We Wish You A Merry Christmas is a traditional English carol and in this banjo arrangement we’ll look at a melodic style version in the key of G (standard tuning). There are two variations of the melody, up and down the neck, featuring the melodic technique and I’d suggest this would suit the advancing beginner picker.
In many styles of music, having some knowledge of how to phrase licks and ‘get the sound’ is important, and in this lesson, we’ll do exactly that, by learning some great sounding bluegrass licks! In the key of G, we’ll focus on licks played over the G, C & D chords, while looking at how to link and transition between the chords. Go to lesson...
Handsome Molly is a traditional ballad and in this banjo arrangement we’ll look at a Scruggs style version in the key of G (standard tuning). There are three variations of the melody, up and down the neck with a focus on Scruggs style, but also featuring a little melodic at times and I’d suggest this would suit the advancing intermediate picker.
This is a fun trad tune, with three parts, played in 6/8 time. In the key of G (standard tuning), this arrangement features the single-string and melodic techniques, and playing both up and down the neck and is well suited to the advanced intermediate picker, working as a great study for the techniques featured.
Let’s learn a blues lead break in the key of G on the guitar! 12 bar blues with a shuffle feel, twice round, with lots of licks using the major & minor blues scale, up & down the neck. Also featuring double stops, slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs and a bend, this will certainly challenge the advancing intermediate picker! Go to lesson...
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.
Let’s learn a blues lead break in the key of G on the mandolin! 12 bar blues with a shuffle feel, twice round, with lots of licks using the major & minor blues scale, up & down the neck. Also featuring double stops, slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs and a bend, this will certainly challenge the advancing picker! Go to lesson...
Eleanor Plunkett is an Air (3/4), composed by Turlough O’Carolan and in the key of G. It has a very sweet melody, moves along gently and very rewarding to play. In this arrangement, we’ll learn a fingerstyle version, well suited to the intermediate picker wanting a challenge and sounds great played solo or with accompaniment, take your pick! Go to lesson...
Eleanor Plunkett is an Air (3/4), composed by Turlough O’Carolan and in the key of G. It has a very sweet melody, moves along gently and very rewarding to play. This arrangement is in a chord melody style, well suited to the intermediate picker wanting a challenge and sounds great played solo or with accompaniment, take your pick! Go to lesson...
In this banjo lesson, we’ll learn a Shuffle Blues in G, combining both rhythm & lead in the one arrangement. With 2 variations over the 12 bar blues, lots of melodic & single-string licks & rhythm variation, this is a lot of fun on the banjo! It works well at a variety of tempos, as a solo piece or with accompaniment. Go to lesson...