Wreck Of the Old 97 (D)
February 9th, 2007Standard G tuning except your 5th string is tuned up to an A for this song.
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Banjo
Single String Chromatic Exercises
February 3rd, 2007This video demonstrates single string style picking using the standard three finger Scruggs approach on the five string banjo. The fundamental right hand pattern starts with the thumb and alternates with the index finger to simulate the up and down stroke of a flatpick. Some people use their middle finger instead of the index. Either way works so use whichever feels more natural.
The first exercise is a G chromatic scale starting at the fifth fret of the forth string. The notes of the scale are: G, G#, A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G.
The second exercise involves playing a forward roll (T-I-M-T) on one string while walking into the 1st, 3rd and 5th degrees of the G scale (G, B, D, G). In this case it’s demonstrated on the first string but can be played on any string in any key. Greg Cahill uses this lick to great effect.
Both of these exercises are played in a closed position and use no open strings so they can easily be moved into any key.
Ground Speed
January 1st, 2007Ground Speed……..Arguably one of the coolest banjo-tunes ever.
Here it is, as slow as I can play it.
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Exploring Backup With Cripple Creek
December 31st, 2006Cripple Creek is usually one of the first songs aspiring banjo players learn the melody to so I figure it’s a good place to start looking at some backup concepts.
This video demonstrates walking bass notes, vamp chords, fill licks and chord substitutions. If you’re new to the concept of chord substitution Google can supply you with plenty of exhaustive insights into it but if you prefer to pick more and read less think of it this way; Chord substitutions are nothing more than harmonies or chords that share similar notes. In this example I play an Am chord over, or instead of, a D7 chord.
Am = A C E
I do this so I can keep the bass line going (B-A-G) and since the notes are played so dry and fast you can easily get away with this type of substitution. You could play a D7 chord at the 5th fret with the A in the bass but I find that cumbersome and unnecessary when playing the song up tempo.
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Tab in PDF and TablEdit formats - $6.00
Banjo Crash Course
December 9th, 2006Here is a crash course in Scruggs style banjo playing. Below are the fundamental building blocks that will get you up and running in no time. All of the examples that follow are played on a five string banjo in standard G tuning using two metal finger-picks and one plastic thumb pick. If you’re unfamiliar with G tuning then here it is:
D – 1st String
B – 2nd String
G – 3rd String
D – 4th String (The wound one)
G – 5th String (The short one)
Now that you’re in open G tuning you already know your first chord so let’s focus on the right hand picking patterns commonly called “rolls”.
There are four basic patterns that can be applied to any combination of strings.
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Next try adding the basic C and D7 chords to your rolls.
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And finally here are three closed position chord shapes that you can play anywhere on the neck. You’ll quickly find that you need to be selective about when to add the fifth string to these shapes since it has the possibility of sounding very dissonant. Another trick is to use fragments of these movable chords
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Randy Lynn Rag
December 8th, 2006Randy Lynn Rag is all about the forward roll. It can be quite a challenge but it’s a great tune. How J.D. Crowe plays it as fast as he does is beyond comprehension.
For those of you that are unfamiliar with the tune it requires Keith Tuners. Set the G tuner for G to F# and set the B tuner for B to C. Other than that it’s pretty self explanatory.
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Little Darlin’ Pal Of Mine
December 2nd, 2006Earl Scruggs rendition of the Carter Family classic “Little Darlin’ Pal Of Mine” as played on the Carnegie Hall album. If you need tab it’s in the Earl Scruggs book.
This song has a familiar melody reminiscent of “Gold Watch and Chain” or “This Land is Your Land”. Full of classic licks, it’s demonstrated here at two different tempos.
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Tab in PDF and TablEdit formats - $6.00
Nashville Blues
November 24th, 2006Another Earl tune but this time it’s in D minor tuning (the saddest of all keys according to Nigel). Same deal as the last one; Two videos of varying speed.
If you’re unfamiliar with the tuning it is, from string five to one, a-D-F-A-D.
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The Ballad of Jed Clampett
November 24th, 2006Here is the theme song from the Beverly Hillbillies “The Ballad of Jed Clampett”.
This song tends to have a love-hate relationship with most banjo players but that doesn’t diminish its genius. Classic Earl, deceptively simple yet brilliant.
The tune is played out of the G position with the capo at the second fret (key of A).
Foggy Mountain Breakdown
November 18th, 2006Here is a slow sample of Foggy Mountain Breakdown. There are two down-neck breaks and two up-neck breaks. After filming these I am convinced it’s often more difficult to play slow than to play fast.
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Tab in PDF and TablEdit formats - $6.00
