both the melodic and Scruggs style, up and down the neck, well suited to the advanced picker. There are 2 variations for each section, combining the different techniques, played over a Texas Swing stye backing.
Carolan’s Welcome is a traditional air (3/4), composed by Turlough O’Carolan. This chord melody arrangement on the 5-string banjo is in the key of Am, played out of standard tuning (gDGBD) and is well suited to the advanced picker. All of O’Carolan’s melodies are beautiful and this is no exception. Played at a relatively moderate tempo, there are some challenging positions to work through, but well worth the effort to get your fingers around the tune.
In this banjo lesson, we’ll take a look at a blues lead break with two variations in the key of G, that utilises the blues scale, major blues scale, arpeggios, up and down the neck licks, call and response, plus a variety of articulation. Played over a 12 bar blues, there are a lot of great licks in this break, but be sure to check out all the other blues lessons at Pickin’ Lessons for more great lick ideas and in depth analysis of the scales and arpeggio patterns used throughout the solo.
Fairmoy Lasses is a high energy, traditional Irish reel, in the key of Em (standard tuning). This arrangement on the 5-string banjo features a combination of the melodic technique and single-string, and once combined with the fast tempo, this tune certainly leans towards the advanced picker. It will be a great addition to your repertoire and It’s a super fun tune to pick once you get it under your fingers!
In this lesson, we’ll look at this great Old-Time tune, in the key of G (standard tuning). This arrangement on the banjo features a combination of the melodic technique and Scruggs, which works really well to support the melody, and is well suited to the advanced picker. It will be a great addition to your repertoire, It’s a wonderful tune to pick and the combination of melodic & Scruggs certainly works well!
Old Grimes is an excellent traditional bluegrass tune, in the key of D. This arrangement is a challenge on the banjo, played in aDGBD tuning and is well suited to the advanced picker. It will be a great addition to your repertoire! It’s a wonderful tune to pick and the combination of melody & chord movement has certainly moved this tune to quickly become one of my personal favourites.
Kitchen Girl is a traditional American Old-Time tune, in the key of A (mixolydian) in Part A and moves to Am (aeolian) in Part B, making it a great modal tune. This arrangement is in standard tuning – capo 2 and is well suited to the advanced picker, with some challenging variations up & down the neck.
In this lesson, we’ll learn a great blues break in the key of G (standard tuning). At a groovy, slow tempo, this blues is fun to play and is packed full of lots of great licks and ideas! We’ll cover the G7, C7 & D7 chord positions, while making use of a mixed blues scale that conveniently surrounds the chords and learning a bunch of cool licks up & down the neck.
Turkey In The Straw is a well known bluegrass fiddle tune in the key of G (standard tuning). This is the second version for the banjo on Pickin’ Lessons and in this arrangement the melody is embellished making for a very challenging tune to pick! Featuring the melodic technique, with a little Scruggs style, this version is certainly for the advanced picker, but is an awesome technique workout!
Pig Ankle Rag – Version 2 – Advanced! As a follow up to the basic version of the tune, here is a great version with variations up the neck, embellishment of the melody and loads of blue notes and chromatic passages, which really suits the style. We’re in the key of D (standard tuning-capo 2), playing in a shuffle feel, and I’d suggest you check out the basic version here first, if you haven’t already.