Banjo

There is a new 3 part lesson, "Jesse James", that Tony filmed with Bill Evans during his last studio visit at ArtistWorks.  In the lesson they perform and breakdown both the melody and harmony of the tune (with tablature for both) and discuss tips on playing in a double banjo situation.  It's a very fun series located in the Intermediate lessons and in the +Music section under Special Guests:  Tony Talks with Bill Evans.

This is an old one from the vaults of our online banjo lessons (if you'll notice it even has the old logos) - but it's a good one, recorded by Tony Trischka especially for beginner banjo players out there. It's Part 3 of a series of banjo lessons about Pull-offs, and uses the song "The Old Cat Died" as a way to practice some important banjo techniques. Although the subject matter of the song isn’t exactly fun, being about the death of a cat and all, the tone is playful and it's actually a great way to practice pull-offs, hammer-ons, and slides - all in one tune.

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There's a new documentary about Béla Fleck called How to Write a Banjo Concerto which recently premiered at the Nashville Film Festival. As the trailer shows, it follows Béla Fleck on a musical journey where he works with the Nashville Symphonic Orchestra for his Concerto for Banjo and Symphony Orchestra titled The Impostor, which was released on CD last summer. The documentary also features Earl Scruggs, Tony Trischka, Edgar Meyer, Abigail Washburn, Chris Thile, Chick Corea, his namesake Béla Bartok and more. You can hear a preview of the album below - find out more at Béla's website and check the documentary website for upcoming screenings of How to Write a Banjo Concerto.

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If you read our recent interview with Tony Trischka, you'll recall him talking about traveling to the Czech Republic and getting a new banjo from the esteemed banjo maker Zdeneck Rohm. Good news: we have just uploaded a 7-part series of videos that Tony recorded while he was there. It's a fascinating inside look into the banjo culture in the Czech Republic, which has a deep history and was greatly influenced by a concert Pete Seeger gave there in 1964.

These newly added videos show Tony in Zdeneck Rohm's workshop talking banjo, Tony talking with Lubos Malina of the Czech Bluegrass group Druhá Tráva - plus some beautiful banjo playing from Tony, Lubos, and Zdeneck. You can find all this in the Music+ area under "Special Guests" toward the bottom - don't miss it! Read More

We just uploaded a new clawhammer banjo lesson on a classic tune some of you may be familiar with. Find it in the Clawhammer section of the lessons!

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The highly anticipated Finale Perfomance from Sammy Shelor's "California Banjo Extravaganza" is now available! Find it in the Music+ area under "Performances & More." Happy New Year!

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We've just put up Set 3 of the "California Banjo Extravaganza" series: The History of Sammy Shelor. You can find in the Music+ Area, or just click on the picture to get right to it. 

Set 2 of Sammy Shelor's "California Banjo Extravaganza" is now available. This time they go deep into the concept of "right hand drive". Lots of gold nuggets in there to pick up in this 4-parter, find it in Music+ area or just click on the picture!

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The first set of the "California Banjo Extravaganza" is now available! We recorded this at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, CA: featuring Bill Evans, Sammy Shelor, & Jim Nunley on guitar. Bill Evans moderated a clinic that focused on Sammy Shelor: his band, his history, and his playing. There are 4 sets total, so stay tuned for more coming soon! Click on the picture to watch the first part: "Lonesome River Banjo Banjo".

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