Banjo Lick No. 4
December 21st, 2019This is a V7-I change taken from the song Nola. An interesting mix of melodic and single string technique to get you from A7 to D.
Tab
Banjo Lick No. 3
December 7th, 2019Here is a lick that uses a flatted 3rd, 5th and 7th to give it a bluesy sound. In the key of G these blue notes are Bb, Db and F.
Banjo Lick No. 2
November 28th, 2019Banjo Lick No. 1
November 24th, 2019This is a melodic lick inspired by Bela Fleck. The tricky part is fretting the 5th string with your pinky.
Key of G
Cripple Creek
August 2nd, 2019Cripple Creek
Key of A
Capo 2nd
Somewhere between Bluegrass and Old-Time is how I like to play fiddle tunes on guitar. Sure I may be playing a Santa Cruz Tony Rice model, in this video, but I relate more to Norman Blake and a laid back approach.
The intention of this video is to show you how to shape a basic melody into a lead line. More importantly it demonstrates that rhythm playing is equally important and doesn’t always have to be robotic strumming.
Another important element is to play with a bowing type pulse to give the music a lilt. After all fiddle tunes are traditionally played at dances.
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Jerusalem Ridge – Melodic Banjo
February 13th, 2018Key of Am
Capo 2nd
Spike 7th
(Gm Tuning = g-D-G-Bb-D)
Jerusalem Ridge is arguably Bill Monroe’s finest instrumental and Kenny Baker certainly helped solidify its place in history.
For my banjo arrangement I took most of my inspiration from Kenny’s fiddle playing. It’s a tricky, crooked tune to play on banjo but easily my favorite Monroe instrumental.
You’ll see banjo players play this tune in either standard G or Gm tuning with or without a capo. I opted for G minor tuning with the capo on the 2nd fret with the 5th string spiked at the 7th fret. This results in the actual sound of the strings as an Am chord (a-E-A-C-E).
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Sally Goodin
February 3rd, 2018Sally Goodin
Key of A,
Capo 2nd.
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Crosspicking 102 – Sitting on Top of the World
January 29th, 2018Here is a fine example of crosspicking in the tradition of George Shuffler who played with The Stanley Brothers back in the day.
I transcribed this solo from a 1977 live performance of Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys. You can view the original concert video here.
The guitar player is Troy ‘Renfro’ Profitt and he does a brilliant job of sticking to the melody while rolling that syncopated crosspicking throughout. The predominent picking pattern is Down-Up-Up.
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Backup Banjo – Lesson 3 – Licks
March 27th, 2017In lesson three, of Scruggs style backup, we’re rolling through the essential Scruggs backup licks. Be sure to subscribe if you would like to be notified when follow up videos are released.
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Backup Banjo – Lesson 2 – Vamping
March 31st, 2016In lesson two, of Scruggs style backup, we take a closer look at vamping. Be sure to subscribe to my youtube channel if you would like to be notified when follow up videos are released.
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