What makes you a great teacher is that you are speaking to your students on a level that is easy to understand. You don’t clutter things up with big words and you are not just explaining the theory but applying it right in front of your audience. I normally avoid lengthy videos but your videos are worth watching every minute. Thank you.
This is the most accessible- the most easily utilized- bit of theory you will find, in my view. Typical discussions of the Circle of Fifths usually focus on key signatures...adding sharps as you move round the circle, etc. Here, we don't care how many sharps or flats a song may require, but clearly demonstrating scale tone chords in the context of a chord progression on the banjo, is a brilliant insight. Thanks, Steve!
This is old, but timeless... and exactly what I needed today! Thank you for putting this together. I think my analytical mind keeps me from going further in my banjo. And this explains a lot for me.
You can never have enough music theory. Real musicians are not afraid of music theory. Major scale W (whole step) W H (half step) W W W H. G scale: G A B C D E F# G Major Chord Root then four half step for third, then three half step for fifth. G chord: G B D. C chord: C E G. To get minor chord, lower the third half a step. Chords Follow the pattern: I major, ii, iii minor, IV, V major, iv minor vii diminished. In key of G: G, a min, b min, C, D, e minor, f # diminish. Key of C: C D E F G A B C. All the white keys on piano. Chords in C: C, d minor, e minor, F, G, a minor, b diminished. The relative minor of G is e minor, so you can start a song in e minor. The Rolling Stone around Sticky Fingers did a lot of Open G tuning, just like banjo. When you start on Second note, you have Dorian scale.
Steve Harrison, Everytime I watch this instructional video, I'm picking up something that I've missed the very first time. Maybe I'm a slower learner but, I'm getting it and starting to apply it with the banjo. Thanks a million!!
Love me some minor key 😌 Thank you for this great lesson! Having never played an instrument before picking up a banjo, this really helps me connect the dots. Can’t wait to practice scales 👍🏼
Thanks so much Steve..Totally agree with JDTignor's comment and you have really uncomplicated something that is usually too difficult to understand..Brilliant!
I really like your vids, they have been very helpful, if you could raise your volume it would be great. I'm running a tugboat in NYC and it's a little loud here. Thx again Jeff Cave
Excellent video Steve. Just don't forget to mention that the 7 chord (F#) in the example you were giving is not minor (It's a diminished chord in the G major/E minor scales).
Thatguyovertherechil thanks for the suggestion. Yep, I definitely missed the mark there. I went back and checked where I went wrong. It’s just serendipity that the F#-Major chord sounds pretty in the songs I was playing. Partially because it was only a passing chord and partially because I wasn’t really strumming. One of the main reasons I make these videos is to learn myself, so mission accomplished. Thanks!
Good video. You didn't mention the circle of 5ths. But that's what You're doing is going thru the circle of fifths. G Maj scale- G=1 A=2 B=3 C=4 D=5 E=6 F=7 G= 8(1) circle. 5ths G D A E B F C G . From G clockwise 5 notes =D (perfect 5th) or G counter-clockwise 4 notes =C perfect forth(Both are only one move on circle of 5ths )(c of 5ths is also circle of 4ths backwards). Those will always be the best sounding changes. The 6 th note will always be your relative minor G(1) to D(5) is 5 notes then one more to E(6) and there's your relative minor of G. If you start at C ( 1) D2 E3 F4 G5 and A6 A minor relative of C. Start at C go 4 back = F perfect 4th Or C +5 = G perfect 5th. Everyone should learn the circle of 5ths!
hank hill that’s it, the Nashville Number System is what I think my my teacher called it. For some reason, that stuck with me and I was able to “circle” back and get to know the theory better. 😊
That's cool I've only read a little about about the Nashville number system, but it seems to tie right into the circle of 5ths. Once you figure out the scale degrees it makes things easier. I've been teaching myself(from books and videos like yours(thanks Btw). I play banjo and a little bit of autoharp which is perfect for nash#system,circ.5ths, and learning chord progressions. That's all you can do on it really. It's odd to me but I have a really hard time learning to play songs on the banjo but I can make my own stuff up , scale, and improv some pretty sweet stuff, fluidly and almost effortlessly. I've got cripple Creek down pretty good but that's I. I don't get it.
th-cam.com/video/_UxzDjU3-hM/w-d-xo.html This is my favorite instructional video on circle of 5ths. I really like his method of teaching. I got out a big peice of cardboard and wrote down everything and made a circle of 5ths poster and it stuck with me.
JDTignor thanks! My old roommate took music theory in university ages ago and tried to teach me some of it. Most of it went over my head back then. Some of it still does - like that F-diminished part that I flubbed. But it’s good practice trying to put it to words. 😊
Hi Steve, I'm going to need a chart for the chords, lol. I noticed you don't hold the banjo with the pot in your lap, ( centre) I have trouble reaching up the neck, so this position is better for me. Happy new year from Pembrokeshire, Wales, U K
Truth be told, I hold the banjo like that so that it can fit in the camera frame. It’s turned into a bit of a bad habit. You might have better luck reaching the chords by angling the neck more upright. Some say the peg should be pointing towards your ear! 😅
Steve........your hands are big like mine, but I cant see to put my fingers cleanly on each note........Is there a secret to it? for example, on D , E, F notes my fingers are all tied up in a knot......I'm not hitting every note cleanly........Is there an easy technique to learn this?..........THANX.
petrovichluzhin this one’s a Pisgah Rambler Dobson. It can get a bit loud. I used to dampen it, but lately I try to play with a more delicate touch. I find that gives me more volume control for dynamics.
So true. The deeper you get into music theory, the more you realize there’s exceptions to every rule. One of my favorites is playing B-major in G when transitioning to C. Those passing tones are fun. That said, there’s some benefit to knowing the simple rules for when you’re in a jam with guitar players and you’re trying to follow along by ear. The odds will be in your favor if you know the basic scale.
Oh another thing that comes to mind is that a lot of bluegrass songs that start in G are actually the D-scale (D-A-G). That’s where knowing the different modes pays off. The fun never ends! 😄
Steve Harrison it probably is handy for some folks to know the scale and maybe it would benefit me in some way. However I have been playing bluegrass banjo for over 20 years and I don’t know any scales. Or at least I don’t know the names of any. Some people would say I’m a professional banjo player but I would debate that ;) my point is, at least for bluegrass music, it’s not mandatory to know the names of scales or to really know much about theory at all.. if you play by ear like I do, you play what you want to hear and it comes out of your hands. Now that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like to know more theory. I watched your video for a reason. I’m learning backwards. I’m going back now and learning theory because I want to learn what and why I’m playing what I’m playing.
What makes you a great teacher is that you are speaking to your students on a level that is easy to understand. You don’t clutter things up with big words and you are not just explaining the theory but applying it right in front of your audience. I normally avoid lengthy videos but your videos are worth watching every minute. Thank you.
This is the most accessible- the most easily utilized- bit of theory you will find, in my view.
Typical discussions of the Circle of Fifths usually focus on key signatures...adding sharps as you move round the circle, etc. Here, we don't care how many sharps or flats a song may require, but clearly demonstrating scale tone chords in the context of a chord progression on the banjo, is a brilliant insight. Thanks, Steve!
This is old, but timeless... and exactly what I needed today! Thank you for putting this together. I think my analytical mind keeps me from going further in my banjo. And this explains a lot for me.
You can never have enough music theory. Real musicians are not afraid of music theory. Major scale W (whole step) W H (half step) W W W H.
G scale: G A B C D E F# G
Major Chord Root then four half step for third, then three half step for fifth. G chord: G B D. C chord: C E G. To get minor chord, lower the third half a step.
Chords Follow the pattern: I major, ii, iii minor, IV, V major, iv minor vii diminished.
In key of G: G, a min, b min, C, D, e minor, f # diminish.
Key of C: C D E F G A B C. All the white keys on piano. Chords in C: C, d minor, e minor, F, G, a minor, b diminished.
The relative minor of G is e minor, so you can start a song in e minor.
The Rolling Stone around Sticky Fingers did a lot of Open G tuning, just like banjo.
When you start on Second note, you have Dorian scale.
Truly the Uncle Dane of banjo players
Steve Harrison, Everytime I watch this instructional video, I'm picking up something that I've missed the very first time. Maybe I'm a slower learner but, I'm getting it and starting to apply it with the banjo. Thanks a million!!
Great job teaching, In the first 59 seconds of this video you showed more than most instructors talking for 30 minutes.
Great instruction - many thanks for a really helpful lesson.
That was great. I will be watching it again and again! Cheers Steve.
Love me some minor key 😌 Thank you for this great lesson! Having never played an instrument before picking up a banjo, this really helps me connect the dots. Can’t wait to practice scales 👍🏼
I really appreciate these video lessons Steve. Inspiring.
Great video, nice link between the chords and modes of the mj scale etc. I’m a harp player but just learning banjo, this was really helpful 🙌🎶
Brilliant,,,, got the claw hammer and drop thumb sorted, going to work on this now, loving the banjo, and your training 👌👌👌👌
I really enjoyed this, and I don't even have a banjo (yet)!
Thnaks for that Steve. That was a great explanation and it definitely opened some new doors of exploration for me.
i cant believe i havent watched this video sooner ! This is a gold mine ! You should make more videos on music theory!
So clear for a beginner like me, if i can attain the music contained in this video i will be happy! Thank you for the time you spend.
This is very cool and fun. Thank you!
Thanks so much Steve..Totally agree with JDTignor's comment and you have really uncomplicated something that is usually too difficult to understand..Brilliant!
Another outstanding video!
Awesome lesson 😊thanks
I took music theory in college and you helped understand it so much more!!! The pull off at 18:41 is soo spooky!!
Great video, makes it click why starting and finishing with G (when in standard tuning) *feels* right.
Thanks man learned so much today!
Thanks for that , Goodonya . 🙏
Heck yeah man. Glad to find you. You got a new subscriber.
I really like your vids, they have been very helpful, if you could raise your volume it would be great. I'm running a tugboat in NYC and it's a little loud here. Thx again Jeff Cave
Good info..great lesson
Thank you Steve!!!!
Helpfull video, thanks.
Excellent! If you are not a professional music teacher, you missed your calling.
Thank you for the excellent theory applied to banjo.
-Smoove
Tip: When showing the scales on some keyboard, it might become more clear to us ignorants and pianoplayers.. 😅
This is good home work thanks Steve great help
Robert Hetherington glad to help! Hopefully, it’ll compliment all the other great music theory lessons out there. 😊
Thank You Awesome Info!!!!
Wow Steve Harrison, awesome video! I still consider myself a beginner, so this is very helpful!! Thank you!!
Karen Stinson I love our banjo community, we all learn a little bit from each other. And I love all the videos you share, too! 😊
How do you share vids?
Beaty of music.
Thank you.
great stuff
NICK DUNNE thanks!
Excellent video Steve. Just don't forget to mention that the 7 chord (F#) in the example you were giving is not minor (It's a diminished chord in the G major/E minor scales).
Thatguyovertherechil thanks for the suggestion. Yep, I definitely missed the mark there. I went back and checked where I went wrong. It’s just serendipity that the F#-Major chord sounds pretty in the songs I was playing. Partially because it was only a passing chord and partially because I wasn’t really strumming. One of the main reasons I make these videos is to learn myself, so mission accomplished. Thanks!
Good video. You didn't mention the circle of 5ths. But that's what You're doing is going thru the circle of fifths. G Maj scale- G=1 A=2 B=3 C=4 D=5 E=6 F=7 G= 8(1) circle. 5ths G D A E B F C G . From G clockwise 5 notes =D (perfect 5th) or G counter-clockwise 4 notes =C perfect forth(Both are only one move on circle of 5ths )(c of 5ths is also circle of 4ths backwards). Those will always be the best sounding changes. The 6 th note will always be your relative minor G(1) to D(5) is 5 notes then one more to E(6) and there's your relative minor of G. If you start at C ( 1) D2 E3 F4 G5 and A6 A minor relative of C. Start at C go 4 back = F perfect 4th Or C +5 = G perfect 5th. Everyone should learn the circle of 5ths!
Learning it has really helped me anyways. Either way, I liked the way you put it. Seems like the Nashville number system?
hank hill that’s it, the Nashville Number System is what I think my my teacher called it. For some reason, that stuck with me and I was able to “circle” back and get to know the theory better. 😊
That's cool I've only read a little about about the Nashville number system, but it seems to tie right into the circle of 5ths. Once you figure out the scale degrees it makes things easier. I've been teaching myself(from books and videos like yours(thanks Btw). I play banjo and a little bit of autoharp which is perfect for nash#system,circ.5ths, and learning chord progressions. That's all you can do on it really. It's odd to me but I have a really hard time learning to play songs on the banjo but I can make my own stuff up , scale, and improv some pretty sweet stuff, fluidly and almost effortlessly. I've got cripple Creek down pretty good but that's I. I don't get it.
th-cam.com/video/_UxzDjU3-hM/w-d-xo.html This is my favorite instructional video on circle of 5ths. I really like his method of teaching. I got out a big peice of cardboard and wrote down everything and made a circle of 5ths poster and it stuck with me.
thanks got the scale down pat ,but stalled on chords & modes not giving up
No hurry. Just pick off a little bit at a time and add it as you go. 😊
You pretty much just condensed "college" level music theory down to 20 minutes. Great job!
JDTignor thanks! My old roommate took music theory in university ages ago and tried to teach me some of it. Most of it went over my head back then. Some of it still does - like that F-diminished part that I flubbed. But it’s good practice trying to put it to words. 😊
oh, you mean F#m7b5? 🤣
And totally, not an easy thing to explain but you do a great job simplifying into digestible chunks.
hey there what kind of banjo are you using? I love the sound and wanna buy one...
John Moore talks about root chords. Would you please comment?
Hi Steve, I'm going to need a chart for the chords, lol. I noticed you don't hold the banjo with the pot in your lap, ( centre) I have trouble reaching up the neck, so this position is better for me. Happy new year from Pembrokeshire, Wales, U K
Truth be told, I hold the banjo like that so that it can fit in the camera frame. It’s turned into a bit of a bad habit. You might have better luck reaching the chords by angling the neck more upright. Some say the peg should be pointing towards your ear! 😅
Steve........your hands are big like mine, but I cant see to put my fingers cleanly on each note........Is there a secret to it? for example, on D , E, F notes my fingers are all tied up in a knot......I'm not hitting every
note cleanly........Is there an easy technique to learn this?..........THANX.
what kind of banjo are you playing here? do you dampen it behind the head with anything?
petrovichluzhin this one’s a Pisgah Rambler Dobson. It can get a bit loud. I used to dampen it, but lately I try to play with a more delicate touch. I find that gives me more volume control for dynamics.
Did you say "third" or "bird"? ;)
Hah! 😂
But tons of songs in g have an A major. I understand the point you are making but how many bluegrass tunes have a 2 major in the key of G? A lot.
So true. The deeper you get into music theory, the more you realize there’s exceptions to every rule. One of my favorites is playing B-major in G when transitioning to C. Those passing tones are fun. That said, there’s some benefit to knowing the simple rules for when you’re in a jam with guitar players and you’re trying to follow along by ear. The odds will be in your favor if you know the basic scale.
Oh another thing that comes to mind is that a lot of bluegrass songs that start in G are actually the D-scale (D-A-G). That’s where knowing the different modes pays off. The fun never ends! 😄
Steve Harrison it probably is handy for some folks to know the scale and maybe it would benefit me in some way. However I have been playing bluegrass banjo for over 20 years and I don’t know any scales. Or at least I don’t know the names of any. Some people would say I’m a professional banjo player but I would debate that ;) my point is, at least for bluegrass music, it’s not mandatory to know the names of scales or to really know much about theory at all.. if you play by ear like I do, you play what you want to hear and it comes out of your hands. Now that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like to know more theory. I watched your video for a reason. I’m learning backwards. I’m going back now and learning theory because I want to learn what and why I’m playing what I’m playing.
F# diminished... The seventh scale degree is diminished, as is the second scale degree of e minor.