Follow Banjo Mountain
Follow Banjo Mountain
CLAWHAMMER BANJO VS. BLUEGRASS BANJO: WHICH STYLE SHOULD YOU LEARN?
So, you’ve got your hands on your first 5-string banjo and now (naturally) you want to learn how to play the darn thing. And that’s when you make the discovery: there’s actually two styles of playing - clawhammer and bluegrass - common to the 5-string. So how...
We Released 12 Songs This Summer!
Well, gang, it’s been one helluva summer. Hope yours was fantastic and that you were able to find some time for the three “R”s - relaxing, reflecting and recharging….Oh, and playing your banjo, of course. Can't forget that one. Over here at the Mountain we’ve been...
FIVE FUN PLACES TO PLAY YOUR BANJO THIS SUMMER
TAKE IT OUTSIDE: FIVE FUN PLACES TO PLAY YOUR BANJO THIS SUMMER I think we can all agree everyone needs a change of scenery from the monotony of our daily routines every now and then - a place to unwind, recharge and get a fresh perspective on things. I've found this...
The Importance (and fun) of Bluegrass Festivals
Topanga Banjo & Fiddle Festival 2016 Bluegrass Festival Season Well, gang, it's that time again - bluegrass festival season! And in my neck the woods it's already in full bloom. As a matter of fact, in less than a week one of the most iconic of all Southern...
The Best Way To Learn Banjo
Start Today So, you say you've always wanted to learn banjo? Perhaps it's a dream you've harbored ever since you were young? Your number one goal in life before you die, you say? In the decades I've been teaching banjo, I can't count the number of times I've...
PICKS OR NO PICKS: PICKING YOUR WAY THROUGH THE PICKING PICKLE
In the years I've spent teaching bluegrass banjo, I've often been asked by students if it's imperative to use fingerpicks. Perhaps you, too, have grappled with this question and have sought advice from "experts". If you go online, you'll notice the majority of people...
Curiosity, the Crucial Catalyst
Why a willingness to explore and discover is the prime motivator in any musical journey. (3-4 min read) I often hear banjo students lament how they are unable to play anything on the banjo if they're not using tablature. They feel absolutely clueless If they...
Bluegrass Jams: The Cornerstone of a Banjo Player’s Musical Education
Photo source: see below As a banjo instructor with years of private lesson experience under my belt, I'd have to say the most common question I hear from students is how to move from learning and playing songs via tablature to being able to pick spontaneously with...
How To Mute Your Banjo
So, you've just got your first banjo and you're super stoked to play it. You bring it home, take it out of its hard shell case, put your picks on and start making some noise. And then it happens. You realize it's loud. Really loud. It doesn't take long for you to...
How Much Time To Practice? Everyday!
I'm often asked by students how much time they should be putting into their banjo playing each day. This depends on many things: how much time you're able and willing to commit to disciplined, goal-oriented practice, how busy your days are, your priorities with...