Banjo Teacher Ross Nickerson of BanjoTeacher.com
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Hi,
I'm Ross Nickerson the founder of Banjo Teacher.com. I hope this website is now
and as it grows a great banjo resource for you! Here is some bio and personal
information about me if you would like to know more about my background.
Ross
Nickerson performing in Arizona, Texas, Florida, Kentucky, New Brunswick, Nova
Scotia, Wales, British Columbia, Alberta, Ireland, Scotland, England, Germany,and Australia this year.
Newest
workshops with Ross Nickerson concerts and workshops
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West Magazine named Blazing the West the top Bluegrass CD
of 2003 in their annual Best of the West issue. Country Music Television voted Blazing the West as one of the top ten albums of 2003 The International Bluegrass Music Association named Blazing the West one of the top 15 instrumental CDs of 2003. Tab for Blazing the West is available with the Blazing the West CD and Tablature book Click here for more info |
.....I was at the Midwest Banjo Camp - Lansing, MI, last June and watched you play banjo on Saturday evening. You play amazingly well. My daughter and I had never seen anyone play a banjo so cleanly and with such speed before. You are really a gifted artist. more concert and workshop reviews
![]() Pictures from Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival, Ireland, 2005! |
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Ross Nickerson, Tony Trishka at concert in Somerset, KY, 2008
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New compilation CD featuring Ross Nickerson. Others featured on the CD are Earl Scruggs, Sonny Osborne, Eddie Adcock, Jim Mills, Greg Cahill, Pete Wernick, Scott Vestal and more. CDs |
![]() Ross Nickerson signature model banjos from Bell Bird Banjos. They're called Nick Kick. This model is called The "Cracka" Nick Kick Videos Available to the public by order. |
The Resnick Ross Nickerson Signature Model Resonator Banjos at BanjoTeacher.com. Check out the videos |
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New Ross Nickerson CD Let's Kick Some Ass Straight ahead bluegrass banjo recorded with members of Blue Highway, Rob Ickes, Shawn Lane, Tim Stafford and Wayne Taylor. Just Released Hear a Sound Byte Sound bytes of all 14 songs here Let's Kick Some Ass |
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for Mel Bay Publications. It's 240 pages and a 99 track CD. There's a lot of value there. |
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Playing
by Ear and Learning the Chords Banjo Jamming and Play Along DVD with Bonus Learning the Chord Forms Video Brand New DVDs by Ross Nickerson |
Ross Nickersons Upcoming Schedule
Ross Nickerson "Twenty Questions" Interview / Bluegrass Seeds Magazine
Download Ross Nickerson's Online Press Kit in PDF
Book Ross Nickerson now
Quite a few people have inquired about the equipment I use. Here is a list of things I use and recommend Check out the sound bytes page to hear some of what Ross sounds like. |
Five-string banjo master Ross Nickerson performs in support of his CD Blazing the West on Pinecastle Records. Country Music Television named Blazing the West as one of the top ten CDs to pick up in 2003. Ross is a full time musician and on the road ten to fifteen days a month performing concerts, workshops and reaching new audiences. He has most recently toured the United States, Canada, England, Wales, Ireland, Netherlands, Germany, and Sweden with an upcoming trip to Australia. Ross is the author of The Banjo Encyclopedia, published by Mel Bay Publications which has already sold out its third printing. He has recorded with some of the top names in Bluegrass music and recently performed on stage with The Riders in the Sky and The Oak Ridge Boys. Ross has also picked and appeared with some of the best banjo players in the world including Earl Scruggs, Bela Fleck, Bill Keith, Tony Trischka, Alan Munde, Doug Dillard, Pete Seeger and Ralph Stanley. Ross has been a member of some very successful bands including two-time winners of the Telluride Band Contest, and selected for contracts at Disneyland in Japan and Opryland in Nashville. Ross is always hard at work performing, touring and offering 5-string banjo workshops. He has recently released five new banjo instruction DVDs, is writing new material for a CD and continues to offer more and more services for banjo players at his website, BanjoTeacher.com Ross Nickerson "Twenty Questions" Interview Bluegrass Seeds Magazine |
Ban-Joey (Joey Bonsall) dragged me up for a number. (twist my arm...) What a bundle of banjo energy Ban-Joey is! Video of Ross Nickerson sitting in with Del McCoury Band at Calgary Folk Festival click here |
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| Sitting
in with Riders in the Sky-3-2003. What a great bunch of guys and they're
the best at what they do. Cutting Blazing the West,
the CD they played with me on was a treat. No one plays Texas style rhythm like
Ranger Doug, Woody Paul is without a doubt the "King of the Cowboy Fiddlers",
and Too Slim is a comic genius and a solid bass man to boot. |
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![]() Ross N in Tucson, AZ - 2005 |
I performed at the Athy Bluegrass Festival 7-02 in Ireland. Clem O'Brien Guitar. (update, Clem just joined the band The Chieftans") Niall Toner Mandolin. Going to see those guys at the 3rd Annual Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival in Ireland. September 23rd-25th, they are on the bill too. |
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are my children. My daughter just graduated from the University of AZ, and is going to Law School. My son Jackson just joined the Air Force. (2005) update, he got assigned, he's going to be an Air Traffic Controller. update, he just graduated the first phase with a 98 average. I got great kids! :) if I do say so myself. I'm a proud Dad!My daughter Theo is in Law School at Suny-Buffalo. She's doing very well and is in the top 15% of her class. She's making a lot of friends too, having fun at law school??? My son Jackson finished as the top graduate in the Air Force Air Traffic Controllers School. His reward for being top grad was permission to pick the base he's stationed at. He chose Germany, Ramstein AFB. He's completed the Air Traffic controller school and is a full fledged controller now. He turned 23 on May 4th, 2008 and has received another promotion. Gee, time flies, my daughter just graduated law school. She is a lawyer. She has already been hired by the Attorney General Honors Program, Dept of Justice, Office of Immigration in Washington DC.
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Tucson, AZ-2003 (my home away from home). |
Playing rock was fun, Deering is quality! |
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| Banjo Cruise 2005. It took some courage to get this event started but it was a success! It can only get better from here. Check out the Banjo Cruise faculty and itinerary we have for this year. | The Banjo School In Catonsville, MD is where I give private lessons. Right next to the highway for easy access! Just like the Truck Stop! |
Update! 2006. I moved. This is my new home. I live in Tonawanda, NY. Near my daughter who is going to law school at Buffalo/Suny. An old friend traveled all the way
| Ross
Nickerson signs with Pinecastle Records. 2002 |

Update! 2006. I moved. This is my new home. I live in Tonawanda, NY. Near my daughter who is going to law school at Buffalo/Suny. An old friend traveled all the way up and painted the house. It looks a lot better. I have a view of the Niagara River from my office. Niagara Falls is close too. What an awesome area.
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My Daughter Theo and I went to Niagra Falls. Bones too! ![]() |
This is a picture of my house in Tucson, AZ. I spent most of the winter, working, teaching and playing here. Tucson is where my children grew up. |
Here is a picture at my folks guest cabin at Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. My folks and family roots are from New England and Nova Scotia. |
Ross Nickerson Performance Videos you can watch online On the Road Blog Adventures in Banjo Travel |
![]() Doug Dillard of Andy of Mayberry fame., What a great picker and a great guy too! |
![]() Banjo wizzard Bill Keith. I'm either really tired or really confused! |
Ross
Nickerson with Nancy Nitche of Banjo Newsletter |
With
banjo legend Butch Robbins of Bill Monroe fame. |
![]() Picking with Danny Barnes at Calgary Folk Festival. July 2005. Danny Barnes kicks ass. |
![]() Picking with Bill Keith, Butch Robbins, James McKinney, Larry McNeely, Doug Dillard and camp director Jack Hatfield. |
Interview with Ross Nickerson
by Phil Morley
BG. When did you start to get interested in the banjo?
RN. My best friend in High School played the guitar and he encouraged me to buy a used one. I really got interested after I went to the Union Grove Fiddlers' Convention in North Carolina.
BG. At what age did you start playing?
RN. I was 16 or 17 when I began playing.
BG. Who were your main influences?
RN. I was influenced and inspired early on by the Will The Circle Be Unbroken album which included Earl Scruggs and John MCuen. I thank all the great players and publications that have made tab available to learn from.
BG. What was your first banjo and what is now your current banjo?
RN. The first banjo I had was a Kay. I've had a variety of other banjos including Mastertones, and a Stelling. I now play a Goldstar. I call it the Masterclone. I also have a Deering Crossfire that Derring made custom for me.
BG. Did you play in bands as you were developing your style?
RN. I was in a band after only playing the banjo for nine months. Playing with others helped me progress more than anything. Also I practiced a lot in the first year.
BG. What style would you say mostly ( Scruggs, melodic, etc..?
RN. I play a mixture of Scruggs, melodic, and single string. I use whatever technique best fits the material I'm playing.
BG. What gauge strings do you use?
RN. I use 11,12,13,20,11.
BG. What height bridge do you use and type of action?
RN. 11/16 or 3/4.
BG. What gauge finger picks do you use?
RN. I use shelor picks with the cobalt coating from Bob Perry and a variety of thumbpicks. I cut down the blade and cut the lip that wraps around the thumb back so it won't catch in the strings.
BG. How many hours of practice do you do?
RN. When I first started, I practiced about four hours a day. Now I practice on an as need basis. For instance, if I have an upcoming gig or recording session I practice specifically for that.
BG. What advice would you give someone who is starting out?
RN. Practice a lot. The banjo masters credited with developing a style named after them such as Keith, Crowe Adcock, Fleck etc. are all quoted as practicing 8 or more hours a day.
BG. Do you listen to other forms of music other than bluegrass?
RN. I grew up on a normal diet of Rock and Roll. I got drawn into a love of bluegrass through my interest in the banjo. I've been able to use the many influences I have in different band situations I've been in.
BG. Do you play any other instruments?
RN. I play electric guitar and some Dobro but banjo is my main instrument.
BG. Do you read music notation or do you play from feel.
RN. I started with a little tab, by tape and sharing licks. Then I learned a lot from tab. Now I play mostly by ear.You can also check out some instruction articles that he wrote for the Ibluegrass web magazine or check out the story on the adventure of picking with Earl Scruggs.
Pinecastle Recording Artist-Ross Nickerson
Bullet Proof Productions
1-866-322-6567
Ross Nickersons Upcoming Schedule
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The Resnick Ross Nickerson Signature Model Resonator Banjos at BanjoTeacher.com. 






















Instructional BooksNumerous instructional Books/CDs/DVDs by Ross Nickerson, Banjo player extraordinaire
Instructional DVD's A variety of Banjo instruction DVD's for different skill levels by Ross Nickerson
Online Lessons Available as immediate downloads after purchase, no shipping charges, instant access
Banjo E-Books Banjo E-Books with CD Tracks that you download to your computer. No shipping costs and available for immediate download.
Instructional Banjo CD-Roms Included Includes high quality split screen video, recordings,, text tips, tablature in printable PDF and tabledit, audio files and all lessons demonstrated on video and audio at three speeds.
Downloads Banjo Video, Audio, Tablature, E-Books Lessons and Instruction all available for Download
Banjo Picks Sets of Picks / Thumb Picks / Nick Picks / Cobalt / Shark Tooth
Banjo StrapsCheck out the all leather banjo strap made exclusively for Banjoteacher.com
Banjo TunersA wide assortment of Tuners available at BanjoTeacher.com
Banjo MetronomesA wide variety of Metronomes available at BanjoTeacher.com
More Banjo Products Some of the other Banjo Products available at BanjoTeacher.com
What's available at the Members site*The members site now has over 90 free videos
Banjo Workshops
Intermediate, Beginning and Bluegrass Cruise
Check site for dates, destinations and more information.
A three-day teaching and jamming event in beautiful Nova Scotia Canada The event will begin Friday afternoon and conclude on Sunday afternoon with banjo workshop classes, jams, concerts and other activities.
Upcoming Performances by Ross Nickerson
See Ross NIckerson perform with his band or solo performances.
Beginner
Banjo Package Deals Everything you need to get started, picks, tuner, strap, Beginner Book with two CDs and DVD, strings and more.
Many Models and Styles of Banjos to choose from at BanjoTeacher.com
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Revisions, upgrades, corrections or changes related to instructional materials
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Some the Free Banjo Tablature titles at BanjoTeacher.com I'll Fly Away
Free Videos at BanjoTeacher.com Performance
Sound Bytes at BanjoTeacher.com Free Soundbytes and tracks from assorted Ross Nickerson CD's and Books. Live recordings and song samples from his books.
Free Lessons at BanjoTeacher.com Free monthly lessons with video and tab, and a free E-Book when you join the mailing list
Free Banjo Instructional articles at BanjoTeacher.com