Welcome to Breakthrough Banjo!
As you may know, this course is designed to provide you the most efficient, effective, and fun path to learning fingerstyle banjo. As such, it’s important to understand how to navigate through the course materials.
Below you will find the course contents divided into 4 sections, which are:
Getting Started (“Banjo Basics”). This includes the stuff that’s good to know before you get started plucking your first string in an upward fashion. While the order in which you consume each lesson isn’t critical, it is recommended that you complete this section before moving onto the Primary Learning Modules.
Primary Learning Modules. This is where the meat of your learning will occur, where you will progressively acquire picking skills of increasing complexity on your way to making amazing sounds on your instrument. Based on the Brainjo Method, these lessons are designed to be moved through in sequential order. Furthermore, each lesson will provide you the criteria to be met before moving onto the next lesson. Resist the temptation to rush through these modules, as your future success depends heavily on building a solid foundation from the beginning.
Supplemental Knowledge. This section contains supplemental knowledge about music and the banjo that’s important to know, but needn’t be consumed in order (unlike the Primary Learning Modules), and many of the topics will become increasingly relevant as your skills grow. Feel free to visit this section at any point.
Learning Resources. From jamming with the jam tracks, to working on developing you ear, to the Vault – a growing library of song tutorials for you to add to your growing repertoire – this contains stuff to help you reinforce and grow your fingerpicking skills, and to just relax and have a good time with the world’s greatest instrument!
The Brainjo Virtual Classroom. A new feature launched in Dec. 2018, the virtual classroom hosts regular live workshops on essential topics for banjo players, as well as step by step song tutorials. Click here to learn more about the Virtual Classroom.
You will see additional content appear in these areas as time goes on.
Banjo Basics
| Module 1 | Banjo Basics |
| The "Banjo Basics" Module reviews what you need to know before getting started plucking your first banjo string. | |
| Lesson 1 | The Breakthrough Banjo Course Overview |
| Lesson 2 | Holding the Banjo |
| Lesson 3 | All About Fingerpicks |
| Lesson 4 | Banjo Type: Resonator or Openback? |
| Lesson 5 | Banjo Strings |
| Lesson 6 | How To Change A Banjo String |
| Lesson 7 | Proper Picking Hand Position |
| Lesson 8 | Fearless Fretting |
| Lesson 9 | Tuning the Banjo |
| Lesson 10 | How To Use The Practice Exercises |
| Lesson 11 | Anatomy of Fingerstyle Banjo |
| Lesson 12 | The Brainjo Tune Learnin' System |
| Lesson 13 | Beats for Banjo - the metronome killer |
Primary Learning Modules
| Module 1 | The Mighty Thumb |
| In this module, you'll learn how to develop a dextrous and dependable thumb, the most pivotal appendage in the world of banjo pickery. We'll begin by reviewing the basic picking motion, then get cranking with some tune exercises to help mold a mighty thumb. | |
| Lesson 1 | The Thumb Strike |
| Lesson 2 | The Thumb Squared (thumb & fifth) |
| Module 2 | First Chords |
| In this lesson, you'll learn your first 3 chords in standard G tuning, unlocking the door to playing a surprising number of tunes! | |
| Lesson 1 | Your First Chords |
| Module 3 | The Index Finger |
| In this module we'll start getting the index finger in on the action, greatly expanding the range of potential amazing sounds we can make on the banjo! | |
| Lesson 1 | The Index Pinch |
| Lesson 2 | Thumb Lead Banjo! |
| Module 4 | 3 Finger Banjo |
| In this module, we'll start add our 3rd and final finger, fretting hand techniques, and then dive into the nitty gritty of the various 3 finger styles of banjo. | |
| Lesson 1 | 3 Finger Banjo - the MIDDLE finger! |
| Lesson 2 | The BAR Chord |
| Lesson 3 | Introduction to Fretting Hand Techniques |
| Lesson 4 | Fretting Hand Technique #1: The Hammer On |
| Lesson 5 | Fretting Hand Technique #2: The Slide |
| Lesson 6 | Fretting Hand Techniques #3: The Pull Off |
| Lesson 7 | Fretting Hand Techniques: Practice Exercises |
| Module 5 | Module 5: Scruggs style banjo |
| In this module series, you'll learn the essential elements of Scruggs style banjo, and then how to use that knowledge to "Scruggs-ify" any arrangement. | |
| Lesson 1 | Scruggs Style Banjo, Part 1 |
| Lesson 2 | Scruggs Style Banjo, part 2 |
| Lesson 3 | Scruggs Style Banjo: Practice Exercises |
| Module 6 | New chord shapes and playing backup |
| In these modules, you'll learn new moveable chord shapes, and we'll review some simple strategies for playing some really effective backup. | |
| Lesson 1 | The "F" and "D" shape chords |
| Lesson 2 | Stupid Simple Backup, Part 1 |
| Lesson 3 | Stupid Simple Backup, Part 2 |
| Module 7 | How To Play By Ear |
| Learning to play by ear is the single best way to accelerate your development as a player, and something that ANYONE can learn how to do. In this series of lessons, we'll break down the process of playing by ear into a series of steps anyone can master. | |
| Lesson 1 | How To Play By Ear, Part 1: How to Hear Chord Changes |
| Lesson 2 | How To Play By Ear, Part 2: Finding the Melody |
| Lesson 3 | How To Play By Ear, Part 3: Building A Complete Arrangement from Scratch |
| Lesson 4 | The Playing By Ear Laboratory |
Supplemental Knowledge
| Module 1 | Reading the Tabs |
| Unfamiliar with the conventions of banjo tab? Click here to learn more about how to read them. | |
| Lesson 1 | Reading the Tabs |
| Module 2 | The "Labyrinth" Practice Technique |
| In this module, you'll learn a simple but remarkably effective practice technique that can dramatically shorten the amount of time it takes you to learn new skills and tunes. | |
| Lesson 1 | The "Labyrinth" Practice Technique |
| Module 3 | How To Tune To Any Tuning |
In this module, you'll learn exactly how to get your banjo into any new tuning you might encounter, and learn some practical music theory along the way. | |
| Lesson 1 | How To Tune The Banjo To Any Tuning |
| Module 4 | The "Laws of Brainjo" |
| The "Immutable Laws of Brainjo" is a series of articles, written in partnership with the Banjo Hangout, that outlines the principles of Brainjo. While the Brainjo Method has been "baked in" to the course materials, understanding the theoretical principles behind it will allow you reap even more benefits from the course and your practice sessions | |
| Lesson 1 | The Laws of Brainjo - Deconstructing the Art & Science of Effective Practice |
| Module 5 | Module 4: Singing and Playing |
| There's a very long tradition of banjoists singing and playing with the banjo, and rightly so - it's some of the most fun you can have as a banjo player! In this module, we'll cover the ins and outs of how to provide simple and tasteful backup to the human voice (whether you're doing the singing, or someone else!) | |
| Lesson 1 | Playing and Singing Tutorial and Demo: 2-finger thumb lead style |
| Lesson 2 | How To Play & Sing |
| Module 6 | Essential Music Theory for the Banjo Player |
| Wouldn't it be great if there was a course on music theory that just focused on the useful bits, and showed you precisely how to use them? Well, now there is! In this module, I'm dumping every bit of useful music theory from my brain to yours, including the specific situations where it's most applicable for the clawhammer banjo player. | |
| Lesson 1 | Essentials of Music Theory for the Banjo Player, Part 1 |
| Lesson 2 | Essentials of Music Theory for the Banjo Player, Part 2 |
| Lesson 3 | Essentials of Music Theory for the Banjo Player, the conclusion |
| Module 7 | 9 Ways To Practice Smarter |
In the 9 Ways To Practice Smarter video workshop and ebook, you'll learn the fundamental principles for how to apply the lessons of neuroscience to make the most of your practice time. | |
| Lesson 1 | 9 Ways To Practice Smarter |
Learning Resources
The Virtual Classroom
The virtual classroom hosts regular live workshops on essential topics for banjo players, as well as step by step song tutorials. Click here to learn more about the Virtual Classroom.
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. Click here to check out the Lick Library (be sure to download the PDF of all the licks).
Beats for Banjo practice tool (the metronome killer!)
I recently created a new tool, Beats for Banjo, which replaces the metronome tracks that used to be here. Why? Because it’s more effective and more fun! Click here to check it out, and watch the video where I review 9 different ways to use it.
The “Vault” – Your Song Learning Library
Searchable Index of Tabs
The Tab “Walk-Through” Videos
A new feature launched in Dec. 2018, in these videos, which originally air live in the Virtual Classroom, I walk step-by-step through one of the tabs in the Vault. Click here to check them out.
| Module 1 | The Vault - Melody Lines |
| Learning any new song should always start with making sure you know the basic melody. It's also critical to the process of building your ear. In this module, you'll find the basic melodies for all the songs in the course, both sung and played on the banjo, along with the tab for the basic melody on the banjo. | |
| Lesson 1 | Melody lines for banjo, voice, and in tab |
| Module 2 | 2 Finger Thumb Lead Vault |
| The arrangements here are intended to help reinforce the skills you learned up through the "Thumb Lead Banjer" lesson, and give you some more great songs to play! | |
| Lesson 1 | 8 More Miles To Louisville (thumb lead tutorial) |
| Lesson 2 | Amazing Grace (thumb lead tutorial) |
| Lesson 3 | Angelina Baker, thumb lead banjo |
| Lesson 4 | Arkansas Traveler (thumb lead tutorial) |
| Lesson 5 | Cluck Ol' Hen (thumb lead banjo) |
| Lesson 6 | Cotton Eyed Joe (thumb lead tutorial) |
| Lesson 7 | Cripple Creek (thumb lead tutorial) |
| Lesson 8 | Cumberland Gap (thumb lead tutorial) |
| Lesson 9 | Darling Corey (thumb lead tutorial) |
| Lesson 10 | Groundhog (thumb lead tutorial) |
| Lesson 11 | Handsome Molly (thumb lead tutorial) |
| Lesson 12 | Julianne Johnson (thumb lead tutorial) |
| Lesson 13 | Keep on the Sunny Side (thumb lead tutorial) |
| Lesson 14 | Lazy John (thumb lead tutorial) |
| Lesson 15 | Little Maggie (thumb lead tutorial) |
| Lesson 16 | Miss McLeod's Reel (thumb lead tutorial) |
| Lesson 17 | Mountain Dew (thumb lead tutorial) |
| Lesson 18 | Pretty Polly (thumb lead tutorial) |
| Lesson 19 | Raleigh & Spencer (thumb lead tutorial) |
| Lesson 20 | Red River Valley (thumb lead tutorial) |
| Lesson 21 | She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain (thumb lead tutorial) |
| Lesson 22 | Sourwood Mountain (thumb lead tutorial) |
| Lesson 23 | Short Life of Trouble (thumb lead tutorial) |
| Lesson 24 | Shortnin' Bread (thumb lead tutorial) |
| Lesson 25 | Wild Bill Jones (thumb lead tutorial) |
| Lesson 26 | You Are My Sunshine (thumb lead tutorial) |
| Module 3 | 3-finger Banjo Vault |
| Your library of 3 finger style arrangements. Level 2 arrangements will only include techniques covered through the first 3 finger banjo learning module, while level 3 arrangements will also include techniques covered in the Bluegrass Banjo learning module. | |
| Lesson 1 | 8 More Miles to Louisville (3 finger banjo), Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 2 | 8 More Miles to Louisville (3 finger banjo), Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 3 | All the Good Times are Past and Gone, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 4 | Amazing Grace (3 finger tutorial) - Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 5 | Amazing Grace (3 finger banjo), Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 6 | Angelina Baker, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 7 | Arkansas Traveler, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 8 | The Ballad of Jed (3 finger banjo), Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 9 | Bile Dem Cabbage Down (3 finger banjo), Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 10 | Bile Dem Cabbage Down (3 finger banjo), Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 11 | Bill Cheatham, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 12 | Billy in the Lowland, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3-4 |
| Lesson 13 | Blue Ridge Cabin Home (3 finger banjo), Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 14 | Blue Ridge Cabin Home (3 finger banjo), Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 15 | Buffalo Gals, 3 finger banjo (Brainjo level 3) |
| Lesson 16 | Bury Me Beneath the Willow (3 finger banjo), Brainjo Level 2 |
| Lesson 17 | Bury Me Beneath the Willow (3 finger banjo), Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 18 | Coal Creek March (3 finger banjo), Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 19 | Coke Oven March (3 finger banjo), Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 20 | Cripple Creek, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 21 | Cripple Creek, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 22 | Cumberland Gap, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 23 | Cumberland Gap, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 24 | East Tennessee Blues, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 25 | Fireball Mail, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 26 | Fireball Mail, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 27 | Foggy Mountain Top, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 28 | Foggy Mountain Top, 3 finger, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 29 | Goodnight Irene, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 30 | I'll Fly Away, 3 finger banjo (Brainjo level 2) |
| Lesson 31 | Home Sweet Home (3 finger banjo), Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 32 | I'll Fly Away, 3 finger banjo (Brainjo level 3) |
| Lesson 33 | John Brown's Dream, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 34 | John Hardy, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 35 | John Hardy, 3 finger, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 36 | John Henry, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 37 | John Henry, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 38 | Let Me Fall, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 39 | Lonesome Road Blues, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 40 | Lonesome Road Blues, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 41 | Long Journey Home, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 42 | Mountain Dew, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 43 | New River Train, Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 44 | New River Train, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 45 | Nine Pound Hammer, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 46 | Nine Pound Hammer, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 47 | Old Joe Clark, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 48 | Pretty Polly, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 49 | Red River Valley, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 50 | Redwing, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 51 | Sailor's Hornpipe, 3 finger banjo, 3 finger banjo |
| Lesson 52 | Salty Dog, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 53 | Salty Dog, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 54 | Shady Grove, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 55 | Shortnin Bread, 3 finger banjo (Brainjo level 3) |
| Lesson 56 | Stoney Point, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3-4 |
| Lesson 57 | Soldier's Joy, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 58 | You Are My Sunshine, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 2 |
| Module 4 | 3 Finger Banjo - Christmas & Holiday Collection |
| This module includes arrangements and video tutorials for music of the holidays. These are great songs for learning early on, as many will be melodies that you know very well. | |
| Lesson 1 | Angels We Have Heard on High, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 2 | Angels We Have Heard on High, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 3 | Deck the Halls, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 4 | Deck the Halls, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3-4 |
| Lesson 5 | God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 6 | God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 7 | Good King Wenceslas, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 8 | Good King Wenceslas, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 9 | Hark the Herald, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 10 | Hark the Herald, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 11 | Jingle Bells, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 12 | Jingle Bells, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 13 | Joy to the World, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 14 | Jolly Ol' Saint Nicholas, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 15 | Jolly Ol' Saint Nicholas, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 16 | Joy to the World, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 17 | Oh Come All Ye Faithful, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 18 | Oh Come All Ye Faithful, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 19 | Silent Night, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 20 | Silent Night, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 21 | Up on a Housetop, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 22 | Up on a Housetop, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Lesson 23 | We Three Kings, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 2 |
| Lesson 24 | We Three Kings, 3 finger banjo, Brainjo level 3 |
| Module 5 | 2 Finger Vault - Old Time Classics |
Here you'll find tabs and tutorials for classic tunes and songs of old-time music. | |
| Lesson 1 | Angelina Baker |
| Lesson 2 | Big Eyed Rabbit |
| Lesson 3 | Big Liza |
| Lesson 4 | Cluck Ol' Hen |
| Lesson 5 | Cold Frosty Morning |
| Lesson 6 | Cumberland Gap (in D) |
| Lesson 7 | Georgia Railroad |
| Lesson 8 | Golden Slippers |
| Lesson 9 | Gospel Plow |
| Lesson 10 | Julianne Johnson |
| Lesson 11 | June Apple |
| Lesson 12 | Liberty |
| Lesson 13 | Little Sadie |
| Lesson 14 | Mississippi Sawyer |
| Lesson 15 | Nail That Catfish To A Tree |
| Lesson 16 | Ragtime Annie |
| Lesson 17 | Redwing |
| Lesson 18 | Rock the Cradle, Joe |
| Lesson 19 | Shoes and Stockings |
| Lesson 20 | Soldier's Joy |
| Lesson 21 | Spotted Pony |
| Lesson 22 | St. Anne's Reel |
| Lesson 23 | Sugar Hill |
| Lesson 24 | Train on the Island |
| Lesson 25 | Waterbound (aka Stay All Night) |
| Lesson 26 | Willie Moore |
| Module 6 | 2 Finger Vault - Bluegrass Standards |
Here you'll find tabs and tutorials for bluegrass standards. | |
| Lesson 1 | Aint Gonna Work Tomorrow |
| Lesson 2 | All The Good Times Are Past & Gone |
| Lesson 3 | Bile Dem Cabbage Down |
| Lesson 4 | Blue Ridge Cabin Home |
| Lesson 5 | Bury Me Beneath the Willow |
| Lesson 6 | Cluck Ol' Hen |
| Lesson 7 | Cripple Creek (2 finger) |
| Lesson 8 | Cumberland Gap |
| Lesson 9 | Earl's Breakdown |
| Lesson 10 | Feast Here Tonight |
| Lesson 11 | Long Journey Home |
| Lesson 12 | Old Joe Clark |
| Lesson 13 | Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms |
| Lesson 14 | Tom Dooley |
| Lesson 15 | Wabash Cannonball |
| Lesson 16 | Whiskey Before Breakfast |
| Module 7 | 2 Finger Vault - Fan Favorites |
| Songs for bringing down the house with only 2 fingers. | |
| Lesson 1 | 8 More Miles To Louisville |
| Lesson 2 | Aint Gonna Work Tomorrow |
| Lesson 3 | All The Good Times Are Past And Gone |
| Lesson 4 | Amazing Grace |
| Lesson 5 | Arkansas Traveler |
| Lesson 6 | Bury Me Beneath The Willow Tree |
| Lesson 7 | Cold Frosty Morning |
| Lesson 8 | Cripple Creek |
| Lesson 9 | Darling Corey |
| Lesson 10 | Gospel Plow |
| Lesson 11 | Keep on the Sunny Side |
| Lesson 12 | Lazy John |
| Lesson 13 | Mountain Dew |
| Lesson 14 | Pretty Polly |
| Lesson 15 | Red River Valley |
| Lesson 16 | Redwing |
| Lesson 17 | Waterbound |
| Lesson 18 | Wild Bill Jones |
| Lesson 19 | You Are My Sunshine |
| Module 8 | 2 Finger Vault - Mountain Modal |
Classic songs in "modal" (gDGCD) tuning. | |
| Lesson 1 | Cluck Ol' Hen |
| Lesson 2 | Cold Frosty Morn |
| Lesson 3 | Little Sadie |
| Lesson 4 | Pretty Polly |
| Lesson 5 | Shady Grove |
| Module 9 | 2 Finger Vault - Traditional Folk |
Classic, timeless, transcendent music for the people, by the people. | |
| Lesson 1 | Darling Corey |
| Lesson 2 | Goodnight Irene |
| Lesson 3 | Gospel Plow |
| Lesson 4 | Lazy John |
| Lesson 5 | Oh Susanna |
| Lesson 6 | Railroad Bill |
| Lesson 7 | Raleigh and Spencer |
| Lesson 8 | Red River Valley |
| Lesson 9 | Redwing |
| Lesson 10 | Shady Grove |
| Lesson 11 | Waterbound |
| Lesson 12 | Wayfaring Stranger |
| Lesson 13 | Yankee Doodle |
The Jam Dojo
Click here to enter the Jam Dojo, containing the ultimate banjo backup tracks, where you can work on your entire gamut of developing skills (playing solos, changing chords, playing backup, jamming, improvising, and so on).
The Ear Laboratory
Click here to enter the “Playing by” Ear Laboratory, containing exercises plus an ongoing video lesson series. Everything you need to learn to play by ear! (recommended to start after completing the 3 Primary Lesson modules on playing by ear.
Singing & Playing Tutorials
In these videos, which are an extension of the learning modules on playing and singing, and part of the live Brainjo Virtual classroom series of workshops, we’ll walk step by step by how to play and sing a song inside of The Vault.
Click here to view the Playing & Singing Tutorial video archive.
Coming to the Learning Resources section: “Rolling” backup, and many more song tutorials in the Vault.
Questions? Contact me at josh@fingerstylebanjo.com