How to Play the Banjo: Foggy Mountain Breakdown FREE Lesson

[drapesmatchrug]

omg

[jspenco2]

This was brandine and mes wedding song. If it wernt for Earl Scruggs songs on the intraweb to make sweet love to we wouldn't have never made little cletus and starla. Thank yoo.

[Grayman1321]

You are good but you spend way too much time talking before the actual lesson.

[xps2500]

Dam what kind of trailer park is that ? lol

[dottenday]

Man...you suck.

[dmbfan1912]

Ben, love the clean sound, even when you play it that slow. When can I get some lessons?

[roybuck1973]

yes u r a great musician but being a banjo picker from the hills of eastern ky dude ur not a hillbilly so dont insult us and ur lessons are to far over the head of beginners and u dont break it down u shud take teachin lessons from rob bourassa

[dmbfan1912]

@roybuck1973 If a mullet wig wearing PROFESSIONAL banjo player insults you, you need thicker skin. Only a real hillbillly would actually go to college to be a banjo player. More-so, if you want it broken down further, buy the lesson from Ben. He is a good teacher and a good musician. IF he wasn't, why was he on Leno, SNL, Letterman, and played for Taylor Swift, Craig Morgan, Josh Gracin, and Rascal Flatts??? You should bow down now.

[chessfun]

Lunatic.......awsome playing tho

[JustURAverageGamr]

Man the iPhone really ruins the style of the video XD Keep on pickin man you're awesome

[MrEdmo27]

Five people are freek'in commies.....

[RareBird0]

great mullet wig. did you shoot it yourself?

[tapoutcampion111]

I play the the bass guitar but i love the banjo but i can find one that is left handed.

[MattPurkis]

you may just be the greatest man on the internet haha XD

[treyeverett23]

Advanced version please!! :)

[SouthEasternLoey]

Is that real shotgun??? i bet it is.

[crazyboys229]

How long have you been playin?

[floydpinkRadio]

Awesome



[vandaylen]

you're a real good teacher and a true philosopher of the banjo. I'm from Nova Scotia in Canada n we have a tradition of celtic music, so I play a 4-string tenor, but lately I've been having a lot of fun learning about American fiddle tunes and bluegrass. Good fun tryin 2 come up with a way to get things sounding 'in the ballpark' with the different tuning and plectrum and whatnot, but this really helps - lets me pick out the details in the Scruggs landscape. Real generous of you to do this free

[topholewhat0]

hey banjoben, as i'm very lazy, i was wondering if you had a 'matrix/neo' style instant banjo expert brain download available?

[HeavyMetalBluegrass]

Hey Banjo Ben. I've seen several of your flatpickin' vids but this is the first banjo one I've seen. You truly are a great teacher. Fun too. Thanks for sharing.

[26Goe26]

now I know what is Stu Hamm's inspiration from his famous slap solo.

[ickkdbbck]

WT.F xDD

[ThePalerider54]

I'm from West by God Virginia and take offense to your intro. but you play so well I am going to follow my Pap-Paps advice and find the good in all things. And you are a great teacher so after I master this song, I will post it on you tube and give you the credit for it.

[jeremystikka]

love it

[bkbj95]

This is also making fun of people in West Virginia (My homelands) and the South...

[richardcranium32]

Is that a Backwoods Cigar? haha

[MrSkippylen]

you have no idea how long ive been looking for the slowed down version of the up the neck break for this song ,you are my new hero ,nice clear and presice playing thank you for taking the time to do this,im on it straight away.

[nwilson59]

1:56 always makes me smile! thats probably the coolest thing ive ever heard!

[96xr400]

hahaha that feller must have married his cousin you crack me up man.

[paulg22]

Do you not use slides much in your banjo playing? I noticed that in places where I normally use slides you just fret up from your index to middle finger (terminology?). Do you find that easier, better sounding, or is that just the way you learned it? Just curious. I'm a beginning to intermediate player looking for tips and ideas. Thanks.

[bkbj95]

that was just plain stupid

[woodbutcherjohn]

@bkbj95 If you ignore the corny comedy, this is by far the best instructional video for banjo that I have ever seen! As a beginner, I learned a TON from this video!

[TheJamesTrain]

You are bloody great.

[swordfeather]

Ben:- Jim Penson sent me your way. Listen, after watching this video on FMB in it's entirety I think if the music business folds you have a great career as a mullet wearing, clod busting comedian - or yeah, in a trailer park! Like you rendition of what I call Earl's trademark - well done. One suggestion; put the wife back behind the camera and do more!

[corbin199414]

could you do i saw the light or uncloudy day on the banjo

[paparoxrdgenx]

how can u affrod to buy a 50000 dollar banjo i would buy so much better things with  that

[ArchDufferJones]

Thanks for the lesson Ben, I started playing Banjo like two or three months ago and I managed to play the whole Foggy Mountain Breakdown for the first time yesterday -- man, what a breakthrough. The internet will never cease to amaze me.

[ShickenChit74]

Your sick...in a good way....I play alot of guitar Ben....I just bought a banjo....it is tuff....you are an inspiration to me to get better. Keep posting these great vids Ben.

[synesthesia67]

holy crud!! ben has gone straight up hillbilly cuhrayzee...

[927Adam]

Earl would be sooooooo proud!!! You're awesome man. Thanks for the lesson. I'm just starting to learn how to play, my speed is increasing, but I hope to get it up to this speed.

[flintben]

watching this i kept thinking that foggy mountain breakdown is to banjo players like jerry's breakdown is to guitar players, pure awesomeness!!!

[evsynator]

I got to get that wig and overalls for when I go to the bluegrass festival here in cornwall in september !!!!! brilliant ben ...

[awootton0]

Hey Ben, do you have any recommendations on a replacement bridge?

[LTmattYT]

my aunt has hair like that dude in the trailer park

[seconway05]

Pretty sad in the 80's I had hair just like that :-). Thanks ben for all your up-loads, they always lift my spirt seeing you and your family playing songs. Thanks for the great tabs you have on your webpage (super stuff)! Hope you can keep loading new videos here. God Bless you and your family.

[Davedgooch]

great intro. I loved the trailer stuff in the back ground. you need your own reality show

[tttmcbride]

Is that a fifth string tuning peg on that banjo?!? Where's yer banjo, Ben?

[BanjoBen1]

Yeah, it is :) My sister had stolen my #1 banjo.

[Austin314ce]

What is the best way to learn songs on the banjo. I'm good at guitar and can figure songs out by ear but I cant for the Banjo

[BanjoBen1]

I learned to play banjo by using tabs. All of my tabs are available on my website store. There's a hyperlink in the info portion of this video :) Hope that helps!

[chris69666]

BanjoBen did you play on "Taylor Swift - Picture To Burn"? Nice one, also I don't care what they say, you don't look inbred at all.

[BanjoBen1]

HAHAHAHA!!! Good one! I actually didn't play on the record..they recorded the record before I got hired, but I played it 1,000 times on the road.

[MHKsteve]

awesome tone ben - how high is your action set at the 22nd fret on the banjo?

[BanjoBen1]

I have no idea, Steve :) I wish I did...I need to buy one of those ruler thingies.

[muckraker100]

what's on your camo hat?

[bigfatskinee]

Better than the old HeeHaw show! Love the trailer background.

[guitarhack42]

Your halarious - you could also be a comedian - your nuts in a good way!

[TheXwheeler]

Very good, nice to see your patience and the desire to teach others...

[FlatpickerWannabe26]

You never cease to amaze me! Maybe you have a future in comedy AH who am I kidding? LOL Still a great lesson. Keep'em coming!

[TBaker1964]

I can play the song perfectly as you play it slowly, do you have any tips for increasing speed, bringing the song up to recognizable speed?

[BanjoBen1]

@TBaker1964 You won't play it faster till you're forced to play it faster. The easiest way would be a metronome...also the most boring :) If you visit the website where the tabs are available, there's a digital version to the tab which allows you to speed up and slow down the playback of this song. You can force yourself to play it 5 BPM faster each day, and in a couple of weeks, you're rockin'! Good luck and thanks!

[bgr77]

I can't decide if I keep watching your videos for the lessons or the entertainment. I can't pick to save my life but I sure do laugh a lot. Either way, they are great.

[BanjoBen1]

@bgr77 Thanks!

[groverCotman]

Perfect Intro cousin Cleetis!!

[luckybuddyguy]

lol u r crazy thx

[pretourious]

Hey BanjoBen! Great job as usual. I believe I heard you say this is an rb-250? I'm curious if its a tube and plate flange or single piece flange? I've owned several 250's from 1970 up until the mid-80's and they were all tube and plate but they sure didn't sound as good as yours, I still have a 1956 archtop 250 among several others. Curious about the inlay also on yours as I've never seen that on a 250 before unless it's something new or a handmade neck? Great sounding axe no doubt!

[BanjoBen1]

Well, it's really an RB-3 Wreath. I was picking on a 250 earlier and had that on my mind! Good eye!

[JRandorff]

See what happens when you give a redneck a greenscreen?!? :) Great stuff, Ben!

[E6shadow]

Ben - you need to get back out on the road. Your starting to lose your mind, lol

Thanks, another great lesson!

[Northazimuth]

Ben, you did it again. You crack me up man. Keep it up Doc!

[jmb99000]

Ben, could you describe your banjo briefly-brand, strings you use and types of finger picks?  Thanks, Big Jim

[DHF6875]

LoL! You make learnin' fun, Ben! Thank you!

[owsleyforkmusic]

mighty fine five string u got here

[AcousticStrings1]

Your as cool as ice, you make my lads chuckle! Happy new year!

[WORRO01]

My kinda folk!

5*'s!

[bjay1520]

Shoot! I knew it was you all the time....LOL. Great pickin'. Wish I had a banjo. But the guitar lessons are nuttin to sneeze at.Always looking forward to a vid with you and the sisters. Keep up the great work. Happy New Year!

[BanjoBen1]

Thanks!

[rocarob]

lol

[BluegrassCamaroAdam]

Hey Ben I had got a couple guitar tabs a little while back an their great. I do have a question though if you have time. You mentioned left hand speed on the banjo, Other than just practicing are their any exercises Ext. you recommend Thanks

God Bless

[doact238]

well ill be damned its "bout time for a new vid yeehaa how you been man mighty fine pickin

[CDawson81]

"the intranet..." LOL... I knew you'd be up to something funny with that green screen

[murraru]

OH MY GOSH, I just wet my britches from laughter. To bad Hee Haw aint on the air any longer. Great lesson Banjer Ben!

[pennbrown]

LOVE IT! AWESOME!

[PFCBeetleBailey]

Oh my god, he's pickin' a Gibson!

[BanjoBen1]

Hey! I never, ever said I was anti-Gibson. I love Gibson's. I just happen to be REALLY in love with my other banjo ;)

[MIORIGAMI]

u're a dork! Lol! :-)

[vacants89]

Ben you are an absolute LEGEND, cheers!

[requiemsharkk]

i can't wait for the video to show up. I feel like a thirteen-year-old girl waiting for Twilight to come out.

[BanjoBen1]

I don't know what's up with it...it was playing just a second ago. Now it says there's an error. Well....SHOOT!

[BanjoBen1]

It's back!

[colemusicproductions]

hey thanks me and my dad and grandpapa play bluegrass we just got done playing a show

[BanjoBen1]

I filmed it all in HD, but it takes YouTube a while to process it...

[loveguitars]

Excellent 5 Stars

[ARCHERDAVE1]

Where's the ole' Tshirt-stuffer Banjo? Not lost on some airplane, I hope.

[BanjoBen1]

My sister is being selfish with it...

[gwellstx]

You da man, ben. You da man.

[BanjoBen1]

I guess this rules me out of ever, ever running for public office....

[equaltocody]

yeah. it's probably for the best. :)

[BneiYisrael1]

I wouldn't say that....I vaguely remember a hillbilly from Arkansas in the White House - and you have FAR more class than that joker! LOL!