Here is a banjo lesson on “Just a Closer Walk with thee.” This is a nice old hymn that I arranged, using some more advanced chord voicings and techniques. This is not meant for beginners. You’ll notice walking basslines and some counterpoint thrown in here…
Single String Licks for 5-string banjo What is Single String? Single-string is a style made popular by banjo players such as Don Reno and Bela Fleck. Technique-wise, for now, it is essentially alternating of the right hand fingers, whether that be Thumb-Index, or Index-Middle…
Playing Banjo In the Key of E One of the challenges beginner banjo players face is playing in unfamiliar keys. Keys that might be great for the guitar player but less conventional for our instrument. Have you ever attended a jam session, only to get…
In my latest teaching video I go over some listening hints for hearing chord changes. These are sounds I often listen for to help me anticipate the next chord change. I think knowing a little more about what to listen for will help you increase…
Who are my favorite banjo players? Allen Shelton Allen Shelton probably sits at the top of my list of influences when it comes to banjo. Why? Allen took the chordal knowledge of Don Reno, combined it with elements of Scruggs-style and jazz to create his…
Improve your practice time Are your practice sessions preparing you for real life jam situations? Are your practice sessions failing to address the necessary skills required to play songs you’ve never heard- Can you show up at a jam and follow along on new material?…
Free Jazz banjo video lesson: Jazz Lick expansion In this video, I demonstrate another Jazz Lick. This time I cover how to expand on licks and the importance of playing material in all 12 keys. When you can play the material in multiple keys,…
Here is Ezio’s family from Assassin’s Creed, my latest Video Game Music cover. I chose the Odyssey version as my guideline. I heard this version and immediately thought it would work great on the banjo as it is uses drones quite a bit. Assassin’s Creed…
Learning Jazz banjo licks In my latest youtube video, I teach a basic jazz lick. This lick uses enclosures and a descending Mixolydian idea. Here is the video: How should you learn jazz licks? 1)Play through the lick and memorize it 2)Analyze the lick, how…
In my latest video, I go over some left-hand tips that will help you move your way around the neck of the instrument quicker. Banjo Technique for the Left-Hand 1)Keep the Thumb closer to the center of the neck rather than over the top of…
I just uploaded a free easy banjo lesson for the bluegrass standard “Salty Dog Blues.” Salty Dog Blues Banjo Video. The TAB to this song is in my Beginner Banjo Songbook, which can be found over on my ETSY store. You will only need to…
A concept I got from my jazz studies I use a lot are called enclosures. Enclosures are & were used by jazz artists such as Clifford Brown, Pat Metheny, and Dizzy Gillespie. They were particularly popular in the late bebop period. A huge part of…
In this video I discuss Oblique Motion. Oblique Motion is one of many types of motion used by composers. I first discovered this via Bach and Classical Music. Oblique motion may sound complicated but it’s not. It is essentially as follows: One part is PASSIVE…
Minor 6 chords are one of my favorite chords in all of music. Where are they used? 1) They are used in minor keys as the i chord. The famous song “Summertime” by George Gershwin is a good example of a song you can use…