Extended Melodic Scales! // Bluegrass Banjo Lesson

Charles Wood with nitrograss Seneca SC. He played foggy mountain breakdown melodic on Letterman with Steve Martin's men with banjos and who how to use them. I've owned in Woodstock, NY, for almost 20 years and used to see Bill Keith at Bluegrass Thursdays. He was always fun to hear and he reminded me that he co authored the pedal steel guitar book with Winnie Winston. When Bill was out of town then Eric Weissberg would cover and share stories of his steel guitar recordings with John Denver.

[@dobietoms1463]

best lesson on melodic banjo i've seen

[@KG-Punk]

Great Lesson.. Courtney Johnson is my all time favorite banjo player. The music from the Original New Grass Revival is Legendary and will be cool forever.

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

I agree!

[@teklafunk7980]

Dear Eli, Thank you for a very interesting and helpful video! You are unique in the sense that you are not like most banjo players. They are often not so aware of exactly what they are playing, what fingers they are using for what, what theoretical context the notes they are playing have, etc. Because you are, it makes your instructional content very special. I am having a hard time finding banjo teachers that are very developing to take lessons from, but I learn a lot from you, because you have actually thought everything through and analyzed your own playing and habits. That is valuable. I wish you all the best on your musical journey and I hope we meet one day! My favourite banjoist who uses melodic style is Noam Pikelny, because he uses ideas and techniques he has come up with himself to create extraordinarily beautiful music with a unique sound, rather than copying other banjoists and focusing on other things than actual beauty and meaning in the music. This is seldom when it comes to banjoists. Best regards, Milou Bonde Sweden Banjoist in Lakeside Unit Prior banjoist in Rookie Riot

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Thank you Milou, that’s very kind!

[@teklafunk7980]

@@EliGilbertBanjo It is merely the truth, in my eyes at least... or ears rather. I am glad you appreciated my comment. Have a wonderful day! I'll go practice these scales now, after picking some gypsy jazz guitar.

[@turbodownwarddog]

Great lesson, especially for connecting positions.

[@davidmichaelkornstadt701]

Eli you are my favorite melodic banjo player. I like watching and learning from your vids the most. Your personality is the most easy to handle. I feel like a lot of people put on this silly act that is unnecessary and annoying. You remind me of well me or a friend of mine. I say give them strings to a new for encouragement we all know it can get tedious or frustrating in the begining and any encouragement helps I remember sitting on the couch day after day for 2 to 6 hours straight nothing but alternating thumb roll for almost a year till I was happy with the speed and quality though 4 years later I was picking like a mad man nothing but speed and I do it till my fingers bleed love it more than anything in this planet no joke thanks bud.

[@severinneukom]

What a great lesson! When you play that for warm up, you are the chef..🤠

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Thank you Severin!

[@surfgator71]

I don't play favorites, but I love the melodic style of Trevor Smith of Wood & Wire. Thanks so much Eli, for the work you put into teaching banjo!

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Thank you!

[@garyshorette]

I am a life time member with banjo Ben Clark one of his first subscribers. He was influenced by Alan Munde who I like alot but Bella is my favorite.I love what you do and how you teach. I've enjoyed to meeting you a couple of times now once with Max Silversteins parents at Blistered fingers we had a lobster feed.Then again at JamVember .Hope you keep teaching your a great communicator Thanks again

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Thanks Gary, nice to hear from you!

[@nortonbrothers7493]

Love the work!!! Billy McKinley was one of the more influential artist for me. Especially Redneck at the Hot Club

[@judwatkins9478]

I would love to be able to do that!!!

[@loggernurse53]

Found your videos a couple times, I’m transfixed! I have self imposed mental blocks that hold me back! Your vids give me hope!!

[@DYMONDSLAWNANDLANDSCAPE]

This lesson is awesome, wow, nice job 👍🏻. Scott Vestal is a fav of mine.

[@BurrowCreature]

You are a great teacher, thank you!

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Thanks Jason!

[@randallgearheart8428]

Every thing you post piques my interest. You are unlocking the puzzle!! My favorite is Ben Eldridge

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Thanks Randall!

[@joesmith8847]

Loved Bill Keith and have played his 41 top tension as well as spending some time with him. Alan Munde though might still be my favorite at least at present. Glad to see Bobby Thompson get a shout out here as well. One of the greats for sure. The new generation is great as well.

[@Kstevensmd]

I love that you are playing Mike Kropp's banjo! Sounds as good as ever!! Love the video. Bill Keith is my favorite melodic scale player; I had the privilege of taking several classes with him at Banjo Camp North.

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

I’ve got it on loan from a friend and I love it! Wish I had a chance to study with Bill!

[@GuitarandBanjoLessons]

Great lesson! Béla Fleck is my favorite!

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Thank you!

[@theittyreport]

Nice work man, getting my first banjo in a week or two

[@ermagerd101]

Thanks Eli, great melodic video! My all time favorite melodic 🪕 player is Bill Keith🏆 closely followed in a tie for second for Bela Fleck and Jens Kruger 🥈.

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Some of my favorites!

[@eriknielsen4902]

Awesome. Good job Eli! I like what Billy Failing is up to these days...

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Me too!

[@thelifeandtimesoflesleyrob2407]

Really cool..thanks.. I enjoy Earl Scruggs

[@WorldBluegrassDay]

Another great video.

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Thanks!

[@mabuhaymom]

The only one I know of is Tony Trischka. Beginner here. Love your videos!

[@mymagneticwellness8224]

Just signed up. Great content.

[@midnighttoker8663]

Scott vestal for sure is my fave banjo player

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Definitely one of the best!

[@rudywolff6260]

Great lesson, it will help me with mastering melodic picking. I know a few songs with melodic licks, but do not have the "big picture" yet! Favorite picker has to be Ron Block of Union Station.

[@ScottCooperStudio]

Thanks Eli, so glad I found your channel. I'm torn about a favourite melodic player, but I guess I have to go with Bela Fleck. So inventive, such a master.

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Thanks Scott!

[@bigshinytone]

Awesome video! One of my faves recently is Mike Munford with Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen - he's a beast! So creative, and funny too.

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Definitely, one of my favorites as well!

[@johnstout9285]

Picking your favorite banjo picker is like picking your favorite child. I'll have to go with Alan Munde. I've been to his work shops. Super nice guy.

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

I’ve never met him but that’s what I’ve heard!

[@roysowersjr4426]

I love your videos! Great Stuff! One of my favorites is Jimmy Arnold. Eli Gilbert is high on the list too!

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Thanks Roy!

[@richardsoucy3082]

Hi Eli! Another great video.. now this may be a little bias, but after taking Jeff Scroggins class at joe Val, I really now admire his playing. He just finds a way to make anything work and it is really amazing. So that is probably my favorite banjo player that uses some of the melodic style.

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Thanks Richard! Jeff is definitely one of my favorites!

[@donnieterry2992]

Thank you

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Thanks Donnie!

[@charlesdean1542]

Eli Gilbert

[@RenoScruggs]

Great job

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Thanks!

[@kingo5string]

Great lesson!! Now it is time for the student (i.e., me) to put the scales to work and to incorporate the scales into breaks, using them tastefully to enhance the music. There are so many banjo palyers who are masters of this style, and use it very effectively. I am particularly fond of the playing of Alan Munde. You can hear his use of scales in Molly Bloom, minor arpeggios in Powder Creek, his creativity in Peaches and Cream...I could go on. Listen to his arrangements of standards such as Nine Pound Hammer. I find that his use of scales to be very unique and refreshing. Curt Cannon Las Vegas, NV

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Thanks Curt, well said!

[@aaront879]

Good stuff Eli. I would have to go with Ben Eldridge, Tony Trischka, or Courtney Johnson for personal favorite Melodic players but can’t forget Bill Keith and Bobby Thompson when talking about Melodic style. Ask me again tomorrow and I may have a different answer. Favorite musician of any type is constantly changing for me. I love them all. Thanks for all you do for us banjo players.

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

I feel the same way!

[@markgraham9859]

I like chris Pandolfi. From the stringbenders. His podcast was a really great interview. Wondering if you can do video using a capo. I can play riffs in first position but get lost when go up the neck depending on which fret the capo is on. Do you have any ideas or tricks to help transpose the up the neck runs.

[@markgraham9859]

Great video by the way I really like your approach and playing.

[@shlamalama]

Great tips on moving from G to C and D, I will definitely use that. Mike Munford. And maybe Chris Pandolfi. Danny Barnes. Wes Corbett. Hard to pick one.

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Thanks!

[@danielwick2852]

Excellent video........ Pat Cloud

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Pat is amazing!

[@alexcaruso8858]

Jens Kruger is my favorite Banjo player of all time. I love your videos, but as a beginner, I would find it helpful to label each note with the approrpiate finger such as thumb, index, or middle. Cheers!

[@markglore7196]

Great video as always! This is something I've been wanting to learn. Thank you! I have so many favorite players it's really hard to pick just one so I'm gonna quote someone. My favorite player is who ever I'm listening to at the moment.

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Thanks Mark!

[@daveandrews6670]

Hey Eli,I,ve been looking for this for 3 months.wanting to explore the higher neck.there all great.what ever I can find on my phone,I,m in australia.what got me back into banjo after 40years 4 months ago was Jimmy Henley,s orange blossom special 1976.have been learning melodic for 3 months.thanks mate.

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Thanks David!

[@jonos138]

Yes, yes, yes! I wanna learn how to do that! Whether I can is another matter, 😂 but I'll give it a good shot. 😉

[@waldguy]

Right now, at this moment, favorite melodic banjo player is Eli Gilbert. I don't mind Jens K either.

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Ha! Thanks! Jens is no slouch!

[@mikew5423]

Very cool video. Noam Pikelny, Bill Keith

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Thanks!

[@davidbuckingham7493]

Could you do a lonesome moonlight waltz lesson

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Good idea!

[@seandowning480]

Awesome lesson!! Doug Dillard all the way for melodic perfection

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Thanks!

[@rbfour5]

Carl Jackson is my favorite melodic banjo player!

[@Gigitobanjo]

great!

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Thanks!

[@williamdryden9377]

Eli have you made an open A or B melodic scale video without a capo?

[@toddandersen8925]

Alan Munde

[@DIYbanjo]

Duke Weddington with Higher Ground is a great melodic player!

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

I’ll have to check him out!

[@jackiemccool583]

Hey Eli, Love your videos! Sign me up!

[@johncostelloe743]

Bill keith

[@Banjoslow]

For sure! Alan Munde.......

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

One of my favorites!

[@andygabelmusic]

My favorite banjo player that uses the Melodic technique is Noam Pikelney.

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Me too!

[@lidboms]

Dennis Caplinger

[@RenoScruggs]

1:26

[@Banjoslow]

also, Scott Vestal

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

One of the best!

[@seanmartinman7946]

I always liked Jack Hicks as my favourite but there are many others.

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

I’ll have to check him out!

[@nickk48]

That’s an impossible question. But I’ll say (drum roll): Alan Munde!

[@MrTndtv]

Bill Keith

[@Peter-gf4qd]

Can you do this for any minor keys?

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

I didn’t mention it in the video, but the G, C, and D major scales are the same notes as the E, A, and B minor scales!

[@JimmyDeLocke]

Larry McNeely

[@RackPhoto]

Of course, i like bill keith

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Me too!

[@teresaandbyronholton1813]

Carrol Best.

[@MrEpmonroe]

I was hating you in first 10 seconds.

[@jimkorn46]

allen munde

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

One of the best!

[@DylanEdwardsMusic]

Great video! I notice you did not spike your 5th string when playing in D: What are your thoughts about this? It seems like spiking is beneficial if you're playing rolling backup, but are there scenarios where spiking is detrimental?

[@EliGilbertBanjo]

Thanks Dylan! Generally I spike the 5th string when I don’t think I’m going to play much melodic stuff, but I leave it unspiked for things like fiddle tunes. And then I generally adjust my backup playing to either emphasize or not emphasize the 5th string