Part 1: Non-Bluegrass Backup Banjo
In this banjo course, we’ll be covering ideas that can be used to play backup banjo in styles such as Celtic, Folk, Pop, Blues, Jazz, etc. Learning about different time signatures, key signatures, vamping, rhythms, chords, grooves, triads, double stops and all the great information that will allow you to play along in any style of music. (Why non-bluegrass? Well, there is plenty of great resources already available on that style 🙂 plus, we certainly take a pretty heavy approach to other styles here on Pickin’ Lessons).
In this first part of the course, we’ll lay the ground work for the future backup lessons. Here you’ll learn all about the major & minor chord forms found on the banjo, in standard tuning, and, with some study, you’ll learn the position of the chords found in the key of G.
Split in to 5 parts, the full lesson covers the following:
- The 3 major chord forms found on the banjo, split into 4 note & 3 note chord voicing;
- The 3 minor chord forms found on the banjo, split into 4 note & 3 note chord voicing;
- The ‘Landmark Positions’ for the key of G;
- Basic vamping exercises in 4/4 & 3/4 time;
- And finally, we’ll look at a great exercise, ‘Chord Study in G’, using the many chords covered in the lesson, helping you learn & analyse the chord positions all over the neck.
The full course is available to premium members, which includes:
- All tabs, worksheets, videos, play-along and backing tracks;
- All future lessons added to the course (while you remain a premium member);
- Plus access to all of the standard lesson’s & tab’s available on the website.