Banjo
Banjo Hall of Fame Adds Tony Trischka
Tony Trischka was recently honored by the American Banjo Museum at their annual Banjo Fest, they inducted him to the Hall of Fame for his excellence in Education and Instruction! Here's what they said on their website about him:
"Trischka is considered to be the consummate banjo artist and perhaps the most influential banjo player in the roots music world. In addition to his work and reputation as a performer, composer, arranger and producer, Trischka is one of the world’s most respected and sought after banjo instructors, creating fifteen instructional books as well as a series of DVDs. In 2009, he launched the groundbreaking Tony Trischka School of Banjo, an advanced, interactive, online instructional site that is the banjo home for students from around the world."
We're very proud of Tony for this great recognition and reached out to him with some questions.
How was your recent experience at Banjo Fest?
New Celtic Banjo Lesson Added
There's a new lesson on "St. Patrick's Day" in the Celtic section which we filmed on Tony's most recent visit to ArtistWorks studios. This 2-part lesson explores a great old celtic tune that gives the freedom to explore playing in rubato. Tablature is included, you can find it in the Celtic setion or just click here!
New Banjo Interview: Tony Talks with Cathy Fink
Good News: Tony recently got together with master clawhammer musician Cathy Fink to talk music and play banjo. We've uploaded the first two installments of their interview session with much more ahead. You can find it in the +Music area or just click here!
Update: The final installment, Part 7 is Now Available!
Tony Trischka Talks Banjo with Noam Pikelny
Tony got together with Noam Pikelny recently to talk banjo and discuss Noam's new (and debut) solo banjo album called "Universal Favorite." In Part 1 Noam kicks it off by performing "Waveland" which Tony has written tablature for (available in "Additional Study Materials" section). You can find it in the +Music section of the Learn area or just click here. More parts will be added soon so stay tuned!
Parts 10 & 11 includes discussion on improvising as well as a really funny little aside where Tony and Noam decide to call Alan Munde on a whim to answer a long held question: why was the song "Reuben" not included on his album Banjo Sandwich?
Update: we just added the final two parts of this great interview, check it out!
Traveling Banjo
Hey Folks. I want you to know that I'm leaving later today for a litttle over three weeks. I'll be home for about a day and a half in the middle of these travels and I'll really be back home fully by August 6th. It's extremely rare that I'm gone this long, but it's just working out that way. I'm heading to Prague this evening to tour the Czech Republic with Druha Trava.....some of my favorite people in the world. After that I'm doing the Rocky Grass Academy in Lyons, CO and playing the festival on that weekend with three different bands, including an ArtistWorks band and a set with Tim O'Brien. I'll go directly from there to the Swannanoah Gathering, just outside Asheville, NC. So lots of great opportunities, and it means I'll be checking in with you fine folks from the road, and though I'm planning to do some VEs while I'm away, I won't be able to catch up with everyone so please be patient and I will respond with everyone when I return.
In the meantime, I just sent out a bunch of tabs to AW today so they can upload some new lessons while I'm away, plus a segment or two of my interview/hang with the illustrious Peter Rowan. So there'll be some new activity while I'm away to keep you busy.
Thanks again for your patience and I'll be reporting back from the road.
Tony
Read More20 New Banjo Lessons from Tony Trischka
While recently visiting the ArtistWorks studio in Napa, CA Tony spent some time recording new banjo lessons for his online students. Many of these were requested by the students, including some breakdowns of some classic banjo tunes.
Here’s a list of all the new banjo lessons available:
Beginner
- "Boil Them Cabbage" in C with Osborne Rolls
- "Cluck Old Hen" with Osborne Rolls
- Keeping a Positive Attitude
- Left Hand Positioning for Beginners
- 11 Ways to Leave Your Level (for Beginner and Intermediate)
- "Old Cat Died" Up the Neck
- Practicing Techniques and Reaching Goals (for Beginner + Intermediate)
Intermediate
- "Swanee Jig" with Pull-Offs
- "Whoa Mule"
- "Cindy" by Pete Seeger
- "Bill Cheatham" Hammer On Etude
- Earl’s Downward Thumb Rake
- "We Wish You A Merry Christmas"
- "Little Liza Jane" Orren Jenkins D Tuning
- "Remington Ride"
- "Cackling Hen"
Advanced
- "The Danny Thomas" (Tony Trischka Original Song)
- "Bach: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring"
- "Other Drones Part 6: Cripple Creek Variation"
- "Other Drones Part 7: 4th String Pattern"
While recently visiting the ArtistWorks studio in Napa, CA Tony spent some time recording new banjo lessons for his online students. Many of these were requested by the students, including some breakdowns of some classic banjo tunes.
Here’s a list of all the new banjo lessons available:
Beginner
- "Boil Them Cabbage" in C with Osborne Rolls
- "Cluck Old Hen" with Osborne Rolls
- Keeping a Positive Attitude
- Left Hand Positioning for Beginners
- 11 Ways to Leave Your Level (for Beginner and Intermediate)
- "Old Cat Died" Up the Neck
- Practicing Techniques and Reaching Goals (for Beginner + Intermediate)
Intermediate
- "Swanee Jig" with Pull-Offs
- "Whoa Mule"
- "Cindy" by Pete Seeger
- "Bill Cheatham" Hammer On Etude
- Earl’s Downward Thumb Rake
- "We Wish You A Merry Christmas"
- "Little Liza Jane" Orren Jenkins D Tuning
- "Remington Ride"
- "Cackling Hen"
Advanced
- "The Danny Thomas" (Tony Trischka Original Song)
- "Bach: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring"
- "Other Drones Part 6: Cripple Creek Variation"
- "Other Drones Part 7: 4th String Pattern"
Learning Banjo Online from Germany – Student Perspective
I have been a student of Tony Trischka at ArtistWorks for almost a year now. Last year I knew nothing about the 5-string banjo and very little about bluegrass in general. I live in the center of Germany where, sad to say, there are likely no banjo players at all. That’s my view from our porch in the picture.
Living in Germany is like living in a bluegrass desert with a little oasis here and there. Not much to speak of a Banjo Culture. In the south of Germany, especially in the Munich area you can find some bluegrass musicians and some banjo players. Rüdiger Helbig and Adiaha Burgmüller are players that might be known abroad.
I have been a student of Tony Trischka at ArtistWorks for almost a year now. Last year I knew nothing about the 5-string banjo and very little about bluegrass in general. I live in the center of Germany where, sad to say, there are likely no banjo players at all. That’s my view from our porch in the picture.
Living in Germany is like living in a bluegrass desert with a little oasis here and there. Not much to speak of a Banjo Culture. In the south of Germany, especially in the Munich area you can find some bluegrass musicians and some banjo players. Rüdiger Helbig and Adiaha Burgmüller are players that might be known abroad.
Banjo Tuning Basics for Beginners
The first thing you’ll need to learn when you start playing the banjo is how to tune it properly. If you’re lacking in musical experience like me, banjo tuning can be pretty intimidating at first. But never fear, Tony Trischka can show you how to master this critical banjo skill so you'll be tuning like a pro. Read More
SCREENING GIVE ME THE BANJO
Hey Folks.
I'll be at the Stage 2 Cinema Pub, 109 Main Street, Amesbury, MA 01913 tomorrow, Sunday July 12, for a screening of "Give Me The Banjo", the PBS aired documentary I worked on with the director Marc Fields. The showing's at 2PM, with a Q and A following. I'll be playing 3 or 4 banjos as part of the after-film.
There'll also be an open jam session from noon to 1:45 PM immediately preceding the screening. If you're in the area, I hope you'll be able to drop by.
Read More
Tour the Deering Banjo Factory!
Ever wanted to see where they make banjos? Tony took a tour of the Deering Banjo Factory this summer and he's sharing the visit on the site. It's almost a half an hour of footage including a walkthrough, look at the facility and a bit about their history as well. Take a look below at some of the shots from the tour:
Read More