Bluegrass Banjo Tutorial: "Man of Constant Sorrow."

Hear this tune played with guitar rhythm backup (slow, medium, fast) starting at 11:13. Guitar chords are provided on-screen.
By request, this is an instructional tutorial 5-string bluegrass banjo lesson teaching my version of the popular folk song "Man of Constant Sorrow" in regular open G tuning.
From Wikipedia: "Man of Constant Sorrow" (also known as "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow") is a traditional American folk song first published by Dick Burnett, a partially blind fiddler from Kentucky. The song was originally titled "Farewell Song" in a songbook by Burnett dated to around 1913. An early version was recorded by Emry Arthur in 1928, which gave the song its current titles."
On this video I teach the tune lick by lick, phrase by phrase, using on-screen tablature, then I put it together -- slowly at first, then faster toward the end, adding rhythm guitar audio overlay and on-screen chord prompts.
I have posted this teaching video for instructional purposes only and, in my opinion, it constitutes fair use:
"The fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright."
Free downloadable tab sheets and play-along tracks for this tune, along with many others, are available at my website, littlerockbanjo.com.
Hope you enjoy.

[@geraldharper9774]

Probably best teacher I ever heard on here

[@TimDonk]

There's a lot of good instruction on KZbin, but you have to find the right person for your learning style...I just found my instructor!!

[@WalterReece-xy7tw]

Wow! The best banjo teacher ever.

[@TracyTeague-nm1bq]

Your the man Bill! Thanks for the knowledge youve taught me so much

[@rangertommy]

Thank you SO MUCH for having taken the time to post this for free! What a great tune, and a great version of it, as well. I am so appreciative that you'd go through all the trouble of both creating this, and sharing this with the public.

[@mes252]

Really like your style of teaching in these videos. Thanks so much !

[@masong695]

10:14 Play through with sheet music! This was the part that helped me most, just got a banjo and was looking for a clear tutorial on a simple song to play - thanks for the great video!

[@MadManiacGamer]

I kind of put away my banjo for a while but I’m these time I have been able to pick it back up a move forward learning from people like you.

[@mikeep666]

I have just started learning the banjo and this tune, right here, is gonna be my goal for first tune mastered.

[@matthewguzda4075]

I came here to testify. I been playing drums for decades but I've owned a banjo now for 2 weeks and I'm loving it. Ultimate goal is to sing lead in my own band doing country and country gospel. This is a great video, I subscribed. I'm already keeping the forward roll in time but index finger , 2nd string 1st fret muffled 1st string.thanks and cheers

[@daytoneman]

You are my only teacher Bill. You’re methods are simple and concise and easy to learn with a lot of practise. Thank you from the United Kingdom 🇬🇧

[@royliquor3315]

amen me too

[@paulmcmillan1998]

best bluegrass banjo instruction from a great teacher...iv now learned several songs thanks to your lessons..

[@NightingaleHMP]

Thank you so much, I have only just found this absolutely brilliant tutorial. I must make a habit of looking in far more often. Best wishes from over the pond (Staffordshire UK) what an inspiration.

[@JoseloGomezEA20101944]

Hi Bill, Thanks a lot!!, great lesson, very simple and direct as always, you are a REAL PROFESOR!!. I am very happy with my new banjo Deering Calico 5 strings, the only one shure in Argentina, hahaha!!, Big Hug and thanks for you job, you most far pupil, a boy of 73 year old, JL, (José Luis), Sorry for my bad english , I was study in de secundary school, (far away a long ago), hahaha!!!, God Bless You mi Friend!!.

[@saynomore852]

And now you JL Banjo are my source of inspiration. I hope one day play the banjo like you. Thanks for all. GP Banjo :)

[@larryrobeson7763]

Enjoy immensely learning from you, Bill. Methodical, detailed and patient. You know your stuff and a excellent teacher.

[@bubbabundesliga919]

These are great thanks heaps mate, finally picked up a banjo after 42 years to have something to clear my head and I am loving it bigtime. Thanks again mate.

[@elijahwheeler3837]

Thanks for the lesson, Bill! Much appreciated!

[@Mr22moff]

Thank you Bill for your help, your awesome

[@reclinerreflections4221]

I'm really liking your style of teaching in these videos. This one is broken down where anyone should be able to pick up on the song without much effort. I'm anxious to get to the point where I can play this at the speed you show at the end, but for now I'm good with just getting through the whole song. Speed will come later. Thanks for posting and keep on pickin'!!!!

[@thomas7johns]

Thanks so much Bill. Your method is direct, easy and effective. Another great lesson and song to learn...I have to play more to keep up! Where's my Deering....

[@chrismooremusic4383]

Started with your version of cripple creek then on to this and wagon wheel im a self taught guitarist been picking for a few yrs thanks to your videos i now play both guitar and banjo next will be mandolin

[@henriquealvim1083]

Tks buddy, great lesson!!! I've been playing the guitar for 4 yrs, and this is the most didactic lesson I've ever seen!!!! bough my banjo yesterday, btw. Greetings from brazi ; )

[@bmc4428]

hope you will make a video on eastbound and down, you have the best learning videos on banjo I have seen :-D

[@seanlittle5487]

I'm very thankful for you sir. I bought a banjo during the first lockdown last year. Love the sound and I always play fingerpicking guitar; so I felt the transition might be somewhat smoother. I was lost though. I could Google some chords; but I didn't know much of what to do with them. I found one of your roll exercises and I went from there. Thanks to you I have learned Cripple Creek, man of constant sorrow, wagon wheel and ballad of jed. You've given me to confidence and ability to jam with my neighbour's as well. Even if I don't know the song, I can improvise off the chords. So for all that; thank you! With your wonderful curriculum and teaching style; you could easily have charged money for all these lessons and tabs on your website. But you dont; I can tell you have a natural passion for music; and helping others with that passion get on the road to success! If I want to learn a song, I always look to see if you have a lesson first. Now I have to grind away at dueling banjos; as it's always people's first request it seems lol.

[@armondseretti2839]

I'm sitting here ripping Dueling Banjos because of your instruction. While this looks quite a bit easier I can't wait to play it. Thanks!

[@millieatr]

Very good job my man ,, I play a banjo and I'm) gonna start playing that song,, love that blues(e) sound

[@pdgoptics]

Thanks for this wonderful little video with a simple version of this fun song that is ideal for practicing a blues rhythm and feel. One small suggestion is that on the final go around with the double 2-3 hammer on to the B string, use the middle and ring fingers of the left hand rather than sliding up the index finger, then leave the little finger on the 3rd fret of the high D string for the first note of the next measure. This makes the fingering easier while also adding a melodic feel to the move back down to G.

[@spanarnz]

Thank you for this, awesome!

[@stevehuff723]

You are amazing sir. I would love to learn this song. I don't have much luck with tabs . I'm the kind that just hears and tries to pick it up. The way you went through this works for me.

[@MAKUK64]

great video again Will thanks from the UK

[@bartholomewblack33]

Fantastic Bill thank you

[@ctsfiddler]

great song, wonderful playing and tutorial top notch, thank you.

[@odella]

Such a great tutorial! Thank you!

[@woodyrandall6718]

Ur great I like ur style I can see both hands....yes I'm learning thanx

[@fieryjack6396]

Great lesson! Thanks so much!

[@peterjohnson724]

Thanks Bill, much appreciated!

[@alangoodwin4555]

Hi Bill long time since last time we talked . Wished I was In Little Rock …. Ive picked up some bad habits on banjo an I can’t seem to get away from them . Like when I play foggy mtn. breakdown it goes fine but then I suddenly find myself rolling on into the bad habits . Gee whiz . Great that’s just great . Ugh .

[@Downloaded7]

This is an amazing lesson. Thank you so much.

[@deshonteteenywon5051]

Nice - excellent lesson that builds nicely at the end.

[@remtem5537]

Thanks a lot. Greetings from France

[@GloriousEarthScapes]

Man of constant sorrow

[@jesuschavarria5574]

You are awesome, please keep playing

[@fpvwithme]

Yep, wasn't ready for this one yet. But I'll be back!!

[@SlashZss]

I agree I’ve been on this video for a week

[@philm9593]

Thanks a lot Bill. As always a fine well paced easy to follow tutorial. :)

[@johnbaker5937]

See you gotcha one of those blue chip thumb picks. Sounds nice, wish my wife would let me get one. As always great job

[@williamanesbitt]

Been using mine about a month now. Pretty sure at this point I'm never going back.

[@Poco50guitar]

Good Job!! I like your version of the song.

[@stefandedecek1810]

I love it very nice.

[@flufflesflamer01]

Top quality lesson Bill !

[@resources57]

Best song ever ,

[@johnlamb6191]

Got it in two sessions, great tuition Bill !!

[@DavidCrites07]

John Lamb tutorial?

[@MD-hk8xq]

This is a great intermediate lesson! Thank you!

[@jntroisi]

Thank you so much again for such a wonderful lesson! You're the best!

[@mikefinley4367]

Well done, nice version. It's always a challenge to adapt a tune to a solo instrument where as it's played with a band and often given limited parts. There are guitar tuned I like but no real complete play through a. It's been forty years. No memory where that first banjo went but being a single dad with three kids consumed my time. Now in !y sixties and with a terminal spinal issue sitting is my least problematic position and I wish that banjo was here for something to do and enjoy. Finances being disabled are a factor and a used banjo is about as good as it may get but two hundred bucks is far from a decent banjo under a grand. So, it drives me a little crazy listening and not being able to practice but it is what it is, you can't always get what you want ... a line from Mick Jagger. If you run across a used banjo under a grand with a flying eagle inlay pattern and it can be bought on layaway let me know. Can't even find a old Morgan Monroe MNB - 5. They either all fell apart or everyone is keeping them but never used online. I think It's Washburn that has a B16 model I find occasionally under a grand but two bills won't cut it.

[@markglore7196]

Luvin this'n! On my larn it list! Thank ya Bill!

[@thewolfstar]

Great arrangement. Thanks!

[@jystdog]

Very nice !

[@MultiCharliejames]

Thanks , nice lesson!

[@barpilipili]

Hello! Thank you for this great and cool video! I am from Paris, France and thank to you I al able to play this great song:) I have also a request if it's possible. Could you add a video to show how do you play this song in the "old fashion" style that you spoke about and played shortly in this video? Thank you so much again for all of this!

[@Wahatoyas]

This is my first real banjo song I learned, I can now play it at 220 bpm

[@jeffwagner6123]

Love your tutorials. Is there a way I can view the complete tab?

[@charlotterogers8733]

Love it .....thankyou

[@thomassnow100]

You sir.. Are a good sir

[@u0432865]

love it

[@albertosborne6302]

Dude, coming late to the party, a beginner but gonna try Constant Sorrow, exactly the sound I love on the banjo. Is what has been referred to as a ‘blue chip’ thumb pick a brand name or just a description? Thx for your excellent tutorial. Mark

[@tijndesign3593]

Thanks!

[@my31and37]

Thank you sir!

[@JoshInch]

Your videos are so awesome. I am trying to find the tab for this one on your site, but I cant find it. I cant seem to get to the second page where it might be, is there someway you could link directly to the tab here?

[@williamanesbitt]

Go to the menu at the top of the page. Hopefully that's working.

[@JoshInch]

@@williamanesbitt actually its not, there is not tab PDF linked to the link

[@woodyrandall6718]

William can u give u a lesson on the ol grand ol opry.....Martha white theme song?....sure would like it ...thanx

[@michaelsmith8]

Thanks so much Bill! I hadn't played in years - but I'm now back in the saddle... Your instruction is super easy to follow - and I love playing along! Truly, truly appreciated! ... And by the way, do you have anything on Sourwood Moutain? Take care - and please keep on pickin'!

[@BryTunesMusic]

the best one, thanks!

[@TheRealCreepinogie]

wow, you really broke down how to play this - thank you. Could you explain when you did it faster and you did more of a vamping briefly while you sang the beginning part. What picking pattern was that?

[@hnjmoose3251]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJOmeqxjl5d0lZI this video show how to play that, around 3:40

[@nightskyimaging]

Perfecto

[@lilcash1872]

Bill will you do a banjo lesson for the song “farewell blues” ??

[@williamanesbitt]

Nice tune!

[@biancaformation9894]

Why am I watching this? I don't even play a banjo, I don't even have a banjo lol.

[@josephobrien991]

So, did you get a banjo yet?

[@dhmaskell]

Trying this as my second "learner's tune" after Dueling Banjoes and man it's a lot harder. I can't wrap my fingers round it to get clear notes, especially string 1. Getting sore fingers! I hope it's simply a matter of trying hundreds of times to eventually get it.

[@hnjmoose3251]

Thats exactly what it is! Really take your time with this one, I wish you luck sir.

[@boby6328]

Bill I tried to follow your tablature but it doesn't show the rolls you are using. Do you have the one with all the rolls. Thank you great teaching.

[@c3po707]

This is fucking badass

[@kennychappell2097]

Will you please do a video on stroker ace by charlie daniels

[@slapacat98]

link for pdf not working on website. would be great if you can fix.

[@janiehall6095]

Hello Mr. Nesbitt, do u mind to tell me what pick u use with ur mandolin I haven't played my mandolin yedt as it's getting a setup done on it. But Internet says different pick is needed

[@williamanesbitt]

I would use about anything 1 to 1.5 millimeter thick. Some may disagree -- I'm just telling you what I use. I prefer larger triangular picks to the smaller teardrop shaped ones. Blue Chip makes some excellent picks but you have to pay for them. Dunlop "Tortex" and "Ultex" are very good, IMHO.

[@angelasaltsman2457]

I would love to have a print out of your tablature-do you have that available?

[@williamanesbitt]

Go here www.littlerockbanjo.com/ 5 rows down. Let me know how the site works... I'm gonna need to redesign it after New Years.

[@fr3ak1shh]

@@williamanesbitt Your site definitely isn't bad! I managed to find the tab and download it in less than 10 seconds! Happy New Year to you and your family!

[@raindogred]

I couldn't jam along to the movie clips, I figured out if you want to jam along to the O brother clips on youtube..you need to tune your banjo down a step F# C# F# Bb C#...think this is because the guitar is drop D and capo'd on the 3rd fret...it seems to work ok. anyone else noticed this??

[@ts3871]

I love your videos and use them a lot, but it would be a tremendous help if at the end of the lesson, you would post the tablature in its entirety so that we could pause the video and see the whole piece, instead of just "flashcards" as we go long. My aging brain isn't so good with memorizing flashcards, and I'm having trouble remembering all the details in each part and in what order they come. If I have to, I'll just find some blank tab paper and make my own from your piece-by-piece but incomplete tab. I'm not trying to critique your wonderful videos, just a friendly suggestion that would make the lessons a lot easier to get through..... for me at least. :) Forgive me if I missed the part where you said "if you go to my page, you'll find the complete tab."......

[@williamanesbitt]

Like it says at the beginning of the video, full, downloadable, free tab in PDF format is available at littlerockbanjo.com. Page one, towards the bottom, you'll see this video copied with tab and jam track links directly below the video.

[@SwissBanjo]

Thanks a lot! But what if the tune is played in F?

[@williamanesbitt]

You capo on 3 and play it in Reuben tuning, I"m pretty sure. I think maybe Ron Block has a youtube on that? He's the one who developed it in F so Dan Tyminski could sing it for the O Brother movie.

[@vallen4586]

Just starting on this. Trying to get Cumberland gap up to speed 200bpm is too fast. Your play along at 120bpm is too slow. If possible could you add a play along at 180bpm. Thanking you in advance. I just started trying out the banjo in Dec. I love it. I play keyboards for Best of Times band. check us out on Face Book.

[@williamanesbitt]

There are several applications that will speed up/slow down mp3 files by small increments, including Windows Media Player and several phone apps both for IPhone and Android.

[@edwardkalal7133]

Y would u dislike this

[@phildebelgique]

do you have the tabs ?

[@ElsieDIY]

10:12

[@ElsieDIY]

2:40

[@ElsieDIY]

3:00

[@ElsieDIY]

4:15

[@ElsieDIY]

4:30

[@ElsieDIY]

4:48

[@ElsieDIY]

Practice at 6:00

[@nearlypeanuts4726]

10:14 for myself

[@blubberbooty]

Great Lesson!

[@coolcat3659]

10:13