Starting out with your first Tenor Banjo Lessons
Following are our beginning tenor banjo lessons...be sure to pay close attention to developing good habits from the start. It's highly recommended to hire a qualified teacher that can make sure you're starting with the correct positions. If you do not have one available nearby, you can also consider an instructional video that teaches proper positioning along with many other essential tenor banjo techniques as taught through its sister instrument, the mandola: "Introduction to the Mandola" with Tenor Banjo Tuning.
Tenor Banjo Lessons
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Books & DVDs
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Tuning: C - G - D - A
Following are our online Tenor Banjo lessons...be sure to pay close attention to developing good habits from the start. It's highly recommend to hire a qualified teacher that can make sure you're starting with the correct positions.
Tenor
Banjo can be interchanged with Mandola. In other words, once you've learned Tenor Banjo, you can also play Mandola ... the standard traditional tuning for Tenor Banjo is C-G-D-A from low to high. Both Tenor Banjo and Mandola have a beautiful range of tonality ... and, when playing in a jam session, recording or performing, it's far more versatile to have both the Tenor and Mandola kept ready to play for different applications.
Because these instruments are completely interchangeable, all instructional material for both are also interchangeable. Chord Charts, Notation/Tablature, Melodies and even right and left-hand techniques will apply to both instruments evenly. Certainly, you would use a different attack with the right hand since the Tenor Banjo is far more sensitive than the Mandola ... however, this is an easy adjustment between the two.
If you'd like a reference source to differentiate these two instruments, or to consider taking one or both up, we have Video Samplers demonstrating the tonality of both of these instruments. Click Here for our Main Video Samplers Section. |
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Tenor
Banjo Instructional as Taught Through Mandola with C/G/D/A Tuning:
Introduction to the Mandola
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For further Tenor Banjo Studies, you might want to consider the below instructional DVD and Book. Most applications taught in Introduction to Mandolin and Mandolin Crosspicking Technique can be applied directly to the Tenor Banjo. Crosspicking Tenor Banjo opens up entirely new possibilities and even lends a fullness to the Tenor Banjo which allows the instrument to be played as a solo instrument (without accompaniment). Check out our free online Crosspicking Lessons and try applying them to your Tenor Banjo (or consider purchasing the book: "Mandolin Crosspicking Technique".
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Buy the DVD:
Introduction to the Mandolin
A perfect introduction to the Mandolin. Covers everything the beginner needs to know to get started on the Mandolin. From proper positioning for the right and left hands to great songs that will make your Mandolin truly sing for both soloing and accompanying within jam sessions or playing completely by yourself. |
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Buy the Book:
Mandolin Crosspicking Technique
Learn to play Crosspicking Mandolin! A perfect introductory, comprehensive book on everything to do with Crosspicking Mandolin. Includes exercises and studies that will lay a solid foundation for you before you tackle more difficult pieces. This book makes learning the art of crosspicking mandolin fun, easy and exciting. This is the most comprehensive book that can be found on crosspicking mandolin. It will teach you the many applications possible such as in bluegrass, folk, ragtime, rock and even jazz. |
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