Nice, I appreciate the time taken to put something like this together and all in the name of helping someone learn how to do something that is truly great,... and for free as opposed to charging for videos/lessons. If I ever become advanced enough to help someone learn this would definitely be the way I pass it along......thanks for the lesson!
People like John Smith need to lighten up. I'm a Scruggs/Kieth picker myself. I enjoyed this very much. It is simple and down to the basics. What's wrong with that? Some people just get so arrogant that they look down on us.
Incredibly helpful video. I found the hardest part of learning finger picking banjo is combining the rhythm and the melody effectively and this two finger style with this great but simple song is perfect to help learn. Thanks a lot man
I really appreciate your in depth response. Makes perfect sense. I'm doing your roll at 6:10. Pause between the first & second notes the same way. I copped this off YT frailers because I like that rhythm but also like to use picks. Looks like the middle finger between my IT is the missing piece. I just need to slip that in and get comfortable with it to open things up. Many thanks again and tell me if I'm wrong.
I would say you can start learning this style any time. When I was first learning I was working on this and clawhammer at the same time. I think, especially if you have played guitar, that this style is the easiest to get started with on the banjo. As far as learning more, one good place to start is Banjo Hangout (Google it, I can't post a link) -- there are lots of folks with good tips on there plus links to other resources, etc. Good luck!
Absolutely delightful...Thanks for the help...I'll play it again and again until my wife yells...hehehe...I must heat up the garage. I'll look for more of your beginner videos.
Thanks for the great tutorial I've watched it a number of times. I find the two finger thumb lead style of picking you have demonstrated here has a logic that most three finger bluegrass style rolls don't. The logic is in using the thumb to count the 1,2,3,4, of the beat. I'm in Australia and a recent convert to the banjo and "old time" music which is experiencing a ground swell of interest here. Glenn.
From what you're describing it sounds like you're playing the basic roll I teach here, just leaving out the first index note, so instead of thumb (melody note), index, thumb (5th string drone), index you're playing thumb (melody note), thumb (5th string drone), index. If so, no you're not in outer space, particularly if you put a little pause in where the first index would be. It's almost like the rhythm of frailing, but with thumb and "brush" reversed in sequence.
@mrmudhead It's Gaither Carlton -- and to my knowledge he didn't record it, although I'd be very surprised if he didn't play it either on banjo or fiddle. The recording I learned the tune from is "The Watson Family," which has Carlton on it, but it's just Doc on the banjo on this particular tune.
Listen to Burnett and Rutherford's "Willie Moore" and that's what Burnett is doing all the way through the tune. It's a lick I've been meaning to teach a lesson on because it's one of the ways you change the roll up to play the melody notes on the first string. Hope that helps! Chris
How far into learning clawhammer should someone be before they try to start learning this style, too? Also, where can I find more about learning this two-finger style? Great job, and thanks for sharing! I really love this sound.
Hello Chris. I wondered if you took the time to work out the Lunsford style. In this film, ruclips.net/video/FS_BeQMWUEA/видео.html for example, Lunsord tuned his banjo up one step , to play A, just like the guitar. In the song "I wish was a mole in the ground" banjo is tuned in gCGCD, but the song is played in Eb. Do You think Step Stone could have been tuned in bbEbBbDF (gCGBD, one and a half tons up). I thougt it's played in G, one and a half tones up, but you can hear it sounds like gCGBD and I will be grateful for all your information as usual.
Sorry I just saw this message! Lunsford plays two finger but index-lead instead of thumb, so the index picks up on the melody note, then brushes up, then the thumb picks the 5th string. He did tune up quite a bit on those old recordings; I'm not 100% on Stepstone and don't have a banjo with me right now, but it's possible he's playing out of gCGBD tuning but in G position. The lowest note I hear in the tune is in the breaks, and it's the root of the IV chord, which would make sense with that arrangement. I'm not hearing a low tonic note when he's on the I chord. Give that a try and I'll try to check myself.
Hi Chris, Thanks for the video. I've been working on this one. I tried to tab out the melody just i can memorize it better. i noticed when you play it with the roll starting at 4:41 the first time thru before the slide from 2nd fret to 4th at the end it sounds like you play an open 3rd string and then an open 4th then slide 2nd fret to 4th. The second time thru it sounds like you play the 3rd string twice then slide instead of 3rd string then 4th then slide. Did i hear that right and does it matter which you do?
I've recently started to abandon the melody on the first string in favor of the second string played higher up the neck. When I get comfortable on playing the second string high up the neck I'll start practicing using the first string for melody again.
Hi Chris. I'm trying to figure out what style (if any) I play. Been playing/learning for 2 years. I use an ITM favored roll (which is actually two finger double thumb- TTM). The drone always follows the tonic note from one of the lower four with this roll. I've got the speed & syncopated rhythm. It sounds good. But the roll is backasswards from anything I'm finding on YT. I've watched some who use it for an accent roll but no one treats it as a main. Am I in outer space here?
Thanks Chris. I've been trying to figure out this tune from Art Rosenbaum's "Old-Time Mountain Banjo" which has a tab only. It's a good book, but I'm a poor student. I needed to see & hear your lesson to get it right.
This is really helpful. Thanks! But how would you deal with a melody note on the first string? When I play both the first T and I in the TITI roll on the first string, it just doesn't sound right.
Glad to see you on ytube again Banjo Chris. Hope to see more of your excellent interpretations of some of my favorite old songs. You are a great musician. Did Doc Watson's father law Gauthier(sp?) Carleton record this as well?
Hi Chris, great video thanks for the lesson. Finally feel like I'm accomplishing something after trying to learn several tunes. I have a question about the roll part of the song. Are you including the thumb note in the roll or after the plucked note play the 1-3-5 roll? I've tried studying the video but can't be sure what I'm supposed to do.
Gary Turner The initial thumb note, the melody note, is either followed by the pinch or the rest of the roll - index, thumb, index. So the thumb melody note is the first note of the roll.
Chris Berry thank you very much. I understand now. I was trying to play the roll as you had introduced it, it never sounded right. Many thanks for your videos they're a great help. I've been playing blues guitar for years and my Anthology of American Music has always wanted me to play banjo, now I've found your videos it'll give me the confidence I need to begin. Is it relatively easy to figure out these old tunes using the 2 finger method, figuring out the melody roughly using the thumb ?
thanks banjo chris. I actually own that Watson family cd I'll have to dig it out and put it on my ipod, Doc does a great version of Blind Boy Fuller's Hey Mamma (she's so sweet) if I'm not mistaken.. thanks again
Joanne Baum Yes, in fact I’m teaching a two-finger banjo workshop at the Los Angeles Old Time Social on Saturday May 18. If you google or look on Facebook you’ll find it. Might be doing something in Sept. in the Bay Area.
If you want to play old-time banjo, this is a good style to start with. It's easier to pick up than clawhammer. But I didn't concentrate on one style when I was first learning, I would do several that interested me. The left hand is pretty much the same for all of them, at least to start with. If you like this and clawhammer, spend some time on both.
Nashvolk It's a 1926 Vegaphone with a five-string neck that was probably made in the '60s or '70s. I've only ever seen those flanges on banjos that were originally tenors. I've had it since 1991 or so and the guy I bought it from always had it as a five-string.
@@banjochris the picks that came with the banjo just keep falling of and i prefer to play without picks, my wife bought me the banjo ofr xmas, I am 71 years old you are never to old, i got my pilots license 6 years ago and bought my own microight flexwing, flown over snowdon north wales many a times, just been watching your groundhog video, what chords do yo play on itruclips.net/video/av80RDzPbO0/видео.html me and the wife coming into land at caernarfon airport
Good luck, great that you’re getting into it! I’m not playing any full chords in my left hand except occasionally I’ll hold down the D7, second fret of third string and first fret of second string, when I play the melody note on the third string. If I were accompanying on guitar I’d just use G and D7, with maybe a quick C but that wouldn’t be necessary. Mostly picks are for bluegrass and aren’t used too much in old-time but there are exceptions. It’s best for old-time to start without them I think. Both thumb and finger picks have to be pretty tight to stay on; they’re not very comfortable at first.
@@banjochris i live in sought wales now as my wife passed away 7 years ago so i sold up and got married again and live in caerphilly south wales now, lovely place southe wales I have lived in berlin falligbostel for 11 years london a few times and windsor castle as i was i the coldstream guards for 22 years, stay safe
Whoa! You look at You Tube videos all day knowing that sooner or later you'll find the folks who GET IT. Is John Miller your daddy? Not many guys sound like they've really assimilated the tradition and have become part of...you do. Show me your Gus Cannon, man...
Nice, I appreciate the time taken to put something like this together and all in the name of helping someone learn how to do something that is truly great,... and for free as opposed to charging for videos/lessons. If I ever become advanced enough to help someone learn this would definitely be the way I pass it along......thanks for the lesson!
People like John Smith need to lighten up. I'm a Scruggs/Kieth picker myself. I enjoyed this very much. It is simple and down to the basics. What's wrong with that? Some people just get so arrogant that they look down on us.
Incredibly helpful video. I found the hardest part of learning finger picking banjo is combining the rhythm and the melody effectively and this two finger style with this great but simple song is perfect to help learn. Thanks a lot man
Nice one Chris. I got it after a few visits to your lesson. Thanks for the music.
Mr. Berry, thanks for the very helpful video. You mad it very clear. I really tike this style.
I really appreciate your in depth response. Makes perfect sense. I'm doing your roll at 6:10. Pause between the first & second notes the same way. I copped this off YT frailers because I like that rhythm but also like to use picks. Looks like the middle finger between my IT is the missing piece. I just need to slip that in and get comfortable with it to open things up. Many thanks again and tell me if I'm wrong.
Thanks Chris.
I would say you can start learning this style any time. When I was first learning I was working on this and clawhammer at the same time. I think, especially if you have played guitar, that this style is the easiest to get started with on the banjo. As far as learning more, one good place to start is Banjo Hangout (Google it, I can't post a link) -- there are lots of folks with good tips on there plus links to other resources, etc. Good luck!
Absolutely delightful...Thanks for the help...I'll play it again and again until my wife yells...hehehe...I must heat up the garage. I'll look for more of your beginner videos.
You are a wonderful internet instructor. Thank you for posting this video! I'm off to check your others.
Thanks for the great tutorial I've watched it a number of times. I find the two finger thumb lead style of picking you have demonstrated here has a logic that most three finger bluegrass style rolls don't. The logic is in using the thumb to count the 1,2,3,4, of the beat. I'm in Australia and a recent convert to the banjo and "old time" music which is experiencing a ground swell of interest here. Glenn.
From what you're describing it sounds like you're playing the basic roll I teach here, just leaving out the first index note, so instead of thumb (melody note), index, thumb (5th string drone), index you're playing thumb (melody note), thumb (5th string drone), index. If so, no you're not in outer space, particularly if you put a little pause in where the first index would be. It's almost like the rhythm of frailing, but with thumb and "brush" reversed in sequence.
I am just learning banjo 2 finger style please do more videos i am learning so much from u
very nice presentation, very clear and simple, bless you
@mrmudhead It's Gaither Carlton -- and to my knowledge he didn't record it, although I'd be very surprised if he didn't play it either on banjo or fiddle. The recording I learned the tune from is "The Watson Family," which has Carlton on it, but it's just Doc on the banjo on this particular tune.
Thank you this really helped me with the melody. I added three finger roll, scruggs ending, amd harmonic.. I just need it to create my own version.
Great lesson and Groundhog performance at the end. Maybe you can sing the whole song someday?
Listen to Burnett and Rutherford's "Willie Moore" and that's what Burnett is doing all the way through the tune. It's a lick I've been meaning to teach a lesson on because it's one of the ways you change the roll up to play the melody notes on the first string. Hope that helps!
Chris
How far into learning clawhammer should someone be before they try to start learning this style, too? Also, where can I find more about learning this two-finger style?
Great job, and thanks for sharing! I really love this sound.
song demonstration is at 7:03
Hello Chris. I wondered if you took the time to work out the Lunsford style. In this film, ruclips.net/video/FS_BeQMWUEA/видео.html for example, Lunsord tuned his banjo up one step , to play A, just like the guitar. In the song "I wish was a mole in the ground" banjo is tuned in gCGCD, but the song is played in Eb. Do You think Step Stone could have been tuned in bbEbBbDF (gCGBD, one and a half tons up). I thougt it's played in G, one and a half tones up, but you can hear it sounds like gCGBD and I will be grateful for all your information as usual.
Sorry I just saw this message! Lunsford plays two finger but index-lead instead of thumb, so the index picks up on the melody note, then brushes up, then the thumb picks the 5th string. He did tune up quite a bit on those old recordings; I'm not 100% on Stepstone and don't have a banjo with me right now, but it's possible he's playing out of gCGBD tuning but in G position. The lowest note I hear in the tune is in the breaks, and it's the root of the IV chord, which would make sense with that arrangement. I'm not hearing a low tonic note when he's on the I chord. Give that a try and I'll try to check myself.
Very nice job, Chris.
Great video.. very helpful, thanks!
That would be the next lesson! You either have to change the roll and timing or switch to index lead or both. One of these days I'll do a part 2.
aw shoot, I've had the rhythm wrong all this time. Great lessons, you're doing a real service here.
You still pickin breh?
Hi Chris, Thanks for the video. I've been working on this one. I tried to tab out the melody just i can memorize it better. i noticed when you play it with the roll starting at 4:41 the first time thru before the slide from 2nd fret to 4th at the end it sounds like you play an open 3rd string and then an open 4th then slide 2nd fret to 4th. The second time thru it sounds like you play the 3rd string twice then slide instead of 3rd string then 4th then slide. Did i hear that right and does it matter which you do?
The first time through is the "right" way - the second time I missed the third string and hit the open fourth string when I didn't mean to.
@@banjochris awesome. Thanks for the fast response. Appreciate it.
how do you put the lick and the rol together when I do it, I seem to do one rythem and do another rythem with the other
You just have to keep practicing it. The two licks take the exact same amount of time.
I've recently started to abandon the melody on the first string in favor of the second string played higher up the neck. When I get comfortable on playing the second string high up the neck I'll start practicing using the first string for melody again.
Hi Chris. I'm trying to figure out what style (if any) I play. Been playing/learning for 2 years. I use an ITM favored roll (which is actually two finger double thumb- TTM). The drone always follows the tonic note from one of the lower four with this roll. I've got the speed & syncopated rhythm. It sounds good. But the roll is backasswards from anything I'm finding on YT. I've watched some who use it for an accent roll but no one treats it as a main. Am I in outer space here?
any chance of a tab for this pleae
Thanks Chris. I've been trying to figure out this tune from Art Rosenbaum's "Old-Time Mountain Banjo" which has a tab only. It's a good book, but I'm a poor student. I needed to see & hear your lesson to get it right.
are they steel strings or nylon strings
This is really helpful. Thanks! But how would you deal with a melody note on the first string? When I play both the first T and I in the TITI roll on the first string, it just doesn't sound right.
Glad to see you on ytube again Banjo Chris. Hope to see more of your excellent interpretations of some of my favorite old songs. You are a great musician. Did Doc Watson's father law Gauthier(sp?) Carleton record this as well?
Very informative.
Hi Chris, great video thanks for the lesson. Finally feel like I'm accomplishing something after trying to learn several tunes.
I have a question about the roll part of the song. Are you including the thumb note in the roll or after the plucked note play the 1-3-5 roll?
I've tried studying the video but can't be sure what I'm supposed to do.
Gary Turner The initial thumb note, the melody note, is either followed by the pinch or the rest of the roll - index, thumb, index. So the thumb melody note is the first note of the roll.
Chris Berry thank you very much. I understand now. I was trying to play the roll as you had introduced it, it never sounded right.
Many thanks for your videos they're a great help.
I've been playing blues guitar for years and my Anthology of American Music has always wanted me to play banjo, now I've found your videos it'll give me the confidence I need to begin. Is it relatively easy to figure out these old tunes using the 2 finger method, figuring out the melody roughly using the thumb ?
Gary Turner That depends on the tune! But it is a great style.
thanks banjo chris. I actually own that Watson family cd I'll have to dig it out and put it on my ipod, Doc does a great version of Blind Boy Fuller's Hey Mamma (she's so sweet) if I'm not mistaken.. thanks again
More, more....uh, more 2 finger lead tutorials please.
anyway to get tap, any books or video's
nice
I like groundhog; so tasty in a stew.
Do you have a course of lessons ? Looks like just what I need regards and thanks eddie
Just what I have on RUclips. I occasionally add something new.
Chris Berry thanks Chris
Do u do Skype lessons ?
ARE you teaching workshops anywhere this year?
Joanne Baum Yes, in fact I’m teaching a two-finger banjo workshop at the Los Angeles Old Time Social on Saturday May 18. If you google or look on Facebook you’ll find it. Might be doing something in Sept. in the Bay Area.
Oh you are SO VERY FAR AWAY....I am on the other coast of the US. I will continue to learn from your excellent videos. Thank you Chris.
I reeeeeeally want to learn to play but what style banjo should I start/learn from?
If you want to play old-time banjo, this is a good style to start with. It's easier to pick up than clawhammer. But I didn't concentrate on one style when I was first learning, I would do several that interested me. The left hand is pretty much the same for all of them, at least to start with. If you like this and clawhammer, spend some time on both.
Where do you suggest getting a good starter banjo?
Noah Duffy Go to banjohangout.org and spend some time on the forums; there's lots of good playing advice and advice on buying instruments.
Thanks a ton!
Is that a Vega No. 2?
Nashvolk It's a 1926 Vegaphone with a five-string neck that was probably made in the '60s or '70s. I've only ever seen those flanges on banjos that were originally tenors. I've had it since 1991 or so and the guy I bought it from always had it as a five-string.
Chris Berry Thanks! I love the sound of that!
do yu wear picks at all
I never do on banjo, but there are folks who play in this style that do.
@@banjochris the picks that came with the banjo just keep falling of and i prefer to play without picks, my wife bought me the banjo ofr xmas, I am 71 years old you are never to old, i got my pilots license 6 years ago and bought my own microight flexwing, flown over snowdon north wales many a times, just been watching your groundhog video, what chords do yo play on itruclips.net/video/av80RDzPbO0/видео.html
me and the wife coming into land at caernarfon airport
Good luck, great that you’re getting into it! I’m not playing any full chords in my left hand except occasionally I’ll hold down the D7, second fret of third string and first fret of second string, when I play the melody note on the third string. If I were accompanying on guitar I’d just use G and D7, with maybe a quick C but that wouldn’t be necessary. Mostly picks are for bluegrass and aren’t used too much in old-time but there are exceptions. It’s best for old-time to start without them I think. Both thumb and finger picks have to be pretty tight to stay on; they’re not very comfortable at first.
PS I hope to get to Wales one of these days, the closest I’ve gotten is Gloucestershire!
@@banjochris i live in sought wales now as my wife passed away 7 years ago so i sold up and got married again and live in caerphilly south wales now, lovely place southe wales I have lived in berlin falligbostel for 11 years london a few times and windsor castle as i was i the coldstream guards for 22 years, stay safe
Whoa! You look at You Tube videos all day knowing that sooner or later you'll find the folks who GET IT. Is John Miller your daddy? Not many guys sound like they've really assimilated the tradition and have become part of...you do. Show me your Gus Cannon, man...