Banjo

My banjo teaching is based as well on the management of theory principles, in both finger and frailing styles. The student's first projects are learning how to craft rolls and licks appropriate to the harmonic phrases of a set of carefully chosen folk songs (the same material I use for bluegrass studies on the mandolin).

As management of these skills grow, which includes designing the chord families and playing the octave melodies up the neck, we flesh out the greater Scruggs ornamentation. I've developed frailing techniques that build on the same skill sets, but place greater emphasis on melody and rhythm than the textures of finger styles. With this more percussive approach to the banjo, blues and rock styles are generously accessible with frailing.