Banjo Lessons for Kansas City Bluegrass

Hello fellow banjo enthusiasts.

Learning how to play the banjo is one thing, but learning to play with others in a jam session is another.  Most students , especially beginners get intimidated when playing in front of other people at an open jam session.

Believe it or not, there are some general guidelines a person needs to follow when playing at a jam session.   Because they are guidelines, it means that not all players follow these  guidelines, BUT they should so that you can get the best sound from the participants.  When sitting in the circle :

1. Give everyone an equal chance to participate regardless of skill level.  We all started slow!

2. Use an orderly progression to take turns playing in the group. Either go clockwise or counterclockwise.

3. Play softly when others are singing or playing a break , this is important so everyone can hear and please don’t play a break on top of someone else.  It is more appropriate to use backup techniques.

4. Do not give instruction or correction to anyone unless they ask for it. If they do ask for help leave the group and find a secluded spot and allow the group to continue.  You are there to jam not, take a lesson!

5. If you play a significantly different style of music than Bluegrass, Gospel or Old Time Music or do not feel like you want to adhere to these guidelines try to find a room where you can pick with others of similar inclination.

6.  Please stop playing after each song to allow the next person some time to properly announce and begin the song they want to play.  This can be annoying to participants if they can’t hear what is going on.

7.  Have fun while you play. We are here to enjoy the music and each other’s company. Remember, be respectful of others and enjoy the music.

Hopes this helps.

Bill

How do I develop my own style of playing?  This is a question that any serious banjo player will have to ask themselves at some point in time when they get tired of playing “tablature”.   In other words, you are getting tired of playing the way “someone else” plays.  Your particular style is based on several factors including the design of your hands.    So what exactly is a style?  WOW.

This can be a tricky question depending on the artist/player.  In the most simple form, each banjo player has their own style.  However other factors include techniques and methods used to accomplish the unique sound.  For example, Earl Scruggs had his style (3 finger) and so does Ralph Stanley (3 finger), Bill Keith (melodic), Don Reno (single string) and the list goes on.  These styles are really the “approach” to playing the banjo, because some player use all three approaches in their “style”.

Some banjo players develop their style by inventing some notable “licks”, such a JD Crowe, that are incorporated into their style of playing.

So back to the question of “How do I develop my own style of playing?”  The short answer is learning to play the basics of the banjo and then get rid of your tablature and start improvising the notes based on chord progressions of the song and how feel about the tone of melody.  The long answer is a lot of hard work and determination that will result in a unique style that others will enjoy when they hear you play.  Good luck as you continue to improve and work out your own style.

Bill

Hello students.  New students need to learn how to play banjo rolls as it is the foundation of learning how to play the banjo.  It builds the necessary “muscle memory” in your right hand as well as stretching your left hand when you incorporate the traditional G, C , D movement on the fingerboard.

But I have to admit it can get very boring.  In other postings, I have already mentioned that perseverance will lead to success.  So the question remains, how do I resolve the monotony that accompanies playing just the rolls over and over and over again. Because the rolls are so important to play them accurately with a “metronome” boredom is part of the beginners challenge to overcome with time and patience.  However, I do have a few suggestions that may help you alleviate your boredom.

1.  Practice shorter intervals more frequently.

2.  Practice sitting down, practice standing up practice while walking around.

3.  Practice with your eyes closed.

4.  Practice with the tablature, then practice without the tablature regularly

5.  Practice your timing by counting the 1& 2& 3& 4&

6.  Practice by using your right foot on the 1 and 3 beat.

7.  It is OK to skip a day or two especially when you have been working very hard.  You may find you come back even better.

8.  Practice a combination of techniques:  rolls, vamping, study chord patterns.

9.  Learn how to pick out a scale on a single string, using these steps:  1,  1,  1/2 , 1, 1 ,1, 1/2 which means:  whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step).

10.  Above all don’t give up!

I hope these little tips will help your practice be more interesting and less boring.

Bill