jack_beuthin - Posted - 05/04/2025:  06:44:12

Folks, I’ve recently launched this lesson series on YouTube. So far, there are five lessons, and a I have few more to go. The lessons are designed to be accessible to beginners, as well as more experienced 2F pickers, and they build on each other incrementally. Also, each lesson focuses on a specific skill/technique so that you can focus your practice between lessons. I use “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” throughout the lessons to demonstrate the skills that are taught.



I was motivated to create this series because I heard from followers on my YouTube channel that they can play several songs but are lost when it comes to joining a jam, or playing in in ensemble (ex: a church group). But also, if you are just singing a song by yourself, backing yourself on the banjo doesn’t require playing that full melody in the way you may have learned it. Playing backup is an equally valuable skill to playing the lead melody, and yet, it is often not taught as deliberately and explicitly as playing lead melodies. Hopefully this lesson series fills that gap a bit.



Here’s a link to the lesson playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL00...C0Vt4bSXa

Have fun!

 

Ron Nelson - Posted - 05/04/2025:  20:01:53

Thank you greatly for this. Have been looking a good way just to play simple back up in 2FTL. I tend just to play the melody which, obviously, is not always appropriate when playing with others. Again, thank you for taking the time to do these.

Mike Thompson - Posted - 05/05/2025:  06:05:13

This has been very helpful. Thanks for doing this, Jack.

Owen - Posted - 05/05/2025:  07:00:07

Jack, kudos for using terms like "simple / basic / plain" instead of "easy."  

jack_beuthin - Posted - 05/05/2025:  09:09:23

quote:

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Originally posted by Owen

Jack, kudos for using terms like "simple / basic / plain" instead of "easy."  

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For sure, "easy" is not synonymous with "simple".

Kimrhemphill - Posted - 08/06/2025:  20:17:23

Great series well done. Any pattern hints for waltz time?