Tag Archives: Beginners

The Foggy Mountain Banjo album instructional series. Part 1: Ground Speed

The Foggy Mountain Banjo album instructional series. Part 1: Ground Speed

Join Banjo Paul 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

My Banjo Life article series kickoff: let’s dissect a great banjo album

My Banjo Life article series kickoff: let’s dissect a great banjo album

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

Your banjo music pleases more than the ears (part 3 of 4)

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

Your banjo music pleases more than the ears (part 2 of 4)

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

Your banjo music pleases more than the ears (part 1 of 4)

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

Banjo players, have you experimented with finger picks?

There doesn’t seem to be any universally-accepted, one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to finger picks and the 5 string banjo. You have a range of options and styles. I recently upgraded and spent the “big dollars” on a set of picks…something I thought I’d never do…and I have to say that I’m extremely pleased with the results…. Continue Reading

I found an affordable professional tuner for the 5 string banjo

Tuners range from affordable to expensive, and professional musicians typically invest in a tuner that costs anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. As I’ve found out over the last several years, there is good reason behind this. Click the headline above to learn some secrets when it comes to pro-grade tuners…. Continue Reading

Video blog: Banjo Paul & Tim shop for a 5 string banjo

Video blog: Banjo Paul & Tim shop for a 5 string banjo

Come view Banjo Paul’s first-ever video blog and see him join his students Tim & Kathy as they trek to Elderly Instruments in Lansing, Michigan, in search of a new banjo for Tim…. Continue Reading

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