Dueling Banjos Walk Thru with Jim Pankey and Roy Curry

Follow along as we walk you through our version of Dueling Banjos
Roy is playing a Recording King RD-T16
Jim is playing a Recording King M5

[@christopherpolley]

THANK YOU, MY DEAREST BEST FRIEND & BROTHER OF BROTHERS, FOR ALWAYS SHARING!!!❤😊❤

[@JimPankey]

Any time!

[@christopherpolley]

@@JimPankey ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOU & THE MUSIC YOU SHARE!!!

[@jasondibbens4828]

Best. Motel. Neighbors. EVER!

[@JimPankey]

We’d like to think so.

[@DaddyShortBalls]

People next door are just dancing away while they listening.

[@rachaelearley1857]

I’m so in love with this piece. And this tutorial. And the idea of ever playing it (which still seems out reach, but slightly less so than it did a year ago). I feel like I need to publicly confess that, because I know real banjo players think it’s overplayed and are sick of it. But if it weren’t for DB, I probably never would have given the banjo a second thought, let alone ever picked one up. How can I dislike the piece that led me to the instrument?

[@JimPankey]

This tune certainly created a banjo boom in the 70s.

[@LeghornM]

Same here! I've only been playing for a couple months having never played any instrument before but this piece is my holy grail! One day 😉

[@78tag]

I gotta chime in with - Earl snagged my ear for the banjo back in the day with Jed's ballad but DB just reinforced the bite.

[@HGTEDARTS]

5 Years Late, but thank you. With no Guitar Partner, I need to play this with a mix of soft fingers and Banjo plucks so it souds like the responses. I love this tune

[@JimPankey]

Glad we could help!

[@johntait491]

Who cares what the bluegrass "purists" think about Duelling Banjos. You've got some 12,117 views and only two "thumbs down". That equates to player interest. Keep on keeping on Jim. Well done.

[@gregorybertuccio4938]

Jim: you don't need to explain yourself. Your the MAESTRO! Your the Captain of the Banjo!

[@brandonlahman7945]

Jim you're such a good teacher.. It's the way you explain. you're not showing off like most videos. Ive learned tons of songs because of you.. Although I have an actual instructor I was wondering if you know "Snakes Alive"??? There are literally no instructional videos.. No good tabs.. Nothing.. I bet that it will blow up on KZbin and lots of people will be grateful especially me.. if not cool.. Thanks for all you do

[@alangoodwin4555]

If you’re ever out on the river in a canoe or shooting Rapids on a fast creek in a canoe , or even in a canoe on a flat smooth lake and and suddenly you hear banjos.... Paddle faster ha ha ha ha

[@glendeniseellerbe6983]

Jim, My wife bought me a new banjo ob150 for Christmas. It had been many years since I tried to learn the banjo but I wanted to pick it back up. Before, I had gotten discouraged because I couldn't find a good teacher. I am 59 now but I found your KZbin channel. I am picking it up by your simple classes. I just wanted to say thank you for helping me. I may not ever make it to the grand ole opra but I am having fun. My son and grandson both play the guitar so I can jam with them now. Thanks so much. Glen

[@JimPankey]

Thanks for watching! Glad you’re picking. 😊

[@brucejohnston6184]

In a nutshell. Cripes, remember the days when nuts came in shells? We always had a selection in our Christmas stockings as kids, 5O years ago...egad!

[@micchaelfearn5163]

Well played folks I'm learning that tune, I think it's fantastic, thanks.

[@JimPankey]

Thanks for listening

[@jasonfuqua4284]

Kinda cracks me up, the underlying distain for this song permeating through the video.

[@JimPankey]

It’s really not the tune, but so many times it’s how the requests are made...

[@timothyriley4209]

@@JimPankey I"ve heard the banjo described as the most American of musical instruments, radically altered from the way it was brought here, unlike most others. At one time more people played the banjo than anything else. Yet because of two scenes in a movie from the 1970s.....

[@JimPankey]

A lot of history around this instrument. From the most popular instrument in the world in the late 1800s to almost lost to obscurity…. So many genres or music and a lot of life still to explore. Long live the banjo.

[@MrMusic32150]

You make it look so easy...lol. Thanks!

[@JimPankey]

You can do it!

[@MrMusic32150]

@@JimPankey I'm only about two days into trying to learn simple (ha ha) forward, reverse and mixed rolls. Gonna be awhile before I play DB, but I can assure you I won't quit trying until my fingers stop moving...lol.

[@postcardsfromheaven]

that was the best deliverance breakdown lesson that i have seen on youtube ! hope a million more people will now learn the song from this ! paddle faster I hear Banjos ! thanks guys for the lesson . Roy i bought that same guitar you are playing when they first came out and its a keeper .

[@bobadams4793]

Jim, you are pretty amazing! You make learning the banjo so fun. Thank you!

[@JimPankey]

My pleasure!

[@stephensheridan93]

I play this every time I practice... only I play the guitar part on the banjo... I have to learn the banjo part Thanks for teaching Dueling Banjos Mrs S

[@JimPankey]

You can do it!

[@richardhowe2370]

I'm a new banjo player. I thought dueling banjos was too hard for me to do. After watching you two, I think I'm going to try and learn it. I can already do the guitar part. Thanks for the video! You just gave me a new toy to play on the banjo.

[@banjo2019]

Richard Howe Been 5 months. I’m also a beginner so just curious. Were you successful?

[@adkBanjo]

This is just great. I will be playing this video over and over again and stopping/pausing where needed to gain the much-misunderstood up the neck & timings in this most recognizable bluegrass foundational song.

[@JimPankey]

Glad it's helpful!

[@cman9730]

I LOVE YOU JIM! Not only to I learn how to play the banjo but I have the best time doing it!

[@JimPankey]

Thanks 😊

[@garyp1674]

Thanks Jim, your version cleared a few things up.

[@JimPankey]

Thanks. Glad I could help.

[@adrianrother926]

Brilliant as all of Jim’s lessons are. I have learnt a lot from him since I started in 2004. I love his down to earth relaxed way of teaching. I hope you are recovering well Jim from the op. Happy Xmas and new year.

[@JimPankey]

Thank you. :)

[@johntait491]

This is helpful and informative. Thank you for your excellent instruction on this and other banjo tunes. It takes a lot of time and effort on your part to record these clips to which we are all eternally grateful.

[@tonytotten408]

Excellent Jim well explained great teaching you make that look so easy lol cheers Tony /Scotland

[@53sheep]

Hey JP and JC! I've been playing banjo for 5 months now, I love it🧡. Can't believe I can play some duelling banjo! I was initially only learning so me and hubster (on guitar) can play this tune in a 're - creation' of the scene in the movie at our motorcycle rally clubs yearly rally silly games, which is always themed and next year it's 'A hoedown'!!! My eldest gave me a uke for my 50th, I started playing guitar during lock down and now at very nearly 60 I'm banjo bonkers!! p.s my birthday is on monday🎂🎉😂 You two are just fab, thankyou for all that you do to inspire people learning to play☺️

[@JimPankey]

Thanks so much for letting me be a part of your banjo journey 🪕😃

[@53sheep]

@@JimPankey awe you are very welcome🪕🎶🤗

[@tednicolle9909]

You are awesome Jim!!

[@JimPankey]

☺️

[@nathaliefournier4385]

my friend plays the flute,wonder if it would work.....will have to practice and try it out! Put a smile on my face every time at the end,cause you play it faster...goals,goals,goals!

[@vanivor]

I play it on my blues harp in G, I think it's possible 😉

[@frankprior924]

Hi Jin and Roy you make learning this tune easy with no tabs all I have to do is follow you guys and play it slowly part at a time then put them togeather and practice speeding up no problem , thank you both for this lesson, 🪕.

[@JimPankey]

Glad we could help! 😀

[@mars7934]

Thanks JP. Always tried to avoid this one since you got me hooked on banjo...but on a rainy Tuesday afternoon on lockdown here in England I finally succumbed. Now for the guitar part and I can annoy the heck out of the neighbours!

[@JimPankey]

Your neighbors will love it! 🤣

[@oneman49instruments]

Great musicians! Cheers!

[@JimPankey]

Thanks ☺️

[@katerinaallemane106]

Love love love this song, but not able to get every move from the video. I'm just not there yet ... But thank you for this amazing video, it will come one day.

[@JimPankey]

Keep practicing, you’ll get there. This video is more or less a demo of the sequence, and not a tutorial of where to put your fingers.

[@matteaton6903]

I've picked up the banjo a lot more in the past few months. I've covered a little bit of ground since, but always thankful for your super informative videos!

[@JimPankey]

Hey, thanks for watching! 😊

[@MrChris1978moleman]

Super job! Love it!

[@markwilliams8477]

Hi Jim. Just superb. Working my way through your lessons having not played for 3 years (long story). Cripple Creek sounding good. Regards, Mark. Exeter, England.

[@JimPankey]

Keep picking!

[@markwilliams8477]

@@JimPankey Thanks Jim. I'll certainly keep picking. Really appreciate your reply. Best regards, Mark.

[@timothywilliams4089]

Lovely stuff Jim, I've had a go at this for years and tried different approaches,but I will stick to your version, its clearly explained and flows nicely. Many thanks from the UK.

[@JimPankey]

Thanks! I learned this basic arrangement from the Great Curtis McPeake.

[@timothywilliams4089]

@@JimPankey I've seen Curtis on video a few times, with some other greats; a few weeks ago in the north of England I attended a banjo workshop and the Kruger bros were in concert, Jens Kruger is an unbelievable player in any genre. Deering family were over from San Diego and brought over all their stock for workshops and sale,.....unforgettable sessions. Where are you based?i have a few relatives in the states.

[@JimPankey]

Timothy williams I’m in Georgia. :)

[@mamboleg]

Thank you for this!! 🙏🏽

[@JimPankey]

You’re welcome ☺️

[@jawa134]

Sooo good - thanks Jim

[@JimPankey]

Glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@Hunter09686]

Excellent. I love your walk through videos. I leant more from watching and hearing than I have ever learned from tab. Tab is good if you need to see a mental pic of how things are laid out, but your ear is what really needs to be trained. Thanks again.

[@JimPankey]

Glad I can help! Keep picking!

[@henrikharaldsson5256]

Hi Jim. Must start to say a big thanks for all the banjo lessons, you are a great teacher mate. Is it possible if you can do a lesson series of playing this song? Have a great day Jim. Regards from Sweden

[@JimPankey]

I probably won't do another video of this song. It's all there in this one. Just use youtube's slowdown feature and take your time.

[@henrikharaldsson5256]

@@JimPankey Okey. Thanks for your answer Jim. Have a great day and keep going with your video lessons. Best teacher on KZbin

[@brightbart6957]

Hi Jim, as a newbie player I completed the 10 intro lessons during the lockdown and although put it down for a while, have recently returned, done the 10 again to get upto speed and now learning duelling banjos.. I get the first section but admit to getting lost in the second faster bit.. is there a video that breaks each lick down a bit more for those of us struggling? ..want to play this at my daughters wedding with her husband to be doing the guitar section (he’s much better than me so gotta catch up!).. thanks Jim you’re ace !

[@JimPankey]

If you will apply the rolls you learned in the first ten lessons to the chord changes in the quick part of this tune you can create your own break to it. I know you can do it.

[@ashjackson2195]

Awesome lesson. Thank you

[@JimPankey]

Glad you liked it!

[@pittyjones6920]

Fantastico, suas aulas ajuda aprender a tocar esse instrumento maravilhoso aqui no Brasil.

[@fullgopherman7066]

Ok

[@GeordieSox]

Love it ❤

[@JimPankey]

thanks!

[@brplatten1273]

You are wonderful

[@JimPankey]

Thanks so much.

[@BanjoBarryRJr]

Thanks again Jim

[@JimPankey]

You’re welcome!

[@andielliott7721]

Awesome info!

[@JimPankey]

Glad it was helpful

[@michellerobinson7894]

Oh no I don’t think that’s happening in this lifetime. But it sure looks fun!

[@JimPankey]

You can do it, but maybe tackle my beginning series first.

[@alangoodwin4555]

Yes sir .anytime one sees me with My banjo in hand the first question out of their mouth is can you play dueling banjos ha ha ha ha you know ! I tell em No ! Lol ha ha ha ha

[@sandrasosnoski3338]

Hi, Jim! Love this - can you please post tab? I’m struggling with the ending rolls. Kind of a beginner here.

[@JimPankey]

No intention of posting tabs... This is one of those "rights of passage" that you'll need to sort out by ear.

[@phoebearmstrong9804]

Beautiful, but it’s going to be a while before I can play this.

[@Heathharris508]

This was the first song I learned but that’s because I’m friends with Gary Davies

[@grannyblaylock623]

THAT'S GREAT..👍👍

[@JimPankey]

Thanks!

[@steerpike50]

Brilliant thanks

[@JimPankey]

Thanks!

[@MrBikegaucho]

Always great Jim!

[@mickmcguire4571]

Nice one folks

[@JimPankey]

Thanks!

[@beaudog59]

thanks guys me and my guitaring mate will give this a go.

[@colinsarah120]

Hey Jim...think you'll do a breakdown of this one one day?

[@JimPankey]

This is the breakdown.

[@colinsarah120]

@@JimPankey feels different to your other ones. Maybe I need to practice more 😁😉

[@andiivalo7938]

Hi Jim. Any chance of doing a walk through for the fast parts of this tune? As a guitar player of over 40 years I find the slow part quite straightforward. As a fairly newcomer to banjo I find the fast part challenging.

[@JimPankey]

I probably won't. This is a tune where, if you can hear the chord changes, it's a good place to just play rolls over those changes. That's ALL I'm doing here with very little embellishment. I'll probably address this concept in my next video, but don't look for me to specifically walk through this. Why not? Well... once you've covered the basics from my beginner series then you should be able to hear what's going on in this. Also, don't hesitate to use KZbin's slowdown feature. Oh.. and don't skip the beginner series. There's a lot of concepts and ideas there that will get you on your way.

[@andiivalo7938]

@@JimPankey yes I've worked through the beginner series and a fair amount of other tunes you've taught. I know the chord changes in Duelling Banjos but get a bit confused about what licks to play. G licks, C licks etc. I'm never quite sure which ones I'm playing which complicates things for me. Have you covered this anywhere?

[@JimPankey]

Don’t worry about “licks”. Play rolls over the changes.

[@keithbyrom3136]

elecllent video Jim

[@JimPankey]

thanks!

[@isaiahbarnett9062]

Hi Mr. JIm. This helped but i already know the slow part, do you have the tabs for this?

[@JimPankey]

I don't have this tabbed. I bet you can figure it out though. :)

[@clintsmith3820]

Was doing good until the fast part how do I learn from a recording at tempo without the slowmo breakdown in your beginner videos? Just play it over and over and pick it out note by note?

[@JimPankey]

This isn’t really a good jumping off point from my beginner videos. KZbin does have a slowdown feature. But you’re right… listen listen listen and find each note.

[@danielmartin4270]

Hello I was wondering I'm the beginning banjo player I just started this year and my question is I would like to learn some of Luke Kelly songs and some of the devil under songs Dirty Old Town school days over I like to learn how to do the licks for these songs please get back to me

[@JimPankey]

I'm really not familiar with any of those tunes or artists. My repertoire consists mostly of old bluegrass and old time tunes with a smattering of old country. I do know, however, if you'll go through my basic instruction and really apply what you're learning you should be able to play anything - without my help.

[@johntait491]

Daniel, Luke Kelly played an open-back Merlin banjo and he learned to play from Peggy Seeger. Get a copy of her brother (Pete's) book "How to Play the 5 string Banjo" published in 1962. Luke Kelly did not play 3 finger Scruggs type banjo. Check out the following link for more information: www.banjohangout.com/archive/186779 or type into Google: "Luke Kelly Banjo Technique". Hope this helps. I used to play and sing his stuff a long time ago..!! ;-))

[@theeaskey]

Was this an advert for recording king, or did I miss something.

[@JimPankey]

Yes... it wasn't a lesson at all.... 🤨

[@Beachbumartist]

I noticed that most of the song is the E Minor Pen scale.

[@il_DonGelato]

Yea! I wish I wasn't so lazy ...

[@JimPankey]

Same.. 😊

[@Aocfanclub]

Jim, I'm having trouble with some of your fills on the high part/ chord changes. Particularly the "walk up" from the foggy mountain fill in there, and the fills with the d7. Do you have any suggestions/ previous videos you can point me to? I feel like I missed something. Thanks, you've been a huge help.

[@JimPankey]

The quick part of that tune is mostly just rolling improv over the changes using basic techniques. I've been asked before to do a video of that, but I'm reluctant due to the goofy nature of what I do over it. I'll give it some thought... Main thing is just rolling through the changes. The fills and licks really don't matter much. I just do whatever pops in my head at the moment. The thing I often tell folks looking for ideas on DB is to find Earl's recording of Little Darlin' Pal of Mine. It's basically the same thing.

[@brucenicoletti3741]

Hi Jim, I have the same question as Reid. Can you give the picking sequence you used please? I can’t figure it out and it’s the best part. Love your videos. Keep up the good work

[@JimPankey]

Like I said... it’s rolls over chords. Seriously. Apply the rolls and chords you learned in the beginner series. This really isn’t something that anyone would recommend to be memorized. Really an alternating roll or a forward and reverse roll played over the chord changes is all that’s really going on. So... hold a C chord. Play two f&r rolls. Hold a g chord. Play two forward and reverse rolls. Hold a D7 chord and play a couple measures with some alternating rolls just for a change. Go back to G and maybe play some cripple creek slides for two measures. Seriously, it doesn’t matter. The thing that does matter is that you take the tools you have and try to play the tunes. Otherwise you’re gonna be stuck memorizing and all that instruction I did in the first lessons was wasted.

[@brucenicoletti3741]

Jim Pankey thanks Jim I’ll give it a try and I appreciate your advice

[@MrSeanlorway]

Great lesson Jim As usual- very well explained- I am also having some trouble with that C lick you do so well- seems like a forward reverse roll with a hammer on the third fret of the high D string but can’t quite get there... dang it! Any recommendations would be great

[@MichaelLloyd]

Seems like no matter where you are with your playing skills there's a song that you're tired of playing because you've moved on to more challenging things. I'm still in simple land but working on trying to get better. I already told the Foggy Mountain Breakdown story... same thing. Great tunes. Fun tunes. But there's always the drive to get better. On another note... I would have bet money that the Kay Banjo that my dad bought for me when I was 9, 54 years ago, was lost in all of the transfers my career has put me thru. Nope. I found it. Sitting in the corner and covered in dust. It needs a set of new strings (surprise?). All things considered it looks pretty good. I remember that the 5th string tuner slipped in the neck. I think that can be fixed. The top seems to be fine. I don't have a long straight edge to check the neck. Do banjo's have a truss rod? I'm still waiting on the new banjo. In the mean time I'll see what I can do with this one.

[@JimPankey]

Glad you found that old banjo! It may have a truss-rod.

[@MichaelLloyd]

@@JimPankey It has the large rod that goes from the neck block to the tailpiece nut. The inside nut at the tailpiece end was loose a couple of threads. It has what looks like a large wood screw in the heel. Nothing that looks like a truss rod. Other than a lifetime of dust it's in pretty good shape. The neck is bowed (headstock toward the player, whatever that's called) a little. I didn't use a feeler gauge or your fret and feel method but I can see light along the frets. The strings were nearly rusted away. The bridge looks a lot like the one you put on in a previous video but it's warped (the ends are up). I guess the top wasn't tight enough? Life in the dark was too stressful? It needs tuners... A small part of me wants to leave it "stock" and try to make the really crappy rusty tuners work. The other part says crappy tuners on anything makes it unpleasant to play. So, I'm going to order tuners and replace headstock and the 5th string tuners properly. Removing the 5th string tuner concerns me, a lot. I'm afraid that it's been glued in. I may have to find a luthier for that task. Who knows... maybe one of my grandkids will learn to play it too...

[@rayharrison1952]

Do you have a tab to help out

[@fly1063]

where is the capo?

[@JimPankey]

I have it at 0

[@IONredline06]

I want the tab for this

[@JimPankey]

I bet you can figure it out without the tab. 😃

[@MarkMcCluney]

gosh! you've got Roy on the diet too!

[@JimPankey]

+Mark McCluney we're wasting away to normal! ;)

[@MarkMcCluney]

Ah, normal's overrated.

[@mhd5826]

"Pretend like you're struggling..." lol, no pretence needed here!

[@JimPankey]

😁

[@nikndel]

Jim ,it's brilliant ,but you can't just play whatever rolls you want or a bunch of rolls ,,,they have to be 'C' 'G' and D licks ??

[@JimPankey]

Seriously, you can play rolls over the chords. You can chose to play an alternating roll over each chord. It’ll work. I’ve been at this for a few years and if I’ve learned anything it’s that you don’t have to play anything special.

[@nikndel]

@@JimPankey Well Jim,thanks for your time and comments ,,, you've forgot'n what i'd still like to learn

[@JimPankey]

Gosh, I hope I’ve not forgotten too much over the years. Working with beginners and teaching classes really helps to keep me fresh on the fundamentals.

[@denniswolf1403]

Wish you would kinda dumb this down a little bit more like you did cripple creek

[@JimPankey]

If you had learned the basics I teach in the first 10 lessons this song is well within your reach if you apply what you've learned.

[@babslyheathbar7308]

4 minutes of talking??? Ugh

[@nikndel]

if don't like the talking ,,go straight to 4 minutes & PRACTICE

[@prodigygirl1]

❤

[@JimPankey]

Thanks!