Intermediate/advanced player looking for "next level" ability

[aaron.turner99]

Hey all! I recently started banjo again after a year break. For some background ive been playing banjo since 2017 every day for at least a hour or more. Recent changes in my life somewhat limit the time I can spend (mainly work) on banjo. I was a bedroom picker until I got invited to a weekly jam years ago, ive been going there mostly weekly for about 2-3 years, its old school gospel tunes bluegrassified and we play for 2 hours. Its been very fun! just by doing that I’ve learned a ton about dynamics, time, tone, etc.

Playing with a group is so different than what ive ever done, and its caused me to improve my backup and dynamics. Ive learned rolling backup, vamping and somewhat limited up the neck backup. Playing lead I feel as though I don’t know where to start, and I feel where theory may come in. Only thing I really know is; 4 notes in a measure and typically bluegrass songs are a 1 4 5 or a 1 4 1 5 progression.

Since Im not a rank beginner, I want to know where to expand upon my knowledge and skills. I see these great players that seemingly can find melody’s or create solos on the fly or such and I want to understand how. What to do? keep learning breaks to songs? theory? scales? When I left off banjo I was a advanced player, but now I feel I don’t know what to do or work on anymore when I pick up my banjo.

What separates these amazing pickers from the casual ones? I want to go “next level” with my playing, but im not sure how to do that. I feel I have a decent grasp of the role of a banjo player overall, I just need to refine my skills. So what to do here folks?

Thanks! -AJ

[Archie]

Hi @aaron.turner99 Arron I would encourage you to check out @BanjoBen 's Intermediate and Advanced Learning Tracks to help you expand your banjo vocabulary.

Exposure is the key word I would use. I’ll Link a few lessons to help you but mostly it’s down to self study and working though the lessons
https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/lonesome-road-blues-banjo-advanced

https://banjobenclark.com/courses/fretboard-geography-with-alan-munde?from_track=intermediate-banjo-learning-track

https://banjobenclark.com/courses/waypoints-learning-the-banjo-neck?from_track=intermediate-banjo-learning-track
https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/boogie-woogie-backup-1st-edition-banjo?from_track=advanced-banjo-checklist

https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/boogie-woogie-backup-2nd-edition-banjo?from_track=advanced-banjo-checklist

I would also encourage you to study Sarah Stewart of Backwoods Bluegrass. Her backup skills are so relaxed and amazing to watch. She Hasn’t produced a lot of instructional video’s but It’s fairly easy to follow her playing skills from her band videos if you slow them down.

Sarah Stewart Bluegrass

Backwoods Bluegrass Band

YouTube is awash with instructional video clips some good some not so.

You can also sit down with a pro and take one to one instruction

Hope this is helpful Good Luck

[Mark_Rocka]

Hey Aaron! For knowing how to develop lead breaks on the fly, this lesson really did it for me. I haven’t heard it mentioned by many others, so your mileage may vary.

https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/banjo-make-a-break-featuring-tex-critter-banjo-intermediate

I still hear ol’ Tex Critter’s voice in my head when I’m about to break out on a tune I’m not very familiar with.

I also find Ben’s Build-A-Break and PickALong lessons helpful. Don’t approach them as “I’m going to learn this one song.” Think of them as learning some licks and applying them in a break. One thing you’ll notice about those lessons is how many times you’ll hear the same licks being used across multiple songs. Don’t be afraid to use the old standards. You have to build that solid foundation before you can expand to the fancier stuff.

[BanjoBen]

Hey @aaron.turner99!

I’m really interested to hear your feedback after you listen to that Tex Critter lesson that @Mark_Rocka referred…report back, please!