Start Playing Up the Neck Today - Bluegrass Banjo
Jim Pankey
47,839 views
Tab: https://imgur.com/a/D1DPCdt
One of the most common questions I get is: "How do I actually start playing up the neck?" It can feel intimidating to leave the safety of the first five frets, but today I’m showing you a simple, two-string approach that will get you moving up the fretboard immediately.
In this lesson, we aren't going to lean on tabs. Instead, we're going to use the Dillard Roll and a few simple chord shapes on just the first and second strings to hunt for melodies. I’ll show you how to find your "Do-Re-Mi" scale up high and apply it to standards like "I'll Fly Away," "Cripple Creek," and "Old Joe Clark."
It might feel a little "ambiguous" at first, but that’s part of the process! The goal is to get you noodling, finding your own arrangements, and building the confidence to explore the banjo's full range on your own.
In this video, we'll cover:
The Dillard Roll (1-2-1-5) and why you need to master it first.
Why you don't need full four-string chord shapes to play up the neck.
How to find "two-string" versions of G, C, and D chords.
Finding the melody for your favorite songs using just the first two strings.
The importance of "noodling" to find your own unique sound.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro: Answering the "Up the Neck" question
01:05 - The Dillard Roll: Your right-hand foundation
02:17 - Why I rarely use full chord shapes up high
03:56 - Two-string chord shapes (G, C, D, and more)
05:40 - Finding the "Do-Re-Mi" scale on the first string
06:28 - Combining the scale with the second string
08:08 - Hunting for the melody: "I'll Fly Away"
09:40 - Examples: "Cripple Creek" and "Old Joe Clark"
11:27 - Simplifying with two strings
12:50 - Final Thoughts: Find your own breaks!
If you enjoyed this lesson, please leave a thumbs up and consider subscribing to help the channel grow!
#BluegrassBanjo #BanjoLesson #JimPankey #UpTheNeck #BanjoTips #BluegrassMusic
Patreon: Patreon: jimpankey
Tabs: https://www.sellfy.com/wildjimbo
Picks:
@Ernie Ball Finger Picks: https://amzn.to/2N7SH8s
@jimdunlopusa Calico Thumb Pick - Large: https://amzn.to/2NaeoEP
Dunlop Calico Thumb Pick - Medium: https://amzn.to/2UYGHud
Capos:
Paige: https://amzn.to/30V2Ux3
@g7thcapo https://amzn.to/3Fdwy3c
Strings:
@TheGHSStrings https://amzn.to/3uYToah
20 Comments
Start Playing Up the Neck Today - Bluegrass Banjo
Jim Pankey
47,839 views
Tab: https://imgur.com/a/D1DPCdt
One of the most common questions I get is: "How do I actually start playing up the neck?" It can feel intimidating to leave the safety of the first five frets, but today I’m showing you a simple, two-string approach that will get you moving up the fretboard immediately.
In this lesson, we aren't going to lean on tabs. Instead, we're going to use the Dillard Roll and a few simple chord shapes on just the first and second strings to hunt for melodies. I’ll show you how to find your "Do-Re-Mi" scale up high and apply it to standards like "I'll Fly Away," "Cripple Creek," and "Old Joe Clark."
It might feel a little "ambiguous" at first, but that’s part of the process! The goal is to get you noodling, finding your own arrangements, and building the confidence to explore the banjo's full range on your own.
In this video, we'll cover:
The Dillard Roll (1-2-1-5) and why you need to master it first.
Why you don't need full four-string chord shapes to play up the neck.
How to find "two-string" versions of G, C, and D chords.
Finding the melody for your favorite songs using just the first two strings.
The importance of "noodling" to find your own unique sound.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro: Answering the "Up the Neck" question
01:05 - The Dillard Roll: Your right-hand foundation
02:17 - Why I rarely use full chord shapes up high
03:56 - Two-string chord shapes (G, C, D, and more)
05:40 - Finding the "Do-Re-Mi" scale on the first string
06:28 - Combining the scale with the second string
08:08 - Hunting for the melody: "I'll Fly Away"
09:40 - Examples: "Cripple Creek" and "Old Joe Clark"
11:27 - Simplifying with two strings
12:50 - Final Thoughts: Find your own breaks!
If you enjoyed this lesson, please leave a thumbs up and consider subscribing to help the channel grow!
#BluegrassBanjo #BanjoLesson #JimPankey #UpTheNeck #BanjoTips #BluegrassMusic
Patreon: Patreon: jimpankey
Tabs: https://www.sellfy.com/wildjimbo
Picks:
@Ernie Ball Finger Picks: https://amzn.to/2N7SH8s
@jimdunlopusa Calico Thumb Pick - Large: https://amzn.to/2NaeoEP
Dunlop Calico Thumb Pick - Medium: https://amzn.to/2UYGHud
Capos:
Paige: https://amzn.to/30V2Ux3
@g7thcapo https://amzn.to/3Fdwy3c
Strings:
@TheGHSStrings https://amzn.to/3uYToah