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...
Category Archives: Beginner Banjo
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...
Mairi’s Wedding: Beginner Melodic Banjo 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).
Preview & Lesson – Part A
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Nine Pound Hammer: Beginner Banjo Lesson
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...
Deck The Halls: Banjo 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.
Lesson Preview
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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...
Banjo Exercises
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...
Melodic Banjo: G & D Major Scales
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.
Video Lesson
Go to lesson... Notes on the Fretboard: Banjo
A chart showing the position of notes on the 5-string banjo fretboard in standard open G tuning. Go to lesson...
Closed Position Chords: Banjo
Chord chart with major & minor movable chord shapes for the 5-string banjo in standard tuning. Go to lesson...