Learning the banjo doesn’t require prior musical experience. There is plenty of instruction material tailored specifically towards novice players.
Beginners may prefer 4-string tenor banjos because of their simpler string setup and tuning process. Look for one with a comfortable neck, favorable string action (the height of strings above fingerboard), and high quality sound.
Basics
If you’re just getting into banjo playing, investing in an instrument of excellent quality is paramount to success. There are various affordable models on the market but Tyler Mountain banjo (sometimes mistakenly written “Taylor banjo” online) stands out as being an exceptional beginner model with superb craftsmanship. While its price may be higher than others models available today, its workmanship makes this an outstanding choice for beginners.
Your next investment should include a banjo strap and set of finger picks, available from most music stores or discount outlets like Walmart. When choosing finger picks that best match the size of your fingers – one may suffice, though many players prefer having more than one pick on hand for maximum fun!
Many beginning banjo players begin with five string instruments, however all styles can be played on four strings as well. A four string banjo is commonly associated with jazz/dixieland/Irish music but can also be used for bluegrass and clawhammer styles of playing.
Picking strings requires using your thumb and index fingers for plucking; some players use all three, though this technique should only be attempted by advanced players. Your ring and pinky fingers should remain resting atop the first string as you pick.
Once you have mastered picking and chords, it’s time to start learning some songs. One effective approach is slow jams: these sessions offer musicians at similar skill levels an opportunity to come together in harmony to play together more comfortably as well as practice timing and staying in rhythm with one another.
Bill provides the fundamentals of slow jams, from tuning your banjo and learning what basic G, C and D chords look like on guitar to learning basic fingerings for finger picking as well as proper positions for both right hands.
Tuning
Learning a new instrument can be daunting. There is equipment to purchase, terminology to learn and a set of new skills to master; many beginners become overwhelmed by this daunting task and don’t start their lessons right away.
One of the key steps in learning to tune a banjo is understanding its tuning. There are various approaches, but using a tuner is by far the easiest and can be found at most music stores or online. Some banjos come equipped with built-in tuners while others require external tuners like those found on guitars – both can provide accurate detection of string pitch and indication whether or not its pitch is flat or sharp.
Learn to tune a banjo by ear with practice and patience – as it may be hard to hear when one or more notes is slightly flat or sharp. Tuning by ear should start with the lowest string, which on a banjo is the 4th string (also known as low D), tuned to an external source tone such as piano keys or tuning fork. From here, adjust all other strings according to this reference note.
An important thing to keep in mind when tuning is avoiding “g sharp”. Your banjo should sound best if its notes harmonize. This is particularly crucial if playing alongside other musicians; most old time recordings use this tuning style, making any mismatch quite obvious if your banjo goes out of tune.
Tuning a banjo requires sitting comfortably, as improper posture can alter its sound and make playing more challenging. For optimal results, sit upright without slouching or reclining and place the instrument at an approximate 45 degree angle to your body (many players hold it in what’s known as an eleven or one o’clock position); always use a strap while sitting to support its weight.
Rolls
Beginners can quickly pick up banjo playing by mastering some simple chords and strumming patterns, but to truly harness its unique sound you must master its rolls – these finger motions allow the player to hit strings in rhythmic or metered patterns – providing bluegrass music’s “backbeat.” With various types of rolls in your repertoire you can play many songs while even creating solos on your instrument!
Begin your practice session by practicing rolls with a metronome. This will help develop the ability to keep a steady and consistent pace without losing track or faltering, as well as address any timing issues you might be having. Once you’ve learned some basic patterns, start exploring their sound using popular songs as a basis.
While practicing your rolls, make sure you pay special attention to your posture. Sitting improperly can alter the sound of your banjo, make it harder to pick, and increase your risk of injury. Also use a strap when sitting down as this will prevent its neck from sinking towards the floor requiring you to use your fretting hand as support for its support.
Listening to bluegrass music can also help. Although initially distracting, this will allow your mind to absorb what it’s hearing so you can focus on rhythm and metre, which are essential components of banjo playing.
Once you’ve mastered some basic rolls, experiment by changing their order. For instance, an easy open string roll that is often seen in bluegrass songs is the alternating thumb roll; but for something different try index-leading or middle-leading rolls; these hit both bass and melody strings simultaneously and allow you to perform songs that might otherwise require 5-string banjo but could prove challenging when played on 3-string banjo.
Fingerpicking
There are various styles of playing the banjo, and you should experiment to find out which best fits you. Your style may depend on your singing voice and musical tastes; for beginners it may be beneficial to practice fingerpicking for greater control and flexibility over sound output from your banjo.
An ideal banjo should have an easily navigable neck for beginners, produce clear, bright sound quality and be in excellent condition. When purchasing one of these instruments, buyers should inspect its neck for any sharp fret ends or dents which might compromise its sound, and check for tuners on its headstock; typically guitar-style tuners with protrusions from either side of its peg head are available, while planetary tuners rest directly atop its peg head.
Bill will guide you in using melody as the next step in developing your banjo playing skills. In this lesson, he’ll show how to pick out the melodies for classic folk song “Goodnight Irene.” It is an ideal way of starting your journey into melodic banjo playing!
If you want to learn bluegrass banjo, the two basic roll patterns that will help you establish its drive and rhythm are the alternating thumb roll and forward-reverse roll. Bill will show how these rolls can be applied with G, C, and D7 chords to allow for playing “Wagon Wheel”, an old campfire singalong favorite.
Clawhammer picking is one of the most prevalent styles used on old time Appalachian banjo, often without using a pick to pick notes with index and middle fingers instead. Bill will demonstrate how to begin this simple yet effective technique while offering exercises designed to strengthen left-hand dexterity.