The Latest on Banjo World

The banjo is a stringed musical instrument that's been adapted from several African instruments. Learn more about the banjo and various licks with expert tips in this free video series.

The banjo is a stringed musical instrument that's been adapted from several African instruments. Learn more about the banjo and chord positions with expert tips in this free video series.

This instructional banjo video takes a look at what the right hand does while playing the Rampi Rampi, a Turkish song in 9/8. The rhythm goes something like this: 2 (quick), 2 (quick), 2 (quick), 3 (slow). This is basically the bum-diddy pattern. Watch this tutorial video and learn how to play the rampi rampi rhythm with your right hand.

Learn how to play probably the most recognized melodic licks in bluegrass banjo with this tutorial. This lick is based on a Bb pentatonic scale. You can hear this lick in a lot of Ben Eldridge's playing though it may date back farther than the 1950's. Watch this how to video and you will be able to play this famous lick based on the Bb pentatonic scale.

Learn how to play melodic C licks on the banjo with this tutorial. This lesson is an introduction to the C melodic scale and improvisation on the C scale. This is a great lesson for beginner to intermediate banjo players. Watch this how to video and you will be improvising on the C melodic scale on the banjo.

Learn how to play a D scale on the banjo with this tutorial. This video also teaches you some licks based on the melodic D scale. Watch this how to video and you can play the D scale on the banjo.

Learn how you can play a melodic lick on the banjo with this tutorial. This banjo lick is a nice melodic idea with chromatic intervals added. Watch this how to video and you will be able to play a melodic lick on the banjo.

This two part tutorial teaches you a banjo pattern in the key of C major. This banjo lick is a slight variation on a basic scale. Watch this how to video and you will be able to improvise different patterns in the key of C major.

This two part how to video is an informal banjo lesson showing ideas for syncopation and other rhythmic techniques you can use to make a tune your own. The tune "Julianne Johnson" is used as an example of more advanced fingerpicking. This video is aimed at intermediate players who are comfortable with drop-thumbing and plucks. Watch this two part tutorial and you can jazz up your banjo playing with different fingerpicking techniques.

This banjo how to video teaches you some easy tricks to play with the classic D tune Mississippi Sawyer using minor and modal variations. This banjo lesson is based on the assumption that you already know the tune, Mississippi Sawyer. This lesson is for advanced banjo players. Watch this how to video and you can learn how play Mississippi Sawyer in minor and major keys.

Watch to learn how to play "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" on banjo, which features a right hand pattern that is used in many other banjo songs.

David Cavage shows you the basic building of scales and chords on the 5-string banjo, and he shows some exercises afterwards. This is a 7-part tutorial, lessons 74-80.

David Cavage breaks down "Cumberland Gap" on the 5-string banjo so you can you understand and play it easily, while he also lectures on the pentatonic scale and other necessities. This is a 10 part tutorial.

Geoff Hohwald shows you how to play "9 Pound Hammer" on the banjo in this video.

Learn this traditional bluegrass song on the banjo. Avram Siegel shows you how to play Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arm.

Learn how play using minor shapes on your banjo. Here we will discuss minor shapes for chords.

Learn how to play Old Joe Clark on the banjo. This tune is an old fiddle tune and a mainstay of the banjo.

To get a good "chop" on your banjo, you have to learn to vamp the strings, as opposed to just lifting them. Here you'll see how!

This tune is a great opportunity to practice your forward rolls - Fire-Ball Males.

This next tune has a very special melody - Down the Road. Learn how you can play it on the banjo.

Here you will learn a few variations on the great Cumberland Gab tune - add some fun to your banjo playing!

Master another great left hand technique for playing the banjo - the pull off. These are used a lot as tags (added to the end of the song).

Learn another left hand technique for the banjo - the hammer on, where you pluck the string and then hammer on it with your finger.

Learn this fun tune for the banjo - Cripple Creek. The lesson will begin with the second and easier part.

Get your banjo and learn how to play the Worried Man Blues!

Learn some basic chords for playing the banjo. The video will begin with open chords - the G and C chords.

Grab your banjo and get to know the different scales you can play with! He will begin with a short scale.

Learn how to play an Alan Munde version of Redwing for the banjo.

This lesson takes the mystery out of reading tablature. We also expand on the Forward\Reverse Roll and play it with three chords.

Learn two basic rolls and apply them to the song Red River Valley. Instructor talks about right and left hand positions. Taught by Dennis Bailey.

This video teaches you visually how do the Hammer/Pull technique on the banjo

This video teaches you visually how to play a quick melodic riff on the banjo

Watch banjo expert Geoff Hohwald teach you how to play faster by teaching you two basic chords and how to switch between them efficiently. While the video starts out slowly, it eventually grows in speed so that you too can become a banjo master.

For intermediate banjo players, this video will teach you how to play two fingered chords. While two fingered chords are more difficult than four fingered chords, learning this skill will bring great improvement to your banjo skills as shown by the sample song "Banks of the Ohio."

Learn the right hand position for banjo with instructor Geoff Hohwald. In this video, Mr. Hohwald explains the intricacies of the right hand position including the subtleties of the xy position which has importance in tone.

A must for anybody who wants to learn how to play banjo, this video will show you the proper right hand technique to play banjo via a variety of simple tricks. By learning how to play with proper technique, you will be able to accelerate your musical education.