“Banjokid” writes: Can you explain how to get a better tone? Whenever I play, I don’t get the right tone. Could you help me on this subject? Well, Banjokid, you’ve opened up quite a large topic this time! Since this forum is not suited to voluminous answers, I’ll stick to a few main points ..read more

On January 6th, the banjo world and bluegrass world at large celebrated what would have been the 100th birthday of banjo legend, Earl Scruggs. Tony Trischka, who has spent a lifetime studying Earl, is paying tribute with the upcoming release of 'Earl Jam - A Tribute to Earl Scruggs', of which the single Brown's Ferry Blues is released.  ..read more

Duane writes ..read more

Hi from the UK, Pete. I’m hoping you can give me a few pointers. I’ve just purchased my first musical instrument, that being a 5-string banjo no less!! I’ve no musical experience whatsoever. I can’t read sheet music though I’m starting to get my head around Earl Scruggs tablature. Do you do a course for guys such as me? -Kind regards, Dave (aged 56 ..read more

In the 5th episode of our clawhammer banjo workshop series with Michael Miles, Michael demonstrates how to play Bob Dylan's "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere". This is a great tune that is relatively easy to play on the banjo as it has a repetitive chord progression. Michael teaches you how to play different voicings of these chords, incorporating open strings while playing up the neck, creating some of the chords as suspended, highlighting the melody in your playing, and much more ..read more

I've been teaching banjo for about fifteen years and although I had the most fantastic banjo teacher I could ever have asked for (thank you George), I've been learning how to teach better throughout that period and am always learning. One of the biggest changes in my approach is moving away from simply focusing on technique and repertoire ..read more

After a three-year hiatus, 2023 sees the long-awaited return of Eagle Music Shop's hugely popular UK banjo event, which will take place on November 11th in Eagle Music's hometown of Huddersfield, UK!  ..read more

Will J. writes: I have been taking banjo lessons for about a year and a half now. My instructor is a great banjo player, winning competitions at major events. My problem seems to be that he wants me to learn songs by ear. I currently have about 30 songs in my repertoire, mostly traditional Scruggs tunes. These songs have given me a somewhat solid foundation of the Scruggs style licks, but that is about it. I want to further my instruction that will teach me more about the banjo, instead of plain rote memorization of songs. What I am really trying to say is that I am not getting much from memo ..read more

Come learn 37 ways and more to make your G, C, and D chords on the 5-string banjo in Episode 4 of our Clawhammer Banjo Workshop Series with Michael Miles. Michael and co-host David Bandrowski will help you understand how to make triad chords all the way up the neck of the banjo so that you can earn the entire fingerboard of your banjo. Be sure to tune in ..read more

People sometimes wonder why I switched from doing banjo camps to jam camps. In keeping with my overall philosophy of “doing whatever gets you the most fulfillment the soonest”, I’ve sorted out that: People who want to start playing banjo are better served by learning — as soon as possible — how to play with other musicians, rather than by first learning the complicated and elusive mechanics of soloing using Scruggs-style banjo ..read more