INTERMEDIATE BANJO LESSONS / SCRUGGS / MELODIC / BACKUP BANJO / UP THE NECK / BLUES / CHROMATIC / SLOW BANJO

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Intermediate Banjo Lessons from Ross Nickerson
Over 100 Must Know Banjo Licks

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Each video has the many must-know examples of the Scruggs, Melodic, Backup Banjo, Up the Neck, Blues, Chromatic and Slow Banjo techniques demonstrated slow and fast on video. Each lesson also comes with it's own tablature booklet.
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sample videos
Must Know Banjo Licks
Lesson Descriptions below
Bundles 1, 2 and 3
Nine different important categories of banjo licks in all

Bundle 1

1. Beginnings, Endings and Turnarounds

What's more important than getting off to a good start, being able to turn a song around and repeat, or ending the song with confidence? These three pieces to the puzzle can tie it all together for you. The Beginning licks are low and up the neck intro examples that you could use to kick off a standard Bluegrass song. There are eight examples in G, five in C and and five in D. The Endings and Turnarounds have examples in G, C and D as well. These turnaround examples are used over and over in songs while playing backup or solos. If you have some down you are always ready to get in and out. All the examples are demonstrated on video slower and faster with pain staking edited tab!!

2. Must Know Scruggs Style Licks
for G, C and D

I've filmed a bunch of the classic must know Scruggs Style Licks for G, C and D, slow and fast. These licks or short segments of music are the key to becoming a good banjo player. The Scruggs Style just works, if you learn it correctly it gives you the foundation to build on. There are licks like the intro to Foggy Mountain Breakdown, the shave and a haircut ending and more advanced licks like the double hammer pull-off classic in Earl's Breakdown. Others include up the neck classics, C and D licks, the Ground Speed D Lick, 2 to 5 slides, pull-offs and other musk know material.

3. Melodic and Single String Style Banjo

Included on these two videos are building block licks in both styles. The videos also include a song in each style to practice and begin implementing or improving the techniques. On the first video you'll learn some Melodic Scales and runs, then learn the song, Turkey in the Straw demonstrated at three different speeds. Then learn some handy single string substitute licks you can use in Scruggs Style along with a challenging song, Blackberry Blossom played entirely in the single string style. Studying and learning these songs using these techniques is a great way to put what you've learned to practical use.

Bundle 2

4. Backup Banjo

In the videos I've included many of the classic Scruggs Style Backup Licks that you'll need to know to begin developing or polishing up your backup skills. There are Vamping licks, two Slow Song Backup examples, a Backup Verse and Chorus example, Fiddle Backup example and a Bass Runs in a song example demonstrated in close up video. Some of the material used for these videos is in my book The Banjo Encyclopedia so this is an opportunity to get a close-up video demonstration of these important techniques.

5. Up the Neck Banjo

The Up the Neck Videos will demonstrate many of the must know up the neck licks along with a song example played low and up the neck. In one of the video segments included I demonstrated a common low neck lick and then it's up the neck corresponding lick. This way for every lick or phrase you can play low on the neck , you will have an up the neck corresponding one, so you can move up and down and transpose quickly. The song example is She'll be Coming Around the Mountain played slow and fast low on the neck, then the slow and fast high on the neck. The two versions are as identical as the technique allows and will really give you a good lesson in learning to do this for yourself in the songs you know already.

6. Slow Banjo Styles

This video is a little shorter so it is not sold separately. However, it may be shorter but it teaches the key picking patterns and emphasis needed to get the slow backup sound for waltz's and other slower bluegrass tunes. This is definitely an example of a technique that is very hard to learn and teach from tab. If you play the notes without the emphasis in the correct place, it sounds as though it makes no sense. The video will give you the chance to see and hear it, so you can get the emphasis easily by ear, while getting the notes to play from the tab.

Bundle 3

7. Blues Banjo

In this lesson I use comparison licks much like I did in the Up the Neck lessons to demonstrate how to make a common lick bluesy. I play a common lick the way it is normally played in bluegrass banjo and then demonstrate a simple way to make it sound darker, bluesy and ass kicking. I also demonstrate on the video a more straight ahead version of Nine Pound Hammer and then demonstrate a bluesy version of the same song. This will help teach you how to do this for yourself, so you can embellish the songs and solos you already know and create some narly solos of your own.

8. More Blues Chromatic, Triplets, Hot Licks

Here are some more bluesy, fun and hot trick licks to spice up your songs and solos. The lesson videos include triplet licks which are always fun and easy to use. Also on the video are some longer fun lick examples and some hot licks to learn that always get a listeners attention. These low and up the neck examples were chosen carefully to be ones that not only teach the techniques but are easy to use and plug in to the songs you already know.

9. Bending the Strings

Bending the Strings is a powerful technique to use on the banjo. Basically a bend works the same way as a slide, pull-of or hammer-on works, picking one note and getting a second note with the fretting hand. However bending the strings has an effect that you can't achieve with slides, pulls and hammers. These bending tricks always catch the listener and add a whole new dimension to your playing, and they are flat out fun to play too.

Purchasing the Lessons

Lessons are sold in bundles of 3 lessons for $15 / All Three Bundles $30

Bundle 1

1. Beginnings, Endings and Turnarounds
2. Must Know Scruggs Style Licks
in G, C and D
3. Melodic and
Single String Style Banjo

15.00

Bundle 2

4. Backup Banjo
5. Up the Neck Banjo
6. Slow Banjo Styles

15.00

Bundle 3

7. Blues Banjo
8. Chromatic, Triplets, Hot Licks
9. Bending the Strings

15.00

All Three Bundles $30

The "Must Know Licks" are all now available for immediate download after you purchase with a download link that is given to you automatically after completing checkout!

Lessons are sold in bundles of 3 lessons for $15 / All Three Bundles $30

All lessons available for immediate download!

Flash Movies
The lessons all come with flash version videos that you can download, save to your computer
and keep for to use anytime. There is a free flash player donwload link included.
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Beginner Lesson Samples

Song Lesson Samples

Must Know Licks Samples

Fundamentals Lesson Samples

Beginner/ Intermediate
Samples

Windwos Media Version Samples
The lessons all come with Windows Media Verisons as well.
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Beginner Lesson Sample Song Lesson Sample Must Know Licks Sample
Fundamentals Lesson Sample Beginner/ Intermediate Sample

Buy all the Banjo Lessons available for one low price

Buy all the Banjo Video Online Lessons at a discount

All the Online Lessons are also available in hard copy CDR disc format.
Hard copies are only 5.00 more and include the DVD case

New Offer:
When you purchase the CD-Rom hard copy discs of the online lessons. We'll send you the online access versions as well by email!
This way you can still access these lessons online immediately!
Click for more details on the CD Rom lessons

Lessons Available

Online Lessons Available
All lessons available for immediate download!

Beginner Course Option 1 1. Learn to Pick the Right Way 2. Learn the Slide, Pull-off, Hammer-on and Cripple Creek 3. Left Hand Exercises Video Includes Banjo Basics Videos on: How to hold the banjo, put the picks on, attach a strap, tune the banjo, the parts of the banjo pointed out, how to change a string, tighten the head, set the bridge and more. 12.95 More details Sample videos	Beginner Course Option 2 1. Learn to Pick the Right Way 2. Learn the Slide, Pull-off, Hammer-on and Cripple Creek 3. Left Hand Exercises Video 4. Includes Three Songs demonstrated at 3 speeds in both split screen video and separate audio tracks. The Three songs are Cripple Creek Banjo in the Hollow John Henry Includes Banjo Basics Videos on: How to hold the banjo, put the picks on, attach a strap, tune the banjo, the parts of the banjo pointed out, how to change a string, tighten the head, set the bridge and more. 19.95 More details Sample videos	Beginner Course Option 3 Option 3 includes all the lessons in Option 1 and 2 plus these additional fundamentals lessons below and two more songs, for just 5.00 more. 5. How to use a Metronome and Timing Exercises 6. Playing a Song with a Basic Banjo Roll and Chords 5. How to use a Metronome and Timing Exercises 6. Playing a Song with a Basic Banjo Roll and Chords Five Songs demonstrated at 3 speeds in both split screen video and separate audio tracks. The Five songs are Cripple Creek Banjo In the Hollow John Henry Two Dollar Bill Blackberry Blossom Includes Banjo Basics Videos on: How to hold the banjo, put the picks on, attach a strap, tune the banjo, the parts of the banjo pointed out, how to change a string, tighten the head, set the bridge and more. 24.95 More details Sample videos
Must Know Banjo Licks Must Know Banjo Licks 1. Beginnings, Endings and Turnarounds 2. Must Know Scruggs Style Licks G, C and D 3. Melodic and Single String Style Banjo 4. Backup Banjo 5. Up the Neck Banjo 6. Slow Banjo Styles 7. Blues Banjo 8. Chromatic, Triplets, Hot Licks 9. Bending the Strings All Three Bundles $30 More info Sample videos Backup Band to Play Along and practice with Online Banjo Student Lesson 1. Boil That Cabbage Down 2. Banjo in the Hollow 3. Cumberland Gap 4. Wildwood Flower 5. Cripple Creek 6. John Henry 7. Red River Valley 8. Eight More Miles to Louisville 9. My Old Kentucky Home 10. Blackberry Blossom All ten songs 12.95 More details	24 Song lessons 24 Song lessons Including Dueling Banjos, Foggy Mountain Breakdown and The Beverly Hillbillies Theme. Samples 1.The Ballad of Jed Clampett 2. Rocky Top 3. Jesse James 4. Will The Circle Be Unbroken 5. Dueling Banjos 6. Roll in my Sweet Baby's Arms 7. Two Dollar Bill 8. Foggy Mountain Breakdown 9. Bill Cheatum 10. America The Beautiful 11. Wreck of the Old 97 12. Joy to the World 13. Banjo in the Hollow 14. My Old Kentucky Home 15. John Henry 16. Cripple Creek 17. Blackberry Blossom 18. I'll Fly Away 19. Old Joe Clark 20. Hark the Herald Angels Sing 21. Cumberland Gap 22. Crying Holy 23. Battle Hymn of the Republic 24. Turkey in the Straw And Bonus Song: Amazing Grace Purchase All 4 Bundles for for 39.95. Includes Bonus Song Amazing Grace 39.95 More details Sample videos	Important Fundamentals Lessons Important Fundamentals Lessons 1. How to use a Metronome and Timing Exercises 2. Playing a Song with a Basic Banjo Roll and Chords more details Sample videos Intermediate and more advanced Intermediate and more advanced 1.Backup Banjo for Beginners and New Intermediates 2. Up The Neck for Beginners and New Intermediates 3. Secrets to Building Speed in Your Right Hand 4. Adapting an Easy Melody to Bluegrass BanjoS 5. Learning the Chord Forms and Chord Shapes Up and Down the Neck. Major, Minor and Seventh Chords All Four intermediate lessons and The Learning the Chord Forms Video 24.95 More info Sample videos

Beginner Lessons Comprehensive banjo lessons for beginners just getting started. Get off to a correct start and learn proper technique.	Song Lessons 24 Banjo Songs with video, audio, tablature, All songs performed at slow medium and fast tempos		How To Practice Banjo Learn how to improve everything you play, progress faster and get the most from your practice time..	Rock Solid Banjo Timing / Backup Tips What could be more important than good timing when playing the 5-string banjo? Ross makes it easy to learn and put to work.
Playing Banjo in the Key of C, D, E, F & G Up the Neck Ross teaches easy techniques to quickly transpose the songs you already know in open G tuning to other keys.	Must Know Licks Learn the important building blocks of five string banjo technique and some hot banjo licks along the way too.		Next Step Intermediate Lessons Learn up the neck, how to play backup, how to adapti songs to the 5-string banjo and how to play the banjo faster.	Backup Band Play Along Songs If you'd like to be jamming with others and improve your jamming skills these backup tracks are a fun way to improve in a hurry and break away from tablature.