Here’s my list a little more than the suggested ten.
I have been at this longer than most so here is my ROUGH GUIDE on why I think certain tunes fall into certain categories.
Beginner
These tunes are easy to teach and fairly easy to learn, they introduce the student to the basic fundamentals of playing banjo. Students will often make fairly slow progress in their first year and progress will pick up in their second year as they work though these basic lessons. BUT beware of the WALL
In reality students at this level are often too eager to play fast before their brains have properly adjusted to multi-tasking. So it’s important to spend lot’s time practicing key roll patterns and learning to make chord shapes and become skilled at changing between chord shapes. Once you get the hang of this it just makes learning to play tunes that much easier.
Beginner students will often struggle to find the location of the notes and become frustrated at their lack of progress. It’s hard work trying to place your fingers on certain strings without touching others. We all hate playing bum notes so learn to relax, make a point of checking your finger positions when you play a dull note and adjust positioning accordingly. A mirror really helps.
Don’t fool yourself into thinking tunes determine your skill level. ( Tunes are just tunes it’s the elements, the licks the rolls the chord changes and skill content that determine the difficulty) Your skill level will increase as you master different roll patterns, lick combinations and fret hand fingerings. Your timing is very important, getting that right is the key to building speed.
Banjo in the Hollow
Cripple Creek
Boil 'em Cabbage Down
Foggy Mtn Breakdown - Really Basic Down the Neck Version
John Hardy
Amazing Grace
I Saw the Light
Little Maggie
Lonesome Rd. Blues
Long Journey Home (Two Dollar Bill)
Mama Don’t Allow
New River Train
Nine Pound Hammer
Will the Circle be Unbroken
Worried Man Blues
I’ll Fly Away
What A Friend We Have In Jesus - Advanced Beginner
Fireball Mail - Advanced Beginner
Little Darlin’ Pal of Mine - Advanced Beginner
Turkey in the Straw - Advanced Beginner
Old Joe Clark - Advanced Beginner
Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms - Advanced Beginner
Clinch Mountain Backstep - Advanced Beginner
Old Spinning Wheel Key of C - Advanced Beginner
Students at all levels constantly compare their progress with others and wonder why they are not making the same progress. For the most part it’s all down to study, practice and commitment. But our brains process all this stuff at different rates so some folks can work through stuff quicker than others. A key factor to learning is to LISTEN. to the music.
Intermediate
A question often asked on the Banjo Hangout. How will I know when I am ready to move to the Intermediate Level?
My answer - If your comfortable playing basic stuff on the banjo with minimal mistakes then your ready to move on up the ladder to more difficult stuff. At first you will stumble and have many train wrecks as you take on more challenging licks. Again this is all part of the learning process. Yes it’s frustrating but stick with it and you’ll soon find yourself trying some advanced tunes. You have to break some eggs to make an omelette.
Foggy Mountain Breakdown Basic Up the Neck Version
Blue Ridge Cabin Home
Bury Me Beneath the Willow
Black Mountain Rag
Ballad of Jed Clampett
Good Old Mountain Dew
Little Cabin Home on the Hill
Old Home Place
John Henry
Soldiers Joy Drop C
Wabash Cannonball
Tennessee Waltz in D
Old Rugged Cross
Rueben Open D Tuning
Molly and Tenbrooks
Down the Road
Folsom Prison Blues
Freight Train
Life is Like a Mountain Railroad
Grandfathers Clock
Advanced
Duelin’ Banjos This is a tune everybody wants to play but the Eric Weissberg 's arrangement is pretty advanced
Salt Creek
Salty Dog
Flint Hill Special
Dear Old Dixie
Ground Speed
Sally Goodin
Sally Ann
Pike County Breakdown
Randy Lynn Rag
Earl’s Breakdown
Kansas City Rail Road Blues
Under the Double Eagle
Maple Leaf Rag
Black Diamond
Red Wing
Red River Valley
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Lime Rock
The best advice I can offer is really spend the time learning the basic stuff in Ben’s Beginner Track this will give you a solid foundation on which to build your skill level as you climb the ladder.