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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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Play by ear banjo tips

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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Timing Tips

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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Controling Banjo Picking

Getting Better Control of Your PickingStudent question Hello from Australia, Ross!Love your Banjo Encyclopedia and have found it a great help. I have been playing (or trying) for a few years now, and for the amount of...
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Practicing Banjo with CDs/Back Tracks

Student Question What should I Practice?...Since I’ve ordered a lot of your material in the past year, i.e, Banjo Encyclopedia, Backing Tracks, Play along CDs, Banjo Speed Book, Scruggs Style Book, etc., I need some...
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How to Capo the 5th string

How to Capo the Fifth StringA question on capoing the fifth stringHi Ross!In your years of playing the banjo , do you find it usefull to have a 5th sting sliding capo bar? I not sure if I should have one mounted ,if...
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Advice on retuning the banjo after putting a capo on

Having trouble tuning when putting a banjo capo onStudent QuestionI am having trouble with my banjo going way out of tune when I put a capo on, one of my banjos is fine but the other two I avhe quite a bit of trouble...
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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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Fretting Hands Question

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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Banjo Timing Instruction

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

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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Questions about banjo tab

Questions about banjo tab:This is a reply from a student that I sent some updated tab fixes related to the first batch of Backup Play Along CDs I produced.Thanks! Great reply and support. You'll have my business...
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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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Banjo Practice Trying to Hard

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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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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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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