Showing results by author "Bill Brown" in All Categories

In this methodical and fun lesson, the student learns the most common rhythm patterns for the banjo and the tonal chords for the keys of C, G, D, A, E, and F. The student moves through several demonstration chord progressions adding to their knowledge and skill level as they progress. The course teaches, among other things, the one, four, and five chord; the six minor chord, the two chord, circle progressions, and the flattened seventh chord. A basic understanding of the banjo is recommended before attempting this lesson.

Because this arrangement is only a level one, you can start working on it as soon as you have the basics of playing the banjo down. In this lesson, you get a full demonstration of the song at two different speeds. Then, you get a detailed “by ear” lesson of the song in two- to four-measure sections using no music or tab. Once you have finished the lesson, there are backing tracks at two speeds for you to practice and perform with.

“Cumberland Gap” is a bluegrass standard and it is easy to learn “by ear” in this lesson. First, you will have a full demonstration of the arrangement with drums, bass, and guitar accompaniment. Then, after you are taught the lesson in small phases, you are given the backing tracks without the banjo on it for you to use for your own live performance!

In this Banjo by Ear lesson, you will learn a banjo solo version of “The Star Spangled Banner” completely “by ear”. The lesson starts with a full demonstration of the solo followed by a detailed “by ear” lesson of every note and phase.

This is a rather simple arrangement but gives you plenty of variations each time through the two sections. This makes it a great lesson for not only learning the song but in learning variations of a lot of standard banjo phasing including accompaniment. A full demonstration at two speeds is included as well as backing tracks at two speeds.

If you are just learning to play the banjo, then this standard is a good “next piece” for you. In this lesson you are given a full demonstration of the song at two different speeds followed by a detailed “by ear” lesson over every lick of the arrangement. At the end of the lesson there are backing tracks at two different speeds for you to practice and perform with.

In this lesson, the student learns not only the banjo accompaniment to this Mickey Spain/Makem Brothers hit but a specially created banjo solo by Bill Brown. The song is demonstrated in its entirety and then taught completely “by ear” using no music, tab, notation, or video. By learning the song in this “by ear” fashion the student will learn faster and will memorize as they go. Backing tracks are included to play along with.

This bluegrass favorite is easy to learn when it is taught “by ear”. In this lesson, you will have a full demonstration of the arrangement with drums, bass, and guitar accompaniment. Then, after you are taught the lesson in small phases, you are given the backing tracks without the banjo on it for you to use for your own live performance!

If you are just starting to play the banjo then this old hymn is a good piece to start working on. In this lesson you are given a full demonstration of the song at two different speeds followed by a detailed “by ear” lesson over every lick of the arrangement. At the end of the lesson there are backing tracks at two different speeds for you to practice and perform with.

This arrangement is loaded with not only a banjo solo of the song but sections where you play accompaniment. This gives you an opportunity to learn a useful rhythm pattern and a moveable chord shape to take you up and down the neck. It is a level two arrangement so it is suggested for second year banjo students. In this lesson, you are given a full demonstration of the song at two different speeds followed by a detailed “by ear” lesson over every lick of the arrangement. At the end of the lesson, there are backing tracks at two different speeds for you to practice and perform with.

This lesson starts with a full demonstration of the banjo arrangement with backing tracks. After that, you will learn the accompaniment and solo of this Christmas standard completely “by ear”. Backing tracks are included at the end of the lesson for your own live performance. This solo is rated at a late beginner level.

Now you can learn the Bill Monroe hit “Kentucky Mandolin” on the banjo without using music or tab! First, you will have a full demonstration of the arrangement with drums, bass, and guitar accompaniment. Then, after you are taught the lesson in small phases, you are given the backing tracks without the banjo on it for you to use for your own live performance!

This first-year piece is great for those who have mastered some of the basics of the banjo. This lesson starts with a full demonstration of the song at two different speeds followed by a step-by-step “by ear” lesson in two- to four-measure sections. Finally, you are given the back-up tracks at two different speeds for you to practice and perform with.

Learn to play “Old Joe Clark” without music or tab! In this lesson you will get a full demonstration of the song followed by a detailed measure-by-measure lesson of the song. Once the lesson is complete you get backing tracks to practice and perform with.

This intermediate level arrangement takes you to the 10th fret while giving you plenty of hammer-ons and slides to make a great sounding banjo solo. Also, it is in Drop C tuning! The lesson kicks off with a full demonstration of the song at two different speeds followed by a detailed “by ear” lesson over every lick of the arrangement. At the end of the lesson there are backing tracks at two different speeds for you to practice and perform with.

In this quarter hour lesson you will learn the basic techniques and terminology of banjo playing that will allow you to jump right in to the Banjo by Ear lessons. This all-audio tutorial covers things like strings, frets, tuning, hammer-ons, pull-offs, and more. Completing this lesson will make it easier for you move through the other Banjo by Ear lessons since you will have most of the foundational techniques already “under your belt.” This lesson is taught completely “by ear” using no tab, music, or video.

In this Banjo by Ear lesson, you will learn a banjo solo version of “Ashokan Farewell” from the PBS series The Civil War. The lesson starts with a full demonstration of the solo followed by a detailed “by ear” lesson of every note and phrase. A guitar accompaniment track is included for you to perform with.

“Redwing” is an old bluegrass standard and now you can learn to play it completely “by ear”. The song is demonstrated and then taught in two- to four-measure sections without music or tab. At the end of the lesson you are given backing tracks with no banjo on them for you to practice and perform with.

If you have just learned the basics of the banjo, then you should definitely start working on this Woody Guthrie classic! In this lesson you are given a full demonstration of the song at two different speeds followed by a detailed “by ear” lesson over every lick of the arrangement. At the end of the lesson there are backing tracks at two different speeds for you to practice and perform with.

While there is officially no banjo on any well-known version of “Red Rubber Ball”, the song actually lends itself quite nicely to a bluegrass groove. This lesson starts off with a full demonstration of the song with the banjo part and then proceeds with a “by ear” lesson of the entire banjo part. At the end of the lesson you are given backing tracks to practice with and perform what you have learned.