Forum - Banjo Ben Clark

Loving the banjo

#1

Though I am just a newbie and struggling to memorize songs, I can’t get enough of playing the banjo!
When I miss a chance to play I feel as though something was missing in my day.
Even when I am struggling with one of the lessons, there is just something calming about the banjo.
I’ve played guitar for over 50 years and haven’t felt that way about it.
Glad that God led me to the banjo and Banjo Ben’s website!

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#2

Amen!

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#3

Welcome to my world of a Beginner who can’t get enough of the banjo! I echo your feeling of something missing if I don’t pick, even if it’s just for two minutes.

“Idle hands are the devil’s plaything” so keep picking! :+1:

Please post a video when you get the chance. It may make you self conscious the first 92 times you do it, but the friendly feedback is worth it!

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#4

I’m honored to have you, @2Timothy4

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#5

Hey @BanjoBen is there anyway we could get a country roads banjo and guitar lesson?

#6

Hi @connorkissell2 Connor good to see you back on the Forum. The simple answer would likely be not anytime soon. Country Roads is still in copyright and right now @BanjoBen is not covering any tunes that are copyright.

There are a couple of teachers on YouTube who have posted lessons on this.

Happy Banjo Dude

Jim Pankey

I know, I know it’s not the same as having @BanjoBen teach this, none the less, I hope this helps

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#7

Hey @connorkissell2, as Archie said, I can’t officially teach that one, but I did tab out a version years ago and you can download the files here:

Ban-CountryRoads.pdf (90.0 KB) Ban-CountryRoads.tef (6.6 KB)

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#8

Do you have guitar tab for Country Roads by any chance?

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#9

I do not, @KevinB, but that’s a great idea!

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#10

I have a guitar Country Roads tab @KevinB . It’s fingerstyle, but easy and it sounds good. Or are you looking for a flat-pick version?

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#11

I had been thinking for flatpicking, but fingerstyle would be fine too (especially if it’s easy).

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#12

My apologizes for the late reply. Attached is an easy fingerstyle guitar country roads. You could play it ‘as-is’ or add like I do, an extra alternating bass thumb note (the 3rd is omitted apparently in an effort to make it more playable; instead written as plucking the 1st & 5th for the most part) Also, its easy to add in additional notes in various measures by simply playing other notes in the chord; not just the melody. I learned it, just because so many people asked for it in a group setting and I didn’t want to be embarrassed by not knowing it. KInd of like not being able to play Happy Birthday. :wink: Happy picking!

CountryRoads.pdf (218.6 KB)

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#13

Thanks so much @Deere_Crossing! It took me a little while to figure out the verse, but now that I have got it figured out, I am having piles of fun playing it.

Every time someone in my family has a birthday I drag out the tab and play it. The way it sounds when I play it probably makes it more of a punishment than a gift. :crazy_face:

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#14

Good point; there is (or should be) a D.S. al Fine at the end, going back to the chorus, finishing at the end of the chorus.

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