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What I Learned Playing Mandolin for TAYLOR SWIFT (ft. Banjo Ben Clark)

David Benedict Mandolin

32,093 views

Taylor Swift and the mandolin. This was an incredible conversation.

Banjo Ben's Channel: banjoben1
Banjo Ben's Site: https://banjobenclark.com/
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My name is David, and I play the mandolin. I've played with multiple award-winning bluegrass bands across the world including Missy Raines, Mile Twelve, Cup O’Joe, and The Foreign Landers, and I curate the weekly mandolin video series #mandolinmondays hosted by the Mandolin Cafe. But most of all, I love sharing my love of the mandolin with others. I run an online mandolin learning community on Patreon, and I also make videos to share my thoughts, ideas, and general mandolin enthusiasm with other mando aficionados. Find out more at the links below:

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20 Comments

@BanjoBen 1 year ago

Brother, such an honor to be your guest and talk about the old days! I haven't thought about a lot of that in many years. And, incredible job editing, as always.

@Bcal14401 1 year ago

I starting listening Banjo Ben years ago. Learned so much and he was so much fun. It is so cool to have access to so many great teachers online now. Thanks David and Ben

@willcooper7345 1 year ago

Two of my wonderful online musical instructors - collide to show the genuine and sincere personalities that is fundamental to their impressive successes.

I have so much respect and admiration for them.

Congratulations to both of you from a humble and long-standing supportive student who believes in your authenticity, professionalism and enormous talent!

@geofflongford2008 1 year ago

Ben is to me the Bluegrass Ambassador .
Thanks Dave for giving us an insight into his world.
Maybe someone has to do one on you mate. You've had a great influence on us budding pickers as well. Keep up the great work.

@RogerTeachesMusic 1 year ago

I was never a Taylor Swift fan but I will definitely have to check out the early stuff, now knowing that Ben plays mandolin on some tunes. Thank you David and Ben for this interview, also for all you've done for this genre of music.

@lindamon8 1 year ago

Thanks for that, David. Never thought I'd sit through a 35 minute video about Taylor Swift but Ben had such a fascinating story to tell, I was there right to the end wanting more. I've watched many of Ben's videos, but now I feel I've seen another side of the great man! You asked all the right questions too.

@gabrieln3613 8 months ago

This interesting. I know further along, by the time she got to the "Red Album" a friend of mine, Carl Miner, player Mandolin and Guitar on I believe 6 tracks. Carl had won the National Flatpicking Championship in 1999 when he was 17. He also just won for Mandolin and Banjo this past year 2025. Taylor really knows how to find the great players!

@ChuckEWeiss-fk6vr 1 year ago

It’s not fair that one guy can play piano, mandolin, banjo, dobro, guitar, and fiddle. It’s just not fair !

@bradg4562 1 year ago (edited)

Great interview! Never would have thunk it... Banjo Ben gigin with TS. Closest I come to that is 4 yrs ago I bought a Weber F style Blonde Octave from a guy in NC who said it was used on a few early TS records. He named the tunes but I dont remember them. I dont play it much but it's a beautiful instrument. Ben's explanation and insight of how or what to play in that genre was really insightful. Thnx David.

@TruthSeeker99-r6q 1 year ago (edited)

I taught one of my first students who started taking lessons at 9 years old and was thirteen at the time (who is one of my most gifted students of all time) "Tim McGraw" and "Fearless" on both guitar and mandolin (and vocals). We used a capo (ye gads!) at fret three on the mandolin for Fearless, if I remember correctly, to get open, ringing chords. I did not know that Banjo Ben had toured with Taylor Swift. Thanks, David, for this interview with Ben.

@dodgermartin4895 1 year ago

WOW!!! Ben Clark has been a part of my life for a long time!! Just this morning I was trying to learn Grandfather's Clock from his website... I am a Gold Pick member and learned a lot from his vids. He is an incredible musician. I even stopped in his General Store in southern Missouri on my way home once... The flatpicking guitar teaching space is getting crowded... between Ben, Ryan Kimm, Brandon Johnson, to name a few... and Ben is always my first Go To guy.

@kevintaylor5079 4 months ago

What a fantastic interview . Banjo Ben is a renaissance man . Very intelligent and well spoken.As a mandolin player I especially appreciated this interview.

@chrislane5881 1 year ago

David, Greatly enjoyed watching your conversation with Ben. I had no idea about his connection to Taylor.
By the way, I bought my first mandolin from the General Store.

@johnlarkin8226 1 year ago

I never thought much about TS's highly produced pop, until I saw her all-acoustic NPR Tiny Desk concert. There, I could hear the lyric and melody clearly, and realized just how great she is.

@trentawilliams 1 year ago

The Carlton Haney comment @18:46 lol

@robertnewell5057 1 year ago

Wow, what a fantastic bloke. Like all the best, he is so humble in the face of the music, and that shines through. Fascinating insight into the music of Taylor Swift, who is so often dismissed as a musical lightweight. I'm only a sometime fan, but I do know that she not only is a great musician and performer, but hasn't even reached her full potential yet.

@andyshaughnessy1520 1 year ago

I learned so much from Ben. Loved his signs that said “Banjer” and “Geetar.”

@Silverstrand5311 1 year ago

Came across BB, David, Mike Hedding, Eli Gilbert, Jim Pankey and Kristy SB when I was learning the Banjo drg the Covid period.
Found this story told when I searched BB’s musical background. Now here’s BB relating the story with David.
Also kkows BB is a licensed pilot (smaller planes). Great to know you chose your path right. Look at where he and PP are now. Watching from Malaysia where Banjo is not known.

@cameronclark7879 9 months ago

What a fascinating and information packed interview! I’m not a swifty but you have to admire what she developed. Getting a glimpse into the world of a big stage instrumentalist was great.

@Firehose020 1 year ago

David: Great Video, I greatly appreciate what you and Ben both contribute to constantly breathe life into the music we love so much. Keep up the good work.