A foundation of solid technique will lead to years of great playing and musical enjoyment on any instrument—and the banjo is no exception. To help build that critical foundation and grow your banjo skills, we’ve partnered with our two world-renowned bluegrass banjo instructors Tony Trischka and Noam Pikelny to bring you a series of FREE bundled lessons. These online banjo lesson bundles are designed specifically to teach you an essential technique that you can put into practice in the context of a tune immediately.

Tony’s banjo technique bundle will assist you in mastering the basic hammer-on and provide additional practice exercises utilizing the alternating thumb roll method as well, both of which are crucial skills needed to play in the bluegrass style. Then, you’ll immediately be able to put these two new skills into practice in the context of the classic bluegrass tune, “Shady Grove.”

“Hammer-ons are very important when playing any stringed instrument, particularly the banjo or guitar, in the bluegrass style,” Tony explains. “Together, we’ll practice executing them cleanly and precisely, and learn to incorporate them into alternating thumb roll patterns.”

Noam’s banjo technique bundle will teach you another very critical skill that bluegrass pickers employ frequently—the banjo backward roll. After working through Noam’s exercises outlining the backward roll pattern, you’ll be able to practice them and hear how they sound in the context of the classic tune, “You Are My Sunshine,” which Noam has specifically arranged for this exercise.

“Backward rolls can be a little tricky,” Noam explains. “But, they lead to a really nice syncopated sound, and allow us to emphasize melody notes on our highest string really effectively.”

Click here to access these FREE Banjo “Technique Builders!”

TRY EITHER OF OUR FREE BLUEGRASS BANJO “TECHNIQUE BUILDERS” LISTED BELOW:

BLUEGRASS BANJO WITH TONY TRISCHKA:

What's Included:

• A multi-part online banjo lesson video teaching the basic banjo hammer-on technique along with a practice exercise using the alternating thumb roll
• A play-along backing track allowing you to practice your new skills in an arrangement of the classic bluegrass tune, "Shady Grove"
• A printable PDF of the tablature

BLUEGRASS BANJO & BEYOND WITH NOAM PIKELNY:

What's Included:

• A multi-part online banjo lesson video teaching the banjo backward roll pattern and exercises to work it up to tempo
• 4 play-along backing tracks allowing you to incorporate the technique into Noam's arrangement of the classic tune, "You Are My Sunshine" in the key of C
• A printable PDF of the tablature

Access your FREE “Technique Builder” here!

MEET OUR MASTER BANJO FACULTY:

TONY TRISCHKA:

For nearly 40 years, Tony Trischka has been an inspiration for countless bluegrass and acoustic musicians. Tony made his recording debut with the band Country Cooking in 1971. Since then, he's recorded numerous solo albums, collaborated with artists like Peter Rowan and Stacy Phillips, and produced Steve Martin's Grammy-nominated album Rare Bird Alert. His 2004 album Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular also received a Grammy nomination and multiple IBMA awards. He has continued to push boundaries as one of the world's top banjo players, lending his expertise as music director for the documentary "Give Me the Banjo.” Tony has taught online banjo lessons at ArtistWorks since 2009, building a global learning community around his Video Exchange library.

NOAM PIKELNY:

Noam Pikelny has emerged as the preeminent banjoist of his generation. Hailed by the Chicago Tribune as the “pros’ top banjo picker,” Noam is a founding member of Punch Brothers, a string ensemble which The Boston Globe calls “a virtuosic revelation” and The New Yorker describes as “wide-ranging and restlessly imaginative.” In September of 2010, Pikelny was awarded the first annual Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass. Noam's 2013 recording, Noam Pikelny Plays Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe, was described by the New York Times as "a token of reverence, a feat of translation and a show of dominion”. The album is widely considered a landmark recording in acoustic music and was named “Album of the Year” at the 2014 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards. Noam is a two-time International Bluegrass Music Association ‘Banjo Player of the Year’ and in 2019, Noam, along with his fellow Punch Brothers, was awarded the "Best Folk Album" Grammy® for their release, All Ashore. Noam makes his home in Nashville, TN, and has been teaching online banjo lessons at ArtistWorks since Spring, 2020.