Introducing 5-String Banjo

Course details

The distinctive sound of the 5-string banjo was first pioneered by the legendary Earl Scruggs, and the instrument remains very popular to this day across many musical styles. Designed for absolute beginners, Waltons New School of Music's Introducing 5-String Banjo course provides an extensive introduction to this great instrument, including:

• The basics – holding and playing the instrument, learning to pick the right way.
• Right-hand technique – positioning, ‘roll’ patterns and exercises.
• Left-hand technique – slides, slurs, hammer-ons and pull-offs, all of which give the 5-string banjo its distinctive sound.
• Instrumentals – students will learn some of the most famous banjo instrumental pieces.
• Songs – students will learn arrangements of well-known songs from both sides of the Atlantic, and will be shown how to develop their own arrangements.
• Commonly used chord shapes up and down the neck of the banjo
• Techniques and licks from the great banjo players.
• Listening to recordings of 5-string banjo in various musical contexts.

Participating students will need a good quality 5-string / G banjo to bring to class and practice at home. Banjos are available from Waltons music shops and can also be purchased together with the course.

What happens after the course has finished?

You will be given options for continuing your tuition at the school. Although a continuation ‘Improvers’ course cannot generally be scheduled on the same day/time as the Introducing course, one can be arranged if enough students would like to continue and your teacher has timetable availability. Students can also continue their tuition with either private (one-to-one) or small group lessons with other class members. We are happy to discuss these options with you.

Introducing 5-String Banjo is one of our group courses for beginners. Private (one-to-one), partner, small group and one-off 'intensive' banjo lessons are also available for students at all levels, from beginner to advanced.