Archive for September, 2015
Learning to play Chords and Chord Shapes
Practicing chords on banjo Question: As I'm practicing chords and my chord progressions on banjo, Should I try to find the chords closest to each other on the neck. or try to pick up and down the neck or try pick...
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Play Along CDs for Speed Building Book
Banjo Practice AdviceQuestion about the best products to learn from someone who is frustrated with keeping up with the tracks in the How to Build Your Speed on the Banjo BookThe new backup play along CDs are probably...
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Question 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, pulloff ? exactly what the left and right hands are supposed...
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Banjo Double Hammer-on Pull-Off Lick
Question I'm still struggling with the lick in sitting on top of the world. Would you mind a detailed explanation how to play the lickwith the 2 hammers, pulloff ? exactly what the left and right hands are supposed to...
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Question: Pulling down or pushing up?Rosswhen i first learned to play i was taught to push off from 3-2 (third string) and have always done that but lacked consistency in sound- and sometimes my middle finger hits the...
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Pull-off and Push-off tips/follow up
A featured email question from a student and answer by me, or some advice I have given someone who has requested it.Many of the questions I receive are questions that many students learning the banjo have. I hope the...
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Playing the Melody by Ear on Banjo
Playing the Melody on BanjoA question on how to learn to pick out the melody notes. So you have any suggestions that would help me learn how to just pick the melody notes out when learning a tune or is it just learn...
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Advice in the picking and fretting hand
Advice for weak spots in the right and left hand: Banjo Finger Exercises Student Question: Hello Ross,I started learning the banjo several weeks ago and so far progress is pretty much stalled at the beginning. I...
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A question on banjo chord forms in different keysStudent QuestionI understand the concepts of playing back up as explained in the encyclopedia and other books I have but I can't find anything specific concerning...
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Beverly Hillbilly D Chord Part
Learning the Beverly Hillbillies theme on banjo Student Question: The D chord part in The Ballad of Jed ClampetI bought your books How to Build Up speed and The banjo song book. I am a newcomer but have got the hang...
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Workshops for Banjo / Questions and Answers Student commentsHi Ross,Just a short note to thank you for the workshop over the weekend. The afternoon was one of the best musical investments I have made, and I would...
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How do you become more advanced?
How to progress faster learning the banjoStudent QuestionHow did you go from beginning to professional?There is one thing that I would like to offer as a question and that is, have you considered writing an article...
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Playing in the the key of D and playing by earHere are some suggestions I just sent to a student preparing to attend an upcoming workshop of mine. I don't always have time for this but was inspired tonight. The...
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Learn Timing and how to count time Tips from Ross Nickerson answers to studentsA couple of tips.Learning to count time is very important on the banjo and easy if you just take the time to practice it.Learn some basic...
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10th fret bending on Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Bending or choking the stringStudent QuestionHow to improve the 10th fret choke on Foggy Mountain Breakdown?BACKGROUND: I have a $300.00 "Bluegrass" model Mastercraft banjo and I'm learning the high break to "Foggy...
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A question on the middle finger not cooperatingDear Ross,I am a member and I have a question for you. I started playing last June and my middle finger wants to move up away from the strings when I strike the other...
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Set Up and Banjo Repair QuestionsQuestionHi RossJust a quick note to say how much I am enjoying the courses I have downloaded from you. I have recently detected vibration on my 4th string when fretting. All the other...
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What´s the benefit with a radius neck compared with a standard one?
Radius Neck / Banjo AdviceStudent QuestionHi Nick! I´m really pleased with your Nick Picks that arriwed a few days ago. They improve both tone and speed to my picking. Bye the way, could you tell me what´s the benefit...
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Question on using a preamp with a Fishman Banjo Pickup
Question on using a preamp with a Fishman Banjo Pickup......Hi, I purchased a Gold Tone BG-250 F from you a few months ago. Great banjo by the way. I installed the Fishman rare earth pickup in it and was hoping you...
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QuestionHi 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 verify that you suggest using the book in the...
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Comment, RequestLearning new techniques and new songs has been the driving force for me to play every day and your Website has added a new dimension to my quest. I've watched your newest video of "Boil Them Cabbage...
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Advice for how to bend banjo picks:Student Question:Is there a preferred bending of the finger tips? Should they be bent to where they are 45 degrees to your finger nails or left as they are when you take them out of...
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How to put a banjo capo onStudent QuestionI spent yesterday at a oldtime music jamboree with about ten different bands playing. I noticed the guitar players when they moved their capos they didn't retune, when I put...
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Right Hand Accuracy QuestionI have been struggling with right hand accuracy for some time now. I have even emailed you a couple of times for advice, which you graciously offered. Please indulge me one more time as I...
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Take it Easy Banjo Tab QuestionQuestionI'm wanting to learn the tab to "take it easy". It's hard for me to hear the song in the tab. Is this played from the very beginning of the song or is it the solo piece towards...
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I have a 500 dollar Banjo and I want the tone you get, should I buy a new one?QuestionHad a quick question, I have a 500.00 Hohner banjo that I am playing better since I received your online video, but I am trying to...
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How to play in the Key of D on banjo
Difficulty with playing the D Chord on banjo QuestionI can play most chord forms pretty well at this point, but have never comfortably mastered the full D chord—in fact, I’m not very content with how I play it at all....
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Trouble with in the index finger while picking banjoFly Away Index Finger and Building Speed QuestionQuestionJust wanted to thank you again and let you know how productive the cruise workshop was for me. I have been...
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Why isn't the song I want to learn to play on banjo availalble
Trouble finding tab for a banjo song A response I wrote to someone looking for a tab for a popular song.I wanted to explain to help them understand why there are not more popular songs in tab available to students....
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