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Banjo Lessons

16 Jan 19 - 03:23 AM (#3971668)
Subject: Banjo Lessons
From: Randal

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?


16 Jan 19 - 03:26 AM (#3971670)
Subject: RE: Banjo Lessons
From: Randal

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


16 Jan 19 - 04:58 AM (#3971680)
Subject: RE: Banjo Lessons
From: banjoman

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.


16 Jan 19 - 04:58 AM (#3971681)
Subject: RE: Banjo Lessons
From: The Sandman

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


16 Jan 19 - 06:13 AM (#3971691)
Subject: RE: Banjo Lessons
From: gillymor

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.


17 Jan 19 - 09:40 AM (#3971845)
Subject: RE: Banjo Lessons
From: GUEST

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


17 Jan 19 - 09:57 AM (#3971848)
Subject: RE: Banjo Lessons
From: Chris C

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!


02 Apr 19 - 11:13 PM (#3985618)
Subject: RE: Banjo Lessons
From: Randal

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.