Phil Nusbaum Basic Banjo Workshop

  This workshop clearly teaches bluegrass playing that form the foundation for good banjo playing.    

• Banjo tunings used in Bluegrass
• Effective left and right hand positioning on the banjo
• Using a capo
• Role of the Banjo in Bluegrass Music: different types of leads and backup
• Backing a vocalist
• Scales: major, minor, modal and blues scales used in bluegrass music
• Chords: We'll show how chord progressions are based on scales, and we'll teach chord theory and the "numbering" method of communicating chord progressions
• Chord positions
• Rhythms: There are two used in bluegrass, 3/4 and 2/4, and many ways to express them
• Remembering your music vs. improvising (you can do both!)
• the role of banjo tablature, written music, recordings, bandmates and your imagination
• What is a personal Style (study of stylists)

Phil demonstrates throughout, and distributes handouts. Participants play songs in more than one key and practice playing loudly and softly.

This workshop gives beginners knowledge and skills, and the confidence to play bluegrass banjo. Participants are encouraged to take notes.

I. Key reference points

• Tuning options for bluegrass banjo
• Melody
• What is a scale: (distribute major and minor scales in common keys in tablature and notes)
• Chords. The theory of chords, and convenient chord shapes. Representing a chord on paper
• Lyrics
• Bluegrass rhythms: 2/4 and ¾.

II. Demonstration of how the banjo works with melody, chords and lyrics, in soloing and with reference to singing and the playing of other instruments.

• Rolls, chord breaks.
• What is banjo tablature: (distribute simple tab of a common tune). Note values, rests
• memorizing song melodies (repetition playing)
• memorizing chord structures (repetition playing)
• memorizing breaks and other features.

III. How to use a capo and when, if ever should you ever use one?

Benefits of having open strings vs having the whole neck at one's disposal and of learning the neck "one way."

IV. Stylistic Schools

• Using a personal style all the time, vs matching the style to the repertoire.
• Melodies w/tones taken primarily from other chord tones (Scruggs style). Play recorded examples as well as demonstrate right and left hand techniques.
• Melodic styles (enables playing of complex melodies as well as breaks that play off the melodic implications of melodies.) play recorded examples as well as demonstrate right and left hand techniques.
• Melodies embellished by chord coloring: chord melodies, and using different chord extensions and altered chords. play recorded examples as well as demonstrate right and left hand techniques.
• The current wave
• But should you always play the melody? Philosophy of first and second breaks in songs, blue notes, syncopating the melody.

V Backup

• Chording: correct hand positions, use of closed positions,
• How bluegrass songs are layered: lead, primary backup, secondary backup.
• Rolling backup, punctuating spaces between phrases.
• VI Exercise for those willing
• Find a melody on the banjo (or use one distributed by Phil) and use some means to remember it.
• Find the chord structure (ask for help)
• Create an arrangement of the tune and play it.

VII Learning by doing: How to jam

• Selection of tunes.
• Setting a moderate tempo
• Tunes whose chord structure everyone can grasp.
• How loud should you be.
• Practicing what you know in a jam session vs. trying new approaches.