Tag Archives: Single-String Banjo

Bill Sullivan’s Polka: Beginner Melodic Banjo

G’day! In this Bill Sullivan’s Polka: Beginner Melodic Banjo Lesson, we’ll take a look at this great tune for the advancing beginner picker in the melodic style. This tune is a traditional polka in 2/4 time & played in the key of A. The banjo is tuned to standard tuning with the capo placed at fret 2 & the 5th string spiked at fret 7 for this arrangement and features the melodic technique, plus a little single string at times. Go to lesson...

Colonel John Irwin (O’Carolan): Melodic Banjo

G’day! In this Colonel John Irwin: Melodic Banjo Lesson, we’ll take a look at this great tune for the advancing beginner/intermediate picker. This tune is an Air (6/8), composed by Turlough O’Carolan and in the key of D. The banjo is tuned to standard tuning for this arrangement and features the melodic technique, plus a little single string at times. Go to lesson...

Wayfaring Stranger: Banjo Lesson

G’day! In this Wayfaring Stranger: Banjo Lesson, we’ll take a look at a great arrangement for the beginner/intermediate picker, containing 2 variations of the melody for both the verse & chorus.

This arrangement is in the key of Em, but can be easily capo’d to other keys up the neck.  Go to lesson...

Ten Penny Bit: Banjo Lesson

G’day! In this Ten Penny Bit: Mandolin Lesson, we’ll take a look at the melody of the tune for the advanced banjo picker. The Ten Penny Bit is a traditional Irish Jig in the key of Am (dorian), sharing the same key signature as G (F#).The left hand note combinations are relatively straight forward, but is quite a challenge for your right hand! Go to lesson...

Soldier’s Joy: Banjo Lesson

G’day! In this Soldier’s Joy: Banjo Lesson, we’ll take a look at the melody of the tune on the 5-string for the advancing intermediate picker, focusing on both the 3 finger single-string & melodic techniques. Soldier’s Joy is a traditional fiddle tune in the key of D and for this arrangement we are in standard open G tuning. Go to lesson...

Rolling Waves, The: Banjo Lesson

G’day! In The Rolling Waves: Banjo Lesson, we’ll take a look at the basic melody of the tune on the 5-string for the intermediate picker, focusing on both the 3 finger single-string & melodic techniques. The Rolling Waves is a traditional Irish jig in the key of D and for this arrangement we are in standard open G tuning. Go to lesson...

Devil’s Dream: Banjo Lesson

G’day! In this Devil’s Dream: Banjo Lesson, we’ll take a look at the basic melody of the tune for the intermediate picker, focusing on the single-string technique. Devil’s Dream is a traditional fiddle tune in the key of A. It has challenging left hand note combinations featuring both arpeggios and scale passages and is a great work out for your right hand, alternating between the thumb & index fingers during many 8th note passages, but is darn fun to play & a great session tune! Go to lesson...

Road To Lisdoonvarna: Banjo Lesson

G’day! In this Road To Lisdoonvarna: Banjo Lesson, we’ll take a look at a single string arrangement of the tune. Road To Lisdoonvarna is a traditional Irish Single Jig in the key of Em (dorian), sharing the same key signature as D (F# & C#). The left hand note combinations are played in a single string style and the right hand follows this with an alternating thumb & index finger, following the single jig rhythm. Go to lesson...

Foxhunters, The: Banjo Lesson

G’day! In The Foxhunters: Banjo Lesson, we’ll take a look at the basic melody of the tune. This arrangement is played with a single-string technique & a little melodic technique at times. The Foxhunters is a traditional Irish Slip Jig (9/8 time) in the key of D. The left hand note combinations are relatively straight forward, but is quite a challenge for your right hand! Go to lesson...

Red Haired Boy: Banjo Lesson

G’day! In this banjo lesson we’ll take a look at 2 different ways of playing the same melody for Red Haired Boy on the banjo. The first version is played with a single string technique, using the open position and approached in a way that the guitar or mandolin might pick the tune. Go to lesson...