“Highly recommend his teaching if you want to improve your banjo playing…”
Rob S.
“While his video and written instruction is great, there is nothing like sitting down with a Master Teacher who can identify weaknesses quickly and then provide focused, practical exercises to correct them.”
When playing banjo in a jam session or band, you will be mostly playing chords while the other musicians are singing or playing their solos.
WEEK 2
BEGINNER BANJO RHYTHM PT. 1
In our switching chords lesson, we covered how to play the G, C, and D chords along with Goin’ Down that Road Feeling Bad. In this video, Geoff will show you a picking technique using your thumb to pick a single string on the down beat and then using your index, middle, and ring fingers to play the rest of the chord on the off beat.
WEEK 3
BEGINNER BANJO RHYTHM PT. 2
Building on the right hand technique we learned in Part 1, this video will show you how to play a muted chop. The combination of muting the chord after picking the strings creates a percussive sound. We can use this “chop” to add drive and energy to our rhythm playing.
WEEK 4
POWERFUL UP THE NECK BANJO LICK
The resulting sound is very explosive and really catches the listener’s attention. Geoff will show you how to play the lick in detail at multiple speeds and with a jam track of Train 45. Once you get the lick down, try working it into other songs like Lonesome Road Blues, Foggy Mountain Breakdown, and Sittin’ on Top of the World.
WEEK 5
EASY TRAIN 45 BREAK
This lesson will teach you how to play a beginning arrangement for the song Train 45. This arrangement contains lots of repetition which will help you to memorize it easily and start playing quickly with others.
WEEK 6
BANJO TONE & THE X Y POSITION
The tone of the banjo can be affected by the instrument itself as well as your playing style. The placement of your right hand between the bridge and neck (the X and Y positions) can have a big effect on the banjo tone you are producing.
WEEK 7
CLASSIC SCRUGGS BACKUP LICK
This video lesson covers an intermediate to advanced backup lick in the style of Earl Scruggs. Geoff will start by teaching you how to play the lick with note by note instruction.
