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Martha Butler
on Fixing Banjo Timing - Banjo Tab Exercises
George Hicks
on How Hard is it to Play the Banjo?
Thomas Holder
on Banjo Capo Advice - How and When to Use a Banjo...
Bryan Cook
on Banjo Capo Advice - How and When to Use a Banjo...
Archive for 2016
Banjo DVD Reviews
....I got the 2 new DVD's today and I'm blown away! As far as I know, there isn't any other instruction material on the market that compares. The "Playing Banjo by Ear" lessons are a tool kit for understanding how playing the banjo really works. It's like that old saying about teaching a man how to fish rather than giving him a fish. I spent the evening playing through both of them. You are right................Read More
Banjo DVD Reviews
Banjo DVD ReviewsReviews for Playing Banjo by Ear and Learning the Chords, Banjo Jamming and Play Along DVD with included Learning the Chords Up and Down the Neck Video and other Banjo instructional DVDs.Read More
Banjo Help with the Forward Roll
I have a question about the fingering of the forward roll as tabbed on pg 16 of "Beginning The 5-String Banjo" book. (The roll referred to is an eight note one measure forward roll starting on the 3rd string, TMTIMTIM)Read More
Banjo Practice Advice
Question about the best products to learn from someone who is frustrated with keeping up with the tracks in the How to Build Your Speed on the Banjo BookRead More
Fixing Banjo Timing - Banjo Tab Exercises
As a banjo teacher I specialize in helping students of all ages learn to do something that they always wanted to do, and that's play banjo. One of the first apprehensions I hear from new students or from students that are fearful in their own ability to learn is. "I've got now rhythm". Well, I am here to reassure you that rhythm and counting can be learned, and its way more simple than you might think. In fact simple is the key.Read More
Free Beginner Banjo E-Book for New Mailing List Members
Thanks for Joining the Mailing List at BanjoTeacher.comTo complete your sign up process for the monthly discounts newsletter and receive the free item. you were sent an automatic email.1. Open the email and confirm the sign up process. 2. Then send us an email requesting the Free E-Book. 3. If you did not receive the email, please email us at info@banjoteacher.com Here are some discounts just for joining the mailing list.Read More
Free Video on How to Hold the Banjo, Attach a Strap and Put Picks On
Free Banjo Lesson Video on how to hold or position the banjo, put the picks on, attach a banjo strap. The video also points out names of all the parts of the banjo like the tension hoop, tailpiece, peghead, flange and resonator. ,This is an excerpt from Beginning the Five String Banjo Book, CD and DVD by Ross Nickerson Read More
Free Video on How to Tighten a Banjo head
How to Tighten a Banjo HeadRead More
Getting Better Control of Your Picking
Love your Banjo Encyclopedia and have found it a great help. I have been playing (or trying) for a few years now, and for the amount of time invested, feel I should be a pretty good player by now! Not so unfortunately as my biggest problem seems to be my right hand and fingers going everywhere once I start trying to pick up some speed. My hand cramped up terribly when I had two fingers on theRead More
How to fret better on banjo and improve the left hand Question
As a relative newbie to the banjo, I've got a question that pertains to the Banjo Encyclopedia's 3rd chapter on left handed technique. Here's my question. If you could only practice one part of that chapter (for about 15 min) everyday, which part would it be? I know it somewhat depends on the needs of the student, but I'm just wondering which part of this chapter I'll be truely glad I worked diligently on a year from now. Also, please relate any really really important left handed techniques that you did not mention in BE, if there are any. ThanksRead More
How to Play Banjo Along with a CD or DVD
Playing your banjo along with a You Tube video, DVD, CD or MP3 recording is not only loads of fun but a much more productive way of practicing banjo with few exceptions. One of the key elements in becoming a good banjo player is repetitions. The muscle memory you develop in repetitions helps you developing banjo tone, skill, speed, timing and the ability to improvise when you lose your place.Read More
How to Put Strings on a Banjo
Here is a free video on how to put strings on a banjo. The video also includes tips on putting a bridge on a banjo and tightening the banjo head. Changing strings on a banjo is not hard once you've done it once or twice. Be sure to change ths strings one at a time so the bridge will stay in place, and it will be easier to tune up. One of the most important things to do when chaRead More
Improving Your Left Hand on Banjo - Which Finger to Use?
Answer to a student question on which finger to use when playing a standard lick up the neck. The article includes the answer along with some straight forward advice on improving your left hand ability when practicing your banjo.Read More
Learning the D Chord Part In Beverly Hillbillies / Jed Clampett
Banjo Advice Beverly Hillbilly's / Jed ClampetLearning the Beverly Hillbillies theme on banjo Student Question: The D chord part in The Ballad of Jed Clampet Read More
Learning to Play Banjo Left Handed
Being a lefty and wanting to learn to play banjo can present a few challenges. One is deciding whether to start off playing banjo left handed or right handed. I am asked that question fairly frequently from new students asking me for advice. What I would do if I was standing right there in front of them is hand them a banjo and see which way they go with it. I don't think this is a cerebral decision or even something that should be followed on the advice of others. The bottom line is it has to feel natural and comfortable. Often our quickest reactions or "gut" reactions are the most dependable and solid. That is why I would try to distract the student and hand it to them so I could see their "natural" reaction and which way they held it..... Read More
Most Accurate Tab for Dueling Banjos
Most Accurate Tab for Dueling Banjos by Ross Nickerson I’ve transcribed Dueling Banjos note for note from the original Deliverance Movie Soundtrack as played by Eric Weisberg. Eric’s playing of this song along with the worldwide exposure from the movie and radio airplay can be credited with spawning a generation of players to take up the banjo. I still have students arrive at my door or at my website BanjoTeacher.com because they heard Dueling Banjos and want with every fiber in their body to make that sound!Read More
Notes to Tune a Banjo To
Here are the notes to tune a banjo to and also the notes used for different tuning options on a banjo. The tunings we have the notes for are Standard G open bluegrass tuning. C Tuning bluegrass, Bluegrass D tuning, Double C tuning, G minor tuning and Low Open E tuning. Read More
Playing The Melody on a Banjo | Using the Thumb
One of the challenges to learning and playing bluegrass banjo is to learn correct technique so you can keep up with the fast tempos so many bluegrass songs have.One of the tricks to playing consecutive 1/8 notes on a banjo is alternating your fingers. If you are playing 1/4 notes it's no problem to use the same finger twice in a row, but on a fast stream of 1/8 notes in an up tempo bluegrass song, using a different finger for each note is how it's accomplished.When playing the melody in 3 finger bluegrass Scruggs Style is don't let the index finger drive the bus. The thumb leads the way.Read More
Practice Habits Banjo
Banjo Practice Habits and Techniques Class HandoutsBelow are links to handouts that you can downloadRead More
Reset the Bridge on a Five String Banjo
Watch a video on how to re-set your banjo bridge. This video goes in to more detail and shows you how to set the bridge so the intonation is correct and the banjo plays in tune up and down the neck. The bridge is placed the same distance from the 12th fret as the distance from the 12th fret to the nut (nut is located where the strings go through at the peg head). The intonation or tuning can be fine tuned with an electronic tuner and using harmonics. This is described and demonstrated in the video.Read More
Reviews on Banjo Picks
Banjo Pick Reviews Read More
What is the definition of playing thirds on a banjo
Hi Ross what is the definition of playing a third on a banjo? Looked but couldn’t find the definition, Thanks TedHi Ted,A Third is two notes 1/3 apart; chords are made of 3 notes, each note 1/3 apart which is why they harmonize. Singers most often harmonize using notes 1/3 apart.Read More
What is Zero Glide? Zero Glide Banjo Comparison
What is the Zero Glide Nut for Banjo and Guitar? Questions Answered - Comparison Video with and without Zero Glide I like most banjo players wanted to know what all the buzz was about the Zero Glide Nut got banjo. I heard about it for quite sometime before having an opportunity to experience what it does for your banjo. I consider myself always open to new ideas and improvements but I had a normal responses in the back of my head....... Read More
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The Banjo Cruise
The Banjo Cruise
The Banjo Cruise Workshop is held in a large private conference room that is essentially sound proof and separate from all other passengers. The workshop takes place during the days we are at sea so you can visit all ports and still have plenty of time for fun with your spouse, family or friends while on the cruise. The class sizes are small ensuring that each student receives the assistance and encouragement they need.ST Pete Banjo Camp
Annual Banjo Workshop weekend in Sunny St Pete Beach Florida!
The Academy of Performance Arts with Ross Nickerson
Banjo camp seminar and group banjo lesson workshop in the USA for bluegrass 5-string banjo in Florida at sunny St Pete Beach. This is an annual Florida banjo event and held during the winter months for locals,winter residents and students who want to escape the cold while improving their banjo playing, and having fun doing it.The Banjo Safari
The Banjo Safari
Join me for an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience traveling to Africa for an African Photo Safari. I am to be teaming up with our professional Safari guides Kevin and Tricia Dooley on an adventure that none of us will forget. We'll spend our mornings and late afternoons exploring the wildlife of South Africa, and the mid day will be filled with a banjo workshop that should be fun and rewarding. - Resources