Playing up the Neck - F Shape Chords
There are many ways to play each chord on a banjo, so today I’m going to talk about the F shape chords. An F shape is a chord that uses the same finger positions as the basic F chord.
Let’s start by playing an F chord, now move this chord up the neck to the fifth fret. Strum this chord, but don’t play the fifth string - this is a G chord. Move this F shape chord it up to the seventh fret - this an A chord.
Press play to hear an E chord on the banjo.
Press play to hear an F chord on the banjo.
Popularity: 100% [?]
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
The Key of D for Banjo
One way of playing a song in the key of D on the banjo is to place your capo on the 2nd fret and play the same chords you would use for the key of C. Let’s call these chords “C” type chords.
The 1, 4 and 5 chords in the key of C are C, F and G, so the common “C” type chords are a D Shape (C) an F Shape (F) and a Barre (open G).
I’ll explain the key of D using “C” type chords - capo on the 2nd fret. If you form a C chord with the capo in place it is actually a D, the F chord is a G and open is an A chord. By the way the 1,4 and 5 chords in the key of D are D, G and A.
So play as if you are in the key of C, using the “C” type chord shapes, C,F and G and you will be playing D, G and A.
Using a capo for the key of D allows you to use licks you have learned for the key of C. I like this way of playing in D because it has a different sound and I can use banjo licks I already know.
Popularity: 3% [?]
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Playing the Banjo on Stage
Playing music in a live situation, whether it is in front of two people, or two thousand people can be stressful. Here are a few tips that might help you overcome some of that stress.
My first time on stage was absolutely frightening, I felt like all eyes were on me and people were saying to themselves - That would be a good band if it weren’t for the banjo player. For this post I am assuming you will be playing with a group of people, either in public or in a jam. Here are a few points that I keep in mind when I’m jamming with my friends and partners in crime, Dave and Brian.
- Banjo is not the only instrument in the world, all eyes are not on you.
- People who are listening are there to enjoy your music, not to judge it.
- When playing in front of other musicians, remember they are there to support you, not to analyze your playing technique.
- Mistakes will be made from time to time - shrug it off and keep going.
- Know what you are playing - reduce the chance of mistakes by being prepared.
- You will feel more comfortable each time you play live - play often.
- Relax, take a deep breath and enjoy being a part of the music.
- You don’t have to play all of the time - Lay back and play solid backup or don’t play at all - if it sounds good, go with it.
That last tip is courtesy of my good friend Dave, who always seems to know what to play and when to play it.
This post was inspired by a discussion I read and responded to on the banjo hangout forums - here is a link -
Disastrous first performance…any advice?
I hope this post makes it a little easier to share your music with other people.
Popularity: 2% [?]
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Who is Ralph Stanley?
I was checking out some banjo blogs tonight and I came across a shocking story on
Banjo3blog; What do you mean, Who is Ralph Stanley? Ralph Stanley is one of the greats, right up there with Earl Scruggs and J.D. Crowe.
I have been working on Ralph Stanley’s version of “Little Maggie”, which in my humble opinion, is one of his best and a great motivator to become a better banjo player.
If you would like to know more about Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, there is a pretty good overview at wikipedia, and of course the link above to Banjo3blog has a great article, pictures and more info about Dr. Stanley.
I’ve included a clip of “little Maggie” so you can hear Ralph play for yourself.
Listen to his powerful forward rolls and great backup, all this, while he belts out the vocals. His tone and accuracy are amazing and his subtle rhythm licks add another dimension to this song. If you learn to play this song well, you will pick up a lot of ideas and a few neat transistions from G to F and vice versa.
Well, I better get back to my original post, but before I go, I have to say; Long Live Ralph Stanley.
Popularity: 1% [?]
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Banjo Rolls - The Forward Backward Roll
The Forward Backward Roll is another commonly used banjo roll to add to our list. In this roll your thumb moves around a bit, going from the 3rd string to the 5th string and back to the 3rd string. Your index picks the the 2nd string and your middle finger picks the 1st string.
The picking pattern is as follows: Thumb -3rd, Index - 2nd, Middle - 1st, Thumb - 5th, Middle - 1st, Index - 2nd, Thumb - 3rd and Middle - 1st. Here is an exercise using the Forward Backward Roll on the open strings of a banjo.
Listen to the Forward Backward Banjo Roll here:
Remember to play slowly and count, keeping all of the notes even and clear. When you become proficient at this roll, start to play it with the chords C and D.
Popularity: 6% [?]
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!