Old Joe Clark is a traditional American song/fiddle tune, typically played in the key of A. This is a very popular session tune, and this arrangement features an embellished melody, using a common approach to move around the main melody with surrounding scale notes. This arrangement is well suited to the intermediate picker and in the lesson, we’ll break down the techniques to help you pick this wonderful session tune. Go to lesson...
Old Joe Clark is a traditional American song/fiddle tune, typically played in the key of A. This is a very popular session tune, and this arrangement features the melodic technique. The banjo is in standard tuning with the capo placed at fret 2 and the faster tempo will be suited to the advanced picker.
Grandfather’s Clock is a song by Henry Clay Work (1876) that has a wonderful melody that we’ll learn on the 5-string banjo. In this arrangement, there are two variations featuring the single-string and melodic techniques, and playing both up and down the neck. Played in the key of G (standard tuning), this version of the song is well suited to the intermediate picker, working as a great study for the techniques featured.
Bill Cheatham is a popular, traditional American fiddle tune, in the key of A (capo 2). With a melody that is often picked at a fast tempo, it features double stops, crosspicking arpeggios, some great scale movement and making use of both the first & second positions. If you’re familiar with the open G major scale, it will certainly help, as I’d suggest this tune is suited to the advancing intermediate picker. Go to lesson...
Turkey In The Straw is a popular American folk song, commonly played as an instrumental in bluegrass sessions. In the key of G, this is an arrangement of the basic melody, suited to the intermediate picker. Featuring some hammer-on & pull-off slurs, we’ll focus on technique as we work our way through the tune. Go to lesson...
Turkey In The Straw is a popular American folk song, commonly played as an instrumental in bluegrass sessions. In the key of G, the banjo is in standard tuning (gDGBD) and the melodic technique is a feature of this arrangement. This arrangement is a perfect follow up for the Introduction To Melodic Banjo course, and well suited to the intermediate picker. Go to lesson...
The Back Side of Albany is a traditional American reel in the key of Em (dorian). In this fingerstyle arrangement, the melody is supported by harmonising bass notes that compliments the tune in a pretty way, with some really interesting chord movements throughout. This is suited to the advanced fingerstyle player, especially as the tune requires a quick, lively tempo. Go to lesson...
Waiting for the Federals is a traditional American Barn Dance, with a great melody, played at a brisk tempo. In this lesson, we’ll look at an arrangement with 2 variations that uses both the melodic and single-string techniques, while incorporating same tasteful embellishment and ornamentation on the melody. In the key of G, the banjo is in standard tuning, and this arrangement is suited to the intermediate picker. Go to lesson...
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...
G’day! In this Back Side of Albany: Mandolin Lesson, we’ll take a look at a fun & challenging arrangement for the beginner & intermediate picker, containing 2 variations of the melody for both Part A & B. Back Side of Albany is a traditional American reel in the key of Em (dorian). Go to lesson...