Sheldon Online Academy: Béla Fleck-Single String Technique

Banjo master Bela Fleck demonstrates single string technique in this Sheldon On-line Academy video.

[@judwatkins9478]

I wish all geniuses were as generous with their time as Bela Fleck is. He really understands what beginners are up against, and he's trying to help us grow as musicians.

[@dsclaud]

I just started playing the banjo a couple of months ago. Of course I'm going through various KZbin videos. It astonishes me how almost all banjo legends are very humble people that don't mind sharing their knowledge in a very understanding way. I'm so glad to be part of this world

[@stephenrivera4382]

I met Bela many years ago in a banjo workshop at Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem, PA. I’m happy to say that he’s as gracious as he is outstanding! 👍

[@rjmoney9]

a four minute explanation from the master himself... all that's needed now is a looooooooooooot of metronome practice

[@ajeveryday1980]

I'm first? Bela is the man! Thank you so much for sharing this!

[@pameladahl8274]

I liked his banjo playing too. Don Reno!

[@cliffsandifer3877]

good motivating teacher...little bit of humor salute

[@LoneRevD]

Boom... Exploded. Such a great player.

[@tobypritchard6095]

Legend

[@athertonequine]

Thank you Sir for the lesson. I hope to pick with you someday. We love you here in Aiken SC

[@Foxrock321]

In the brass world we call this double and triple tonguing..

[@jonos138]

Thanks for this, I still cannot master this yet but your exercises will hopefully help. 👍

[@DA-gm9yu]

Me to dam hard stuff, but this video got me started.

[@theBamaJammer617]

great!!

[@ZionForman]

"if it was me and I was learning that for the first time, my head would be exploding, "

[@DA-gm9yu]

Yes and so was mine and still is a year later, dam mind bending hard shit, but this very video got me started on Reno Style so forever grateful to Bela for that. Still a learner though 18 months all up.

[@cyrussamir724]

you prolly dont give a shit but does any of you know of a way to log back into an Instagram account?? I was dumb lost the account password. I love any tricks you can give me!

[@jaxonclay4444]

@Cyrus Samir instablaster =)

[@rbfour5]

@adamaj It's not so much as the playing in single string style, which in and of it self can be very pleasing; but if you can become proficient in just doing these exercises, it will actually enhance both Scruggs and Melodic style of banjo playing. Builds great right hand control and left hand dexterity. And when you can add a measure or two of single string in a Scruggs break, or a melodic break- look out!

[@peskydog837]

is there a follow up to this?

[@daveandrews6670]

This is the very video that showed me how to start single string style about 4 or 5 months ago,but am finding it very difficult to do and to get any speed on it almost impossible. who better to learn from to. Thanks cheers.

[@daveandrews6670]

I am still working on this very informative short video 6 or 7 months later. The best part is the 3 open notes per string, as it works out hitting the next string with a different finger. Brain twister and very difficult stuff for me anyway, but helpful. cheers.

[@DA-gm9yu]

And still working on it, hard stuff. But it got me started on the Reno Style thanks to Bela a fantastic guy. cheers from Down Under

[@muntzerism-diggerism9695]

Someone oughta tell the banjoist from trampled by turtles about this (he uses a flatpick (which fills me with rage))

[@adamaj74]

I'm not a big fan of single string on a banjo. A little is ok, as a side-dish, but not the main course. Too much accentuates the negative aspects of a banjo's sound. A banjo doesn't do staccato well and sounds better when allowed to ring out a little, much like a bell. There's a reason why there was a "rule" of not playing like this. All that metal in a banjo doesn't lend itself well to the quick staccato of single string playing. If I wanted to hear single string I'd listen to guitar, mandolin, etc.

[@jessepersoneni7225]

I disagree, and that is the beautiful thing about music, is neither of us are right

[@rimrodi7]

you clearly have never listened to bela fleck play single string before here is an example about 1:13 in kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJjIenqhpqmJq6c there is much more but im not going to waste any more time.

[@jamesha175]

Jesse Personeni is correct; both of yalls are wrong.

[@rjmoney9]

I think you're making fair points about some risks to look out for when playing this style. But Bela is proof enough that single string playing can be done with beautiful tone. It also gives the soloing a lot more interval-precision than rolls do so I think it sounds great mixed in with rolls. Bela uses both styles of picking in his live work with the great Chick Corea, and there are solo structures that he bela has in those songs that would not be possible if he weren't single note playing. obviously bela is a master, but its one example of proof that single string playing can sidestep these tone dangers. and the advantage to new players to mix this in to their playing can be huge. banjo playing can fall into the trap of being a muddy soup of roll patterns where you're not choosing every note because you prehear it and are selecting it (which is what makes a solo musical), but choosing many because they are simply the next in a roll pattern. but single note playing forces you to think about every note, and I think it can help banjo players sound a lot more musical when they take a solo break or do fills. i love rolls but they are dangerous for other reasons than the single note playing, so I say learn to do both well enough that you can take the best aspects of both to maximize musicality.

[@lordofthemound3890]

I agree. Even the guitar is iffy on single note runs (and I play guitar). The best still employ ringing open notes. An occasional excursion up the fretboard is okay “as a side-dish” as you said, same as banjo. Mandolin and fiddle should handle the bulk of the single string stuff.