ANNOUNCEMENT: 1-on-1 virtual banjo lessons are now available! Great for those who want a more guided learning experience, or those who just want help with a single song, lick, or technique. If you want personal instruction, you can sign up here: calendly.com/johnmoorebanjo/banjolesson
Minute 6:14 - 7:14 may be the most concise, useful and essential single minute of banjo instruction I’ve ever seen. The 3 rolls, in 1 musical phrase. It’s an exercise that has immediate, practical, and univerasl application. It’s all well and good to practice those rolls, but it’s a whole different thing going rom one to another. Mastering that phrase just ups anyone’s game for accompaniment and for learning licks in melodies. Thank you, sir. I see lots of metronome work in my immediate future.
Long time guitar player here. Always wanted to pick up a banjo, but was too afraid, then I came across this video. My banjo arrived just now! Thank you for this lesson.
I taught myself to play acoustic guitar more than once. 2 reasons I wanted to play banjo. 1 cripple creek, 2 foggy mountain breakdown..... I can't even play banjo with lessons.
Bought my first banjo about 8 months ago and just now getting the chance to sit down and learn it. I've been playing guitar for almost 30 years now, and while I'm still no professional, I believe I can tell a decent instructor when I see one. I watched your "how to tune your banjo" video in this series and became a subscriber at about the 2 minute mark. You are not only a fantastic banjo player, but an excellent teacher. Thank you sir, you rock!
Thank you for these videos, John. I was paying for lessons on Udemy, but you give better information. And for free! I'm using that Udemy payment to support you on Patron instead. Thanks again!
Thank you very much for this great lesson. If possible, whenever you can you could post another roll lesson covering other types of roll. That would be very helpful. I am 69 and just started learning the banjo. Be safe. Cheers from Brazil!
Been wanting to play the banjo for years now. Found an old kay '67 at a local antique store at a decent price. Watching tutorials while I wait for a few new parts to come in. I couldn't justify waiting to learn how to play any longer. Thank you for these videos!
The best intro to 5 string that I have come across on youtube. Thanks, can't wait to correct everything I have been doing wrong from my guitar finger picking days!
Dude thank you!! I’ve been playing guitar and bass my whole life, but now at 39 I’ve just acquired a banjo. I have always loved banjo picking. With the help of your break down of the rolls I feel like I’m well on my way! How long does it generally take to get used to wearing these picks? Lol. Thanks again!!
Got the banjo yesterday. The fifth string tuning peg was cracked. Just ordered a new one. I hope it fits in that little bored out hole. If it comes with the picks I ordered I’ll be strumming and watching this video on repeat. Thanks!
I like to give recognition where it is due. This wasn't some crap instruction which would have instructed students in the rolls merely one way but by getting them to use the patterns of the rolls on various strings which is important to gain better hand technique. Including left hand and getting both to work in cordination flat out requires practice and many quit. Endure and you'll be happy you did. Instant gratification is looking at a new banjo gifted or bought but getting good requires effort. Buy a mute with a banjo and it may save your life from spouses. significant others or neighbors.
I can’t believe I found this ! Just starting and was wondering how to figure out rolls in an intuitive simple instruction. You nailed it and I am happy practicing! Thank you!
Just bought a 5 string after I sold my last one 37yrs ago, so watching your videos gives me a bit of hope to get back to as good or bad as I was all those years ago.🥴🥴🥴🤪
Very interesting to see this because i am a long year Guitar an Bass Player an have the Banjo a while. But tried to play it like a guitar with picking with more fingers! So here I see I must miss some fingers and pick only with three! OK, thx try it now and it works! So cool!
Hi john.love your playing, I've been trying to play for over a year, I seem to do ok with two fingers ,but with three ,not so much.. is there anyplace I can go to Get my playing critiqued, I'm not sure if I'm doing it ok ..tks
Hi John - I'm a 60 year old musician and I've made various attempts at the banjo over the past 40 years. This is the best intro to bluegrass picking I've seen. Do you have a way to send you some bucks so we can tip you?
I don't know the story on that one but for what it's worth, Earl sold autographed heads on his website for $25. You can still see the page from his site on the Wayback Machine. Wish I had known way back then.
Hey there! I JUST started playing banjo but already played quite a lot guitar. Actually I'm pretty fine playing fast right away, but I'm struggling with index and thumb always colliding when I'm on 3 - 2 - 1 and I tend to play 4-2-1. Any tips on that?
I have my Dad's banjo he got new when he was 13 ( 1949) it only has 4 strings , tell me the difference besides the obvious. I want to try to learn at the young age of 60 , is that possible?
On the forward roll (open string 3,2,1), I have been practicing with metronome 250 bpm in 3/4 time. Am I on the right track? How many bpm are you playing in the faster practice set? Thanks so much for the lessons. I have been practicing for 3 weeks now.
It sounds like you're playing with each note in the roll synced with a beat. While that can work as a guide, I worry that it could develop some bad habits. Each beat represents a quarter note and banjo is typically played on 8th notes so you're playing at half speed relative to the beat. The good news is if my assumption is correct, your current speed equates to just over 120 beats per minute which is a good goal for a beginner banjo player. For starting off, I would practice in 4/4 timing as that's what most bluegrass is played in. For a beginner, 120 bpm 4/4 timing is a great goal. You should be playing two notes for every beat on the metronome. I know it can be tempting to play in 3/4 timing because the three beats per measure align perfectly with the three note roll, but try to resist it. 4/4 timing on a 3-note roll will feel pretty weird at first, but getting accustomed to 4/4 timing will set you up for success in the beginning. Hope this helps and congratulations on your progress!
What I believe I need is 3-6 basic rolls and chords, not fancy left hand notes work. I'm 70, if I could achieve that "very simple method", playing Canadian songs, like this one - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-9gf2re3uszg.html - but, not in that hammering style, I'd live and die a happy guy. When I was 14 I took 2 years of lessons from a 90 year old man in downtown Toronto, Canada, who told me at 1st lesson, there's no such thing as blue grass banjo music, and he would teach me to play by reading transposed piano music sheets. He demonstrated that my left hand would do as much work as my right hand picking fingers. I failed, miserably. 30 years later I smashed my banjo against a tree so I didn't have to ever see it again. So, where can I get basic rolls and chords lessons I want ?
What is he playing in the first seconds of the video? I'd like to learn that :) EDIT: it's banjo in the hollow ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-kmlKAzAc0iE.html
Banjo has to be one of the worst insturments to learn. There are literally no songs that anyone in the last 100 years has heard of. Dont make the same mistake i did. Just pick up a guitar.
