Session 1: Introduction to Melodic and Single-String Banjo

from: Melodic and Single-String Banjo with Bill Evans

This lesson is part of the course Melodic and Single-String Banjo with Bill Evans.

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About This Course

Learn the two bluegrass banjo techniques that were added to Scruggs-style to create exciting bluegrass music from the 1950s to the present day, melodic-style and single-string.

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Session 3: Melodic Style in the keys of C, D, and A

Bill shows you his melodic-style versions of “Arkansas Traveler” and “Red Haired Boy” in this video.

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The Melodic and Single-String Banjo Subscription Includes:

An in-depth look at melodic and single-string banjo, starting with the basics and moving on to more advanced techniques
Four sessions on melodic style, and four sessions on single-string style
High-quality video recordings of each session so you can review what you've learned and revisit them after the workshop has concluded
Tablature for all tunes and techniques taught
Basic techniques for both single-string and melodic-style banjo
Advanced melodic-style positions that players like Noam Pikelny, Tony Trischka, Béla Fleck, and most contemporary bluegrass banjo players use
Single-string scale positions based on chord positions in closed and open positions, in different keys, and up and down the neck

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Session 1: Introduction to Melodic and Single-String Banjo

Session 1 Q&A

Session 1: Introduction to Melodic and Single-String Banjo

In Session 1, Bill starts with a bit of music theory, discussing how major scales are constructed out of sequences of half-step (one fret) and whole-step (two fret) intervals. From there, he compares melodic and single-string technique, exploring how the G major scale is played in first position (down the neck) using each approach. He puts this knowledge to use by teaching both melodic and single-string versions of “The Girl I Left Behind Me” and ends Session 1 by showing you a simple melodic version of “Cripple Creek” and taking a look at melodic innovator Bill Keith’s classic version of “Devil’s Dream,” as he recorded it with Bill Monroe in 1963.

“Cripple Creek” Tab (Available to subscribers)

“Devil’s Dream” Tab (Available to subscribers)

Scale and Transposition Chart (Available to subscribers)

"The Girl I Left Behind Me" Tab (Available to subscribers)

Session 1 Assignment and Recommended Listening (Available to subscribers)

“The Girl I Left Behind Me” Melodic MP3 Download (Available to subscribers)

“The Girl I Left Behind Me” Single-String MP3 Download (Available to subscribers)

“Cripple Creek” MP3 Download (Available to subscribers)

“Devil’s Dream” MP3 Download (Available to subscribers)

Scale Basics (Available to subscribers)

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