Jumped up above my comfort level and tried to work my way through this exercise…and I’m so glad I did! Can’t say I’ve mastered it, but its opening up my head a little more and allowing me to recognize some some patterns where once only mysteries existed. I can tell this needs to be a regular stop on my practice tour. Thanks for this awesome lesson!
Discuss the Banjo lesson: Waypoints- Learning the Banjo Neck- G Chord
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Now, I know you didn’t just do that, Dave!
Remember what Dalton said in Roadhouse… "Be NICE! " 
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Only been playing banjo(left handed) for about 6 months and learned a dozen songs. Not great but I thought I was progressing ok for a short time…until i found Banjo Ben videos. I feel like I just took my training wheels off my bike and really enjoy learning from these videos. This is great. Thanks !
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Woohoo!!!
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Barry to @BanjoBen 's Forum It’s great to hear you are making progress. I just want to say as a Lifetime Goldpick Member I highly recommend you consider upgrading your membership. Ben is a fantastic teacher and I consider my membership to be the best investment I ever made.
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Howdy @barryr123456,
Glad to have you with us… With or without “Training wheels”… it is good to see you here.
Please visit and post to the forum often! 
and CONGRATS! 
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Thanks ! I would love to be a Gold Pick Member…but not right now. I was a carpenter but I am disabled and started working parttime for local school 2 weeks before they shut it down for the Coronavirus. I definetely will purchase more videos eventually. But for now I am working on the waypoints and the neck. ANd plan on crawling through "Jesus loves me " 1000 times until i can play it somewhat decent. Ben is a pilot? Uh oh… remember John Denver
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Well, whatever you do here… You will get your monies 
worth. I joined as a life member a few years ago after I got my Banjo, which died yesterday, by the way… as I was practicing to make my entry in the contest, to win a new Banjo, ironically.
My family got me a Mandolin from @BanjoBen’s store so I enjoy playing that… and hope to get a new Banjo when I start my new job upon returning to work (scheduled at the end of May).
Use this forum whenever you can because there are good and friendly folks here… a value beyond price.
Glad to have you sir…
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I love it, thank you!
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So, I’m kind of skipping learning the last arrangement on this. Instead, I’m just trying to use the concepts on backing tracks. I may come back but I think learning the lick arrangement by rote isn’t as valuable as just trying to incorporate the ideas, even just the basic stuff. Any thoughts?
I like how you’re thinking, yes. However, the lick arrangement is actually an exercise for you to learn the fretboard. It’s a way to know where to put your fingers while playing something that sounds like music. If you can take the principles away from the lesson, you’re fine to do so without learning the exercise.
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Started working on this yesterday. Great lesson. Can’t wait to add licks then move on the C. Will there be more way point lessons?
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Yep! And don’t forget this one too: https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/backup-chord-drills-learn-the-neck-banjo
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So at the very end of measure 22, you have to switch from fretting that 1st string with the index to fretting the 1st string 12th fret on 23 with the middle. I’m always fretting that one fat and i kind of unintentionally mute it, and thats at slow speed. Any tips to conquer that one?
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Hi @ambergkeith Keith. Not sure where you see @BanjoBen " fretting that 1st string with the index - very end of measure 22, " What I see is Ben fret the 1st string with his ring finger then slide up to the 12 fret.
We all mute strings from time to time. Watch your fingering and try to determine the reason you end up muting a string. Often it’s caused by a wrist angle - adjust until you can play it clean. Don’t practice sloppy hand positions. Always look for the cause
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Sorry, yes, ring. But then he switches to middle. It’s a very fast switch though at full tempo.
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So I watched the preview and I see him switch to using his middle finger on the first sting and index on the 2nd string to play a bar chord. This is classic Scruggs style fingering it allows you to move the index up and down on the second string and gives you the freedom to use the ring and pinky to fret other notes. If you use the cog wheel to slow down the preview you’ll see how @BanjoBen glides through these positions. It looks difficult at full tempo but in reality once you know where to place your fingers you’ll do this on autopilot.
Best way to practice this is to break it into small sections. Work on it until you feel comfortable then move to the next section. Also LISTEN and try to make musical sense of what you are practicing. Hope this helps
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I typically fret that first position with ring on the 1st string, and when going to the next position at the 12th fret I’ll often keep my ring on that 1st string and just slide up.
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