Three Bluegrass Banjo Styles Explained with Noam Pikelny | Reverb Interview

[@TommyStanton]

What an absolute joy to watch; such a tasteful survey of bluegrass banjo. Excellent production, Reverb, and very well done, Noam!

[@Jack458111]

I would pay fifty bucks a month to see Noam make a five minute video about pretty much anything. Who's with me.

[@hannahjohnson4836]

Me...as long as he played a LOT of banjo...and if I had the $50 a month!! :D

[@symphonyfarm2009]

Me too!

[@jehovahuponyou]

I WOULD PAY $5.00 EVERY TWO YEARS TO TAKE GUITAR LESSON FROM STEVIE RAY VANDEMERE - TAHNK YOU!

[@danielibnz]

@@jehovahuponyou Ha..Ha...

[@jehovahuponyou]

@@danielibnz LMAO!

[@BikesAndBatallas]

I don't play the banjo or any fretted instrument; however, this video was an absolute treat. Noam's explanations and knowledge are a joy and wonder to behold. Thank you to everyone involved in producing this video.

[@loumartin8073]

Mind-boggling. He makes playing look effortless.

[@brucekuehn4031]

No wasted motions of any kind. It’s like gracefully dancing.

[@emmanueludoh77]

Thank you Guy Smiley!

[@YooperBanjo]

Playing is effortless. It's the learning that's hard.

[@kclange8231]

Wouldn’t it be 4 styles with the fourth being the Noam style?

[@mrswimmyboy]

How is his style different from the other 3?

[@LouderGrawlix]

Searched KZbin for a video of Noam and at twenty minutes in I was perplexed and bored. Then I realized I was watching a speech by Noam Chomsky. This is much better.

[@Nothereforit174]

White men have the worst humor. Also bored at Chomsky? You might disagree but you gotta be really lost to be bored, I pity you

[@g.bryant8806]

Two GOATs!

[@pace.makerprod6721]

Had the pleasure of meeting Noam by chance at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville. Guy was so nice, let me sit down and play a fiddle tune with him. Great musician, and a class act guy.

[@archywiseman]

I go there every time that I am in Nashville and never see anyone famous, lol.

[@jaredwills4100]

I thought I was good at banjo *until I watched this video*

[@s3h77c]

I love his monotone expression of his passion it’s really funny and calming. You can tell he plays often. With such ease and mobility he is able to play the instrument and it’s inspiring

[@MidWesti]

As a person just stepping in to the banjo world, I have to say I prefer the Scruggs style the most of all styles mentioned in this video. It sounds perfect.

[@Pete-z6e]

I’ve played for 40 years and I STILL DO prefer Scruggs.

[@DanGross_MusicJournalism]

@@Pete-z6e As Noam says, it's so close to what the banjo is supposed to sound like!

[@xkidmidnightx]

@@DanGross_MusicJournalismnah. The banjo’s supposed to sound like clawhammer 😊

[@josephanderson7237]

Heresy!!!!

[@josephanderson7237]

lol Just messing with you.

[@AlaniSugar]

the dude's a genius. unbelievable

[@jasonrichards2751]

Alani Sugar Just practice and you'll be able to do it too after maybe 4 years if you actually try

[@theloganduke]

William Richards Mastery of anything takes more than just 4 years. This guy is a master

[@RobBob555]

if elvis presley and tom hanks had a baby, it would look like this guy :O)

[@mikedickerson7535]

Omg he really does sound kinda like Tom Hanks

[@yudonituno4782]

I wouldn't be surprised if they actually had one. Wait... No, Elvis is the older one.

[@enpsyclopedia5040]

Except Elvis wasent on adrenochrome

[@JoySynthesis]

As a somewhat-new banjo player: What the actual fuck

[@kalebmaskill8776]

What's really great about Noam is not only his incredible skill as an artist, but his knowledge of the art.

[@TaiganTundra]

The alternating Pollex(thumb)/Index picking style is actually something early renaissance/medieval lute players did to mimic the plectrum when they stop using it in order to play polyphonic music.

[@stormedbyhippiesc3966]

Psygnostic fuck yeah

[@awb139]

The banjo has me under it's spell. I want to learn everything I can.

[@Jeff-xy7fv]

Bluegrass music rules!! www.thebluegrassjamboree.com

[@bradleysmith4409]

Beware, it's a DEEP well...

[@danielbass1234]

Grasshopper ,Take the first step

[@Nothereforit174]

@@danielbass1234ugh, men

[@ChristopherGarciaSmoke12]

what is the name of first song in the intro?

[@cat793c2008]

Absolutely incredible. I’m a guitar player (hack) and this banjo playing is mind blowing. So cool. Thank you

[@DarthFelipe1]

Beautiful playing but, not even a mention of clawhammer?

[@AidanHegarty97]

clawhammer is more old time, not bluegrass

[@edadan]

I saw the movie "Deliverance" in the 70's and the very next day, I went out and got a banjo. I never did learn to play very well, but I remember that I had a Tony Trischka song book that also came with a record. I tried and tried to learn how to play "Paddy on the Turnpike" but it was just too difficult. Didn't stick with it long enough to get good...and unfortunately...I just couldn't find anyone in the Atlanta area to teach me. But, I do have some good memories of those days. I used to go down to Holcomb Bridge Park and sit by the Chattahoochee River and play late at night. I could hear dogs howling from miles away. I don't know if they were singing along with me or just howling because it hurt their ears!

[@jarekbekesza4780]

Noam, I'm making a big or may be a not so big leap here. Born in Chicago with the last name like Piekelny (Hellish) Polish translation, you have to have Polish roots. At any rate to me you are the Chopin of the banjo, thank you for taking it to the next level. Ever since I've seen your performance on the Dave Letterman show with Steve Martin, I've been your fan.

[@robertbiggs1702]

The banjo has a history in America with the arrival of the first slaves. It's history goes back further to the enslavement of Africans on sugar plantations in the Caribbean. Enslaved African created the banjo using features from their West African lute instruments and exposure to Western string instruments. The adopted flat neck and pegs for tuners, but kept the hollow gourd of wood sound box with a skin stretched over. They brought with them two kinds of playing: down stroke, which is similar to today clawhammer style, and two finger picking, which still exists in rural America as well. To say that Skruggs made the banjo sound how it was supposed to is an insult to the thousands of people who overcame the adversaries of slavery to create the banjo and its music. And technically, he was not the first white guy to play the banjo with three fingers. This was already the main style with the white minstrel musicians who played in black face ridiculing African-Americans and their unique playing styles while playing the banjo with three or four fingers in what they called "guitar style". What Skruggs brought to banjo playing was the dependence of an endless stream of arpeggios. These exist else:guitar, piano, etc. But no other musicians have ever made playing endless arpeggios a style for a genre the way Skruggs did. To me personally I find listening to endless arpeggios boring - the same patterns repeat ad infinitum. If the classical composers had written their music using only arpeggios, music would be pretty boring. Not to say that Skruggs wasn't gifted at what he did. Technical execution was amazing. But to me the dependence on endless arpeggios as the signature sound limits what you can produce with the banjo. Which is probably why Earl himself eventually left the Bluegrass sound to explore other possibilities with the Earl Skruggs Review.

[@richardanthonysilvester4216]

This is the best banjo style explanation and demo I have seen. Very well paced and backed up with the names of exponents of the style. Good stuff.

[@boblackey1]

I appreciate Fleck and Keith but I grew up in the 50s and was a teen then adult in the 60s and usually when I'm in the mood to hear banjo picking I'm old school. Uncle Dave Macon, Grandpaw Jones or Ralph Stanley on clawhammer but more often old Earl Scruggs recordings with Lester or Ralph Stanley or J D Crow and for the more fancy stuff where one will move in and out of the Scruggs style, I'm a big Don Reno fan. There is no question Bill Keith, Bella Fleck etc with the melodic styles are very technically advanced banjo players but that isn't my kind of pickin'. Get tired of it after a few song but can listen to Scruggs or Reno in the car for 2 hours.

[@fullshark09]

I will never understand why in the world would you want to take an awesome instrument and change it to sound like something different that, on top of that, already exists. The banjo is loved cause it sounds like a banjo, why would I want to hear it played like a fiddle, losing all its character in the process? Moreover, it is an instrument that capitalizes on rhythm over melody. By pushing it the other way too much you kill its vibe and doesn't connect with the masses as much, hence why nobody really cares about this posh, corny and elitist banjo trends (other than bored musicians that have been playing for years upon years and are seeking new sounds). It sounds good and it's okay to throw a lick or two to show off like that, but playing an instrument by NOT playing that instrument is not really my idea of a good ole 5 string pickin' time.

[@gunsmithmusic]

This is one of my absolute favorite reverb videos. I've never even played a banjo but I find myself coming back to enjoy this video every few months. Thanks y'all!

[@mm9778]

"Oh wait, was she a great big fat person?" -Buffalo Bill

[@brianpentony7502]

Jesus, I thought the same thing!

[@BigSkidMedia]

I just laughed harder at this comment than I have ever laughed at any comment in my entire life. I love Ted Levine and thought something sounded very similar to Noam's voice.

[@mm9778]

@@BigSkidMedia same...I searched to see if they're related. Great stuff 😂

[@derekbaker2177]

Coming new to banjo playing after 30 years guitar playing it’s great to see the different styles. Fretting and finger style isn’t new to me but I wish to learn true banjo playing and not just play it like a guitar which the single string method is the closest to.

[@doctortabby]

Right. I am a guitar/bass guy of many years as well. I just ordered my first banjo, it should be here within a couple of days. I thought very briefly about just ordering a "guitar banjo," which does work, there are a lot of famous recordings made with them. I went with the 5 string with the resonator. I'm with you: I don't like to approach the bass like the guitar, I don't want to approach the banjo like a guitar either.

[@derekbaker2177]

I’m still mastering my rolls. I can do them pretty well once I get the rhythm down then I think about what I’m doing and clunk 😂

[@davidlundmark9359]

@@derekbaker2177 How did it go with the banjo?

[@derekbaker2177]

David Lundmark I’m pass the beginner phase now. I can play some of the classics like Cripple Creek and Boil them cabbage Down as well as more contemporary stuff from the Dead South

[@saullouis]

I had the honor to have a small talk with Bill Keith at Grey Fox the year before he died. Aside from the details of what we talked about, I quickly realized how special he was as a man. Gentle, helpful, enthusiastic, immediately friendly. Noem and people like him had the privilege to spend real time with him. I think, and hope, a bit of his personality may have rubbed off on Noems generation.

[@josephanderson7237]

I’ve noticed that too.

[@Shindai]

Damn, imagine being that good at something.

[@JewandGreek]

I wouldn't consider single string to be bluegrass, but that's probably just me.

[@jrmybwedding]

I'm not even a huge fan of the banjo but this was really interesting!

[@tablature6121]

Excellent overview. The key to mastering ALL: know your neck; know your scales.

[@stellingbanjodude]

That sure was some sweet banjo picking 👍🏻

[@asahoura2798]

And then there were Noam Pikelny and Raymond Fairchild, who change banjo styles at will, faster than most could play one style.

[@ivanespinal9105]

Anyone know anything about that beginning riff? Is that just a random tune? If anyone knows who it is or even make a tutorial on how to play it that’d be amazing. Sweet riff.

[@ivanespinal9105]

Wtf.... I got the first like on this after more than a year??? I NEED this tune in my life. I’ve been randomly visiting this video for like a year now just to listen to the first 20 seconds. Please somebody help us!!!! What is this sound that you make, Master??!!!!!!!! 🤞🏼🙏🏼❤️

[@ivanespinal9105]

I just realized I replied to my year old comment. ...🙄😂😅 fr

[@rjmoney9]

A cool guy, one of the greatest banjo players ever imo, and ALSO a great instructor. Noam is always a treat to listen to

[@darrenhoffman6658]

I seen you win the $50,000 prize on Dave Letterman it was a comic glitch when Steve Martin give you that check and he took it back from you with a string from your pocket when you beat him playing dueling banjos I was cool

[@ds693ny]

Thank you for this explanation and demonstration. Highly clear and informative!

[@vernonwilson6251]

How did this possibly get a thumbs down. What a great video!

[@darkmysterytemple]

I love the Earl Scruggs sound the most but each to their own

[@gilthethrill9179]

Throwing some melodic in between Scruggs is real a cool sound...I do it sometimes and its my fav way to play. Im not a melodic player but i can pull off pieces of melodic in spurts while playing Scruggs style its got a killer sound that flows and jams.

[@doctortabby]

I have played guitar and bass for years in a variety of settings and in different styles. I ordered a banjo from amazon the other day. I was excited about getting into it. Listening to this man has just doubled that excitement. :-)

[@crumble89]

How did it go with the banjo?

[@doctortabby]

@@crumble89 I'm not expert, but I play well enough to have some fun with it. Glad I bought it. Thanks for asking.

[@Veradel97]

Anyone remember this guy from Steve Martin and Letterman?

[@nacehood9078]

The song at the start is redbud by Noam Pikelny.

[@adamzimmerman9459]

What an amazing guy! Sonically humble. Total monster!!!

[@cobrakai9793]

What I like about bluegrass is that the sound varies depending on where you are in the US

[@jesse_cole]

Jimmy Kimmel is a damn good picker.

[@quickstep2408]

i really enjoyed seeing the comparison of the 3 styles. great segment, superb player. cheers

[@MrJbaker7]

Thanks for this Noam...wonderful...Jack Baker NYC

[@andrewptob]

That outro playing was incredible. Wow

[@darkmysterytemple]

Lets not forget Doc Boggs

[@anonymous_friend]

What microphone are they using on the banjo? Sounds great

[@yourdad9168]

Sorry it took a year to reply. They used a banjo microphone.

[@Violetcas97]

What a joyful and beautiful instrument, I could listen to a truly talented banjo picker play for hours and never be bored.

[@alonzovillarreal4666]

Noam is a banjo ninja!

[@drewby613]

I’m glad he mentioned Alan Munde in with the melodic players. I think of Munde’s contribution to the melodic approach was to use it to transfer fiddle ideas to the banjo. Now you can hear banjo ideas on mando and guitar via crosspicking, and Molly Tuttle plays killer claw hammer style guitar, but if you listen to Munde’s old Festival Favorites series from ‘70’s, and play attention to his amazing fiddle tune adaptations, you’ll hear tons of borrowed fiddle licks from all over the place. This guy Noam is the real deal, though, it just pours out of him. Great video!!!

[@nathanielb108]

my anthropology teacher is Noam Pikelny's brother. It's lowkey surreal but really cool

[@jonathandaniels5956]

For the love of all that's holy. what's that opening tune???

[@jameshenrymusic5039]

Jonathan Daniels It’s a tune Noam wrote called “Redbud” of his album “Universal Favorite” hope this helps :)

[@stormedbyhippiesc3966]

Awesome! Love these banjo licks on guitar also

[@jackorion7157]

3:52 I didn't know banjos could be beautiful sounding.

[@yvocinfo3381]

The banjo is an instrument created by formerly enslaved native Black Americans.

[@charlesbrown7579]

how is it to play my wife has just bogut me one for xmas and I am 71 in december you are never to old got my pilot license 6 years ago and bought my own microlight flexwing flown over snowdon with my wife many times kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6ebYYV6r7WVhZI

[@ksowles9493]

Where'd he get the third hand? The hand that stifled his yawn? Dude FLOWS.....

[@mrswimmyboy]

He belongs to be listed with the greatest players of this instrument.

[@bveracka]

I've seen and heard a lot of nice banjos, but the tone of that one is just amazing! Obviously you're a very accomplished player, but that's a real beaut. 👌

[@marklausche6059]

What about Ralph Stanley style or claw hammer style? Wouldn’t those be two additional styles to your three?

[@archtopp1]

What a beautiful sounding banjo...such depth and tone!!

[@alexisjones9267]

You can tell Noam is a very gentle person by the way he plays. I've never seen/heard bluegrass played so gently.

[@tjinnes]

That was very interesting. Great playing too. Makes me realize I know nothing about the banjo!

[@franksabatino7576]

Noam is easy to listen to, and the examples give this non-musician things to look for that can be remembered.

[@Thenasdaqs2011]

I swear that first picture of earl scruggs is actually nick saban

[@seanmartinman7946]

This guy seems to know every note on the banjo, he is so fluid, I guess its a God given gift, What happened to mine God?.

[@charlespastore4466]

Gods love is the best gift you can have...

[@murgad32]

He graduated from the University of Illinois with a Masters degree in music. Work hard young man.

[@quickstep2408]

@@murgad32 church

[@FlorisGerber]

'twas not god that gave that "gift" it was long hours in practice spent. Ask not why god forsake ya; Train.

[@BassAsLeaders]

Actually he probably worked very hard

[@DanimationMovies]

Thomas Jane should play Noam Pikely in the biopic

[@Glanthor88]

I want to marry his voice and i'm a guy

[@lajeanette33]

I love those recents videos about bluegrass instruments. Thx a lot!

[@BeingRomans829ed]

I’ll take Scruggs style, hands down, no contest.

[@klcwarchitect]

I learned more about banjo styles in a few minutes of this video than I have since i started picking up the banjo last year. Great video!

[@kents.2866]

There's a lot more older styles as well, two finger, clawhammer, etc.

[@TrioZinc]

With a Pre war Gibson RB-7 , it's sounds better ;-)

[@ChrisStephenMusic]

Awesome playing! It's a joy to watch and get inside the head a little of such a talented musician!

[@EclecticHillbilly]

Saw some of the discussion down below about claw hammer style and in my opinion, it should be included in the bluegrass style. Bill Monroe was the originator of Bluegrass and Stringbean was his first banjo player and that's how he played. Earl Scruggs completely changed the sound when he came aboard but the early days of the band and style need to be given credit.

[@JulieBest]

thanks for mentioning this. I play clawhammer style and I felt left out. haha. But this is a very informative video, nonetheless.

[@zml6580]

I saw the concept of the video as more of an explanation of the progression of modern banjo. I don't think leaving clawhammer out really means anything in this context, good or bad.

[@fathertime209]

Hey Reverb and those watching, what specific kind of banjo is he playing? Thanks...

[@josephanderson7237]

A late ‘30s Gibson Top Tension with a new neck. Probably was a TB8 or TB12 tenor as the original.

[@ivannovotny4552]

Noam, absolutely awesome and thank you for sharing it with us.

[@victorcocco6738]

Great to see what do you think a banjo master is . Thanks so much for your videos .

[@billfresh3776]

dude can flat out play

[@cvhannes]

Man I didn't know Jake Gyllenhaal played the banjo

[@andrewtoeman282]

After 50 years of Pete Seegers style , I still can’t do this!

[@Trumpforprezz28]

I’d pay a hundred dollars if I could learn to play any at banjo at all

[@NeverMetTheGuy]

Having stumbled across this so early in the morning has to be a sign of a great day to come.

[@robertsheridan2385]

Oughta be doin' brain surgery...

[@Bullroarer-oj3sp]

Had no idea Ennis Del Mar was a virtuoso banjo player.

[@bengotagun]

The melody at 0:57 sounds SO familiar, but I can't place it. Does anyone know what it is?

[@grzeg0rz100]

It sounds like "You Are My Sunshine" to me

[@TheSignatureK]

I like clawhammer better than any of these.

[@dakota.stlaurent]

I feel each style fits a specific mood. I'd love to be able to blend clawhammer and the other styles myself. some day...

[@ricksorber8343]

I definitely prefer the Scruggs style.

[@mathewwyrick9881]

Love the banjo

[@JohnyG29]

Traditional banjo is better imo.

[@jessehughes3741]

Watching one of the best banjo players of this date. He has earned his spot at the round table.

[@TonyfromBham]

The guy’s lecture/explanation abilities are massive. He’s a brilliant banjoist with a professor’s ability to illuminate. ‘Amazing.

[@bruhnisher5454]

I saw this guy in Danville. He's awesome

[@SandoyLH]

Anybody knows what his banjo's tuned in?

[@youngtoonfish6891]

I'm no musician, but I like this videos.