Banjo - What Can You Accomplish in a Year?

This is my banjo student, Steve, who has been playing for about a year. He has no previous musical experience and is retired. Steve takes lessons 1-2 times a month and regularly attends a beginner's jam session another 1-2 times a month. I am posting this to inspire others who want to learn banjo to go ahead and JUST DO IT! Steve has memorized 15-20 song leads now, and can also play backup to just about any standard 3-chord song. He can use a capo as well. Although not all his leads are up to speed, his backup is. Great job, Steve! (Chris Talley Armstrong on guitar; The Bluegrass Shack - New Athens, IL)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• learn
• banjo
• beginning
• beginner
• Steve
• the
• bluegrass
• shack
• new
• athens
• illinois
• in
• hollow
• cripple
• creek
• blackberry
• blossom
• foggy
• mountain
• breakdown
• hot
• corn
• cold
• chris
• talley
• armstrong

[JacobsOompa]

I have to be honest and say HOT DAM......this is very encouraging...I am retired also...and have a beautiful 5 string Banjo....just purchase my first mandolin also.....will be learning heavily on both...I also have a country fiddle I will learn all 3 simultaneously....I do play upright piano, country style and honky tonk and also play the autoharp regularly.....can't wait to get started.....ANYONE CAN DO THIS, you just need to WANT IT and then OWN IT....

Good Luck to all..Thks Ken Orlando, FL

[blueiis2]

@JacobsOompa You are SOOO RIGHT! Thank you!

[chuckcoal]

what is the name of the first piece please ?

[blueiis2]

@chuckcoal Banjo in the Hollow

[yopasjim]

If you posted this to be an encouragement, then you are successful. Please let Steve know that he IS an inspiration to me. My banjo has been in the "shop" since I purchased in the end of May. I should be getting it back today! Yee ha! I am pretty excited! Thanks again! I love your videos! Sometime in the future I am going to walk into one of your Illinois Jam sessions and announce that I am one of your "Internet Students." Wouldn't that be cool?

[blueiis2]

@yopasjim Yes! That would be awesome if you came! I am glad that Steve is an inspiration to you. That means I accomplished what I wanted to accomplish! And always remember, YOU can be an inspiration, too. Many times, we don't know the impact we have on others. What you think is average, someone else really looks up to... No matter what your level, you can inspire someone else!

[LivinInExile14]

@LivinInExile14 Funny, I just realized that this video was posted by @blueiis2, so @theksituation just look at her other videos I am sure you will find them helpful.

[LivinInExile14]

@theksituation The song is called "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" there is a YT video posted by Chris Tally Armstrong (YT Handle: blueiis2) that is very helpful when trying to pick this one up. I have only been playing for about 9 months and with about two weeks of practice and watching her video countless times I had this song down.

[stratcat70]

fricken awesome beautifull jammin!!

[sisseeboy]

good job on the breakdown man.

[theksituation]

whats the name of the second song? and what youtube videos would you recommend to help with learning to strum and pick the strings the right way for beginners :) thanks!

[wprevette220]

wonder if i can play the banjo sinse i can play bluegrass on the guitar

[chuckcoal]

@blueiis2 many thanks for the title. i have tried this tune and would like to improve my playing of it. is it on dvd no.1 "for beginners" ?

can i buy your dvd in England ? thanks again,

Keith

[chuckcoal]

@blueiis2 , thanks a lot, i've been practicing it and it seems to be a good exercise in getting the fingers on the left hand into position up and down the neck whilst playing the "open" backward part of the roll.

Great teacher, nice clear instruction. you are a great help to all of us starting out !

I,ve just retired and promised myself that i would get myself a 5 string banjo and learn to play.

i'm enjoying every minute of it , and it does seem to get easier the more often you practice!