Start with step 1 and work your way down the page.

Step1. Equipment / Setup: Listed below are the items you need to get started picking Banjo.

 Banjo, Banjo Case, Banjo Stand, Picks, Strings, String care,  Tuner, Book, Metronome, Music Stand, Chair, Banjo Strap, Capo, Banjo Mute. Fifth String Capo,Changing The Strings, Setting the intonation

Step2.Required Reading: To get a basic understanding of Bluegrass Banjo History.

5-String Banjo History  Bluegrass Music  Bill Monroe  Earl Scruggs Raymond Fairchild   Sonny Osborne Snuffy Jenkins  Bill Keith  Don Reno Ralph Stanley J.D. Crowe (NEW 2/21/08)

 

 ditty dum, Two finger o joe clark.wmv.

Step3. How to Read Tab: Banjo Illustration 1, 2, ( 3 NEW ) ,4, 5, 6, 7, Time signature  X ,Y Position , History of notation

Step4. Lets Start Picking:  There are two picking patterns , three fretting techniques and three chords that have to be learned in order to pick Bluegrass banjo. Start here and work your way down. There 12 steps that will teach you the basics needed to get you picking.

1. The Pinch & Alternating Thumb Pattern (Now with video)  (Now with MP3 pick along)
2. Combining the Pinch with the Alternating thumb (Now with video)
3. Three Chords (Now with video)
4. The Slide (Now with video)
5. Forward Roll Cripple Creek (Now with video)
6. The Hammer  (Now with video)
7. Hammer Cripple Creek (Now with video)
8. The Push Off (Now with video)
9. Push Off Cripple Creek (Now with video)
10. Advanced Push Off (Now with video)
11. Advanced Push Off Cripple Creek
12. Pick Along  Cripple Creek MP3 (40-100 BPM) (Now with MP3)

Step5. Chucking level I  If your going to pick bluegrass banjo then you will have to chuck. Start here and work your way down there several steps that will teach you the basics needed to get you chucking.

1. X ,Y Position
2. Chucking Position#1   ||:G4 C4 D4 G4:|| (Now with video)
3. Chucking Cripple Creek (Now with video) (Now with MP3)
4. Passing The Break & Chuck (Now with video)
5. Pick Along  Cripple Creek MP3 (40-100 BPM) (Now with MP3

Step7. Ending Level I

1. Ending #1 (Shave & a haircut)  (NEW) under construction
2. Ending #2 (Shave & a haircut) (NEW) under construction

Step8.  Level I Songs Now that you can pick try these songs before moving to level II

Boiling Cabbage Down <<Click

Blue Ridge Cabin Home <<Click

Dooley <<Click

Hot Corn Cold Corn <<Click

Old Time Religion <<Click

Nine Pound Hammer <<Click

Shady Grove <<Click

Down The Road<<Click  Video Completed

Whoa Mule Whoa <<Click Under construction

Your Love Is Like A Flower <<Click Under construction

Got To Travel On

Bury Me Beneath The Willow<<Click Under construction

Worried Man Blues New 3/20/07 tab only

Step8.  Rolls: These are some of the basic rolls an licks you will need in Level 2

1. Slide Push Off Hammer Pinch & Practice MP3s
2. The TAG Roll  & Practice MP3s
3. Insert Tag#1 Into Simple Song Chord Pattern & Practice MP3s
4. Tag 2 & Practice MP3s
5. Insert Tag#2 Into Simple Song Chord Pattern & Practice MP3s
6. Insert Tag#1 and #2 Into Simple Song Chord Pattern & Practice MP3s
7. Insert Tag#2 and #1 Into Simple Song Chord Pattern & Practice MP3s
8. Alt_pattern_G C D G_Tag_1
10. Alt Slide pattern G C D G Tag 1
12. Reverse_Roll_TRoll_Tag_GCDG
14. The TAG Roll 1.5  (Now with video)

Step9.  Rolls & Licks  These are the basic rolls and licks you need for Level 2

1. The Forward Roll  & Practice MP3s
2. Backwards Roll roll & Practice MP3s
3. The Foggy Roll  & Practice MP3s
4. Foggy Lick & Practice MP3s
5. Foggy (D Lick)
6. Practice MP3s
7. Fog_Pull off Pinch & Practice MP3s
8. Insert Fog lick into simple pattern Chord Pattern Fog Tag
9. Practice MP3s
10. Alt_pattern_GC_foglicks_Tag_1
11. Practice MP3s
12. The Reverse Roll & Lick New Set Of MP3s
13. Song Cord Pattern_Reverse_C_FogLicks_Tag1
14. Practice MP3s
15. C-Lick #1
16. Insert C=Lick into cord pattern

Step10. Kick off or Intro's Level I

1. Kick Off #1 (NEW) under construction
2. Kick Off #1.1 (NEW) under construction

Step11.  Standing up and playing Level I

1. Click to see movie How to Hold a Banjo Standing Up.wmv