Learn to Play - Cumberland Gap - Bluegrass Banjo

Here's a break to this classic tune that you will be able to learn with the skills you gained in the beginning series. Be patient with yourself on that high break; you can do it!
I'm playing my Recording King RK-R35.
Tab: sellfy.com/p/JfJA/#

[@JimPankey]

Tab: sellfy.com/p/JfJA/#

[@Jojyooo]

You are the Bob Ross of banjo 😊

[@Jojyooo]

I love your videos so much I think I will get me a banjo 😄 (Thank you for your videos ! You are watched even here in France ;)) Edit : I did bought a banjo because of you hahaha

[@yeest1168]

So true

[@Falco2807]

When it gets to a difficult part, Jim always looks into the camera and says, "you can do it". And he's right. Thanks Jim!

[@JimPankey]

Yes you can! Glad you’re learning. 😊

[@jocelynmacdonald450]

i want to offer something that helped me on the high part. My pinky is not very smart and not very strong, and also not really long enough to reach the 11th fret if my ring finger is on the ninth :p but I found that 1. if you hold your thumb in the middle of the back of the neck that helps 2. angle your hand up, approaching the frets from the top down, rather than just perpendicular to the neck. this REALLY helped me get my ring finger and pinky to cooperate better. 3. The first few days of practicing this I could not reach the 11th fret without my ring finger moving down from the 9th to the 10th. I'm on day 4 and I can do it now. I thought my small hands were going to just be a permanent handicap on this song. Listen to Jim: you can do this!

[@jackgoodson4754]

I have only been playing for three days and i can do the whole song almost thank you for the help

[@JimPankey]

Thanks for letting me teach you 😊

[@ricemanroadtour8500]

I discovered that part of the low part fits quite nicely in Cripple Creek. Was playing Cripple Creek and inadvertently inserted part of this Cumberland Gap. Sounds good.

[@JimPankey]

Great! Keep experimenting. 😀

[@tom-green]

Best teacher ever. I'm struggling with the pinkey stretch, but if Jim says you can do it, you can!

[@JimPankey]

Thanks. You can do it.

[@hokris3939]

Great to have a new video to learn from you! Thank you very much!

[@NobleNoob356]

Thanks! My favorite folk song.

[@mattfault]

Just started learning Banjo and your videos have really helped! I appreciate all you do!

[@prodigygirl1]

I love the way you sneak a peek. ❤

[@JimPankey]

😊

[@timbumpus1215]

Thanks so much Jim, Every song you teach is another song I get to add to my list of songs that I can play in a matter of a few days. My family is so impressed im learning so many songs so fast. I only wish we could hear you play more than one break for a lot of the songs you teach us, keep em coming and again, Thank you!

[@dvalinut]

Thanks for another awesome lesson Jim! You are solely responsible for me learning banjo!

[@severinneukom]

Thanks a lot for your very cool videos, I learn a lot from them! grüsse aus der Schweiz! Severin

[@seantemple8794]

I feel like I learn so much from here and it's described so well by you I find this easy to follow. Also learnt cripple creek over a week and speed it up over a month among other things. Thank you so much for this keep up the good work

[@susanwarwick1828]

Thank you for being such an encouraging teacher. I just told my family you are just like Bob Ross. Clearly I am not the only one who sees this in you!

[@JimPankey]

Thanks so much 😊

[@klcwarchitect]

I just love your videos!!!!!

[@JimPankey]

Thanks! :)

[@marvinhighley3444]

These videos are great Jim! And that RK35 is sounding really good

[@JimPankey]

Thanks! It’s a good one.

[@michaelhutchens4243]

Love this song! Glad you posted a lesson on it. Thanks Jim

[@JimPankey]

Enjoy!

[@artking8626]

Great work as always, Jim! Keep them coming. ...we really appreciate the d

[@artking8626]

...high quality of your lessons!

[@sammoore2677]

Another great lesson...looking forward to learning this one! Thanks as always Jim!!!😎👍

[@JimPankey]

You’ll have this one in no time. :)

[@willarditti7116]

Thanks Jim. So helpful !

[@jollyhrothgar]

Fantastic video as usual. Really appreciate your instruction! I've got Cripple Creek up to about 150 bpm on the metronome, working on the new stuff too. Thanks.

[@haroldwren4143]

Good to see you back Jim!!

[@JimPankey]

Glad to be back!

[@rolandohlsson7630]

Have just finished your ten first lessons and am loving your style of teaching and what you have given. Thank you so much mr Jim!!

[@JimPankey]

Thanks for letting me teach you 😊

[@bobbymojave1964]

Great video!!! Thanks for posting!!

[@JimPankey]

Thanks for watching ☺️

[@cman9730]

Blimey this ones quite tricky but you make me believe I can do it!

[@JimPankey]

You can do it!

[@christianakashaggy891]

Thank you for making these videos. All of my banjo skills/knowledge have came from you. Another song down. 😃

[@JimPankey]

My pleasure!

[@adayinioloslife9171]

Great video many thanks

[@jimgilchrist198]

Hey, Jim, my little pinkie wanted me to pass along a message, but I'm not sure I can repeat it here in public! Just the same, thanks for adding this little ditty to the bag.

[@stephenmiller4067]

I love your playing and Iove your picking Style I dont have a bandJo but going to get me one keep up the great playing Jim.

[@JimPankey]

You'll love it!

[@michaelangelo9024]

I can play the low part. It took me 3 days. Now it's time to learn the high break. Thanks Jim!

[@JimPankey]

Great! 🙌🏼

[@deanoverlie224]

Good ta see ya , Back !

[@JimPankey]

Thanks

[@markwilliams8477]

Thanks Jim. Really loved this one. Easy to learn and a good way into improvisation. You're right, you don't always need to get bogged down in tabs (as wonderful as they are. Mark from jolly ol' UK.

[@JimPankey]

Thanks for letting me help!

[@user-gx5jz6li6z]

Have not found a u tube video i did not like yet love this one I am still learning / Polly vaughn video is stuck in my head I get a different variation of that roll from some of the normal rolls Thanks again

[@JimPankey]

You’re very welcome

[@reclinerreflections4221]

Another great video! I watched Geoff's video and Bill Nesbitt's video, but it really is starting to come together with yours! Dang, I wish I could get you three in a room to work with me... Well, I guess in a way, ya'll ARE!

[@JimPankey]

Can't wait to hear you play it. :)

[@braddobmeier1991]

As always thanks Jim for your great lessons. Just wandering do you have ideas for keeping time when playing with others. Again thanks I’m getting to be a better banjo player because of you.

[@frepa791]

This is great! Something I’d like to have, if anyone checking these comments happen to know if I’ve missed something, is if there’s a “recommended order for learning songs” since some are obviously easy, and some are more intermediate. I’m bouncing back and forward a lot right now. I mean, that works but I’ve previously had to give up on some videos in the high part because I couldn’t keep up with the instructions.

[@markglore7196]

Thank ya Jim! Gonna git er! 👍

[@gordonsellenartist174]

You're the Best Jim.🙃. No Hanky Panky Here. Banjo is coming along nicely thank's to you.

[@JimPankey]

Thanks :)

[@pedroromualdo756]

Thank you so much 🙏

[@JimPankey]

You're welcome 😊

[@bomark2002]

Awesome tune I’ve learned this the last couple of days and didn’t know whether if if it was banjoyickly correct to use your pointy finder and the middle finger on the upper neck part, of if you had to drop down with the thumb, thanks man I can sleep this night 😊

[@JimPankey]

Glad it helped!

[@katherinesemrick7804]

I love your lessons Jim! It would be very helpful for me if you could play the tune through once at the beginning of the video as I am very new to the banjo and have not heard many of the tunes before.

[@JimPankey]

Well... the tune is at the end of the video - it's pretty easy to find it - You can fast forward to it. It also helps me keep the videos to around 10 minutes or less. Also it's good to just learn as I go; as a beginner you pretty much need everything I'm teaching - even if you haven't heard the song. Also, I'd recommend getting yourself onto a good steady diet of banjo music. Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs Foggy Mountain Banjo should be playing every day. :)

[@katherinesemrick7804]

@@JimPankey lol. Good point! A healthy diet of banjo music it is! I do LOVE your videos! Even as a Nana that can't read music I'm learning to play! Keep em coming!

[@jimgilchrist198]

@@JimPankey Sirius Radio station 62, Bluegrass Junction is a great diet of bluegrass, newgrass, and truegrass. And, Banjo Sunday has tips, tricks and some lessons. It helps to train the ear to hear that which you teach so well. Thanks for adding Cumberland Gap. I look forward to it after getting Rocky Top down a little better.

[@benhirtle99]

I you zoom in with your body instead of with the camera. Vintage videography man. Keep up the great banjo content.

[@JimPankey]

Working with primitive tools here. 😜

[@drpacman9996]

Great video Jim. I’d like to see you play it up to full speed

[@JimPankey]

Thanks 😊

[@invinciblecheng7844]

I picked up that pretty quick, just gotta clean up the pinky move a little. Thanks.

[@JimPankey]

Awesome!

[@GeorgeCampbell1964]

Well Jim, I'm finally up the neck, slow but sho! Gotta really practice the switch from down to up! I got a set of (2 sets actually!) of those Pickey Picks, I didn't like them to start with, but something kept me going back them, now I love them! I still like my blue chip for the bro, but I settled on a white Tusq for my banjo. Thanks for everything, especially for the lesson and the pick suggestion. Oh yeah, I'm a THUMB/Middle type of feller! It's a Dobro thing I reckon! 😂

[@JimPankey]

It’s a big switch coming from Dobro

[@GeorgeCampbell1964]

@@JimPankey you ain't kiddin! I'm having to practice just going up the neck and nailing the position and shape right every time! 🤣😂

[@humaktgeo]

I have been trying to learn the banjo for about 3 years and never really progressed. But i have gone through your 10 starter lessons and really made progress. This is the first tune I have tried after this 10 lessons and honestly I am stumped. I know you say to practice the little finger placement, but I just cant seem to get it on the string with my other fingers in the correct position or my little finger snagging the first string. I will keep trying to break my hand to get it right though.

[@JimPankey]

This will take some time. Maybe go back and check out my “super simple ballad of Jed”; that will get your pinky moving a little more before jumping into Cumberland Gap

[@humaktgeo]

@@JimPankey Do you have any exercises not related to finger placement like this other than learning a tune?

[@JimPankey]

I never really did exercises when I was learning. I applied everything using songs.

[@tomference4618]

Hi Jim,..I'm getting closer with pinky. Cheating a bit,..as in touching that first string. But only I know that! Been at it about 10 months! Really enjoy your instruction 🙂

[@JimPankey]

You’ll get it!

[@GeorgeCampbell1964]

Yeah, I'm having a little of that going on too. But sometimes I accidentally nail it! So that's better than I was last week.

[@brucejohnston6184]

I'll vouch for the pinky thing, I just sit there & play that lick for 5 minutes at a time: it's taking quite a while (months) but shows how much you need to practice 😉

[@JimPankey]

Hang in there!

[@RyanThompsonrthomp]

Yew!! Thank you

[@n411xbushpilot]

Howdy Mr Pankey, I never new what was wrong with my my little finger until your great banjo lesson ( week and dumb) is about the best description of its Problem but that has changed now it is jumping around on and off them Banjo string like a jack rabbit running from a Hounds. its graduated collage. HA HA Thank Jimbo

[@JimPankey]

Glad I could help!

[@colinsarah120]

Well this little pinky got me stumped

[@JimPankey]

Hang in there. You can do it!

[@colinsarah120]

Ok I was lazy playing on the sofa. Sat at the dinning room....straight back chair. Pinky is working now 😂

[@JimPankey]

Sometimes I get something right. 😆

[@jimjoyce7607]

Never hear CG at jams! Do you have Polka On A Banjo in your arsenal? Also Wheel Hoss ( I cannot play melodic style)?

[@tomference4618]

..I'm back, almost got that pinky part. I know it's been a while, but I'm not given up!

[@JimPankey]

Keep practicing. You’ll get it.

[@VA-fh7lb]

This Earl Scruggs version is in my opinion the best for banjo.

[@JimPankey]

Might be the only version I've ever heard...

[@chrisdavis273]

Humble dude. Anyone know if he makes tabs for his stuff

[@JimPankey]

You can find my tabs at www.sellfy.com/wildjimbo

[@bubbalovespong]

Hey Jim, I’ve got it down now. Can i ask who wrote this song? Or if there is a version i can jam along to? Thanks love your videos

[@JimPankey]

Great! Find the Flatt & Scruggs version. It’s on the Foggy Mountain Banjo Album.

[@bubbalovespong]

@@JimPankey thanks Jim! You’re the man!!!!

[@ricemanroadtour8500]

❤

[@JimPankey]

Thanks

[@mrjoeyman]

Hey Jim how do you get that RK 35 to sound sooo solid, instead of that "cheaper" sounding hollow sound? That thing is sweet. Do you have a vid on that?

[@JimPankey]

Well, one, the 35 isn’t a cheaply built instrument, so the potential for it to sound good is there. Most, if not every, 35 I’ve played sounds good with just the factory setup, but you can always tighten the head a bit and maybe raise the tailpiece just a bit. The big thing, though, isn’t the banjo…. It’s the hours of practice in finding and producing good tone.

[@mrjoeyman]

@@JimPankey So right, thanks sir.

[@patrickrardin5677]

My pinky refuses sir. How in the heck do you keep your ring finger down on the bottom string???

[@JimPankey]

It just takes practice. It's not all that natural at first, but it'll get better, and your picking will improve.

[@MountainHomeJerrel]

Do you play Mandolin? Can you teach Mandolin as well? No one else has your special flair for teaching instruments like this.

[@JimPankey]

I do play. I also teach it locally, but I don't really have lessons for it online, though there might be one or two buried in my older videos.

[@MountainHomeJerrel]

@@JimPankey Gotcha. 10-4.

[@tomference4618]

Your "joshing me" Jim,..I likely won't be back for a year at least. if your little finger is not as dexteric as you would like, then in comparison mine feels like my ring finger and little finger are in a cast! I'll be back.....

[@JimPankey]

I will say that ignoring it until a later date won’t make it happen. It’ll just postpone the work that’ll have to be done.

[@tomference4618]

Got it!

[@dynamicdiscs7405]

My pinkey will not do that😂😂 I'm 6'7 with big hands and my pinkey is still not long enough!

[@JimPankey]

You can do it. Keep trying. 😊

[@treasure-path]

play it FIRST….explain it AFTER you show it.

[@JimPankey]

Whatever… feel free to fast forward. Not like I can go back in time and fix it.