Cooley’s Reel is a traditional Irish reel in the key of Em (Dorian) and we’re in standard tuning on the 5 string. It has a great feel and features some difficult passages that use arpeggios and triplet slurs, all while giving your right-hand a brilliant work out, combining single-string, melodic & rolls. Go to lesson...
The Kid On The Mountain is traditional Irish slip jig (9/8), played at a fast tempo, in the key of Em (standard tuning). There are five parts to the tune, each containing some excellent picking passages that require us to accent the 3 beats found in each measure, whilst ensuring we apply an appropriate picking technique, that incorporates both the melodic & single-string techniques. Go to lesson...
The Connaughtman’s Rambles is a great jig in the key of D (standard tuning), played at a fast tempo, and suited to the advanced picker. There are two parts to the tune; both of which are extremely challenging for the picking hand, with some unorthodox combinations appropriate for the movement of the melody. Go to lesson...
The Monaghan Jig is an awesome tune in the key of Em (standard tuning), played at a fast tempo, and suited to the advanced picker. There are four parts to the tune, each presenting their own challenges; melodic, single-string, 16th note rhythms plus ensuring the 6/8 feel is accented. Spend some time on this tune, it will certainly develop your picking and will be a great addition to your repertoire! Go to lesson...
‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ is a beautiful Christmas carol and in this banjo lesson, we’ll learn a lovely chord melody arrangement. In the key of G, the melody is supported by 3 & 4 part harmony, with some challenging chord positions, which would be suited too the advanced picker. This version sounds great as a solo banjo piece and is a great addition to your Christmas repertoire! Go to lesson...
Backup Banjo (Part 1): Major & Minor Chords
Backup Banjo (Part 2): Celtic Backup
In this third part of the course, we’ll focus on the use of runs, fills, inversions & syncopation in our backup. With three example progressions: 12 Bar Blues, Folk Rock & Psychedelic Rock, we’ll explore these ideas while also learning the pentatonic box patterns that surround our chord positions. Go to lesson...
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. Go to lesson...
The Finnish Polka is a traditional polka, in the key of Bm. This arrangement is played in standard open G tuning gDGBD, and features the melodic technique, played at quite a brisk tempo. For the intermediate picker, the lively tune is a great technique workout, but equally as fun for the more experienced picker! 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...
In this lesson for Amazing Grace on the 5-string banjo, we’ll look at an arrangement that uses a chord melody approach, where we’ll highlight the melody with different chord harmony through out. In the key of D, the banjo is in standard tuning. The beautiful melody is relatively straight forward, but as we support it with the chordal harmony, it does become more difficult, and is suited to the more advanced intermediate picker. Go to lesson...