Introduction to bluegrass banjo...

FREE first lessons for beginners, right here!!!

Learn to play "Cripple Creek" on five-string banjo, "Scruggs-style".

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your host and banjo teacher, Ben Freed

Let's get started learning bluegrass banjo, "Scruggs Style".

Mp3 of Ben playing Cripple Creek ...You will learn to play this song using these free lessons  

This site is designed to help you get up and running on bluegrass banjo, beginning with the song "Cripple Creek". IT'S FREE! I assume you have never played the banjo before and will teach you most everything you need to know to get started playing, concentrating on this first song in the bluegrass banjo repertoire. 

Note: My advice about teaching youself: Some people who are very musically inclined can learn to play on their own, without a real teacher, using instructional materials such as what you will find here. 

But!  I strongly  recommend that all students get a real teacher to monitor and correct any bad musicl habits that the student may be developing. Bad habits due to teaching yourself are almost impossible to break. The best advice is to read through instructional materials such as this on your own, as you begin, to familiarize yourself with the basic concepts and find a real teacher as soon as possible so that you do not develop bad musical habits. Weekly lessons are not always needed. You may do well with a visit to a good teacher just once a month in the beginning.  List of BLUEGRASS BANJO teachers

 

  1. Buying your first bluegrass banjo

  2. Tuning the banjo

  3. Posture and the right and left hands when picking banjo

  4. How to use the fingerpicks   

  5. How to read tablature

  6. Suggestions for Beginners

  7. Special left hand movements: sliding, pushing-off and hammering

  8. Now let's learn to play Cripple Creek!!

  9. Watch a VIDEO of me giving an overview of how to play Cripple Creek on YOUTUBE

  10. Words of advice about practicing  

  11. Timing

  12. Find a bluegrass banjo teacher in your area

  13. Article: the basics of bluegrass banjo set-up

  14. Maintaining Banjo Strings and Picks 

  15. Recommended classic bluegrass banjo recordings

  16. Now for your beginning repertoire:  a manual for beginners: learn ten essential bluegrass banjo solos 

  17. Transitioning to the next level on bluegrass banjo: moving beyond the beginner level

  18. free videos on line to learn bluegrass banjo

  19. Ben's personal bluegrass banjo tab collection...99 classic solos!! for his intermediate students..(not for beginners)

  20. Watch videos of my students play the banjo

 

Now for your beginning 10-song repertoire:  a manual for beginners: learn ten essential bluegrass banjo solos 

Ben's cool banjo CDs for sale

NEW!!.....Ben's Hot Licks for Advanced Players!

Hey!  I give bluegrass banjo lessons in my home studio  in Armonk, NY. (near White Plains, NY.... benfreed@optonline.net 

WOW!! Ben's personal bluegrass banjo tab collection...99 classic solos!!..(not for beginners)

Now a few words from our sponsor!.....

about Ben Freed

click here to download an mp3 clip of my  tune ....."Unhinged"

my newest CD:

Most important: Have fun!

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