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...
Trip To Sligo has a beautiful, yet haunting melody and in this lesson we’ll take a look at a melodic banjo arrangement. We’re in standard tuning, with the capo at fret 4, putting us in the key of G#m. In 6/8 time (Jig), there are some challenging right-hand picking combinations, making this lesson suitable for an intermediate picker. Go to lesson...
Get ready to learn a great Christmas carol & some awesome theory! The First Noel is a very pretty traditional English carol and this arrangement is in the key of D (standard tuning). While we follow the simple melody, we’ll be adding in a harmony using the 6th intervals. As part of this lesson we’ll look at the D Major scale played in 6th’s, which will allow you to pick up the tune very easily. Go to lesson...
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...
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...
George Brabazon is a beautiful tune by Turlough O’Carolan. In the key of G for the 5-string banjo, we’re in standard G tuning. The techniques used in the arrangement include single-string, melodic & the brush stroke, played with the thumb. I would suggest this piece is for the intermediate picker and is typically played at a moderate tempo. Go to lesson...
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...
The Rights of Man is a traditional Celtic hornpipe in the key of Em. We’re in standard G tuning for this arrangement and the tune features the melodic technique, with a little single-string technique. Being a hornpipe, we’ll be swinging the 8th notes, with a feature triplet run that will get your finger’s moving! Go to lesson...
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...
Bonaparte’s Retreat is a traditional tune in the key of D Major. This tune has such a great melody and within this arrangement we’ll focus on the the single-string technique plus playing out of the D chord shape while finding our melody notes. The form we’ll play for this version is ABBCBB, but once you know the parts, you may hear it played with a different structure, so be adaptable! Go to lesson...