Waltzing Matilda is a traditional Australian bush song and this arrangement on the 5-string banjo is played in a chord melody style in the key of G (standard tuning). With the melody supported by the harmony from the chord progression, this version offers a lovely way to play the tune on the banjo and is well suited to the advanced intermediate picker.
Smash The Windows is a great traditional Irish jig, played at a lively tempo, in the key of D (standard tuning). This arrangement features both the melodic and single-string techniques and features the 6/8 time signature. Jigs always sound great on the banjo, but there are some challenging techniques and combined with the lively tempo this is well suited to the advanced intermediate picker.
St Anne’s Reel is a popular bluegrass fiddle tune, played at a medium/fast tempo, in the key of D (standard tuning). This arrangement lays out a nice, basic melodic version of the tune, well suited to the intermediate picker, but also allows for the fingers to more easily get around the tune comfortably at a faster tempo.
Drops Of Brandy is a traditional Irish slip jig (9/8), in the key of D. Utilising the melodic and single-string techniques, this 5-string banjo arrangement is in standard tuning and is well suited to the advancing intermediate picker. It has a beautiful, driving melody, played at a brisk tempo and will be a great addition to your trad repertoire!
The Cordal Jig is a traditional Irish jig in the key of D (aDGBD). This 5-string banjo arrangement features the melodic and single-string techniques and will be a great tune for the advanced intermediate picker. It is a fantastic melody to pick and will be a great addition to your trad banjo repertoire!
O Christmas Tree is a traditional German Christmas Carol, also known as O Tannenbaum. This arrangement on the 5-string banjo is in the key of G (standard tuning) and features a combination of the melodic technique and Scruggs style, played at a slow tempo in the 3/4 time signature and is suited to the intermediate picker.
Go Tell It On The Mountain is a traditional Gospel Christmas Carol. This arrangement on the 5-string banjo is in the key of G (standard tuning) and features a combination of the melodic technique and Scruggs style, played at a medium tempo, and is suited to the intermediate picker. It will be a great addition to your Christmas repertoire and It’s a super fun tune to pick!
Big Sciota is a great bluegrass fiddle tune in the key of G. This is the second version on Pickin’ Lessons and in this arrangement we’ll compare the melodic & single-string techniques using the identical melody for each of the techniques. Each technique has its advantages and is suited at different times, but in this direct comparison, you’ll be able to try out each and compare them for yourself.
The Trumpet Hornpipe (AKA Captain Pugwash Theme) is a traditional Irish hornpipe in the key of G (standard tuning). There are 2 parts to this up-tempo tune and it is suited to the advancing intermediate picker. Featuring the hornpipe feel, single-string, melodic and some great triplets that are a real feature of the tune.
Pig Ankle Rag is a fantastic fiddle tune in the key of D (standard tuning – capo 2 – aEAC#E). There are 2 parts to the tune and it has the typical characteristics of a rag and is well suited to the advancing intermediate picker. Featuring a shuffle groove, single-string, melodic and syncopation there are some challenges in performing this arrangement, but we’ll break it down together in the lesson.