Banjo
Advanced Fingerpicking Patterns for Banjo: Elevate Your Bluegrass Game
Banjo enthusiasts and bluegrass aficionados know that mastering fingerpicking patterns is crucial to taking their playing to the next level. In this blog, we'll explore advanced fingerpicking techniques for the banjo that will elevate your bluegrass game. To guide us on this musical journey, we'll refer to the valuable resources provided by the online banjo courses from Tony Trischka, Noam Pikelny, and Alison Brown here at ArtistWorks, each offering a comprehensive learning experience for players of all skill levels.
10 Advanced Banjo Techniques Every Bluegrass Musician Should Master
Bluegrass music is a genre that resonates with the soul, and the banjo is its beating heart. If you're an intermediate or advanced musician looking to elevate your bluegrass banjo skills, mastering certain techniques is essential. Here, we'll dive into 10 advanced banjo techniques that are pivotal for any bluegrass musician. Plus, we'll link you to some fantastic ArtistWorks courses and provide access to some helpful free video lessons to aid your learning journey.
Bluegrass Banjo Lesson: Tag Endings
At its foundation, bluegrass is a primarily improvised music. No two performances are ever alike, no two solos from a performer are ever identical, and that is an intentional, defining characteristic of the bluegrass aesthetic.
“On Banjo with Alison Brown” is Now Open!
We are absolutely ecstatic to announce that our newest course, “On Banjo with Alison Brown,” is officially here! As of 9 am PT, the course is officially live and open to all students.
The Virtual Banjo Roundtable with Tony Trischka, Noam Pikelny, & Alison Brown
On Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at 4:00 pm PT, ArtistWorks will be hosting a free virtual live-streamed event featuring all three of our world-renowned bluegrass banjo instructors: Tony Trischka, Noam Pikelny, and our newest banjo teacher Alison Brown (who’s course is currently available for pre-sale and will be launching to the public on August 1, 2023).
Pre-Sale VIP Memberships for “On Banjo with Alison Brown” Now Available!
We’re excited to announce that pre-sale VIP memberships are now available for our newest course, “On Banjo with Alison Brown.” While the course officially launches in late July, joining early grants you access to a handful of amazing perks and exclusives leading up to the launch, including:
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New Course: Announcing “On Banjo with Alison Brown”
We are excited to announce our newest course coming in late July 2023, “On Banjo with Alison Brown.”
Beginner Banjo Lesson: Learn to Play “Blackberry Blossom” Using Barre Positions
“Blackberry Blossom” is a tune that is synonymous with the bluegrass genre. Players of essentially every instrument within bluegrass learn to play this classic tune at some point while on their musical journey.
Banjo Lesson: An Introduction to Single String Playing
In the context of more traditional bluegrass music, the most common style of banjo playing is the 3-finger technique pioneered by legendary banjoist, Earl Scruggs. When employing this technique, the banjo player will generally play slower-moving melody lines accompanied by rolling 16th-note arpeggios outlining the song’s harmonic movement and structure.
Melodic Style Banjo Lesson: Learn to Play “Blackberry Blossom”
In the context of more traditional bluegrass music, the most common style of banjo playing is the 3-finger technique pioneered by legendary banjoist, Earl Scruggs. When employing this technique, the banjo player will generally play slower-moving melody lines accompanied by 16th-note arpeggios outlining the song’s harmonic movement and structure. However, in more modern and progressive schools of bluegrass banjo playing, many banjoists will take a more streamlined approach and perform single-line melodies, much like a mandolinist, fiddler, or guitarist would. This method of banjo playing is commonly referred to as “melodic style.”