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Learning to Play the Melody on Banjo using Christmas Songs

I thought I'd better get started on some Christmas songs well before Christmas this year, so yesterday I was playing your Joy of Christmas examples, and my grandson and I agree that they all are great, but my wife and granddaughter only liked two- coincidentally both Silent Night and Away in a Manger, which are directly melody songs. Read More

10th fret bending on Foggy Mountain Breakdown

QUESTION: Is my sound quality problem likely caused by my playing (and will improve with practice), or is it due to the limitations of playing a $300.00 banjo and is what I can reasonably expect from the instrument?Read More

500 dollar Banjo

Had a quick question, I have a 500.00 Hohner banjo that I am playing better since I received your online video, but I am trying to get better clarity like your banjo.Do I have to buy a better banjo or is there some way I can enhance mine to sound better and crisper.Read More

Advice in the picking and fretting hand

I started learning the banjo several weeks ago and so far progress is pretty much stalled at the beginning. I realize that the right hand movements, and especially the ability to move the middle finger independently of the ring finger, should come with repetition rolls. But I am also having great difficulty with the dexterity required of the left hand. The laRead More

Advice on Banjo Back up Play Along CDs

Good luck with the Backup CDs. Remember to read the instructions on charting out the chords and playing along with the tracks based on the chords and chord progressions. You could be missing the point of these practice cds (which is to work on many parts of your playing skills) if you obsess on the tab arrangemeRead More

Advice on retuning the banjo after putting a capo on

Student Question I am having trouble with my banjo going way out of tune when I put a capo on, one of my banjos is fine but the other two I avhe quite a bit of trouble with needing to re-tune, any tips? Read More

Are 5th String Capo Spikes Necessary for a Beginner Banjo Player

One more question... Will the capo spikes be necessary for a beginner like me? My impression is no... but let me know if you have any advice to the contrary.Read More

Ask the Banjo Teacher - Going from Guitar Player to Banjo Player

Hello Ross, I saw you demoing this instrument online. I’m really a guitar player, but am giving banjo a crack, and have one of these. How do you adjust the action on this. It seems a little high up the neck. The neck does appear straight. Thanks, Darrell PS Your pickin sounds great by the way.Read More

Attaching a Leather Lakota Banjo Strap

Here are some instructions to answer your question on where to attach the leather strap on your banjo.Read More

Banjo Advice - Left hand muting

Dear Banjoteacher.com: I recently purchased a Tennessee Crafters banjo and it has great sound. I am struggling with my left hand muting/interfering with the 4th string. The neck is (apparently) narrower than my previous banjo and the 4th string is very close to the lower edge of the neck. Is this something I might Read More

Banjo Advice - Left hand muting

I recently purchased a Tennessee Crafters banjo and it has great sound. I am struggling with my left hand muting/interfering with the 4th string. The neck is (apparently) narrower than my previous banjo and the 4th string is very close to the lower edge of the neck. Is this something I might be able to adjust with a new nut, or is it just lazy left hand technique? Read More

Banjo Capo Advice - How and When to Use a Banjo Capo

The capo is sometimes called a “cheater.” In a sense it is, but it doesn’t make you a poor musician to use it. In fact, in bluegrass banjo playing, many times it is proper. By using the capo, we are able to play everything we know in open G tuning; by simply placing the capo on another fret, we change the key. For those of you who are new to this, here is a little chart to help you.Read More

Banjo CD Reviews

Ross Nickerson Banjo CD Reviews Read More

Banjo Double Hammer-on Pull-Off Lick

I'm still struggling with the lick in sitting on top of the world. Would you mind a detailed explanation how to play the lick with the 2 hammers, pulloff ? exactly what the left and right hands are supposed to do and how to do it ?Read More

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 Encyclopedia Learning Tips

I have been working on the Banjo Student's Breakdown in the Banjo Encyclopedia and I am having a bit of trouble with the 8th measure where you perform a 2-3 slide on the third string with your second finger and then use your index finger to fret the 1st string at the second fret. Would it be okay to use your rinRead More

Banjo Exercises and Workout by Ross Nickerson

Banjo Exercises and WorkoutThis is the first installment of a series of teaching articles to help banjo students improve their overall skills by getting a "Banjo Workout".When learning the banjo it's only natural to want to learn songs and seek tangible results right away by playing a song. However in my workshops it's been my observation that students are burning a lot of practice time sight reading tablature and not getting the results they desire. If we can take a step back and see the big picture it should be obvious that if we spend more of our practice time building the skills needed to play songs and improve our overall capabilities, completed songs, jamming and real results should fall right into place.In this first banjo exercise lesson. I'm going to give you a picking exercise with a few different aspects of picking to work on. 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 Learning Tips - Right Hand Picking - Banjo Rolls

I wanted to be sure that I am on right track and to verify that you suggest using the book in the sequence presented which has ‘Right Hand’’ techniques with Rolls prior to “Left Hand” techniques with Chords, etc. Read More

Banjo Links

Banjo Links and MoreBelow are a courtesy listing of Banjo and Bluegrass linksRead More

Banjo Players

BANJO PLAYER WEBSITESRead 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

Banjo Practice Tips

The learning process will be slow and often frustrating. I am hoping to keep my enthusiasm going and trying each day to maintain what I practiced the previous day Read More

Banjo Practice Trying to Hard

One of the thing that comes up a lot at my private lessons is that students can think too hard, which many of us do. Adults especially, are used to solving our problems with our mind. With the banjo many of the difficulties can be solved by overcoming physical barriers. That of course is not new, but maybe not thought through enough.Read More

Banjo Reviews

Customer Reviews and Comments for our Gold Tone Banjo Sales, Recording King, Deering, Morgan Monroe, Goldstar and the Other Banjo Models and Manufacturers.Read More

Banjo Set Up Advice

Just a quick note to say how much I am enjoying the courses I have downloaded from you. I have recently detected vibration on my 4th string when fretting. All the other strings are fine and it is a new set of strings. Are there any banjo websites who diagnose and advise on these problems. Read More

Banjo Students Breakdown

In the Banjo Encyclopedia, chapter, 5 the Banjo Student's Breakdown. There are four places in this tune where you move from G to F, starting F with a hammer-on on the 4th string. I am finding it nearly impossible to make this transition with any speed. Is there a trick to this, or just lots of practice?Read More

Banjo Timing Instruction

Reply to a student reporting on learning timing on banjo and other common hurdlesThanks for the positive feedback. timing problems can often be solved by learning to count out or tap out the beats or notes in each measure, (without playing).Read More

BANJO WEBSITE LINKS

Bluegrass Website Here are some links to banjo websites where you will find everything you need to improve on the banjo.Read More

Banjo Workshop Reviews

Reviews from Banjo PickersPlaying Banjo By Ear and Jamming Workshops Play by ear, chord instruction, practice habits, playing backup and improvising. Read More

Beginning Banjo Rolls - Practicing Banjo Rolls

When you are beginning to learn banjo rolls, the most important thing to remember is the roll is determined by the finger pattern used not the strings played. For example a beginning banjo alternating thumb roll, sometimes referred to as a “square” or “box” roll is T I T M T I T M (thumb index thumb middle)Read More

Beverly Hillbilly D Chord Part

I bought your books How to Build Up speed and The banjo song book. I am a newcomer but have got the hang of the basic rolls and can play reasonably fluently and at a medium tempo. Problem I am trying to learn The Ballad of Jed Clampet and I just cannot for the life of me get the phrasing of the end of the 3rd to the beginning of the 4th measure. I know the tune, I've watchedRead More

Bluegrass Bands

Find a Bluegrass band in your area Read More

Bluegrass Festivals

Below are a listing of Bluegrass festivals and Bluegrass venues links here at BanjoTeacher.comRead More

Bluegrass Gospel Websites

Bluegrass Gospel Websites

Bluegrass Gospel WebsitesRead More

Bluegrass in the U.S.

short contentRead More

Bluegrass Magazines Webzines

Listed below are Bluegrass Magazines and Webzines to help you with your banjo playingRead More

BLUEGRASS MUSIC LESSON LINKS

BLUEGRASS MUSIC LESSON LINKSRead More

Bluegrass Music Store Links

Bluegrass Music Store Links Here are some Bluegrass music store links Read More

Bluegrass Websites

BLUEGRASS ASSOCIATIONS, BANDS, RADIO STATIONS, BLUEGRASS PRODUCTS AND MORERead More

Chord shapes / keys

Student Question I understand the concepts of playing back up as explained in the encyclopedia and other books I have but I can't find anything specific concerning backup in alternate tunings, particularly and specifically Dm...iRead More

Controling Banjo Picking

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 the head, so it was suggested that I try with just my pinky. I did this and it made me woRead More

DVD Sample Videos

Banjo Lesson Videos Here are banjo lesson video samples for the banjo lessons that go with our Books, DVDs and Online Lessons. The videos are for Backup Banjo, Beginner Banjo Videos, Banjo Tunes, Play Along, Learning Banjo Chords, Up the Neck, Practice Habits, Timing, Playing in Different keys without a capo and more. Read More

Fingers tensing up while playing banjo

I have just started using some of your materials but have not yet seen this issue specifically addressed. My playing consistency is poor. Some days I can play moderate difficulty tunes with rhythm and timing and with few if any errors. At other times (particularly when playing in front of an “audience”), both right and left hanRead 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 Banjo Lesson with Loop2Learn

Try out Loop2Learn App for slowing down banjo with this Free Banjo Lesson by me, Ross Nickerson. Loop2Learn only cost $1.99 and it will change your banjo practice experience in a positive way IMMEDIATELY!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

Fretting Hands Question

I'm still struggling with the lick in sitting on top of the world. Would you mind a detailed explanation how to play the lick with the 2 hammers, pulloff ? exactly what the left and right hands are supposed to do and how to do it ?Read 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

Glossary of Common Banjo Words and Phrases by Ross Nickerson

Find out what all the words associated with playing and learning to play the banjo mean by using Ross Nickerson's Banjo Word Glossary. This glossary of banjo related word definitions defines in simple to understand "layman's" terms the most common words, terms, phrases and musical descriptions needed to play, teach, and learn "how" to play the banjo.Read More

Gold Star Banjos-Availability and Facts

Ask the Banjo Teacher: Ross Nickerson Customer message: Ross... I've got an 05 Gold Star GF 85 which I've played for 13 years.... Really like the Gold Star. Looking to move up in quality but stay with Gold Star... what is the gold star, in your opinion, for around 2k? thanks, JimHi Jim, Gold Star only has one model in production now. But you emailed at a good time. For the last two years I have hadRead More

Head tightening, torque wrench and banjo set up

Help with D Chord

I can play most chord forms pretty well at this point, but have never comfortably mastered the full D chord—in fact, I’m not very content with how I play it at all. This is certainly an important chord shape that is essential to basic bluegrass music, especially up-the-neck playing. Here’s my question—what can I do to improve my ability to accurately transition to this chord form (I know, practice, practice, practice)? Do you have something specific that you can recommend?Read More

Hints to Pick Banjo Faster Developing Speed and Technique

Hints to Pick Banjo Faster Developing Speed and TechniqueRight Hand1. Practice Rolls. 2. Work on weak spots. 3. Push yourself and try to raise your speed a notch each day. 4. Try using a metronome to push the tempo up each practice session and help you with your timing as well. 5. Allow yourself the freedom to make mistakes and sound sloppy so you can work out the kinks and overcome obstacles. 6. Play in situations that challenge your speed. You may be surprised on how well you do. 7. Play through mistakes and keep plowing forward. Read More