Archive for 2015
Learning 5-string Banjo Chords
Learning 5-string Banjo ChordsLearning 5-string banjo chords is easier and won't take you as long as you might think. It really just takes focused practice, exercise and repetition. Often banjo players struggle with...
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Beginning Banjo Rolls - Practicing Banjo Rolls
Beginning Banjo RollsLearning and Practicing Banjo Rollsby Ross NickersonWhen you are beginning to learn banjo rolls, the most important thing to remember is the roll is determined by the finger pattern used not the...
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Welcome to our Free Banjo Lesson Blog
by Ross Nickerson
Hello aspiring banjo pickers,
Welcome to my free banjo lessons and instruction blog. My name is Ross Nickerson. For those of you who are not familiar with me I am the author of The Banjo...
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By Ross NickersonYour first banjo lesson will be an exciting day filled with anticipation and expected nervous energy wondering what to expect.In your first banjo lesson you will likely be first instructed on how to...
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How Hard is it to Play the Banjo?
by Ross NickersonThat is important first question for those of you are itching to take up the fun of playing 5 string bluegrass banjo. In my years of teaching the banjo and also handling much of the customer service...
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Banjo Exercises and Workout by Ross Nickerson
Banjo Exercises and WorkoutThis is the first installment of a series of teaching articles to help banjo students improve their overall skills by getting a "Banjo Workout". When learning the banjo it's only natural to...
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Hints to Pick Banjo Faster Developing Speed and Technique
Hints to Pick Banjo Faster Developing Speed and Technique Right Hand (or your picking hand, there are lefties out there:)1. Practice Rolls2. Work on weak spots3. Push yourself and try to raise your speed a notch each...
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How to Tune a Banjo? Learning how to tune a banjo easily and quickly is one of the first steps in learning to play the banjo and I am here to lend a few tips to help you get the job done. To get the notes to tune to...
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Tips on Playing Banjo in a Jam
Tips on Playing Banjo in a JamBy Ross NickersonIt seems that when preparing for jam session or playing your banjo with other musicians that it is best to plan for the unexpected. One of the best ways to simplify the...
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Banjo Learning Tips - Right Hand Picking - Banjo Rolls
Question about how to best use The Banjo Encyclopedia Hi Ross,I am in my mid 50’s and got my first banjo as well as your impressive book “The Banjo Encyclopedia”. I wanted to be sure that I am on right track and to...
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Sitting On Top of the World ending lick
Subject" Sitting On Top of the World ending lickQuestion I'm still struggling with the lick in sitting on top of the world. Would you mind a detailed explanation how to play the lick with the 2 hammers, pull off ?...
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Newbie to the Banjo - Left Hand Technique
Newbie to the BanjoSubject: Chapter 3 Left Hand Technique QuestionAs a relative newbie to the banjo, I've got a question that pertains to the Banjo Encyclopedia's 3rd chapter on left handed technique. Here's my...
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Subject: Trying to HardRoss N......I had a very nice email with compliments on the Banjo Encyclopedia. I'll include some of it. The student also had an interesting comment, well, it may be interesting to a lot of you...
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How to Play Banjo Chords - Difficulty with chords
Subject: How to Play Banjo Chords - Difficulty with chordsQuestion: Hi, I am a beginner/newly intermediate banjo player and am having a very difficult time with chords.My Response: Do you have the book I wrote, The...
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How to best use The Banjo Encyclopedia
Subject: Simplifying it some for a studentHere is a copy of a quick note I sent to a student who was learning a lot from the Banjo Encyclopedia but also felt a little overwhelmed by all the material.Learning from the...
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Timing in the tab questionHello Ross,I hope you are doing well and having a great day! I am using your banjo encyclopedia book and was hoping you might have a minute to answer a few quick questions.(1) On the 5th and...
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Student QuestionHi Ross. In the Banjo Encyclopedia, chapter, 5 the Banjo Student's Breakdown. There are four places in this tune where you move from G to F, starting F with a hammer-on on the 4th string. I am finding...
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Banjo Encyclopedia Learning Tips
Subject Banjo Student's BreakdownQuestion I have been working on the Banjo Student's Breakdown in the Banjo Encyclopedia and I am having a bit of trouble with the 8th measure where you perform a 2-3 slide on the third...
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Roll syncopation on the slow speeds on the CD
Subject" Roll syncopation on the slow speeds on the CD? Question I recently purchased the Banjo Encyclopedia and I have a question.I was working on the Alternating Thumb Roll (p. 15) and playing the eighth notes in a...
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Banjo Advice - Left hand muting
Banjo Advice / Left hand mutingDear Banjoteacher.com: I recently purchased a Tennessee Crafters banjo and it has great sound. I am struggling with my left hand muting/interfering with the 4th string. The neck is...
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How to Play Banjo Up the Neck, Cumberland Gap
How to Play Banjo Up the Neck, Cumberland Gap Question Hi Ross, I have a question about playing the Cumberland Gap up the neck break. I'm having trouble with the pinky finger hitting the 11th fret, 2nd string right....
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Putting One or Two Fingers on the Banjo Head
BANJO ADVICE -PUTTING ONE OR TWO FINGERS ON THE BANJO HEAD Should I place two fingers on the head? One finger down? If so, which finger? When picking what's the difference between planting two fingers or just one? The...
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Learning Banjo From the Bluegrass Encyclopedia of Banjo
Some Tips I sent a beginner/early intermediate about learning from the Banjo EncyclopediaTry reading The Banjo Encyclopedia without playing to get some further understanding of what is being presented. A lot of...
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Trouble with Playing Banjo Chords
Question: Hi, I am a beginner/newly intermediate banjo player and am having avery difficult time with playing banjo chords.My Response: Do you have the book I wrote, The Banjo Encyclopedia? If you do already, I'll...
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Note from Ross Nickerson I had a very nice email with compliments on the Banjo Encyclopedia. I'll include some of it. The student also had an interesting comment, well, it may be interesting to a lot of you that are...
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Reply to a student reporting on learning timing on banjo and other common hurdlesThanks for the positive feedback. Banjo timing problems or understanding how to improve your banjo timing can often be solved by...
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Practicing Basic Banjo Rolls Student questionHi Ross:I am member and have been getting much material from your great collections. My question is that I have never practiced the basic banjo rolls and other rolls. I...
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Advice on Banjo Back up Play Along CDs
Advice on Banjo Back up Play Along CDs: some prioritiesGood luck with the Backup CDs. Remember to read the instructions on charting out the chords and playing along with the tracks based on the chords and chord...
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Fingers tensing up while playing banjo
Fingers tensing up while playing banjo Student questionI have just started using some of your materials but have not yet seen this issue specifically addressed. My playing consistency is poor. Some days I can play...
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How to play a banjo roll with a bounce
Question, concerning how to play a banjo roll with a bounce and put a bounce in your banjo playing. To bounce or not to bounce, that is the question. Dear Ross,I always am interested in opinions on whether one should...
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