30 Days of Banjo: Day 2 // "The Pinch"

Make sure to download the tablature e-book here: eligilbertbanjo.com/?page_id=153
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[@EliGilbertBanjo]

ATTENTION! Don't forget to download the free tablature e-book! eligilbertbanjo.com/absolute-beginner-banjo-lessons/

[@066motocross]

It's helping me out so much. Long way to go but finally retired and determined to learn banjo!

[@IGotNoCleverName]

Or as my wife the violin teacher would say, "Don't practice it until you get it right, practice it until you can't get it wrong."

[@cm88388]

that's a good saying. if i had that much discipline though I probably would have ended up as something other than a musician hahah

[@ultraarcadediversoes]

Right I think in the same way

[@SanDiegoProgressive]

Another thing to remember is that practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes permanent. It matters how you and what you practice.

[@ArtificialFertilizer]

That's definitely true. I play the classical guitar and some harder passages require 200-ish repetitions to get them really right so it stays.

[@sf7708]

For those of you who might not want to learn this wonderful instrument because of their age, take note. There is NO maximum age for learning to play it! I had a lifelong love of the banjo, starting around 1954, when I was six years old. In 2003, at the age of 54, I decided to take the bull by the horns and start learning. I bought my first banjo at Zepps Country Music in North Carolina and have not looked back for almost 20 years! Now at 72, I’m still loving it. The thing I love the most about this instrument is that you have to work at it to play a sad song and just when you think you know it all, someone comes along and blows you away with something different! Thank you for this video, it’s making me review the basics and I’m having a blast doing it!

[@cm88388]

I feel like the older you get, the cooler playing the banjo becomes. Banjo grandma on the porch is peak cool

[@arthurshat7793]

Thank you for this lovely comment. I've always wanted to learn so I'm just making it happen. It's hard to not smile when I banjo starts twanging. Even if I'm currently terrible at it. Happy playing!

[@charimaier9016]

Got you all beat! I'm learning at the age of 75 and yes I do feel "cool" playing the banjo. Just hope my neighbors don't mind.

[@charliemcquistan8181]

hi Jim, I am 73 what are my chances to learn the banjo?

[@hashberry1]

53 here, just got my first banjo. Gonna go Air Fry My Cabbage Down ;)

[@jackadogoff8677]

My grandfather offered to buy me a banjo and pay for the lessons when I was a kid because he didn't play anything but loved listening to the banjo. I'm in my 30s now, he's long past but I am finally learning how to play it.

[@everdeneb4811]

I can't emphasize enough how grateful I am for these lessons. I bought me a cheap but honest banjo and I don't have someone to teach me how to play it so, once again, thank you for being here. I'm a guitar player but the banjo always fascinated me on a whole different level.

[@Keninoz1]

I've been playing guitar for more than 50 years. I recently discovered the Southern Gothic genre of music & it sparked my interest in banjo. I'm hoping that with your lessons & lots of practice that I'll be able to play some of these songs.

[@hastur1375]

You are likely already familiar, but do yourself a favor and listen to Amigo the Devil if you haven't already

[@Tymmeisnow]

I am so grateful for the time you took to bring these lessons online. Thank you, Eli, for these lessons. The way you present these lessons is easy to follow. Practice is the key. It reminds me of what Picasso is quoted for: "Without great solitude, no serious work is possible."

[@billydalzell328]

Eli thank you so much, on my second lesson I’m 63 and really enjoying learning to play the banjo, you are an excellent teacher and have helped me so much in the very early stages of learning to play properly

[@clintwilliamson9282]

Thanks to you, sir, for your style and simplicity. I've tried several times in the past learning from books but never could stay with it. You make this feel attainable by dissecting into small enough pieces I can digest without feeling overwhelmed like the books all did. Hooray!!!

[@lizf440]

I love these videos. They are the clearest teachings I've found so far. I wash so scared I wasn't going to be able to learn using KZbin and there are no banjo teachers where I live. This is awesome

[@aimsterg3208]

Hi! I'm tuning in today again and I just want to say that the way you notate everything makes it SO easy for me to practice. I just hit "pause" and play what I see. It's great!

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Thanks Amelia! Make sure to also download the PDF ebook version in the description

[@Luke-rg5lc]

Best to you, Eli. This is great!

[@seancunningham455]

Made it to day two - really like your style of teaching and want to get all the way through to day 30 - but work/life/issues will get in the way I am sure. Will keep away from all the other YT lessons until I have completed yours. Finally I'm doing something properly for once!!!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@stephenfrench2476]

Relaxed and enjoyable teaching style and it helps you build confidence quite quickly,the lessons are perfectly paced and enough content to keep me as a complete novice on my toes. I have never played an instrument in my 61 years but already find playning my banjo a joyful experience. Thank you so much.

[@slapeters2004]

I'm so glad I found this channel!! I'm a musician and play in a band - piano and keyboards. Have been playing for 4.5 decades now! Anyway, I've wanted to learn the banjo for so long now. Finally got one, but the books are incredibly hard to follow if you've never played before. These videos are fantastic!!! Really appreciate that you went through all the trouble to put these videos together. Very much appreciated! - Steve from Florida

[@CharcoalChaos]

Great day 2!! Wehey My first finger picks have arrived. Played guitar for several years now but never tried picks, so yes it’s very Different but feels comfortable. Now I’ll play this simple set over and over and over thousands of times. At least. Then it will fall into place. ✊

[@heatto162]

I'm only on day 2 and I'm absolutely obsessed!

[@courtneyhasissues3644]

just got my first ever banjo and I am having so much fun and learning more than I ever thought I would know about tab from you haha! Thank YOU!!!!

[@hushamalsaedy]

bought my banjo a year ago and tried to learn online. couldnt really find anyone that moved at the right pace or anyone that had such a neat format. Seeing this made me start practicing again and im really grateful you made this. thanks

[@kloietennessen4688]

Just got my banjo yesterday and I was doubting myself, but your videos have giving me new hope. Thank you so much!! You make learning the banjo so simple and so fun.

[@thatonecactus1878]

I only just started this series but I can tell it's gonna pair with my learning style way better than when I was trying to learn off the jim panky videos a few months before these went up. Thank You!

[@Laura-vy5vv]

im in the same boat! jim pankey videos are fun but I think Ill do better with these

[@melw2317]

Hi, I'd really like to say thank you for taking the time out to do this. It's really easy to follow, understand and not be overwhelmed! My banjo arrives tomorrow, having decided to take the plunge after learning a tenor banjo in lockdown and I'd be lying to say that I am not a tiny bit excited. Just wish I'd done this thirty years ago but then you and KZbin wouldn't have been around!!

[@laurianacapone5013]

This is the best banjo resource I've seen yet! Thank you so much for the ebook as well!

[@Sloppy7ths]

You are a terrific teacher. I'm committed to the 30 days by your teaching style alone.

[@loiscorcoran168]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! You've made it so easy to learn these basics. I wondered if I'd be able to learn the banjo, but I'm doing it and loving every minute of it!

[@SamuelLittauer]

Hey Eli! I'm just beginning to learn banjo and these videos are so helpful! You are a great teacher. Love these lessons. Thanks so much!

[@nickjohns1721]

I was a bought a banjo for Christmas and I have to say I am loving this course. I play guitar anyway but Eli you have a great style of teaching, keep it coming my friend-regards Nick from Wales UK

[@eddytaylor]

Just started this course. Thank you so much. I just picked up the banjo and you explain this very well for a beginner. I'm looking forward to continuing this course.

[@freppazbenjamin7663]

Thanks for your videos. I just bought a banjo and was looking for some good tuto for begginers, and your lessons are really cool. Simple, good instructions, not too hard, and effective ! This is my second lesson in 3 days and I'm pretty happy, it come slowly but it come ! I see the progress, I'm not too frustrated, and it keep me motivated. Just still have some issue for letting my right arm relaxed and my finger(s) on the skin, but i'm sure it's gonna come with time. Thanks again :)

[@dontcopykomett]

Thank you so much for this, your videos are very easy to understand and I was having a difficult time with banjo tab up until I found your videos. I really feel like I'm learning a lot!

[@cornbreaddiabetic4615]

I just started playing today, got lesson 1 down, banjo is tuned, I'll try this one tomorrow

[@jacks.5908]

I've been wanting to start busking with my banjo but felt so insecure around my friends who've been playing for years doing it so well by comparison. I've already learned so much I can use to mess around and find new rhythms with on these two first lessons alone. I think my favorite little thing you didn't have to add but brings so much to these lessons is showing us banjo players to listen to. I've been so inspired by them and it's given me ideas for new songs/things I could play on the street, I've always liked the sound of the banjo but didn't know much of the history. Watching videos and seeing how their hands move/how they hold themselves makes it feel so much more achievable!

[@unicornwitchprincess1004]

These lessons are seriously so incredibly helpful!!!! Thank yoooou!

[@donaldlewis4742]

I learned this stuff years ago from a musical friend; This video is great for beginners!

[@peterklauza1481]

Superb videos. I'm starting to follow them it's Christmas 2022. Learning...

[@josefdetzer8717]

Thank you from my heart.Love it all.

[@jeffevans4663]

Great to have a beginner course I've been learning for about a year and it's hard to find some proper beginners tuition

[@Dopebenedict]

these videos are sick man , really helping me out with my first instrument

[@1611_KJB]

OK, so I am on day four, lesson is day two, this is like rubbing your head and patting your stomach. It's not technically hard, but frustratingly difficult to match up. I'm doing all right on Boil them Cabbage Down, but the pinch is tough - working on it at about 40 bps, but I won't give up!

[@arthurshat7793]

You are wonderful! Thank you for these!

[@jaydub5728]

I taped my pinki and ring finger together! Loving the lessons thank you! Picks should be in tomorrow!! :)

[@myindigoblues5796]

Awesome! I'm loving this

[@matthewallen-morgan536]

This is my second instrument, after years of fingerpicked autoharp (without picks). I was originally going to try banjo without picks, but your first video convinced me otherwise. My right hand technique is great (five strings that are always in the same place is a bit easier than finding a few out of 40 strings that change with every chord), but using a fretboard instead of convenient buttons is frustrating and trips me up. I decided to try out fingerpicks on my autoharps too, and they sound a lot better (and louder)! I'm going to use this entire series, along with learning basic chords in the key of G. Right now the 'goal' song of this series sounds intimidating, but you have a reassuring teaching style that makes me believe I can do it. Thanks for the video.

[@camper7547]

I couldn't wait! I'm doing two days the first day!

[@juliannapickens7802]

Good tutorials. Thank you for the content.

[@jimbob5848]

Outstanding! Thanks.

[@erinbaril2627]

These are great, thanks!

[@nickburrows3844]

Dude these are great

[@larkymalarky9654]

Thank you banjo man

[@angelicdavidson7877]

Thank you! learning to play the banjo is giving me hope that i can have hobbies besides nursing school. :D

[@Hoss999]

Thank you!

[@cameronsimonton2515]

Already sounds like music! 🎉

[@linguafiles_]

Thanks for the lesson. So far, so good. My anchor ring finger keeps getting in the way when I do the pinch, but I'm sure I'll get used to keeping it out of the way.

[@potsbox9584]

Thank you

[@autumnm.1458]

Here for day 2!

[@travisbosworth4387]

Thanks!

[@mileyondrumz]

Drummer here. Lifelong goal is to play banjo haha. These vids are great. Keep up the good work!

[@severinneukom]

great job Eli! I think it would be good for everyone to take some time again and concentrate on the basics .. at least for me ..

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Thanks Severin!

[@charliemcquistan8181]

@@EliGilbertBanjo hi Eli, what are my chances to learn, I am 73,, thank you.

[@lamusica4615]

Hey Eli, huge fan I'm grateful for these lessons. The Oni hanging on the wall is sick, where did you get that?

[@gaetanmathieu]

Great !

[@Laura-vy5vv]

these lessons are so great! One question: does it matter if i use my thumb instead of index finger to pick the 3rd string? i have small hands and short fingers and find it tough to get my index on the 3rd string without my ring finger touching the 1st string.

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

In general it's okay to use those fingers interchangeably but you wouldn't want to use your thumb twice in a row at faster speeds. So my suggestion is to do what works best for you but do what you can to change the position/angle of your hand and wrist in order to reach the strings with the "correct" finger. Good luck!

[@edidi5717]

whole song: 1:48

[@katarzynawozniak8015]

Hey! Amazing lesson :) Thank you as I'm just starting out :) Btw, could you let me know where from is the hindu (god?) inspired image you have in the background. :) Thanks!

[@C.D2000]

Having a hard time keeping my ring or pinky finger planted while doing the punch. Any tips. I can play day 1 boil that cabbage quite well but the pinch messes with my hand placement and can’t move my fingers the right way

[@ApollosSneakers]

So, obviously I've just begun playing and feel like I'm pulling the simple stuff in pretty quickly, but I've noticed that the side of my hand sometimes starts resting on the strings under the bridge when I get focused on everything else my fingers are doing. Is this something that I should become more wary of so I don't build it as a habit? Does the sound become affected by having my hand rest on that part of the strings?

[@zacdhill]

I'm curious, what song begins playing at 4:32? Thank you!

[@genemaughan1046]

Thank you for explaining simply, (I need simplicity as I'm 64😁). Do you know why Banjo shoulder straps are on the main body and not on the neck as well as the body off the instrument?

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Not sure! It’s certainly more comfortable to me

[@marcsirkin8398]

Puts too much strain on the place where the banjo neck meets the banjo body.

[@mdm6977]

What about the pinch with the 4 string ?

[@nanguynes1469]

I am having a terrible time keeping the picks on my fingers, no matter how much I push them on. Are there any suggestions?

[@geraldmajercik5801]

Hello Eli, how do I go back to review lessons? Thanks Jerry

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

In the last 20 seconds of this video there should be a link to the full playlist. Otherwise just search “30 days of banjo” on KZbin and it should be there!

[@geraldmajercik5801]

Hello Eli, I have had my banjo about 5 years, I need a lot of help. I've just need to find my style of playing banjo. I think that I might want to get song books that I want to play. Unfamiliar with the songs & musicians right now. Thanks Jerry

[@godfreylesperance6633]

Please how to tune my notes

[@paulgrammas1011]

Will you keep this on KZbin for longer than 30 days?

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

No plans to ever take it down

[@claudiagarren2955]

Earl and Ralph wear their straps just over their right shoulders. What do you think about that?

[@ryanmay971]

Why does my pinch sound so off? Everything seems to be tuned correctly, but the pinch doesn’t sound right at all

[@12Tundra]

Day 2

[@OutdoorMishaps]

Just got a banjo.... here goes nothing...😨

[@422katieleigh]

This one was a little confusing. When you say “the pinch,” I need to know exactly which strings you’re pinching on

[@gregbarnes1580]

My $138 Amazon banjo sounds nothing like your's!

[@realestateinthe6085]

Thanks!