Bela Fleck teaches us his 'three-finger' style banjo technique

Watch Bela Fleck break down the ones and twos of his 'three-finger' style banjo technique.
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[@BestNCBBQ]

Fixing to start banjo lessons at 61 years old. Just got my pics yesterday. Thanks for these foundational lessons and tips. Bela is an awesome picker!

[@DaveyL1954]

Right at the end. Bela says "Good luck". Then he gives the smile that really says......"in your dreams....now go and practice for ten hours, because I just made that look so easy"! Nice one Bela. Ha ha

[@richardchang1448]

Bruh that made me literally lol, cuz it’s spot on

[@GaryBook]

There isn’t a more wonderful person than Bela. I have seen him play a couple of times and at the meet and greets he is always so kind and generous as is the rest of the Flextones. Great people.

[@banjoddwilt]

He's such a class act! Love him.

[@susanadams4964]

4 minutes of pure magic and the most helpful video I watched since I started learning banjo last year. Thanks!

[@notesleb]

this short little clip of tips is the best instructional video on youtube

[@walteralter9061]

Just recently thought it would be fun to "pick up" the banjo at age 76 after a lot of years with African drumming, and have been noodling around on my bargain Amazon Remo 5 string a bit with help from KZbin videos such as this. But Bela nails the basics here. Each one of the licks he shows is foundational and can be made into exercises up and down the neck. Beers on me if we ever end up on adjacent bar stools.

[@cbcmusic]

Glad it's helpful. So impressed that you took on a new instrument at 76. Inspirational to say the least.

[@gospeltruthtv]

Great intro to the 3 finger “Scruggs Style” banjo. This takes me back 40 years, I’m in front of my Earl Scruggs instruction book practicing rolls, slides & hammer on’s. This is a fleshed out version of Earl’s book by, in my opinion, the greatest banjo player in existence.

[@dodecafono]

A four and a half minute masterclass. Thanks for this

[@edwardmorton6691]

A living legend and down to earth music lover. Great inspirational teacher.

[@Zsolto66]

What a nice guy and he makes it sound and look so easy. Thanks, Béla! Zs

[@pameladahl8274]

That was so cool!!! Thank you for taking your time and showing us this stuff. ❤

[@PanosK777]

So that's (partially) how you get that killer jazzy sound! Cheers Bela! You are inspiring...

[@Ihatetoprocrastinate]

He just kills it at the end. I have to practice my scales or something. It’s that effortless melodic flow Bela has

[@Bruiser4peck1]

One of my biggest regrets is not going to see Mr. Fleck way back when he was in Nashville on a regular basis (when I had the chance and turned it down). I would have been a fan for a much longer time if I had went to that show (with the Flecktones). Luckily for me, I got to see him last year in Grand Rapids, MI. All I can say is " PHENOMINAL"! I will always be a fan!

[@banjiegirl2001]

Love Bela, he's a Master at banjo as much as Earl. I was blessed enough to actually see Earl in concert in his home town in NC a few years before he died and I saw Bela in concert with Trishcka in Asheville, NC.

[@KevlarWagon]

Love Bela

[@stevenhearrell1564]

Bela is the banjoist in our time with the widest footprint. Scruggs, Reno, Keith, classical, jazz, world, whatever, he can do it all, very well. He is a great inspiration to me.

[@cbcmusic]

Well said! How's your three-finger technique?

[@stevenhearrell1564]

@@cbcmusic Good! I am not a die hard pro, but have some knowledge and skill in different approaches.

[@shiretook]

"Good luck :) " yeah, exactly

[@jnsmill]

I stopped trying to copy banjo styles years ago, and developed my own style. It might not always be perfect, but it works for me.

[@cbcmusic]

That's great, thanks for sharing!

[@doctortabby]

Excellent. Thanks. I am very much brand new to banjo. Been playing guitar and bass for years, my first banjo is in transit. I appreciate videos like this to give me a jump start. Back in the late 70's when I took up guitar and bass I was on my own, with no KZbin, etc. :-)

[@cbcmusic]

Glad we could help! :)

[@mikekelly1565]

Would like to see more of what your lefthand is doing. It is often cut out of the picture. LOVE what you do.

[@jimmymack4079]

This is a wonderful lesson from my favourite banjo player, but I just wish the camera person had allowed us to see BOTH hands at the same time, all the time. There are moments when Bela tells us what he's doing, and you cannot see because the focus is on one hand only.

[@BarryCorbin2024]

Saw Bela Fleck and the Flecktones in downtown Indianapolis many many years ago, still haven't found my socks, LOL!

[@AnnLippert1]

I had a total crush on him in 1984 when i saw him in a banjo magazine. What a looker! AND he played the banjo. ha, ha (hey, i was in my 20's) he's still looking good!

[@nickmarble7226]

love you bela

[@klcwarchitect]

I wish the video showed more of what his left hand is doing. I love Bela Fleck's music - whether it's Sinister Minister, jazz or even his fantastic classical album. Thanks for the video, Bela! PS, I'm going to need that good luck as my banjo playing is hopeless.l

[@cbcmusic]

Don't give up, Karen :)

[@klcwarchitect]

@@cbcmusic Oh, I'm not. I'm determined to play the thing. IN hte meantime, I'm looking for inspiration at the Palm Beach Bela Fleck/Chick Corea concert on Friday.

[@oskarbarakat7819]

The great musicien bluegrass that i love. From MOROCCO with love 💑.

[@daver7336]

Best of the best teaching here, folks...

[@bustermerritt2303]

Awesome video Mr. Fleck!!!

[@Vito_Tuxedo]

I love that bit at the end where he plays a pimitty-pimitty-pimitty...etc., and then that little grin, “Good luck.” It’s not enough that he’s awesome; he’s gotta be cool into the bargain, the sumbitch...and of course I mean that in the nicest possible way. *I love Béla Fleck* doggone it. 😎

[@sjeter61]

thank you sir! this is very helpful

[@jonos138]

Ha! You make it look so easy Bela. 😉👍

[@crittinger]

"You never use the same finger twice in a row." *thumb, thumb, thumb, alternating pattern*

[@AnthonyJacobsMusic]

A finger is not a thumb, is it?

[@MrGrahawk]

@@AnthonyJacobsMusic Then why is it called three finger picking if it uses two fingers and a thumb?

[@Metal-Possum]

@@MrGrahawk You both bring up good points. In the early 20th century when the Banjo was really gaining popularity around the Appalachian region, it was quite likely the people who played them had more digits than the average person does today. I don't know what combination of digits they preferred to use so I can't comment any further.

[@athertonequine]

fascinating. thanks brother that really helps

[@amcilvaine2126]

so cool! this is awesome

[@sirgalah561]

Ahhhh.... He makes it look so easy!!!! I try it and my picks are flying off in all directions.. And his left hand looks so feather light on the strings...

[@w5cdt]

Awesome!

[@leemaddison1286]

Banjos are cool. Wish I could play one.

[@20alphabet]

Thanks Bela.

[@spitfirekid1]

Soooooo good!

[@LoneRevD]

Bela's great, great player and good on camera fairly chill. I so like that 'Good Luck' and then a smile like get to it!

[@486spud]

0:54 - 'You never use the same finger twice in a row. So, one of the key things; just keep alternating' - [ immediately plays four notes in a row with thumb ] - Ha! Just grinnin' ya, Bela :) - we know what you mean! Thanks!

[@bazthehandyman]

Exactly Jesse

[@101proofplease6]

Lol...i been picking mando and guitar as long as I can remember. Picked up my dad's 5 string and started just trying to figure out the rolls. I been doing good. Then he said that and i was devastated. I think I know what he meant now. Wish I woulda picked up a banjer years ago.

[@riverjennings7454]

More please!!

[@burnwash8174]

More?! You want MORE?!?!

[@johnvineyard1282]

More practice required! Thanks!

[@KL3NCH]

Such a great guy. Pretty useful on the 'jo too ;

[@kelsyschoenhaar8717]

❤

[@Ratguitar58]

This backs up what I’ve been working on so... seriously, this is really good information!!! I was wondering how to minimize the metallic sound of the pick hitting the string and you just showed me how! Thank you!

[@cbcmusic]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@ronjones4069]

At about 1:00 have says never use the same finger twice in a row and he immediately plays a walk up where he uses his thumb not twice on a row but four times in a row with no other finger. It was interesting to give a firm rule then immediately break it! But, of course I understand his point, it was just humorous. He is a truly awesome picker.

[@crappybumbum]

That was a great tutorial. Not boring at all =]

[@troysmith2819]

Check out his stuff with Newgrass Revival- They were the RUSH of Bluegrass.

[@parachute3725]

This is great! I highly reccomend everyone check out Ryan Cavanaugh and see his single string method. Instead of thumb index (TITI) as Bela demonstrates, Ryan will use 3 finger roll patterns on single strings (TIMTIM)... it's quite amazing!

[@bellfoozwell]

Ryan’s great but to be fair Bela also plays 3 finger single string style. It’s just that he advocates that people start out with the 2 finger approach to single string first.

[@KunchangLeeMusic]

👌🏿

[@DanDDirges]

Can you teach us the right hand roll pattern?

[@austinknowlton1783]

Who could not like this video. There are 7 people who are sad and deserve our sympathy.

[@Herehear49]

Fools among us!

[@RussJAlan]

I play four finger style - a thumb pick and three finger picks. My thumb is for the 5th and 4th and my index is for the 3rd, my middle finger is for the 2nd and the next one is for the 1st string. I don't plant my pinky either. Its the way to pick classical guitar which I do and I didn't want to get out of the habit

[@DougieLink]

excellent video although I'd say it was Snuffy Jenkins ( 3 finger style) not Earl Scruggs who started and some Wade Mainer (picking )

[@ColtonBlumhagen]

I will never be this cool.

[@Stangil1]

To bad we can't have these kind of lessons from Earl Scruggs, RIP.

[@rjmoney9]

He wrote what is essentially the definitive bluegrass banjo method book. He (and those who helped him make it) left behind far more information in that one book than fifty of these youtube videos, including tons of transcriptions. Check it out ""Earl Scruggs and the 5-string banjo"

[@daveandrews6670]

That's was a really helpful video, great stuff.

[@rubencasaperaltawarthon6971]

Good...!!!

[@cbcmusic]

Glad you like it!

[@drakonyanazkar]

Wait a second! 4:18 So I'm not the only weirdo who moves his mouth while he plays? And you're telling me Béla Fleck himself does it too?! This makes me oh so happy!

[@jooshbeesh]

Metal picks

[@therealdiehl4671]

Laying brick, driving a nail or throwing a touch down pass,, pros make it look easy.

[@razbo1963]

I took lessons from the same banjo player who taught Bela.

[@yellowrosefarm1241]

Stamped Out Productions aka tony Trischka 😉

[@sirgalah561]

Feather light left hand... How the hell????

[@Chance-ry1hq]

Thanks Bela now I know how to play the banjo! I think I’ll start a band!

[@jasonk876]

Chance, how is the band working out for you?

[@Chance-ry1hq]

@@jasonk876 Actually very well. Thanks for asking.

[@jasonk876]

@@Chance-ry1hq wow, that's great. I played banjo in a band, but it was just too hard to keep everyone in order. It was just too many problems.

[@sirgalah561]

How hard do you hold down the strings with the left hand. It looks like your using a feather touch.. But when I try it the sound doesnt change..

[@RicBergstrom]

Try this. Pick a string and a fret. ..or make a chord and roll hold it down hard....now start backing off....keep going until the sound goes dead. Two things. When you cram down on the strings you raise the pitch...bad. (unless you meant to) and you wear out your frets and fingerboard. You will be amazed at how light you can go. This will add speed and precision too as time goes by... Amazed at how soft Bela's touch is. THANK YOU BELA!

[@RicBergstrom]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGavloyBgc2ebLM

[@shawnmann9491]

@@RicBergstrom Thank You Ric ! I’m getting my 1971 Kasuga restrung next week and your tip is timely!

[@aggiesimon6800]

szerbusz Bela ..nice picking

[@user-qt5eh9wb7g]

"good luck" Lmao

[@LarryStallings-dk4rr]

why isn't the thumb designated to certian strings like finger style guitar?

[@rbenroper1654]

It would have been nice to have seen more of his left hand.

[@Burnwash]

Lotta people don't know Herve Villechaize was a master banjoist.

[@tommyvaughanhaus]

"Good luck."

[@zacharycain5576]

And now to try and actually do that......

[@TheGalen62]

Can we stop zooming in on his picking hand when the point of interest is his fretting hand?

[@theHumanBryno]

The video is quite clearly about right hand technique. The title has "three-finger style" right in it, referring to the three fingers with picks and the techniques he discusses are related to the picking hand. I'm not sure what you're talking about. Fretting is pretty universal on stringed instruments.

[@CalibSmith]

If your right hand is wrong it doesn’t matter what your left hand is doing.

[@idcharles3739]

"never use the same finger more than once"... Then immediately hits 3 notes with his thumb

[@YahualiMusic]

"Keep alternating" [picks 5 notes with the thumb] :)

[@LibertyHillBily]

Good luck. Hahaha

[@badmuthahubbard]

You should probably take out the word "his" from the title and description. He is teaching ELEMENTARY three-finger technique. He does have his own style, but everything he is teaching here is rudimentary. Why do you need a master to teach Day 1 techniques that are already covered in thousands of internet videos? Horowitz teaches "his" style of playing Chopsticks!

[@rjmoney9]

Yeah... I agree. Now I would killll for a introduction video like this to Bela's more original and complex approach, but this is stuff that's smack dab in the front of Earl's method book or any "first banjo lesson" on youtube. I imagine they must have paid him a pretty penny to do this. (I will say the video was a good quick reference for me to check whether Bela anchors 2 fingers or just his pinky, but I could have found that in a ton of other videos)

[@rickmeadows686]

You cannot play 3 finger banjo with two fingers and a thumb.

[@rickmeadows686]

The thumb is not a finger!

[@mikebastiat]

Why can't anyone ever show what the actual finger pattern is? This isn't helpful at all.

[@Chance-ry1hq]

Ever notice how the most talented people are the worst teachers?

[@flamindigo]

I was totally lost until the last 15 seconds. He's a great player, and a lousy teacher.

[@mikebastiat]

I don't like this guy for some reason.

[@vleiratfilms2020]

Been playing for half a century, and just learned what I should have been doing instead of what Pete Seeger taught me on that pesky LP record and book I used back in 62. Dang 🙃🪕