The Breakthrough Banjo Course

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Get the entire first month of Breakthrough Banjo FREE, and get the Banjo Player’s Songbook as a free bonus.

click to learn more about the Banjo Player’s Songbook

ABOUT THE COURSE: Breakthrough Banjo is a complete, beginner-to-advanced course for fingerstyle banjo. It is based on Brainjo Method, a neuroscience based system of instruction designed so that anyone can learn to play, regardless of age or prior musical experience.

On this page you’ll find a video tour inside the course, along with descriptions of the various content areas.

Tour the BREAKTHROUGH BANJO Course...

More About the Course and the Brainjo Method

VIDEO: About the Brainjo Method

VIDEO: Goals of the Course

VIDEO: What Styles Will You Learn?

VIDEO: Course Overview

Course Content Areas

As you can see from the video, the course is divided into multiple sections, all of which can be accessed from the main course menu. Below is a listing of the major sections of the course, along with the kinds of content they contain.

BANJO BASICS. This section includes the essential things you need to know before getting started picking your first string.

Topics of the Banjo Basics Modules Include:

Holding the Banjo
All About Fingerpicks
Banjo Strings
Banjo Types
Proper Picking Hand Position
Tuning the Banjo,
Fearless Fretting
Anatomy of Fingerstyle Banjo
The Brainjo Tune Learnin’ System
and more…

PRIMARY LEARNING MODULES. This is where you’ll learn the fundamental skills and knowledge of fingerstyle banjo. You’ll do so in a carefully chosen, step-by-step sequence.

Topics of the Primary Learning Modules Include:

Essential Picking Hand Techniques
Essential Fretting Hand Technique
Thumb Lead Banjo
3 Finger Banjo (old time, bluegrass / Scruggs)
Essential Chords Shapes
“Stupid Simple” Backup
How to Hear Chord Changes (playing by ear, part 1)
How to Find the Melody (playing by ear, part 2)
How to Build a Complete Arrangement from Scratch (playing by ear, part 3)
and more!

THE VAULT. Arguably the most popular part of the Breakthrough Banjo course, “The Vault” is the ultimate (and always expanding) library of clawhammer banjo tabs and tune tutorials. Click here for the list of songs and tunes currently in The Vault.

SUPPLEMENTAL LEARNING MODULES.This is where you’ll find lessons on other essential topics in fingerstyle banjo. Unlike the Primary Learning Modules, the order in which these are consumed is not as important.

Topics here include brain-based practice techniques, how to play and sing in 2 and 3 finger style, and the essentials of music theory for the banjo.

THE JAM DOJO. Containing the ultimate banjo backup tracks for songs in The Vault, the “dojo” is where you can work on your entire gamut of developing skills (playing solos, changing chords, playing backup, jamming, improvising, and so on).

Topics here include brain-based practice techniques, how to play and sing in 2 and 3 finger style, and the essentials of music theory for the banjo.

THE LICK LIBRARY. “Licks” are an essential part of the Scruggs banjo sound. In the “Lick Library,” you’ll learn what licks are, how and when to use them, and review in detail the classic lead-in, fill, backup, and tag licks.

THE VIRTUAL CLASSROOM. The Virtual Classroom is where live workshops are held, including tune and song tutorials, along with topics that are underrepresented in traditional instruction. Workshops include a supplementary PDF book, and are archived for future viewing.

THE “EAR LAB”. Anyone can learn to play by ear. All it takes is practice.

Intended as an extension of the 3 part series on how to play by ear in the Primary Learning Modules, the Ear Lab contains workshops and tools for continuing to develop your ability to play by ear, jam, and improvise.

Also includes the How to Sing & Play series of workshops, where we walk step by step through the process of how to play and sing a song.

BEATS FOR BANJO. Also known as “the metronome killer,” Beats for Banjo are rhythm tracks designed specifically for banjo practice. They are enormously helpful for working on rhythm and timing, and have multiple uses.

I personally use these tracks all the time – they’re loads of fun to play with and hugely helpful.

Still have questions? Click here for our FAQ page.

Words from BREAKTHROUGH BANJO MEMBERS…