In that case upload your video to YouTube then copy and paste the link to the video here
Discuss the Banjo lesson: Basic Major Banjo Chords
@troutonthefly, you can upload the video to YouTube and then share the link here.
Your strings might well be too high, and it’s not a lame excuse. So if at all possible get an experienced banjo or guitar player to check the setup, cuz it might be way too high
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It hasn’t changed over yet to the gold,. It takes a while sometimes for the switch… @BanjoBen ?
videos have to get uploaded from a third party like youtube or vimeo.
Playing an instrument is a long-haul project where slow and steady wins the race. Patience is your friend. 
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It will work, but easier to upload to YouTube and post the link here.
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I just noticed that. Did add a little confidence. Tks
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Every time I try to do a c chord the meat of my middle finger hits the third string and it seems like no matter how i move it i can’t get it right. I’m using just my finger tips too. Any tips?
Thanks.
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to @BanjoBen 's Forum Austin @austinc2804 It’s often difficult to fret banjo strings without touching other strings when you new to the banjo. One common problem is the angle of the wrist which in turn determines the angle of your fingers. Posting a picture or better yet a short video clip would allow Ben or others to offer advice on how to correct hand position. Obsessing over a problem can also make the situation worse. I’ve been playing banjo for over 12 years and still find myself touching other stings at times
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Welcome, @austinc2804! Here are a few tips:
- Make sure you’re not leaning/slouching too far one way. A common mistake is to lean over the banjo to see the fingerboard better.
- As @Archie suggested, try adjusting your wrist angle one way or another.
- Make sure your fingernails are cut short enough for proper fretting.
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It’s not letting me add pics or idk how.
I’ve tried different wrist and finger positions but it still touches every time. I can do a partial C and d7 with no issues.
IM having the same issue, partial C and d7 OK Full C drives me nuts LOL I like the Train The Brain idea.
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So the best way to get these cords down with no buzzing is just to form them and then strum for clarity for hours on end…eventually, like rolls, they begin to work. Am I practicing this the right way? It’s really tough on my rookie finger tips:worried:
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You can break up the long sessions with small breaks to rest the fingers…if something starts to hurt: Stop & take a rest.
Pay attention to how much pressure you’re using…use no more than is necessary.
Mix this practice up with something that uses a different skill or puts demands on a different body part. Maybe practice chords for ten minutes and then practice a roll for ten…etc.
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Hi @rtaylor Ray I agree with all @Fiddle_wood Dave say’s. It can be frustrating when your starting out. Patience Perseverance and Practice are key to success. I can still recall (12 years on) the pain I had to endure growing my calluses. Don’t press so hard on the strings just enough to allow the string to make contact with the fret this should help reduce the buzzing. Let the muscle memory take care of the chord shapes, With time it will become second nature.
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I think best way is to practice switching them while playing a metronome. Strum the strings on each click and determine which speed is your top speed, meaning, at which speed can you play them cleanly the fastest. After you establish that, practice a bit faster for a couple minutes and allow the mess ups. Check out this video:
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Hooray! I can now annoy my neighbors with an unceasing barrage of 1-4-5-1 
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The pdf-tab file for this lesson shows fret finger positions for G, C and D7. Do you have a pdf-file with only those finger positions (no tab) and maybe including those 3 chords plus 4 or 5 more? I’d just like to study just the finger positions with larger diagrams of more chords.
Second question: Is there a place on your website that has an index of all downloadable pdf-files with links to those files?
Thanks.
Howdy @pdfrench!
Welcome to the site! That’s a great question. Please check out this graphic of chord shapes:
Also, be sure to check out this lesson: https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/backup-chord-drills-learn-the-neck-banjo
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To add something to Ben’s chord chart, it was a serious AHA! moment for me when Alan Munde mentioned that he calls the chord shapes 1, 2, and 3 because the root note of the chord falls on the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd string respectively. Not noted in the pic is the 3rd shape, which is the barre shape, like the C Major at the bottom of the pic.
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So, when trying to make the full, three finger C chord, my middle finger lands slightly later than the other two. Am I forming a bad habit already? Is there anything I can do specifically to help them all land the same time, or do my fingers just need to get stronger and more experience?
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Hi @danieljones8623 Daniel to @BanjoBen 's Forum
Great question and one I struggled with for a long time as a beginner. Here’s how I overcame the issue. Put down your middle finger first then the other two fingers. What your doing here is training the brain to make the shape. A week or so and you’ll be making that shape without any problems.
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