https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/non-bluegrass-grooves-on-banjo-banjo-intermediate
You settle up to the campfire with your banjo. People smile, awkwardly. You see guitars, but not a dreadnought in site. As you finish tuning, the singer calls out, “Hey banjo player, know any REO Speedwagon?” If this makes your heart rate rise, this lesson is for you.
WOW! I never heard Tony in that context before! Free🐦
I’d be really interested in hearing any of y’all put this to work over a song of your choice!
I don’t have a banjo, but I’m going to try applying it to the mandolin. Maybe use the mandolin ballad backup series as a guide.
Now why didn’t you come up with this lesson 10 years ago @BanjoBen ? With the kind of pickers I played with I could have been a Banjo Headliner starring in a rock band today. I should add we were all dead beats. ie None of us could ever find the groove
This was a much needed lesson for me, thanks! I have to play a lot of country songs and I don’t know what to play half the time. It’s clear that I’ve been playing too many notes and missing the groove.
Dude, that’s a huge realization. Awesome.
This is great lesson and long overdue!
How about a lesson series now for banjo and the Blues?
I’ve tried playing along with Sea of No Cares by Great Big Sea with my daughter playing on her guitar and I sunk. I…sea…more floating in my future. May have a before and after video comparison when I get this down.
Now for some light housekeeping.
Ben, this is a great lesson. It touches on so many things, listening, hearing, timing, adjusting to the groove, and more. It was fun to watch you as you were thinking and working through a basic fit to the groove and then trying to make it more interesting. Thanks for putting this together.
OK, this is brilliant! It’s more about “how to play the banjo” than how to play a song.
Thanks, Ben. This is just what I’ve been looking for!
Hi Ben, really an excellent lesson, and I like being able to see you work this out while in the midst of it, being something that challenges your listening to what’s being played, timing, imagination and then find a way to play along and make it sound even better. Mostly what happens in a jam, actually. Thanks!
I am beyond grateful. This lesson is on point and this ‘situational learning’ really helps prepare for the ‘real world’ scenarios. And the Lord keeps teaching me that failing is progressing. So don’t hesitate to take the banjo to the next gathering and embrace whatever happens (I’m talking to myself here).
This was a really useful lesson. I’ve played banjo for 40+ yrs but I’ve never been a bluegrass player. I use it as an occasional accent sound and this is exactly the approach I’ve used.
Thanks so much for giving some structure and clarity for me.
Oh This lesson is fun. I would love to see some of those licks leading the ear on tab. I’m sure I can figure out some of them but would still love to see what you were doing every time you were doing it. Those are really nice.
As a guitar player just starting banjo, this was a great lesson. My guitar brain took me straight to John Prine’s Clay Pigeons. It’s a sweet and emotional song that may be a bit obnoxious if you played it Bluegrass Style. With this method it can be played sweetly on the banjo. Less is more…
I love this lesson. We always play a pop or country song in our set lists. These ideas give me a starting place. Thanks you !
