https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/waypoints-learning-the-banjo-neck-g-c-d-chords-banjo-intermediate
You know those banjo pickers that know exactly where to put their fingers? I want you to be one, too. We continue our Waypoints Study… this time, we’re not just talking about one chord at a time! I’ll show you positions across the banjo neck and get you comfortable playing a progression in no time!
Oh my! How many years in the making? This is incredible!
Oh how I wished I had this lesson in my first year as a banjo student. All those years lost in a sea of frets and fingers trying to find the notes and chords. In the immortal words of Tex Critter Now I are a banjo player. Yes I am a banjo player.
Wooooah! I am cooking with gas now!
I love this lesson. As I told my instructor I started thinking about chords awhile ago instead of thinking I need to put my fingers on the fretboard to make sounds. Who knew. Ha
So, if I am thinking correctly, can you use this method to play it in A,B , etc using the same patterns?
Yes! I would be inclined to use a capo to play in A or B for bluegrass. But yes, this concept can be applied to any chord, and we encourage you to find your own waypoints using this method.
Hey @Mark_Rocka I don’t know if you have had an opportunity to review the lesson in detail but I have been through it a couple of times and he hasn’t even credited either one of us for nagging him, I wonder, is that a blessing or is he just getting forgetful in his old age?
Hi @Richard621 Richard It’s a roadmap, that you store in your head, a bit like a roll pattern that you learn to play on autopilot without having to stop and think. If you drive a car with a stick shift then relate it to the actions you perform as you drive, you never think about the controls, all your focus is on the road and what’s going on around you.
My thinking was if a song was in D or C I could use this method to play the 4 and 5 chords without the use of a capo
Hi @Richard621 Richard You can, Alan Munde rarely uses a capo for playing in D or C, you do get some dissidence from the 5th G string when playing a roll but if you pick the open 4th D string when playing a partial D chord it gives you a much fuller sound. G is part of the C Chord so it makes no difference. The only time you might capo up at the 5th fret is if you want to play in C out of the G position, you can play all those fancy G licks.
I think the point that @Michael_Mark was making was it’s easier to use the capo to play in A or Bb where you can use all your fancy G licks. It’s great that you can do this with the banjo as the change in pitch compliments other instruments. Many fiddle tunes are played in A so most banjo players tend to use the capo
I’ve been working all day. Planning on sitting down with it tomorrow. I hear JamTrainer get some special attention, so I’m looking forward to it.
Hi @Mark_Rocka Yes he really gives you a leg up. Seems to like your app and uses it for his playback tracks. Is there much take up on the app from outside Banjo Ben Community?
It’s getting there. I’m currently working on recruiting some fairly big names for an affiliate program. More to come.
Thanks Ben, amazing lesson!
Great lesson and would be great for an advanced version which includes 7th’s and walking notes to IV and V chords
Thanks
Wowee!!! I really needed this and Ben makes it so clear and organized. It’s an exciting challenge to try to master!
Hi Ben, Really good stuff. You showed us just one roll to use with this - a sort of forward roll. How do we start to incorporate other rolls to give even more variety? Are there a couple of other easy rolls we could add to what you’ve shown us here. Thanks.
Hi @subularia Jody, Just experiment, start with a forward reverse roll and see where it takes you. Same goes for the FMB roll. Your goal should be to intermix all roll patterns on the fly as though they were second nature,