Banjo Setup

from: Contemporary Bluegrass Banjo with Wes Corbett

This lesson is part of the course Contemporary Bluegrass Banjo with Wes Corbett.

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About This Course

Learn the style of contemporary three-finger banjo used by Béla Fleck, Noam Pikelny, Ron Block, and others. With lessons on single-string and melodic style, fingerboard theory, improvisation, and more. For intermediate to advanced players.

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VARIATIONS ON “CRIPPLE CREEK”

Wes shows you some ways to vary the melody of “Cripple Creek” and introduces the concept of “melodic style” banjo. Melodic-style was invented by banjoist Bill Keith, who devised a way to play linear note-for-note melodies where you never play the same string consecutively. Wes walks you through the variations phrase by phrase, pointing out how each variation relates to the original melody.

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The Contemporary Bluegrass Banjo Subscription Includes:

More than 40 extensive lessons in the three-finger style used by Béla Fleck, Noam Pikelny, Ron Block, and others
Essential right- and left-hand technique lessons
Theory and fingerboard lessons relevant to contemporary banjo
30 complete tunes to play
Detailed tablature for every lesson
High-quality video with multiple camera angles so you can see closeups of both hands in action
Play-Along Tracks so you can practice what you’ve learned

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Banjo Setup

Unlike an instrument like an acoustic guitar or mandolin, all the parts of a banjo are put together with bolts and screws. This means not only that it’s easy for banjo players to do their own setup work and adjustments, but that parts can become loose, especially when traveling. So it’s important to know how to fix minor problems. Wes goes through some basic setup issues (and shows you how to address them), like bridge position, head tension, truss rod adjustment, tailpiece height, using capos, and more.

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Previous Lesson

← JD Crowe’s “Come Back to Me Little Darling” Break

Next Lesson

Mary Evelyn →

Previous Lesson

← JD Crowe’s “Come Back to Me Little Darling” Break

Next Lesson

Mary Evelyn →

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