Banjo Picking for Beginners

An introductory lesson to Scruggs style rolls for banjo, including forward roll, backward roll, reverse roll, and alternating thumb roll. For more, visit www.makingmusicmag.com/

[@philip6419]

You're an excellent teacher, sir! I bought a banjo today. I never held one before, but the other day I decided to learn banjo. People said Im too old to begin and my answer to them is why I only have a couple friends. Your slow but clear approach allows me to pause, practice, watch and repeat, already has me playing these short rolls without a mistake. Because of your method I know WAY more than I did AND I am also more talented, than I was this morning. Thumbs up and Thank you!

[@teergeret]

Noone's ever too old to learn an instrument, it may just get harder the older you are but that basically means everything new you master is an even greater accomplishment.

[@faclonx6275]

@@teergeret I remember when I was young when I was like 5 I always wanna play a banjo now I am learning the trumpet 🎺:)

[@kcstclair5981]

just got a banjo and this is one of the easiest lessons to understand. thanks so much.

[@frederickwotherspoon60]

I just bought the same banjo as you have there John, an RK 35 and have been searching for a teacher on the BHO and you are by far, the best teacher I have found .Thank you for your easy to understand online videos.

[@no1up]

Love the sound of the RK35 but thr action is a bit squishy

[@mathbrown9099]

I have a BA in Music Education. This is the first banjo instruction video that is musically and educationally sound. This man is an Excellent Teacher, bar none.

[@whome.773]

that was by far the best way to explain the word lick i have ever heard

[@vickiandmikeheiler8097]

I play guitar and my husband bought me a banjo to try...thank you for the kickstart...I think I can do this :)

[@madbear3512]

You make it sound easy. You also seems like a good teacher. I wanna learn how to play the banjo

[@rocknrollhippy771]

Thank you Mr John Bolding, this is a fantastic easy to understand tutorial, I intend to follow you all the way to gigging level and beyond! Raising a glass of bourbon to you all the way from Manchester England!:)

[@omnibus41000]

manchester utd or manchester city? :')

[@StopFear]

This is the kind of video that always stays relevant for players and important for everybody else despite perhaps not accumulating as many views as some other pop culture videos

[@susangahr1312]

thank you so much for your clarity & simple direction. simple technique. greatly apprectiated.

[@PuzzlEdd1]

Thanks - a good, clear explanation. I picked up some very useful info and things to practise.

[@johnhicksmusic]

Best explanation of a banjo roll online! Thanks from a fellow Tarheel!

[@douglasharp8424]

Thank just starting and enjoying it so far . I an trying to get to Roy Clark and Buck Owens playing picking and grinning, We I have the grinning part down so far.

[@nervchemnitz]

This is interesting even for someone who just likes to listen to bluegrass music - something I've only gotten into in the past year or so. Definitely will help tune my ear to what I am listening. Would love to learn the banjo one day if I could find one cheap, but probably would drive my wife nuts and I gotta keep her happy.

[@snics769]

Buy one for her too, and say, "Let's share the learning, I'm sure you'll be better than me!"

[@nervchemnitz]

@@snics769 Don't laugh - both the wife and I bought banjos a week apart, around 3 years ago. Haven't made much progress but it has opened a new appreciation for the instrument and its music styles.

[@harlequin991]

thanks I too will be getting my 5 string banjo soon and these vids will be very appreciated.

[@tacooffroadforlife6533]

Thank you for the help . Those tips are a big help 👍🏼

[@danogle9927]

Excellent instruction, thank you

[@wolfiepower8103]

Great first lesson, many thanks

[@neillboyz6488]

I've fallen in love with the banjo. Hearing those rolls and where it like doubles back gives me goosebumps. Just really looks like it requires more coordination than I have. For soemthin so stereotypically simple, it Looks pretty dern complicated

[@dannilaser16]

Awesome and very informative video.Thank you.

[@jordand6953]

Thank you! This makes learning the rolls to practice much easier. Awesome instruction

[@jerryspianobar]

Thank you SO much for this lesson!!

[@jimmyoleary8667]

John .... great video! Do you have an instruction vid on how to play Wagon Wheel? Thanks.

[@peternmi386]

Great teacher.

[@svamberiv7999]

Luv luv....hooked up on a boat with my 5 string banjo. With Yer instructions, maybe they won't throw me 'or the side.👍

[@anthonylusk2838]

Thanks for your time, I will practice these rolls. Please send me info for all your videos, great teacher sir.

[@toddismyname953]

I can't seem to find the continued vids of these tutorials

[@timtravasos2742]

Amazing how good even open tuning playing sounds.

[@antoniscute]

Thank you!

[@crayonsandsharpies]

Thank you!!!!

[@lightcapmath2777]

Yes Yes Yes Thank you...need you..

[@donarmsdealerone669]

THANK YOU!!!

[@levirodgers4554]

Hey making music you where talking about Earl my grandpa met him when they where teenagers. he got a quick lesson on what to do next for the banjo. So Earl showed him some techniques on what next.

[@Julie-uz8dw]

i love banjo's

[@clawhammer704]

I think four note roll patterns mess a lot of folks up learning. It gets them in a lope sound when restarting the roll.

[@RustyNail5856]

thanks I will try and watch all of your videos . I have a banjo I am trying to learn, I will sub to you.

[@doomsday9831]

You ever get good at it?

[@jsj297]

So you're in NC.? I live near Charlotte, u know any good teachers out my way to learn from?

[@donarmsdealerone669]

I got the intro of the ballad of stringbean and Estelle I need more help im going back to basics

[@kimberduckworth7762]

any one else here from 2017 I don't even have a banjo but gonna get one tho

[@jerryspianobar]

Yeah, just discovered this one. He seems like a pretty good teacher, although there are so many on KZbin. I'm a lifelong professional pianist that just got a new banjo for a gift. I need a new challenge:-)

[@hushai7978]

kimber duckworth I bought a banjo a month and a half ago, and I've managed to get pretty fluent with it, just watching KZbin tutorials. I like this guy a lot, but one of the best banjo teachers on KZbin is 'williamanesbitt.' He takes apart all of the most famous banjo songs lick by lick, explaining them thoroughly, and providing tablatures.

[@TheSaintberzerker]

Yeah, been playing guitar for 25 years, but I need some gitty up! I love the banjo sound.

[@KaznBigG]

Hi, just got my first banjo this week, Sept 2017, looking forward to learning to play a 5 string banjo

[@OtterLakeFlutes]

yes, I got a banjo for $50 at the thrift store & didn't think much of it until now believing, not to compare to expensive items, that for a broke guy like me I lucked up with decent Korean vintage no-name construction. I like the sort of Japanese sound to this one and since I like to tinker the alignment and truss adjustments seem to be yielding a playable, comfortable, lovely-sounding instrument for now. A little nicked up looking but not damaged meaningfully. I replaced the 5th or "drone" string missing key peg and am hopefully dialing in everything else tonight. Got new strings and finger picks :) !

[@Pepsiguy]

Nice post.

[@jagervolant7871]

Thanks

[@davidlgilbertson]

What best banjo buy when starting out

[@johntripp2028]

Deering

[@jaylindsay614]

I'm sticking with the claw hammer style! Much Much simpler to learn and play! With all do respect of coarse!

[@francisantonyfanning-pinau5850]

What is the purpose of adding 3 spikes, offered by sellers Please?

[@frederickwotherspoon60]

The spikes are for changing the pitch of the 5th string when using a capo.

[@bradfordcox8415]

Very nice, you need a separate mic for the banjo and your voice. The banjo is all distorted. Look into the Rode lapel mics. They work great. If your camera is a mono camera you'll need a small, very small mixer - 2 in, one out.

[@RCraig-ly7wx]

"Who's pickin' the banjer here?!"

[@michaelvoncastel284]

thanks'''

[@stephenhunt572]

Hi I notice you don't place your ring finger down on the head which I believe is the correct way to do it Not that it matters you sound good enough anyway I also can't seem to keep my ring finger in place next to my little finger I think it is because I first played a guitar using three fingers and the thumb Does it really matter

[@ronlakusta9902]

Stephen Hunt

[@uncommonsensewithpastormar2913]

Why not use 4 picks instead of just 3? I’ve been using four picks on a guitar. Why not on a banjo?

[@jasonschoewe7286]

Geez, got a kid who would like to learn. Tile should be "history of banjo". Good day.

[@user-wd4nu9jm7n]

what tuning are you using

[@llamadude199588]

I’d like to think he got his accent AFTER learning the banjo.

[@llamadude199588]

But also this video was super helpful thank you.🖤

[@makingmusicmag]

Definitely did. It actually came with the Banjo, 2-for-1 special at the store. :)

[@plunkervillerr1529]

Marx guy here, the closest I`ve ever come to a banjo is a 1939 Studebaker banjo steering wheel. it`s one of those car parts that I can`t part with.

[@rw4170]

Too bad the sound is not properly synched with the video. It's pretty maddening to try to understand when they're off!

[@charlespick248]

Need 4/4!!!!?

[@eldermikat]

This is lamb-o. The only proper way to play a banja is clawhammer! Earl Scruggs must have sold his soul at the crossroads or something. Tellin ya, it ain't right.

[@bf0n30hn3un]

What old tyme two finger? With the thumb and pointer?

[@kalkalasch]

dude your accent is crazy!

[@johntripp2028]

What accent? :)

[@cartermartin2887]

Just got out the old banjo that barely works 😂

[@charlespick248]

These are 3/4 not 4/4. Need 4/4 kisso

[@E.KelKel]

Yo, the back room is creepy, bro

[@gleventhal]

Something about banjo players I have noticed: You all talk too much (no offense)! Personally, I need to see and hear to learn. I would much prefer a close up of the hand picking, and a few sentences about technique, but every banjo video I see is some guy talking for a long time and not much playing.

[@Julesxoxx]

+gleventhal I agree with you

[@robertoq125]

Not only banjo players...guitar lesson “teachers” as well.

[@hillbillyhorse9674]

Basically any strings teacher

[@caseybuchanan9380]

Try investing into a decent camera can't even see your strings..

[@donarmsdealerone669]

Holy shit i don't know nothin

[@sandyabbot]

Dude, you’re assuming banjo beginners have some other string experience. This the worst ‘beginner’ lesson I’ve found on the internet so far.

[@hillyromah-bonah8582]

sucks.

[@humanchannel7825]

Guitars better

[@filuriluri9278]

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