As a 27+ year veteran of the 5-string bluegrass banjo, often I’m amazed at the difference in the learning “landscape” today as compared to yesteryear. (When was yesteryear? Hmmm…) Just about the only two aids to learning that we had available long ago were vinyl records and tablature. And tablature was actually pretty hard to come by. These guys and gals who tell me that they learned to pick completely by replaying vinyl records over and over, trying to copy what they were hearing, sure do impress me. I can pick up things by ear now that I have some ability, but I don’t know if I had it in me to learn from scratch that way. Kudos to them.
The Banjo Player’s Songbook Sheet Music

Banjo Player's Songbook

Today, there are several aids to learning any instrument, not just 5 string bluegrass banjo. Everything from online web cam banjo lessons to instructional DVDs to electronic tools. A surprising share of things can even be found for free. (You can visit my website, found at the bottom of this article, for further information on products and tools or to ask me questions and for my recommendations.)
One important advancement is music notation software that’s full featured but surprisingly affordable…even free. One of the most popular brands of music notation software allows you to write tablature sheet music, viewable right on the computer screen. You can add the sound of backing instruments, you can play what’s in the sheet music through your computer speakers, and you can even find repositories of songs already written and just waiting for you to download, readable with your software. For learning songs you can’t beat this! Open the song, get it memorized, play it through your speakers to hear how it sounds, even utilize the computer precision while it plays as a metronome.There are some high end versions of music notation software, but the most popular brand going has a limited free version and a $60 full-featured paid version. I highly recommend this and love learning songs using this tool.
Every music student from time immemorial has been chastised about using a metronome. It’s critical to your development. My favorite metronome is a completely computerized version that lives right on your computer and that you play through your computer’s speakers. It’s not free but it’s got some great features, the best of which is something called a speed drill. This incrementally adds speed to your playing, something very important to banjo players. You can find paid versions to download or just free versions that live right on the internet. Either way, some of them are the “better mousetrap” when it comes to metronomes. Be sure and ask me for my recommendation.
Even before working with tablature or metronomes comes a very important skill to develop: tuning your banjo. Almost all stringed instrument players utilize a handheld, portable electronic tuner of some sort, but I’ve recently discovered a strobe-style tuner for my banjo with an unbelievable $10 price tag. (If you’ve not heard of the strobe style tuner, consult my blog for an article that I wrote about this class of tuner.) The only challenge…and this could be a deal breaker for you…is that it needs to be used on an iPod Touch or an iPhone, as it’s a piece of software written for these devices. But, if you have one of these devices, then the banjo and the iPhone/iPod are a perfect marriage.

Speaking of the iPhone/iPod Touch, there are several pieces of software (known as apps) written for stringed instrument players or banjo pickers in general that can be used on these devices. Chord finders and music theory apps and tuners and on and on…
Like the idea of simulating the whole band experience while practicing, without the hassle of having a group of people invade your space each time you play? Well, you can find a very full-featured software program that does just that. It’s the same as having all of the other traditional bluegrass instruments present…this software plays the loop that you set up, including the chords you specify and the instrumental leads that you choose for the other instruments to play. You just sit in on the jam and play along. This can be really valuable if your aim is to play out with your banjo.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, and I didn’t go into specifics on brand names, but I hope maybe it opened your eyes to the technological possibilities when it comes to learning. Take some time to research the tools and techniques that are out there, and contact me if you have further questions. I’m always glad to help!
“Wunse, I coodn’t even spel bango pikker…now I are one!”
My name is Banjo Paul. I’m a banjo teacher, a member of two bluegrass bands, a web designer, and a professional blogger. I have a banjo themed website and blog with lot’s of good information about banjos, banjo humor, banjo lessons, banjo kulture…errr…culture…and lot’s more. I’d love for you to stop by and say howdy sometime, and as I always say: pick ‘em if ya got ‘em!
Banjo Paul
http://www.banjosrule.com (main site)
http://www.mybanjolife.com (blog)
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