Bluegrass Banjo Favorites

In this Homespun video tutorial series, you’ll learn to play eight must-know bluegrass instrumentals that are likely to be heard in jam sessions, picking parties and band performances. Bill Evans, one of America’s best-loved players and teachers, helps you build your technique from the ground up, showing you the techniques that will give these tunes power and authenticity.

Videos

• Chapter 1 (02:51) - Bill plays a tune with Jeff, and welcomes you to the series and explains a bit about what he'll be going through, but first... Time to tune your Banjo!

• Chapter 2 (04:56) - In this video, Bill reviews the roll patterns you'll be using in these videos.

• Chapter 3 (15:08) - Bill gets started with "Jesse James", and helps you know the entire melody with his vocals and Banjo, along with a few other songs.

• Chapter 4 (11:13) - In this video, Bill talks about John Hardy, and talks about counts, and good lead ins for your intros, advice for structure, and several other tips to get you pickin'.

• Chapter 5 (14:35) - It's time for "Foggy Mountain Breakdown"! Bill will show you each part and how to get close to that "Earl Scruggs sound".

• Chapter 6 (15:08) - Bill keeps the Bluegrass going with a few more tunes to learn. He'll help you play through the melodies and arrangements part by part.

• Chapter 7 (11:13) - It's time now for Bill's favorite banjo tune, "Fireball Mail". You'll be able to follow along and check out each part close up.

• Chapter 8 (13:19) - In this video, Bill teaches you another tune called "Clinch Mountain Backstep".

• Chapter 9 (14:06) - It's time now to learn Salt Creek. Bill gives some history on the tune, and then helps you learn the progression and each part.

• Chapter 10 (17:58) - Bill discusses about the key of D, and shows you a version of "Soliders Joy", helps you learn it, and then you can follow along at the end. Happy signs off with a few final words of advice.