How to play the banjo in 30 hours

I play guitar, mostly, and that contributed a lot to my understanding, but I've been playing guitar since high school. I cannot tell you how to play the guitar in 30 hours, because I don't remember how long it took me, and all those music teachers who claim they can teach you an instrument in no time, well, I don't fault them, but they probably don't remember how it was when they first learned, either.

So, I'm going to tell you how I learned how to play the banjo in that short a time, because it's fresh in my memory.

Disclaimer:

This article is going to tell you how to physically play the banjo. It's not going to teach you anything about music.

I'm giving this advice for free, because I love the banjo, and I think you will too. Please don't sue me if this doesn't work out for you. Also, I play stringed instruments by ear, which a lot of people can't do, and I know that. It may not work out for you the way I'm presenting this, because I am not going to give you a bunch of songs with chord names over the top, and have you memorize the names of the chords and expect you to play them. I don't play that way, and if you do, this may not work for you. You also won't see any musical notation, because I can't read music (well, I could at one time, but I've forgotten it all). You don't have to know how to read music to play an instrument.

I can play several stringed instruments. I've been doing it a long time, and I swear I don't even know the names of the chords. I can figure them out, if I have to, but that's why I wrote SingAround - so I don't have to keep figuring out and calling out the names of the chords to my brother Gene when we play, in the middle of picking and singing and tapping my foot. He can just read them off the screen. He plays like that - he needs the chord names. He loves SingAround, as do a lot of people.

I go by the patterns, not the names of the chords. In this article, I'm going to have to assume you know a little bit about playing by ear, or your can get somebody to tell you what the chords are. I'm going to devote very little white space to telling you what the chords are. Someday I'm going to write another article entitled, "How to play a string instrument by ear," but that's not today.

OK, let's get started.

We're assuming a five-string banjo, with the top (first) string being shorter than the rest

Part I.  Tune It. 1 hour

This tutorial uses the "G-tuning" method, where the notes are "G" (high short string) then going down as you're looking at the banjo while holding it, "D,G,B,D. (the notes get higher, so the second "G" is higher than the previous "D.") Other tuning methods, like tuning to a "C" chord, I'm afraid, you're on your own. Use a piano, or get someone who knows the notes to tune it for you. I keep a note in my banjo case that tells me how to tune it. (although, I rarely de-tune it, it's just in case I forget.)

Once you get it tuned, forget about the names of the strings. You don't need to know that this string is a "D," or 4 frets up on the 2nd string is an "F#." You don't need it. You'll go by the patterns. You WILL need to know the names of some chords, but there are only three of them, so it's not that hard.

Part II: The Right hand 8 hours

You have to start with the right hand. Ignore everything else. Don't worry about chords. They'll come later. This part is perhaps the most important.

You need a thumb pick, a pick for the index finger, and a pick for the middle finger. Get them at a local music store. Get metal ones, not plastic. Metal is "moldable." Put them on your fingers. Mold them to the shape of your fingers so they're comfortable. Label the two finger picks "index" and "middle." You can't  mix them up. I have a thin wire attached to my tuning pegs where I string the three of them up, so they're always with my banjo, and I don't have to go hunting for them in the case.

The finger picks conform to the shape of your finger. So, if you hold out your right hand and look at your nails, the finger picks curve toward you and the tip points to your face. I mention this, because a few months ago, I wasn't sure if that's how they worked.

Both the finger picks should protrude significantly over the top of your finger. The higher the top of the finger pick tip and secure, and the most comfortable, the better. My best estimate is that the tip of the pick should be at least 1/3 inch ABOVE the top of your finger. If the top of your finger is anywhere NEAR the metal top of the pick, you'll deaden the string as you pick, and it won't work, and you won't even know why, and then you'll quit.

Finger Pickin'

The top (short) string is string 1, then 2 through 5.

The finger(s) used we'll label (T)humb,(I)ndex,(M)iddle, or TIM. So, T I M means use the thumb, then index finger, then middle finger

The most common picking combination is a pattern of T I M  T I M  T M. Notice there are eight plucks in this patterns, but the way you strike the strings gives the rythym a very different flavor. You're going to do a T-I-M then another T-I-M then skip the "I" and go right to the "M." That's what makes banjo music so interesting, but it still uses eight plucks. Let me explain before we get to it, because it takes a bit of a "mind-set" change to accomplish this

Most songs are 4 beats per measure, sorry to do that to you, introducing math here, but I have to at this point. Try and follow me.  Songs like the "Tennessee Waltz", aren't good for Banjo becuase they're 3 beats per measure. Think of some banjo songs, or any songs, generally. The MTA by the Kingston Trio, The Beverly Hillbillies (especially the part .. "And now it's time to say goodbye..) or "Oh Suzanna". Most good banjo songs are fast, but they don't have to be. How about "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" or "Tom Dooley." Slow, but great banjo songs with this type of right-hand rythym. Tennesse Waltz, Silent Night, or Clementine (Oh my darlin'..") won't work because they're 3 beats per measure. You'll have to learn another strategy for dealing with these, but I don't know it yet, so I can't help you. And actually there are very few songs that are three beats per measure.

The TIM TIM TM method takes a lot of getting used to because we're not used to thinking that way about music. Tap your fingers to any of the songs mentioned above.Try "Oh Suzannah." with a your thumb and three fingers. You'll do 1 2 3 4  1 2 3 4. That's very comfortable to do. Now tap out 1 2 3   1 2 3    1 3 with your thumb and two fingers, TIM TIM TM. Hard, isn't it? Maybe you'll get through one measure but then repeat and your fingers (and your brain) just can't stand not to do 1 2 3 4    1 2 3 4 after the first measure. Am I right? Try this at work tomorrow, and the guy in the next cubicle will go crazy. "Hey, stop tapping!" "Leave me alone, I'm practicing the banjo!" Doing it at work is fine, but when you actually pluck the strings and hear the differerent notes, your brain is going to want to shut down! Don't worry. It only takes maybe an hour of this and your fingers and your brain will get used it.

Ok, try it: You're going to hit three strings only for now, the 3rd with the thumb, the 4th with the index, and the last (lowest by sight, remember the short string is 1) with your middle finger. Try it, T I M   T I M  T M and repeat it several times.

Don't do this for too long, because there's something else you absolutely must know about the right hand, and it isn't fun...

You know the ring finger, the fourth finger on your right hand? Well, it has a job.

Your ring finger has to be about 1 inch forward of the bridge, and maybe 3/4 inch or 1 inch down from the 5th string. It cannot move. Well, let me qualify that, it will move, but you have to tell it not to move.As you strike the 5th string with your middle finger, your ring finger will drift upward and eventually touch and deaden the 5th string. The further down you place it, the harder it is to play. The closer you put it to the 5th string, the quicker it will drift into it.You can't practice this at work, because the physics of striking the 5th string can't be duplicated.

You need to keep the ring finger stationary so your pick fingers can pluck without "thinking" about where the strings are. This was probably the hardest thing I had to learn about the banjo, and I still haven't mastered it, but I'm always conscious of my "ring finger drift" and I guess eventually it won't do it. It's important.

So, get your ring finger positioned 1 inch from the bridge and at least 3/4 inch down from the 5th string.

Try the exercise above again, strings 3 4 5, TIM TIM TM. Repeat.

It hurts, doesn't it? In your right hand. It did for me. Your hand will get tired very quickly. Your brain is already tired from the TIM TIM TM. Take a break. That's long enough. Practice this. Do this to the exclusion of everything else until you can do the TIM TIM TM rythym several times without fail and you can get your ring finger to not drift too much. This took me maybe 6 hours over two weeks

By the way, you're not using your left hand at all so far, so either mute the strings with your left hand so your neighbors don't yell, or tie a hankerchief over the strings if you have to.

Part IIA: Vary the right-hand pattern - 2 hours

After you've gotten that pretty well under your belt, try this: On the T's (thumb), strike the third string on the first go-'round, the 2nd string (higher toward you) on the second pass, and the first, high (short) string on the ... TM. Practice that maybe 1 to 2 hours over time.

Keep track of your ring finger. Don't let it drift, although it's impossible so far, but be aware of it and compensate.

Part III Chords - 10 hours

Now it's time for some chords.

The theory of chords goes like this:

Play a chord.

Move all your fingers up one fret, and the chord goes up a sharp. Another up-fret, it becomes the next chord. So, G goes to G#, then A, up goes to A#, then B, then C.. This is the princple of SingAround, move everything up, it's the next chord. Simple math.

You can play every single major chord in existence with one left-hand pattern. Same goes with Minors. You can play the banjo or guitar or mandolin for decades by knowing only two patterns, one major and one minor.I've been playing guitar for 35 years, and if I've ever formed a "diminished" chord, it was by acident. No offense to those of you who knows those chords like you know your own mother. We need you in our SingArounds groups. But you'll have to play them, not me, especially not on the banjo.

In all practicality, though, if you play a "C" chord on the lower frets, you can't just jump up 5 frets with the same pattern to get an "F" chord, and then 5 frets back for another "C." So you have to know how to form the next chord in the same geographic area that you're in.

But don't panic about chords: Mathmatically, there are only THREE possible major patterns and THREE possible minor combinations in any stringed instrument. As I've said, you don't even need to know all 6 of them. Two of the three major patterns and one minor will server you well for years. The three majors are most useful. That's what we'll look at next.

This is the first Major chord pattern. It's also the open strings (no left hand). Pay no attention to it yet. We'll get to it later.

This is Major number 2. It's actually a "D" chord in this case, but you don't care about that, because if you move it, it changes. Think of it only as Major 2

This is Major 3.

Notice that Major 3 moves up one fret, keeping the ring and little fingers in the same place. The Index and Middle fingers switch places. It's hard to visulaize here, but that's what happens  I'm an excellent programer (sic) and a talented musican (sic) and a pretty good speler (sic), but a lousy artist. These two formations are important. Nearly every banjo song needs these two chords, Major2 and Major3.

III A Practice switching between Major 2 and Major 3 - about 5 hours. No picking with the right hand, but you can if you want.

III B. - 6 hours:

Now take your left hand off the frets (A "G" chord if you pick) and try and re-place (not replace) your left hand fingers to form either Major 2 or Major 3. This took me a long time. I could switch between 2 and 3 without too much trouble after a couple of hours, but re-forming either one from scratch was a pain. My fingers were used to the guitar, and just would not go where I wanted them to go. I finally got it, and you will too.

If you don't play another stringed instument, your fingers will get a little raw here. For that reason, you may have to do this over a longer period of time, like two weeks.

You should use your right hand while you're practicing these three chords (Open, Major 2 and Major 3). Use the right-hand method you've learned so far (TIM,TIM,TM). You may notice that Major 3 is the same as open strings. So you've really only learned two chords so far. But the pattern is what's important. You'll see.. it will all come into place in a minute.

The "missing" chord

Chord Major 2 is a "D" chord . Move it down (toward the bridge) two frets. Your index finger will slide off and go on the other side of the bridge. This is now a "C" chord.

Banjo books may tell you to form this chord in another way, using the index finger, but then it can only be a "C" chord, good for nothing else. It's better, in my opinion, to use the pattern, and Major 2 can be used on any fret on the neck, any song, any key. Form a "C" chord without your index finger.

Major 1:

It's about time we looked at this chord. It's formed by smashing your the finger of your left hand flat across three strings, and keeping your little finger in place on the 5th string.

This forms a "C" chord, but of course you don't need to know that. It's just the same as the "Open" pattern at a differnent fret. Sometines I bar this across with my index finger, which leaves my other left-hand fingers to do a little "action," but for now, try and form it this way, and I usually do it like this also.

Note: As with the lone "C" chord, if you form it in the "pattern" way, you can always later find another way to play it using different fingers, possibly enhancing your performance by freeing up some fingers. But that will come later, after you're mastered the pattern techniques. Don't worry about it now.

Minor Chord patterns, there are only two. Actually three, but the third one is impossible to play, and you don't need it. Remember, you can form all minors, just as majors, from one pattern of your left hand, but practicality insists you know at least two so you're not jumping all over the neck:

Minor Chords: 2 hours

There are three minor chord formations, just as there are three majors. But one of them is just too dificult to form unless you're Roy Clark, so forget it. Both of the useful ones are formed with a slight variation of Major 2:

With this one, play Major 2 and then use your third finger to cover the next string down. This is also in the same musical pattern that we want, as you'll se in a minute, or try it now... Play Major 2 on any fret. Then Minor 2 at the same spot, same fret. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

If you need to jump a litle, use Minor 3, also formed from Major 2:

With this chord, you play Major 2, but with your index finger, you hold down the next string. Then simply remove your 2nd (middle) finger from the neck and you've got a minor chord. In songs, this pattern is useful when you play Major 2 and then form this minor three frets below. Try it. It sounds the same as the example above. When I play Minor 3, I actually bar all three high strings across with my index finger. It's easier to do it that way.

I've elimiated Minor 1 because it's just too difficult, and I called the other Minors 2 and 3 because of the resemblance to the majors of the same numbers. Did I just confuse you? Sorry. Call them anything you want. You now have 5 chords with which you can play any banjo song that's ever been sung.

Now you know all the chords necessary to play the banjo. 7th's, Minor 6th's, augmented, forget it!! You'll never need them. And if you do need a 7th, let somebody else play it for now. It will never interfere with the quality of your performance. My brother Gene was fond of saying, when I'd ask him what the hell he was playing when I'm playing an "F" chord, He'd say, "No, that's an e-flat minor 7th with a dimished 6th.What the hell are you playng?" He knew I couldn't argue with that.

Let's try a song:

Play major 2 at the (negative) 1st fret, with your index finger hanging over the bridge on the other side. That's a "C" chord.

( Maj2 -C chord)

Where have all the

(Min2 -pick up another string with your ring finger left hand)

Flowers gone

(Maj3)

Long time

(Maj3 up two frets)

Passing

See how easy it is?

(Maj 1 in the same spot) Where have all the (Min3 up two frets) Flowers gone (now just put your middle finger down on the 4th string, right where it  wants to go- that's Major 3) Long time (Up two with the same pattern) Ago.. Up one fret and Major 2, same as where we began, for the new paragraph of the song...

Vary the right hand a little: READ these letters, don't play them, accenting the Bold/Underlined letters in your mind:

T M T M T M T M (a different pattern)

T I M T I M T M  (normal banjo picking)

See how the rythym becomes more interesting? Now try it on the banjo: two scores of eight each, but the first score, your're not going to use your index finger (right hand) at all, and each (T)humb pick is going to alternate between the 3rd string and the second string, then back to the third string, etc. Start with your thumb on the third string. The second score of 8 is with the normal picking pattern. It doesn't matter which chord you're using. Take your left hand off the banjo to practice this.

Now you're looking to your friends like a real banjo player.

Part IV - The Left Hand - Hammer on and Pull Off: 6 hours

This is the final thing we're going to do. This technique is what males banjo a unique stringed instrument.The effect of these two actions is unlike anything that can be duplicated on a guitar or mandolin (well, you can try).

Hammer-On is striking the strings without picking. Pulling Off is making a note by pulling your finger off of the string, also without picking.

Play a "G" chord (open) with the regular right-hand pattern. Now do Major 3 at one below the first fret, so it's a "C" chord.

After you strike the highest string (string 5) with the middle finger of your right hand, pull the midde finger of your left hand down off the string, so it makes a note. Continue the pattern with your right hand, which is your thumb now, but before you pluck the 4th string with your right hand, smash the middle finger of your left hand back onto the fret where it was.

This takes a little practice, but surprisingly little. It's also hard to describe without using musical notation. Just remember, you can remove and "hammer-on" any finger of your left hand at any time you get the opportiunity..

Part IV B The slide  and Runs - 2 hours, then practice as time permits

Another technique is to place you fingers into the correct chord position, but one fret below where you want to end up. Then slide....your fingers, without changing their position,  into the "real" chord as your right hand strikes the strings on the beat.

There are also things called "runs," which greatly enhance your playing. They take a little practice, but one you can work on is formed from the high (D) string, that is, "physically" high when you're playing it, one down from the short string. Play a series of G,C,D chords, and after the last chord, strike with your right-hand thumb, the "D" string, then (no picking), hammer down two frets up with your middle finger, and hammer down again two frets up from that with your ring finger, then strike the next string down (geographically) with your right-hand (pick) thumb. You'll get an idea of a good "run."

The End

Well, that's all for now. This article was intended to get you started playing the banjo. The work you have to do now is to maximize the efficiency of your right hand, keeping your ring finger in place. Practice your chord-changing action, and work on the pull-off, hammer-on technique.

Good Luck.