r/banjo May 13 '20

Tips from an experienced beginner

737 Upvotes

Hey folks. I'm going to collect the resources I've used to learn the banjo these past few years. But I'm going to lump them together in categories can help beginners understand and contextualize more complex topics, as well as include any notes that I think are worth mentioning. Please Note: I play a 5 string banjo, Scruggs style, and this is what most of this information is relevant for


General Information

These places are nice to check into every now and again and see what nuggets of info you can can get. Maybe you see the tab for a new song, or you figure out how to stop your 5th string from slipping out of tune. (Tighten the screw on the side)

Come hang out and chat with us on Eli Gilbert's Banjo Discord! * Banjo Discord

  • The Banjo Section of the Dummies website

    A large resource with a wide scope of banjo fundamentals. It's also a great resource to look back on as you develop new skills.

  • Picky Fingers Podcast

    The number one benefit this podcast has is how the host (Kieth Billik) lets artist talk about their journey of learning of the banjo, which is bound to include a few common roadblocks. There's a good deal of gear talk for those interested

  • Banjo Hangout

    The closest thing the online banjo community has to a town square. They do giveaways, there's a market, tabs, and their discussion forum is loaded with playing information.

  • Deering Blog

    In Deering's blog, there's a detailed maintenance guide and my go-to guide for changing strings


Lessons

If you find a teacher in person, do it. It's 100% worth it because BEGINNERS DON'T KNOW ENOUGH TO CORRECT THEIR OWN MISTAKES. Call your local music shops. All of them. Even if you don't think it's worth the effort, at least do it until you have a tune or two under your belt. Best decision I ever made. If there's no one in person, online is an option. You can always go to the banjo hangout "find a teacher" page (under the "Learn" tab, or here), or if you admire an artist in particular, you can just ask if they do online lessons or teach a workshops.

  • Banjo workshops

I can't personally attest to them, but anything in person with other banjo players will always be an asset. Please check /r/bluegrass and /r/newgrass to keep abreast of festivals, and check to see if they are hosting any workshops.

These are more online structured classes. If that seems to suit you, I've included links below, but please do your own research on these services. I have not used any of these and can not give a recommendation.

My personal recommendation is to find a one-on-one teaching scenario, either online or in person, until you've grasped the fundamentals. That isn't always an option though, so I've made a more specific list of free resources below.


Beginner Playlists

This is just in case anyone is starting from square 1. In that case, watch both. Always good to get the same info from multiple sources.


Songs

For after you get the basics and you want to start plugging away at tunes

  • Bill Nesbitt

    Special props to Bill for having free tabs and play along tracks on his website. After leaving my banjo instructor, Bills tabs kept me sane with the little practice time I had. Most straight forward way to learn a tune.

  • Jim Pankey

    Tabs are available on his site for a small fee, but are shown in the video which is very considerate, and a particularly warm approach combined with a large list of tunes makes him an effective teacher.

  • Bix Mix Boys

    The Bix Mix Boys host a Bluegrass 101 every week, where they do a full breakdown of a bluegrass tune for a whole hour on their channel, along with a colossal library of "how to play" videos for the banjo.

  • Eli Gilbert

    Eli Gilbert has been turning out educational content on a wide variety of topics, including playing techniques, song, licks, and back up


Technique

  • Metronomes go a long way here. A free app works just fine

  • Gestalt Banjo If you can get past the peculiar language, there's a really novel perspective to learning a dexterous skill that I recommend everyone to consider.

  • The Right and Left Hand Boot Camp from the Picky fingers podcast (Episodes 5 and 24) are a very bare bones drill oriented lesson, and comes with free tabs, as do most lesson episodes of the podcast.

  • The Banjo Section of the Dummies website and Deering Blog are a good resource if you have an idea of what info you're looking for.


Tools to help understand the fret board

  • Elfshot Banjo

    I've linked the Info section of the site, and while it looks sparse, the information is well condensed a must for beginners looking to understand how music theory relates to the banjo.

  • Purple Banjo

    It has a nice interactive fret board and the most comprehensive list of scales transposed on the the banjo fret board imaginable.


Theory

  • Three Bluegrass Banjo Styles Explained with Noam Pikelny

    It's a basic primer on the sub styles of bluegrass banjo and a good exercise in learning how to recontextualize the sound of the banjo.

  • Ricky Meir

    While the concepts may seem complex, Ricky has a peculiar skill for contextualizing complex problems into simple demonstrations. His video on Isorythmation is a must see for beginning banjo players who want to start to build on tablature.

  • Jody Hughes

I don't follow these last two channels so i don't have a comment, but that is because i don't fully understand the concepts yet, and intend return to them in the future.


I'm a beginner trying to move past tab. I didn't have the time for lessons, so i started on my own. It's incredibly frustrating because the information is being made, but few people to collect it. I want this list to help beginners break the wall of tab and give them the tools they need to make their own music, so please comment and make suggestions so this post will be a more complete aggregate of "beginner-to-intermediate" information.


r/banjo Jul 21 '24

45,000 Banjo Picking Members!

38 Upvotes

Just a note, /r/banjo just crossed over 45,000! Keep on picking and learning!


r/banjo 1h ago

My grandfather claimed this banjo is worth thousands…

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Upvotes

My grandfather left me his banjo because I’m the only musician in the family. He claimed it would put me through college if I needed it. Unfortunately he’s gone and I don’t have any information on the banjo other than it’s “worth thousands.” Can anyone help me identify or date this thing?

It’s also signed by Raymond Fairchild and Wade Mainer. Not sure if that helps or hurts.


r/banjo 6h ago

Bluegrass / 3 Finger ‘Castles Made of Sand’ banjo cover.

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35 Upvotes

From a show at the Cornerstone in Berkeley California.


r/banjo 6h ago

Granny’s Banjo

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6 Upvotes

I just had this Slingerland spruced up. Not sure of the year or value but it’s pretty awesome.


r/banjo 14h ago

Dragon Banjo

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19 Upvotes

Got an old banjo, and I painted her and then restrung. :) <3


r/banjo 15h ago

Old Time / Clawhammer Little Birdie - one year in

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20 Upvotes

I’ve been playing banjo for about a year, ever since a friend sold me his used Rogue B30 for $50. I added the art a month or two ago.

For being a lower-end instrument, I think it has a really nice tone. here I have it open back and stuffed with a sock. let me know what y’all think!


r/banjo 6h ago

Help Need Help Identifying a Banjo

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3 Upvotes

Looking to buy this off a guy but it's unmarked and he doesn't know who the manufacturer is. Any ideas? Made in Korea, he says he's had it about 25 years.


r/banjo 1h ago

Old Time / Clawhammer What’s the tuning of this?

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Upvotes

I really want to play it but not sure how to tune


r/banjo 8h ago

Help should i be concerned? is he dying?

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3 Upvotes

noticed a tiny crack on my banjo, i can't hear any change in sound but is this ok? do i need to do something? i think this was already cracked in store before i bought but cant say for sure as i didn't checked for cracks or antthing else while buying as i didn't know what to check for ;(


r/banjo 13h ago

Long journey home

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6 Upvotes

r/banjo 5h ago

Bluegrass / 3 Finger Pete Rowan on 1960's ''folk clubs'', The Kentucky Colonels

1 Upvotes

Peter Rowan sharing some thoughts on the 1960's ''folk clubs'' and his first encounter with the Kentucky Colonels...

After a busy MerleFest 2026, Pete took time to sit down with me and David Tate and talk about various music related topics. In this short segment, the iconic poet, singer, philosopher gives an account of his initial meeting with the Kentucky Colonels


r/banjo 21h ago

Classic Banjo In progress ask questions and give advice please

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12 Upvotes

r/banjo 8h ago

Old Time / Clawhammer My Own House Waltz - Clawhammer Banjo

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1 Upvotes

r/banjo 1d ago

Bluegrass / 3 Finger Charouleau Gap

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41 Upvotes

goin to Charouleau Gap with Jake Capistrant on the jaw harp and his brother Landon on the "shake-n-barrel"


r/banjo 21h ago

Old Time / Clawhammer Found this cool looking spot and wanted to film something

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6 Upvotes

r/banjo 1d ago

Bluegrass / 3 Finger “Handsome Molly”

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10 Upvotes

r/banjo 1d ago

Bluegrass / 3 Finger what cool songs and rolls you would recommend for a rock-bottom beginner which sound harder than they actually are?

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31 Upvotes

image may or may not be related


r/banjo 1d ago

Bluegrass / 3 Finger Lead/solo for Renegade by Styx

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59 Upvotes

Made this arrangement for my student to play with their band. I have played a ton of Scruggs so I am calling it “Scruggs informed”, but it’s really just bluegrass rolls applied to a rock melody. I think it’s a little weird if you’re used to folk/trad songs— I have this lead tab and a backing tab if anyone wants it!


r/banjo 1d ago

Bluegrass / 3 Finger “Handsome Molly” - Stanley Brothers, Doc Watson #howto #bluegrass #banjo_dhun +

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3 Upvotes

r/banjo 19h ago

Bluegrass / 3 Finger Brain

1 Upvotes

When practicing (I’m still within my first 2 months) sometimes I’ll practice the same song or finger drill I normally do. And it sounds like my thumb is overpowering the rest (normally on a pinch)
Does anyone else experience this or am I actually just pinching with my thumb too hard


r/banjo 20h ago

Currently at Rockygrass

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1 Upvotes

r/banjo 1d ago

Mic recommendations for phone videos

4 Upvotes

Hi folks, I'm looking to buy a relatively affordable wireless or small mic that I can use to record audio for videos for social media, including voice. I have an android if that makes a difference.

Also where is the best position to place a mic? Banjo vs both banjo and vocals? Does it matter on the type? I have both a nylgut fretless and a standard steel fretted banjo.

Thanks in advance!


r/banjo 1d ago

Old Time / Clawhammer The Beatles - I Will

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5 Upvotes

r/banjo 1d ago

Recording Tips

3 Upvotes

Heading into the studio to record next week. I'm playing clawhammer style with nylons. I want to get that deep plunky sound. When I record with my laptop it sounds very bright and harsh, fatigues the ears to listen to for very long. Does anyone have tips on:

- microphone type
- microphone placement
- playing technique (e.g. should I play loud to a far away mic or quiet to a close mic)?

Thanks!