ANNOUNCEMENT: 1-on-1 virtual banjo lessons are now available! Great for those who want a more guided learning experience, or those who just want help with a single song, lick, or technique. If you want personal instruction, you can sign up here: calendly.com/johnmoorebanjo/banjolesson
A couple other things: I use a small artist brush to 'Paint' the contact point of the steel finger picks with spray 'headliner adhesive'. Let that dry for an hour or so and you'll never have a pick slip on you. Also, I use a long nose pliers (first) to custom shape picks to my index and middle fingers. Shape them to smoothly contact your fingers so they are very comfortable. I put a red dot on my index finger pick so I can quickly put them on the correct fingers.
Thank you for the insight! My Father was very good at the 5 string banjo and guitar. I leaned more guitar from him than banjo and to this day wish I'd asked him more. From an 1890 Henderson to a 1972 Gibson he and I rocked! Now he's in Heaven and although I have my own arsenal of guitars, I feel the need to really get acquainted with the banjo again. This is the perfect point to begin and re-explore what Dad had going on! Thank you much!
As an experienced guitar player and complete noob on the banjo, I just have to say I so appreciate your videos I just discovered. I'm just getting started and I had problems with my picks falling off and trying to figure out how to hold my hand and just all of it. And your no nonsense, intelligent approach - not dumbing it down method is just perfect for me. I thank you so much. You saved me so much time just now! 👍
I like your attitude. I'm just picking up the banjo, and you are gonna be teaching it to me. I've tried to watch other TH-cam rs and they were annoying.
I watched this video when I first started playing, and I bought some of the picky picks, and now I don't want to use anything else!! I don't know... it feels like the picky picks make it a lot easier for me. Like you said, you don't have to worry about the angle of your hand as much. I tried on the standard pick again the other day, and is felt HORRIBLE in comparison! 😂
Thanks so much there Mr. John Moore. Are there thicknesses (gauges) for those picky picks? What exact ones, if there are different sizes / gauges, do you use? You are an incredible picker there!!! :) Thank you much.
Are you familiar with Louis Marshall Jones? He portrayed Grandpa Jones on Hee~Haw. I KNOW that one time I found a clip of him singing while banjo pickin'. Then... a string broke. This was live at the time, so he did some ad-libbing while he fixed it, then got right back into his song. Could someone PLEASE find that for me? I want to see it again!
ANNOUNCEMENT: 1-on-1 virtual banjo lessons are now available! Great for those who want a more guided learning experience, or those who just want help with a single song, lick, or technique. If you want personal instruction, you can sign up here: calendly.com/johnmoorebanjo/banjolesson
A couple other things: I use a small artist brush to 'Paint' the contact point of the steel finger picks with spray 'headliner adhesive'. Let that dry for an hour or so and you'll never have a pick slip on you. Also, I use a long nose pliers (first) to custom shape picks to my index and middle fingers. Shape them to smoothly contact your fingers so they are very comfortable. I put a red dot on my index finger pick so I can quickly put them on the correct fingers.
Thanks for info on the "picky picks". You've given me a clarified understanding of why I'm failing to get the speed and sound I want!
I've been using Ernie Ball finger picks from day one, and they give a bright clarity to the banjo.
Thank you for the insight! My Father was very good at the 5 string banjo and guitar. I leaned more guitar from him than banjo and to this day wish I'd asked him more. From an 1890 Henderson to a 1972 Gibson he and I rocked! Now he's in Heaven and although I have my own arsenal of guitars, I feel the need to really get acquainted with the banjo again. This is the perfect point to begin and re-explore what Dad had going on! Thank you much!
As an experienced guitar player and complete noob on the banjo, I just have to say I so appreciate your videos I just discovered. I'm just getting started and I had problems with my picks falling off and trying to figure out how to hold my hand and just all of it. And your no nonsense, intelligent approach - not dumbing it down method is just perfect for me. I thank you so much. You saved me so much time just now! 👍
I like your attitude. I'm just picking up the banjo, and you are gonna be teaching it to me. I've tried to watch other TH-cam rs and they were annoying.
I'm insanely obsessed with the banjo so thank you for making this video :)
Thanks very much for this! As an absolute beginner, this is great instruction on the fundamentals!
Thank you very much for taking the time to teach. It really is appreciated!
Hi from New Zealand,
Excellent Thank you for sharing your Banjo skills with the world.
Thanks!Got my first banjo and, thanks to you, have my picks on right. I see you have some beginning lessons so now need to check those out :)
Love your Banjo lessons! Thank you John!
I like that banjo signed by Earl Scruggs. Congratulations.
THATS A SCRUGGS SIGNATURE!? WOW
Great video, im getting ready to get my first banjo and this will help a lot, thank you. 👍🇺🇸.
Best banjo instruction here!!!
Just bought my first banjo today! I’m excited to learn! But a little gun shy too. Feel like I need longer fingers for the neck of the instrument. 😬🤗🙏
I love how you have Earl Scruggs autograph on your head
thanks John, I've learned some new tips! Best wishes form Barcelona
You answer my question about picks,I'm truly new to this want lear
That helped a lot! Thank you for the details and demo.
thanks, not too overwhelming with the deets, just some good advice to get going :)
Thank you John
Keep them coming and I messaged ya earlier on FB. I appreciate the content.
Great Advise, you answered some questions I had.
I watched this video when I first started playing, and I bought some of the picky picks, and now I don't want to use anything else!! I don't know... it feels like the picky picks make it a lot easier for me. Like you said, you don't have to worry about the angle of your hand as much. I tried on the standard pick again the other day, and is felt HORRIBLE in comparison! 😂
Why isn't this the first video in every beginner banjo course?
Ernie Ball picky picks!! I use these
More videos please,Im a beginner
The best thumb pic is a Fred Kelly speed pic
You gotta love these for beginners videos when an expert shows off just to intimidate you.
Hey friend Edwin jagger has come out with a stainless steel razor.
Thanks so much there Mr. John Moore. Are there thicknesses (gauges) for those picky picks? What exact ones, if there are different sizes / gauges, do you use? You are an incredible picker there!!! :) Thank you much.
You're welcome! To my knowledge, they only come in one size/thickness.
Awesome thanks
can you play albatross by fleetwood mac on a 5 string banjo
Metal BlueChip picks can be adjusted.
What brand are the pointy picks??
Ernie ball picky picks.
When that head wears out, I'd cry.
I shave about a 1/4 of skin off my right hand
Why did you say only plastic thumb picks ? What's wrong with metal thumb picks ?
Plastic is for Bluegrass banjos because it puts off a slightly different pitch than a metal pick does
Wants the name of that tune at the beginning?
Foggy mountain breakdown I assume, he puts some flair on it
The thumb pick is always to tight for me. It hurts
, always
Yes!
To me the first one was better and sound amazing yet only to my wild ears.
The way this guy talks.... has to be Holly Hunters kin
I have not been able to watch this video, I just keep getting advertisements :(
Slow down you talk too fast
Are you familiar with Louis Marshall Jones? He portrayed Grandpa Jones on Hee~Haw. I KNOW that one time I found a clip of him singing while banjo pickin'. Then... a string broke. This was live at the time, so he did some ad-libbing while he fixed it, then got right back into his song. Could someone PLEASE find that for me? I want to see it again!
Finding a XL Thumbpick in Europe? FCKng forget it :-D