Join Banjo Paul for part 4 of this blog series as he takes an in-depth look at the iconic banjo album: Foggy Mountain Banjo. This series will stretch out over several months as we dissect and analyze this important instrumental album by Flatt & Scruggs. We’ll look at tips and tricks for learning the songs, we’ll look for the pitfalls and traps that might trip you up as you try to roll the songs out, and we’ll discuss the key licks, tips, and tricks that you’ll need for absorbing this material into you banjo arsenal. In this post: Home Sweet Home lead work.
Along the way, if you need advice on any of the songs, or if you have questions about the material, I’ll invite you to leave comments at the bottom of each blog post in the series. I’m also looking for people to give me information for my education about the album. Click the headline above to check out the details of this project and see what it’s all about.
Continue Reading »
Join Banjo Paul for part 3 of this blog series as he takes an in-depth look at the iconic banjo album: Foggy Mountain Banjo. This series will stretch out over several months as we dissect and analyze this important instrumental album by Flatt & Scruggs. We’ll look at tips and tricks for learning the songs, we’ll look for the pitfalls and traps that might trip you up as you try to roll the songs out, and we’ll discuss the key licks, tips, and tricks that you’ll need for absorbing this material into you banjo arsenal. In this post: Ground Speed backup tips and tricks.
Along the way, if you need advice on any of the songs, or if you have questions about the material, I’ll invite you to leave comments at the bottom of each blog post in the series. I’m also looking for people to give me information for my education about the album. Click the headline above to check out the details of this project and see what it’s all about.
Continue Reading »
Join Banjo Paul for part 2 of this blog series as he takes an in-depth look at the iconic banjo album: Foggy Mountain Banjo. This series will stretch out over several months as we dissect and analyze this important instrumental album by Flatt & Scruggs. We’ll look at tips and tricks for learning the songs, we’ll look for the pitfalls and traps that might trip you up as you try to roll the songs out, and we’ll discuss the key licks, tips, and tricks that you’ll need for absorbing this material into you banjo arsenal.
Along the way, if you need advice on any of the songs, or if you have questions about the material, I’ll invite you to leave comments at the bottom of each blog post in the series. I’m also looking for people to give me information for my education about the album. Click the headline above to check out the details of this project and see what it’s all about.
Continue Reading »
This blog is part conversation. Part teaching tool. Part news source. And, hopefully, part entertaining and part valuable. Well, alright, hopefully LOTS valuable! In today’s blog post we take a look at some general advice for helping you to get beyond any particular fretting or picking problem you might be having. Click the headline above to learn more!
Continue Reading »
Ready for the next article series from My Banjo Life? If you are a banjo player, you’ll really like this series because we’re going to dissect and learn from a very pivotal bluegrass banjo album. We’ll learn licks and tricks and songs and techniques and history, and just all kinds of good things. Click the headline above to learn more.
Continue Reading »
We’ve been taking a look at the key ways that your music touches your listeners and thinking about why it’s worth it to embrace the artistic, creative side of yourself as a musician. There is nothing like touching a listener deeply and causing any range of human emotion to be elicited. Click the headline above to learn about the fourth way in which we touch our listeners and why it’s important to take the artistic side of your music seriously.
Continue Reading »
Music is an all-over, body-wide experience. It’s a powerful, magical moment when someone is captivated by what you do on the banjo. When you display your artistry and someone else taps their foot, snaps their fingers, and takes an intellectual interest in what you are doing, that’s a spiritual connection for sure. Are you working on your musicianship so as to be a good steward of this gift that we’re all given?
Continue Reading »
We know that when we exude the beat, our listener picks up on this and has a physical reaction to it. When we don’t exude the beat we don’t move the listener. In this series I’m simply reminding you that your listener is listening with more than their ears, and when you are taking your music to heart, having fun with it, and letting the artist in you shine and come out, you can get some great physical feedback from your listener which tells you that you are doing a great job.
Continue Reading »
When a banjo picker isn’t doing that great a job in his playing, it can sometimes be less-than-pleasant to hear. But…deliver a good, polished right hand that is really mindful of the beat, and the listener absolutely can’t help but be drawn in. It’s fun to watch someone be captivated by your music and to note just how they display that enchantment with what you are picking.
Continue Reading »
In addressing practice time on any instrument, there are many tips and pointers that can be talked about. If you continue reading my blog over the coming months you’ll see me bring up some key points that I hope can help you to become a better picker. Click the headline above for a few thoughts on this.
Continue Reading »
