Banjo Lessons

Subject: Banjo Lessons
From: Randal
Date: 16 Jan 19 - 03:23 AM

I am a guitar player with an interest in bluegrass, western, and Celtic music. I have recently acquired a banjo, and wish to have the Forum's wisdom on ways to learn--best self-teach books, methods, videos, or online instruction. Recommendations?

Subject: RE: Banjo Lessons
From: Randal
Date: 16 Jan 19 - 03:26 AM

It is a 5-string banjo, and I want to learn 3-finger style and maybe even clawhammer.

Subject: RE: Banjo Lessons
From: banjoman
Date: 16 Jan 19 - 04:58 AM

I have been playing banjo for over 60 years and the advice I would give is to find an instruction book which details clawhammer style. In addition, the way I learnt was to try to play simple tunes, almost like one finger piano, and add the strums etc. Later.
Have fun, its a great instrument to play.

Subject: RE: Banjo Lessons
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Jan 19 - 04:58 AM

If you wish to learn frailing patrick costello you tube, very clear easy instruction, clawhammer [which is not frailing] again try you tube, in my opinion the youtube videos are better than books, however a good book forclawhammer is the art of the mountain banjo, art rosenbaum, centerstream, my advice is start with g tuning, then experiment with sawmill, double c and cgbd.
ken perlman clawhammer banjo are also good books, ther was a good instructional mike seeger Southern Banjo Styles - The Complete 3-DVD Set | Homespun.
as for bluegrass there are loads of you tube, books well how about Earl Scruggs and the 5-String Banjo, Banjo - Hal Leonard Online
The Banjo of Ralph Stanley : Mike Seeger ... - Book Depository,
ralph stanley played bluegrass and clawhammer, so that might suit you

Subject: RE: Banjo Lessons
From: gillymor
Date: 16 Jan 19 - 06:13 AM

I don't think you can do much better than Peghead Nation. Bill Evans teaches Bluegrass banjo and Evie Ladin teaches clawhammer and you can switch between the two without additional expense.

Subject: RE: Banjo Lessons
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jan 19 - 09:40 AM

I have over 800 videos oon frailing banjo, folk guitar and other topics on my YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/user/dobro33h

I also have a bunch of books in print and freely available under Creative Commons licenses. frailingbanjo.com

We are also offering free personalized instruction over video chat. See frailingbanjo.com for more information.

-Patrick

Subject: RE: Banjo Lessons
From: Chris C
Date: 17 Jan 19 - 09:57 AM

For 3-finger/bluegrass style, one other really highly recommended book is You Can Teach Yourself Banjo by Janet Davis (Mel Bay). Despite the title, it's good to work through with a teacher as well as on your own.
I also like Roy Clark's Bluegrass Banjo Bible. These two books make a nice pair for getting started.
Of course, the Earl Scruggs book is great, but a little tougher to parse, maybe too much info for some beginners.
Also, as noted above, the online banjo community is an amazing resource.
Good luck!

Subject: RE: Banjo Lessons
From: Randal
Date: 02 Apr 19 - 11:13 PM

A wealth of recommendations. Thanks to all of you. I think I will browse around. It sounds as if a mix of online resources and self-teaching books would be good. And Patrick, I may be haunting your digital doorstep.