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Instruments > Banjo > On Banjo with Alison Brown

On Banjo
with Alison Brown

Grammy-winning banjoist Alison Brown shares an approach for learning 3 finger/Scruggs style banjo that focuses on helping you make music quickly. Through a guided series of lessons for players of all skill levels, Alison offers a fundamental banjo toolkit for the 21st century designed to help students develop fluency on the fingerboard, feel comfortable improvising in jam sessions, and augment their playing with intermediate and advanced techniques including melodic style, single string, and chord melodies. Students have access to over 150 lessons, tablature, and play-along tracks professionally recorded at Compass Sound Studio in Nashville, as well as the option to submit videos directly to Alison for feedback.

Multiple Banjo Picking StylesMusic Theory + Improv

100+ Play-Along TracksBanjo Tabs + Written Materials

About On Banjo with Alison Brown


Unleash your inner banjo virtuoso and embark on a transformative musical journey with acclaimed banjoist Alison Brown. Welcome to the world of On Banjo with Alison Brown on ArtistWorks, where aspiring players of all levels can master the instrument and reach new heights of musical expression.

This online banjo course is designed to cater to all skill levels, from beginners looking to grasp the fundamentals to intermediate and advanced players seeking to expand their repertoires and hone their technical skills. Whether you aspire to play bluegrass, folk, Americana, or any other roots genre, Alison Brown's versatile teaching approach will equip you with the tools, techniques, and knowledge you need to excel.

One of the standout features of the On Banjo with Alison Brown course is the interactive video exchange platform. This unique system allows you to submit videos of your playing directly to Alison herself, who will provide personalized feedback, guidance, and encouragement. This invaluable one-on-one interaction ensures that you receive tailored instruction that caters to your specific needs, enabling you to progress rapidly and overcome any challenges you may encounter along the way.

Inside the course, you'll find an extensive library of high-definition video lessons covering a wide range of topics, including banjo basics, Scruggs-style licks, slides, hammer-ons, & pull-offs, playing back-up for bluegrass musicians, music theory, and much more. Each lesson is meticulously crafted, breaking down complex concepts into easily digestible segments, so you can learn at your own pace and build a solid foundation of skills.

In addition to the comprehensive video lessons, you'll gain access to a wealth of supplementary learning materials. These include downloadable tablature, backing tracks, and sheet music, allowing you to practice the techniques taught by Alison Brown in a variety of musical contexts.

Join a vibrant community of banjo enthusiasts from around the world through the course's active forum. Engage in discussions, seek advice, and connect with fellow learners who share your passion for the banjo. The supportive environment fosters a sense of camaraderie and provides an additional avenue for learning and growth.

Don't miss this incredible opportunity to learn from an iconic banjo virtuoso. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, the On Banjo with Alison Brown course on ArtistWorks will unlock your true potential and revolutionize the way you approach the banjo. So, grab your banjo, get pickin', and start your musical journey today!


About Video Exchange® Learning



What ultimately sets these banjo lessons apart from other offerings is the ability to submit a video for review using the ArtistWorks Video Exchange Learning® platform. Alison reviews each submission and records a video response, offering specific guidance to take your banjo playing to the next level. All students can access the Video Exchange library and watch each other’s interactions with Alison. This library is constantly expanding and may contain the key to unlock your playing.


About Alison Brown


Alison Brown is one of the most multi-faceted minds on today’s roots music scene. As a banjo player, she has thrown out the textbook when it comes to how the banjo is played, and the result is a sound that blends the rugged drive of bluegrass with the harmonic sensibilities of jazz, earning vast acclaim and a GRAMMY award in the process. Alison began her professional music career performing alongside Alison Krauss and Union Station, and Michelle Shocked before forming her own group, The Alison Brown Quartet, in 1993. Since then, Alison and her band have been winning over traditionalists and mainstream music fans alike with her unique style. They have toured extensively throughout the US and abroad with stops at some of music’s most prestigious venues and festivals. Alison has recorded 12 critically-acclaimed solo albums and has received a GRAMMY and multiple GRAMMY nominations. She has also received the USA Artists Fellowship in Music and a Distinguished Achievement Award from the International Bluegrass Music Association. In addition, Alison is the co-founder of the internationally recognized roots music label Compass Records Group, which Billboard Magazine has called “one of the greatest independent labels of the last decade.” When she’s not on the road performing, Alison calls Nashville, TN her home and has been teaching at ArtistWorks since August 2023.


Banjo Lessons


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Section 1

How to Tune
Left Hand Position
Right Hand Position
Nuts & Bolts / Intro to the Capo
Basics of Reading Tablature
The G Major Scale
First Chords: G & D7 Chords
Adding the C Shape
Miscellaneous Topics - Video Exchange Category
3 Chord Songs to Strum
Section 1 - Checkpoint 1
Starting to Pick - The Alternating Roll
Alternating Roll Etude
"Worried Man Blues" Version 1 - Using the Alternating Roll
"Buffalo Gals" Version 1 - Using the Alternating Roll & Plucks
2 Building Blocks: Slides & Hammer-Ons
Slide & Hammer-On Etude
"Good Night Ladies" - Key of G
"This Land is Your Land" - Version 1 - Key of G
"They Can't Take it Away" - Key of G
Harmonics
"Grandfather's Clock" - Key of G - Using Harmonics
Learning the Fingerboard Through Chord Shapes
Simple Chord Melodies - "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
Simple Chord Melodies - "Amazing Grace"
Simple Chord Melodies - "Oh Susanna"
Section 1 - Checkpoint 2

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Section 2

Changing Strings
Introduction to Finger & Thumb Picks
Building Blocks of Scruggs Style - Introduction
The Forward Roll
The Forward Roll with Hammer-Ons
Forward Roll Etude
"Boil Them Cabbage Down" Using Forward Rolls with a Potato
"Goodnight Ladies" Using Forward Rolls
The Forward Backward Roll
Miscellaneous Topics - Video Exchange Category
Forward Backward Roll Etude
Incorporating More Slides
Section 2 - Checkpoint 1
"Cripple Creek" - Key of G
A Deeper Look at Hammer-Ons
Pull-Offs
Scruggs Lick
Tags
The Kitchen Sink Etude
Section 2 - Checkpoint 2
"Worried Man Blues" Version 2 - Key of G
"This Land is Your Land" Version 2 - Key of G
"Cumberland Gap" - Key of G
"Train 45" - Key of B, Capo 4
"Buffalo Gals" Version 2 - Key of G
"Cluck Old Hen" - Key of G
The Mental Game of Banjo
Dynamics
Adding the 2 and 6 Chord in the Key of G
The 1-6-2-5 Progression - Etude
"Salty Dog Blues" - Key of G
Minor Chords
The 1-6m-2m-5 Progression - Etude
"Jingle Bells" Chord Melody
Section 2 - Checkpoint 3

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Section 3

Moving Beyond the Key of G - Playing in the Key of C
1-4-5 Etude in the Key of C
Adding the 2 and 6 Chord in the Key of C
"Country Rag" - Key of C
"Home Sweet Home" - Key of C (Drop C on 4th String)
Playing in the Key of D
"Bye Bye Blues" - Key of D
Kickoffs - Key of G
Miscellaneous Topics - Video Exchange Category
Kickoffs - Key of C
Kickoffs - Key of D
Section 3 - Checkpoint

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Section 4

Listen & Chart Pattern A: "Will the Circle be Unbroken" - Key of G
Listen & Chart Pattern B: "Bury Me Beneath the Willow" - Key of C
Listen & Chart Pattern C: "New River Train" - Key of A
Learn the Tab: "Will the Circle be Unbroken" - Key of G - Pattern A
Learn the Tab: "Bury Me Beneath the Willow" - Key of C - Pattern B
Learn the Tab: "New River Train" - Key of A - Pattern C
Learn the Tab: "I'll Fly Away" - Key of G - Pattern A
Learn the Tab: "Bury Me Beneath the Willow" - Key of G - Pattern B
Learn the Tab: "Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms" - Key of G - Pattern C
Miscellaneous Topics - Video Exchange Category
Learn the Tab: "Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms" - Key of D - Pattern C
Learn the Tab: "Dark Hollow" - Key of G - Pattern D
Learn the Tab: "Girl from Tennessee" - Key of G - Pattern E
Useful Phrases - Opening Bars
Useful Phrases - Ending Bars
Getting the Most Out of Potatoes, Hillbillies & Trains
Roadmapping a Good Solo
Section 4 - Checkpoint

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Section 5

Playing Up the Neck - Introduction
Chord Shapes Between the 5th and 12th Fret
"Cumberland Gap" - Key of G - Up the Neck
"Sally Goodin"- Key of G - Up the Neck
Useful Up the Neck Licks
Scruggsy Up the Neck Etude
"Salty Dog Blues" - Key of G - Up the Neck Solo
"Lonesome Road Blues" - Key of G - Up the Neck
Miscellaneous Topics - Video Exchange Category
"Sally Ann" - Key of G - Up the Neck
"Leather Britches" - Key of G - Up the Neck
"Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms" - Key of G - Up the Neck Solo
Section 5 - Checkpoint

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Section 6

Playing Backup - Introduction
Playing Backup - Backing Up a Vocalist
Playing Backup - Backing Up a Mandolin Solo
Playing Backup - Backing Up a Guitar Solo
Playing Backup - Backing Up a Bass Solo
Playing Backup - Backing Up a Fiddle
Playing Backup in the Key of D
Playing Backup in the Key of C
Section 6 - Checkpoint
Miscellaneous Topics - Video Exchange Category

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Section 7

Melodic Style Banjo - Introduction
The G Scale - Melodic Style
"Oh Susanna" - Key of G - Melodic Style
"Sailor's Hornpipe" - Key of G - Melodic Style
"Sally Johnson" - Key of G - Melodic Style
"Temperance Reel" - Key of G - Melodic Style
"Turkey in the Straw" - Key of G - Melodic Style
Section 7 - Checkpoint
Miscellaneous Topics - Video Exchange Category

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Section 8

Single String Banjo Style - Introduction
Single String Technique
Single String Etudes
"Turkey in the Straw" - Key of G - Single String
"Bye Bye Blues" - Key of D - Single String
Single String Triplets - Introduction
Single String Triplets - Etude
"Moving Cloud" - Key of G - Melodic & Single String
Miscellaneous Topics - Video Exchange Category
"My Love is in America" - Key of D - Single String
"O'Carolan's Concerto" - Key of D - Melodic & Single String
Section 8 - Checkpoint

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Section 9

Welcome to the Candy Shop
G to C Licks
D to G Licks
Bluesy Chromatic Licks
Triplet Licks
Ending Licks
Hero Signature Licks
Section 9 - Checkpoint
Miscellaneous Topics - Video Exchange Category

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What's In This Plan


  • Unlimited Access to Lessons
  • Unlimited Access to Video Exchange Library
  • Unlimited Video Submissions to Teacher
  • Music Theory Workshop
  • Backing Tracks across Instruments
  • VIP Bonus Content
  • 100s of banjo lessons at your own pace
  • All levels and styles of playing welcome
  • Slow Motion & Looping on videos

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