Tag Archives: Scales

101 Introduction To Melodic Banjo #1

The style of melodic banjo allows for intricate melody playing on the 5-string, with a very smooth or legato sound. Fiddle tunes can be played note for note, in a way that flows over the banjo neck. In this introduction to the style, we’ll cover:

  • The basics of the technique;
  • Introduce the scale positions commonly used in standard G tuning;
  • Cover the single-string technique basics;
  • Work through several exercises;
  • And finally, put it all together with a pretty tune ‘Boulavogue’.
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Lesson 09 – Beginner Mandolin Crash Course (Turkey in the Straw & Key of G)

In this ninth instalment of the beginner mandolin crash course, we’ll cover:

  • The G Major Pentatonic Scale;
  • G, C & D Arpeggios;
  • The “G” Chop Chord (And the C & D variations);
  • Basic chop chord rhythm;
  • And finally, we’ll learn a version of ‘Turkey in the Straw’, a well known American folk song, that is a great session tune, that utilises the G major pentatonic, arpeggios & chop chords covered in the lesson.
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Lesson 08 – Beginner Mandolin Crash Course (Greensleeves & Key of Dm)

In this eighth instalment of the beginner mandolin crash course, we’ll cover:

  • The D Natural, Harmonic, Dorian & Melodic Minor Scales;
  • Dm & A7 Arpeggios;
  • Common intervals used in arpeggios, scales and chords;
  • Tremolo technique;
  • And finally, we’ll learn 2 versions of ‘Greensleeves’, a well known English folk song. (Basic & tremolo).
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Lesson 07 – Beginner Mandolin Crash Course (Wayfaring Stranger & Key of Am)

In this seventh instalment of the beginner mandolin crash course, we’ll cover:

  • The A Natural & Harmonic Minor Scales, and the Am Arpeggio;
  • Chords relative to the key of Am and Wayfaring Stranger;
  • Double Stops;
  • Tremolo technique;
  • And finally, we’ll learn 2 versions of ‘Wayfaring Stranger’, a popular folk song. (Basic & Embellished).
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Lesson 05 – Beginner Mandolin Crash Course (Key of D & Soldier’s Joy)

In this mammoth beginner lesson we’ll cover:

  • The open position D major scale & arpeggio (full open position);
  • Work on two excellent right-hand exercises; a double picking exercise & alternate picking exercise;
  • The relative chords (1 4 5 6m) in the Key of D, including both open and movable shapes, with rhythm exercises to develop technique;
  • And finally, we’ll learn a great version of ‘Soldier’s Joy’, a popular session tune in the Key of D, which applies the techniques we learnt practicing our scales, arpeggios and right-hand exercises.
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Lesson 04 – Beginner Mandolin Crash Course (Key of A & Cripple Creek)

In this chockablock beginner lesson we’ll cover:

  • The open position A major scale & arpeggio (full open position);
  • Work on two excellent right-hand exercises; a double picking exercise & alternate picking exercise;
  • Four new open chords, introduce four chop/movable chords, along with several rhythm exercises and a turnaround chord progression in the key of A;
  • And finally, we’ll learn a great version of ‘Cripple Creek’ with two variations.
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Lesson 03 – Beginner Mandolin Crash Course (Key of G & Fireball Mail)

In this jam packed lesson we’ll cover:

  • The open position G major scale & arpeggio (full open position);
  • Work on an excellent right-hand, double picking exercise;
  • Two new open chords along with several rhythm exercises and a standard turnaround chord progression;
  • And finally, we’ll learn a great version of ‘Fireball Mail’ with two variations.
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Lesson 02 – Beginner Mandolin Crash Course (Key of D Major & Angeline The Baker)

In this lesson, we’ll cover the open position D major scale & arpeggio (plus how we can move the patterns to 2 other keys), learn a great entry level version of ‘Angeline The Baker’, a fiddle tune in the Key of D, and two open chords to play along with the tune. Go to lesson...

Click Go The Shears: Banjo Lesson

In this 3-finger banjo lesson we’ll take a look at an arrangement of the Traditional Australian Folk Song, Click Go The Shears. The tune is in the key of G Major and we are in standard tuning. The time signature we are in is 6/8 (two dotted quarter note beats per measure). Go to lesson...

Wayfaring Stranger: Mandolin Lesson

In this mandolin lesson we’ll look at a movable break for ‘Warfaring Stranger’ using the minor pentatonic scale, double stops & tremolo. Wayfaring Stranger has a wonderful melody, but being a song, can be played in many different keys, usually chosen by the vocalist. Having a break that you can easily transpose is a very handy thing to have up your sleeve. Go to lesson...