Frailing Banjo Lesson One

[InvisibleCivilian]

Great video. Thanks a lot.

[chainsawe]

you wouldn't be a taoist by chance, would you? :)

[rtate]

sensei!!

[farloo100]

Man it feels good when you get that frail right for the first time!! thanks for the video's they're really great

[saltydoglegs]

enjoyed your teaching,thank you.

[EspionageCake]

Thank you The banjo sensei. :D

[snorkyramone]

Thank you!

[stupendousface]

how do i lower the action on my banjo sensai

[Selah4Jah]

This guy is legit.

[amutemusic]

THANK YOU not only for the great information and taking the time to post these videos but for also being such a positive and well spoken role model for banjo. Your video has helped me break through with my playing and I can't wait to watch the next ones!

-Cheers my friend & MUCH RESPECT TO YOU.

[mancheromanchero]

if you want a history of folk music, look up "harry smith" on google.

[gade202]

This is truly helpful, thank you for being my teacher! So excited to make something pretty come out of my banjo :)

[thestatuegotmehigh]

I love this 240p.

[anderjohmetallica]

What makes this guy such a great teacher is that he goes slow and methodical and is not afraid to sound like he's being too simplistic.

Excellent video!

[pelzwik3leg]

For the first youtube lesson Ive ever had, this was exactly what I needed. Positive, encouraging, simple, slow-paced. Dobro, you really know how to flow. I appreciate that you don't show off (making me feel inferior). Cheers and may the force be with you!

[countorlock100]

Amazing. A true Zen Master and humanitarian  ! Thankyou so much

[gezzaful]

nice one pat .

Come to melbourne

[collinaanilloc]

I love the 'pay it forward' philosophy of the free book... There's the same thing in teaching students islamic calligraphy. I took three months of lessons from a hattat and he refused payment. You just pay it forward!

[abbielise1]

Patrick, Can you give me link to whiskey in the jar chords. 48 years old and you inspired me to take up the banjo

[mojomuraki]

He totally did say hoagie shop. Love this guy.

[RoxiBee]

Thanks man ,your the best.

[iocomposer]

I've always wanted to learn to play the banjo. Thanks for helping make that happen! Great teacher :D

[dillpickle327]

what kind of banjo is he talking about around 4 or 5 minutes

[Lazairus]

this lesson is deadly stuff !! 

[honeymachine]

This lesson is amazing. Thanks for so much detail! Is it just me or does the sound and the video lose sync as it gets closer to the end? After 30 minutes it starts to get hard to follow the sound vs what I'm seeing.

[scott373]

You sir... are awesome.

[RadicalWhig]

I really like your teaching style. Thank you so much for these videos.

[lt20dbl]

I really like the way this person takes learning and playing from the ground up especially when it comes to buying an instrument as a beginner. I'm a fiddle player and can tell you that any instrument is a journey of discovery and the best advice he gave was not to spend lots of money on your first instrument. This is a really good instructional video. Thank you!

[coffeeblackneggwhite]

i love you man! : ) thank you for putting this up!

[DearWanderingSoul]

tehe mine was abandoned and covered in dust in my parent's junk room... like fate XD i had to play it..

[foofermoe]

did he say hogie shop?

[Dobro33H]

@foofermoe No. I said hoagie shop!

[tannerstan]

hey patric, just sent you a video response on this vid. ive been playing for 9 months now and ive learned basically everything so far from your videos on here. Thanks for putting these videos out for anyone to use. i love banjo and will never put it down!

[jdub616]

You are amazing, so awesome to see someone who is doing what they love! Thanks for the awesome instruction.

[maxepadz1]

You Are Awesome!



[bluegrassbound]

I just got a banjo today and I've wanted to learn frailing forever. I can't believe I already am on my way to understanding the frailing strum. Thanks so much for your video!

[boxcleverandwin]

I got a Banjo for my Christmas, and would like to thank you so Kindly for sharing you knowledge with those us who want learn.

[Musicman87100]

Love all your videos, Pat. Thanks so much. I have watched you for tips on guitar and six string banjo and about 2 weeks ago i bought a 5 string and your videos are just great for me to learn on that. Thanks again!

[ElJefeDelDiablo]

I just bought my first banjo yesterday. I've been a guitar player for years and I've always wanted to learn the banjo. Your videos have been a huge help in getting me started. Thank you!

[wildninja100]

I picked up a 1700 $ banjo today at the same place where i got my guitar.

[therandallizer]

"Oh no, what if I hit a wrong note? OH NO!" Laughed out loud here

Great videos, very very helpful for a beginner banjo player!

[1affagaffa1]

Hey I only have a tennor banjo is that OK p.sthanks for the lesson

[puma12s]

hiya, its a very good thing you do... dunno if i will ever be able to play & @ 46 might be too old to start... i am however inspired to try ..

[GR8FL2U]

Thank You. Very well done and informative. This video is priceless!!

[TheSwarthyAvenger]

I travel with my Banjo, my lap top and my copy of your book. thank you so much

[frogstomp91]

You're the man! Thanks for this video, really good stuff! Take care 

[kidnoz]

Such a great teacher.. Thank you for all your videos.. you have taken the fear out this instrument for me:)

[galimor87]

thany you for sharing this beautiful art with the rest of the world, you're just awsome and yes, instead of reading the online version of your book, I'm gonna buy it because you really deserve to be called MASTER. We all love you keep it up !

[andypanda758]

what is the difference between your style banjo and the kind with the added piece on the bottom.Thanks nelson

[plutoniccolonic]

Thank you so much.

[miguelitocampana]

What a gift you've made to all music/banjo learners. Thank-you so much.

[santiamos]

I am a beginner banjo player, and I noticed the part where you mention that the action on you banjo is so low that you can't put you little finger under the strings. It seems to me that on my banjo the strings are really high and it make it difficult for me to fret my banjo. How can I lower the strings without compromising the quality of the sound?

Thanks.

[polaroidmonkey]

@santiamos Maybe you already found the answer. I am by no means any expert but I think you can loosen that drum skin a bit to lower the bridge. When I bought mine the guy in the store told me that I might want to tighten mine to get my bridge up slightly in case any string buzzed due to too low action.

[LuckyKavanagh]

Love your attitude. I like the idea of making do with what you have. I borrowed a banjo last night and just worked through your first lesson.

[BretChilcott]

Your AWESOME man! Good job. Best banjo lessons anywhere! Keep up the good work!

[13molche]

I just got my banjo today, I feel like a kid in a candy store !!!!

[zoeyfendt]

Best advice ever, 'Toughen up!' lol!

[dralalust]

Great instructions! Thank you!

[kingbill733]

what are the advantages of using the middle finger over the index finger?

[irgifted]

@ 6:40 that was awesome

[iancosta]

Hey Patrick! youre the man!! I really appreciate your video and instruction...just picked up my Deering Goodtime today and I cant wait to start really playing!

Thanks!

[CubeableGame]

Help me! I want to start playing the banjo, but I can't choose between an open-back or a resonator banjo. I like the bluegrass and country stuff, but I LOVE blues (especially slide blues), so this what I'll play the most. Which type of banjo should I get?

[misfitz138]

patrick i love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[conifergreen]

Do you use finger picks?

[OriginalRitz]

Hey Patrick, I've been watching your videos for a while, even without a banjo! Finally I bought one (a cheap korean one from the 70s!) and am going back through your videos.

I was wondering if there is anyplace I can download these videos without them going out of sync. I downloaded it from the internet archive too and that one goes out of sync as well.

Any suggestions?

[CarlosMacMartin]

Can you please send me a link.I ended up at ezfolk and the page said it was removed.

[CarlosMacMartin]

Please post a correction regarding the "free copy" of your book.It'll save people the time of having to do a wild goose chase trying to track down the book.I found the link at ezfolk had been removed.

[Dobro33H]

@CarlosMacMartin It's in the Internet Archive

[Hrtzaak]

@CarlosMacMartin I don't know why it was hard for you, I googled it, and it was right there in the very first link. Took about 1.5 seconds to find, and about 10 seconds to download.

[allanmacuser]

@CarlosMacMartin well done l have been playing guitar and teaching for many years now l am retired l want to take up the banjo thanks for the information

[rhodesplayer]

@CarlosMacMartin Man I did one google search on the book title and the archive web site came up as the first listing. Why you givin' this guy shit when he is 100% the real deal and just helping all of us out.

[nightfrailer]

@CarlosMacMartin All banjoists should do the respectful thing and buy it. It is the best beginner book out there.

[saturatortom]

this man is REAL pedagogist! Hard to find one nowadays...

THX 4 VID.

[Wierdoinc]

FRAIL BLOG

[cecilape]

Patrick. frist let me you make my day. If iam down all I need to do is listen to you for a while. For that I thank you... I started about a month ago and pratice about 5 hours a week. my problem is that I can't seem to hit the second, third and forth strings with the back of my finger. If you can help or know a trick that I can use, would you please help.

Thanks

cecil

[MrMacdoog]

Hi Patrick...theres lots of bands with Bluegrass banjo in..but can you recommend some artists using frailing banjos....cant seem to find any!!??

[OriginalRitz]

@MrMacdoog

hey the new steve martin album "The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo" has some really nice frailing on it. have a look! i've been digging it a lot.

[ramigal3]

Is this the nicest guy ever or what???

[lovelyjubbaly]

@ramigal3 Yeap, he's one of life's good guys.

[michwng]

holy shit. 40 minutes.

[kleinster1]

What would be a good buying price for a Cort Banjo, sort of cherry color with a clear head?

[Zacontheguitar]

you are so in touch with what folk is. It gave me chills.

[fiske10]

Congrats on passing 300.000! Half a million next!

[fiske10]

Congrats on passing 300.000! Half a million next!

[cerpinandcygnus]

i ordered the book half way through watching this video on my lunch break.

[thumpik]

You are an amazing and relevant teacher. My congrats to you and thankyou. I've played for 25 yrs and finally thought it would be cool to learn clawhammer. You ROCK buddy!!

[thumpik]

You are an amazing and relevant teacher. My congrats to you and thankyou. I've played for 25 yrs and finally thought it would be cool to learn clawhammer. You ROCK buddy!!

[fivedollarsworth]

sick video bro

[fivedollarsworth]

my nieghbor just gave me his banjo!!..life is awsome

[brummeister1]

Is it okay if I use my index finger instead of middle..it's much easier for me...??

[stigandr5]

This video is a wonderful introduction to the "common sense" of clawhammer. Thanks a heap.

[cormackjames]

Your lessons are great, and your banter is fun, I found you on a website before youtube, you have a great way of teaching and I thank you for it.

[PetaPanPipes]

You are awesome. Thanks for the video. I just took off my arm rest (thanks for the tip!). I was always tightening it cause it would go loose again.

[StevesGirlxx]

I just inherited a banjo, and I wanna learn how to play it !! Thanks, Patrick.

[froganddog1]

Love you words of wisdom patrick! Also love your book, thanks so so much!!! SAm

[deerhuntr1984]

good video my self i pick 3 finger

[PuppaDeemus]

Many thanks, got my banjo from my lovely girlfriend two days ago, played guitar for years, nice to have a fresh challenge! This vid has been very helpful in ridding myself of my guitar fingers!

[broadwaysteve2]

Thank you sir,

I bought an old harmony bakelite banjo about 6 months ago and this is the place I started to learn. I am still playing, thanks for a good start dude.

[nitram2k9]

I know own a 5 string Banjo!! yeah! Lets do this!! Thanks Patrick!!

[peteydead]

this guy made me feel better about life in general.

[whakawhakapapa]

@peteydead well said peteydead, I feel the same mate

[whakawhakapapa]

@peteydead well said peteydead, I feel the same mate

[njoyjill]

i am finding someone who can teach me banjo!

[CANNIBALEX]

@njoyjill

i got my banjo 2 days ago, and im already rolling pretty fast. its not toooo difficult to play if you put the time in, and i've never had so much fun with any other instrument. i picked up an ozark with tuner, bag, pics etc for about £170 and its got a good sound. i'd definatly reccoment learning/teaching yourself

[katrinaburgoyne]

Awesome work Dobro33h

Great video. :)

Much love Kat

[buzzell93]

Thank you so much for for helping me!! I've played 6 string guitar for years but never banjo. I reciently got a banjo as a gift from a friend. I love it! Again, thank you !!!!!

[roussodog]

you're great, I bought a banjo yesterday and this has really inspired me to learn, thanks

[checconovi]

i like this man...and the lesson sounds really good...not the same shit of always.

i'm gonna buy the dvd

cheers

[Whatupitsmel]

Thank you for your lesson and words of wisdom

[AnotherWob]

Thank you, Patrick! I'm keepin' this right next (mentally, at least) to my ancient paper copy of Pete's "How to Play "

Thanks, especially, for the creative commons license - truly in the spirit of the peoples' music.

Rick

[AnotherWob]

Thank you, Patrick! I'm keepin' this right next (mentally, at least) to my ancient paper copy of Pete's "How to Play "

Thanks, especially, for the creative commons license - truly in the spirit of the peoples' music.

Rick

[bitcheznhos]

Is that a gibson master gourd?

[bluedanbob]

I think it's a White Ladye, you can tell from the tack pattern.

[pickinanddreamin]

Great approach and great love of the instrument. The sound is a little out of synch, it make the lesson a little confusing.

[Manu2Banjo]

Is that cool or what ?! Haven't learnt that much with the lesson one but I watched it with full attention. I got a banjo for a few months now, got your book and I just LOVE your approach to the banjo.

[calebanREAL]

you're an excellent teacher!

hope you have your new BAHA now!

best wishes.

[sherryazaz]

thank you very much for the lessons on clawhammer banjo. I have been doing the 3 finger picks and I am loving this clawhammering. I would like to know if there is any music written for the banjo with more modern music like Maddona, Hannah Montana, Alan Jackson, Megadeath, something newer than Cripple Creek anyway?

[BroncoGretsch]

Bbeen playing guitar for 30 years, and bought a banjo 3 weeks ago.1 less string to cope with, so how hard can it be :)? Well, it isn't really that hard if you were into fingerpicking before, but for me the hardest thing to do is keeping in mind that the 5th string is the highest note. When 'needing' a high note, I tend to pick the 1st string instead op the fifth. But it is a lot of fun, especialy when you get those rolls going :)

[CarlosMacMartin]

I'd like to see some more video's of the Old

Appalachian Style!

[geushky75]

bought your book with cd and dvds most probably thebest thing i have ever spent my money on. gonna be driving the girlfriend and neighbours nuts for a while but i'm loving it

garf

UK

[MrStringmaster]

@ everyone who plays the banjo:

I'm playing the guitar very well, is it hard to learn playing the banjo when im already playing the guitar?

[bluedanbob]

I wouldn't say so. The chord forms are simpler overall... the only thing you may need time with is developing a different picking hand technique due to dealing with the re entrant fifth string.

If you already have the concepts of rhythm down you should be able to dive right in.

[PeazyG420]

Thank you very much, to anyone who wants to learn how to play banjo this guy is a great teacher and this is a good place to start. I play guitar myself and have just recently picked up the banjo, one thing i liked about this video was the part where you talked about how you talk about how unique ones self is as a musician and how you can express your personality through your music, brilliant man.

[grishandlarn]

Thank you so much! I'm smiling like a kid in a candy store.

[dannyd1572]

That was great! I also have Epilepsy. Thanks for making my day brighter with just this lesson.

[blueshaldag]

oh man

you are very touching

thanks so much

i had to stop just too say that .

much Appreciation

chaim

from israel

:)

[clbcl]

chisaoboy

If you are serious about playing the banjo Gibson is always the best, if you can afford it. Not very many places still sell good banjos. So if you don't want to pay top dollar for a Gibson I suggest you make your own banjo. My dad did it and it sounds just as good if not better than the one he bought.

[chisaoboy]

I really like your style. I haven't even picked up a banjo yet, but thinking about it. I like the way you teach! Where do you suggest I buy one? Online? Not many stores around my way. Thanks!

[loubegue]

I'm so glad I found this video! I'm a new banjo player. Thanks you so much!

[1966kristine]

Thank you for your teaching

[wynobelly]

great stuff man

i just got a banjo yesterday

a gold tone cc-100

what do you play?

great videos

[LilMo96]

wow id like to meet this guy

[songblam]

Excellent. Thank you. You are an excellent and patient instructor--AND player....!

[crushhighh]

right on, brother!

folks for life!

[manufacturedcitizen]

good video...very informative

[jonnycarpo]

Wonderful video,explained very well.

I will follow this up

[NightingaleHMP]

You are an excellent teacher and your philosophy of music is spot on too! Brilliant videos thank you so much for sharing your music and your personal views about music too. You have helped me enormously!

[sp1midholm]

Very well explained, and nice wisdom towards the end of the video.

[patchbod]

sowhats the difference between frailing and clawhammer then?

[DirkTheDaring2]

Technically there is none. Some folk use the term clawhammer to refer to emphasis one melody over strumming, but honestly there's no difference.

[ifesip]

Nothing. It is the same thing.

[nationalo]

Totally agree with dawafish - Just Brilliant!!

[dawafish]

One of the most informative, educational, professional videos of learning a musical instrument that 'Ive seen. Awesome video

[ilovemutemath]

I really wish I started with frailing / clawhammer instead of picking.

picking is so much easier to learn.

[springcoulee]

i wanna get a banjo wat kind is the cheapest in price but a good brand

[GULRUDJ]

Ah-- frailing=flatpicking. I get it now.

[bluedanbob]

If by flatpicking you mean with a plectrum (pick), then no, that's a different technique.  In frailing you use your middle fingernail to strike the strings.

[dilon42]

hey

[ilovemutemath]

I KNOW RIGHT

[americandream112]

Im going to learn Banjo now after 5 years of guitar playing because of this guy. I really love his style and vision

[FloydBeaumont]

Yes, really makes you want to go out and get one of the things and wail away.

[toccata33]

Very thorough, very educated. Excellent video.

[bossh0ss]

Hi Patrick, this is great stuff you add personality to the teaching process! there is a small delay between pic and sound.i was confused as it looked like you were picking on upstroke. keep up the good work.

[jessewhite666]

its a pot haha i like your pot haha and it s a band yo haha very informative

[declan215]

was not has sorry.

[declan215]

ive been playing the guitar since i has 7 so i was thinking of getting a Banjo.

[triked14]

ight i've never played guitar or anything liek that, would it matter if i get the banjo before i learn guitar or do you think could just learn on the banjo?

[nubemuffin]

i learned to play banjo before i leanred any other instrumnet.... i currently play the banjo and am learning to play guitar

[mizuno291]

I may be getting ahead of myself, but I am having a lot of trouble when trying to hit a single string other than the 5th string on the 3 beat. I hope it gets easier because this is a lot of fun. Thanks again Pat and Patrick. You guys are doing for free what people would pay a lot of money for. Keep up the great work!!

[k0vert]

the best part of this was when he said "it shouldn't be work, it should be something you just enjoy doing to get away from the BS of life, and the music will happen." don't quote me on that, but my drum teacher told me the same thing, know the basics, and aside from that just PLAY. even when you think you're "sucking", just play. that's how music happens.

[Logan5312]

It's been about a year now since I first watched this video. Going back and watching it again makes me realize just how much fun I've been having playing the banjo. If this was the only video you ever posted that would have been enough, but to be consistently putting up new lessons is nothing short of amazing. Oh, and the S2 is awesome.

[bluedanbob]

Hear him, folks, Logan man speaks true. Six months before I accidentally found this video eight months ago I had given up on trying to learn to make music.

Patrick made me believe I could, and so I have. I can't believe he keeps apologizing for not putting up more videos; he's given away enough knowledge for two lifetimes as far as I'm concerned.

[maryblue61]

thanks dude i just bought my first banjo and first you comfort me in the idea of having a cheap one... and thanks for all the things you shows on this video

andrea

[z0mz0m]

I can't find a banjo under $150-200

[DirkTheDaring2]

He's talking about used banjos I think. I got my first banjo (not great, but it worked) on ebay for 85 bucks.

[xgodax]

Thank you!!!!! Your lessons are very helpful!!

[whizzzard]

Firstly, thanks for your kind efforts to bring us budding banjo players into a unique fold. I played the guitar for 0ver 40 years and find it impossible to strike the first note down. I naturally want to pluck it upwards. Is this a major no no?

[fastrnb]

Upstrokes are associated with the Seeger method.

[wibrle]

Thank you very much for sharing this. I've been trying to find a simple tutorial on how to play the banjo basics, and now I found it. Thank you thank you thank you. You've been a big help. 5 stars

[hdunjr]

how do you resist the flicking of the m.finger?

[DirkTheDaring2]

practice.

[nig966]

Fantastic, thanks

[tapedelay]

thanks for making this video