Happy Picking! All Things Banjo Podcast

Sheffield Banjo Lessons

Welcome to 'Happy Picking!' a podcast about all things banjo! This show will bring you information, tips, breakdowns and information to help you explore the fabulous world of the banjo. Get in touch with any questions you would like to ask, nothing is too small if it helps! I'll keep checking the mailbag. For more lessons, tabs, tips, information and tracks; check out Sheffield Banjo Lessons at the links below: Website - www.sheffieldbanjolessons.co.uk Tab Store & Ko-fi - https://ko-fi.com/sheffieldbanjolessons Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/cw/SheffieldBanjoLessons Happy Picking!

Episodes

  1. Jun 23

    EP4 - Deering Deep Dive: Choosing the Right Banjo for You & What to Look out for When Buying a Banjo...

    Thinking about buying a Deering banjo but not sure which model is right for you? ...or do you just want to know what goes in to choosing the right banjo? In this episode, we take a deep dive into the Deering banjo lineup, from the popular Goodtime series right through to the professional-grade Sierra, Eagle II, Golden Era and Tenbrooks models. We'll explore the history of Deering Banjos, what makes each model different, and the key features every player should understand before making a purchase. From tone rings and resonators to neck woods, hardware and build quality, we'll explain how these components affect banjo tone, playability and value. Whether you're looking for the best beginner banjo, upgrading to an intermediate bluegrass banjo, or considering a high-end professional instrument, this episode will help you compare Deering banjos and make an informed decision. We'll also share our recommendations for different budgets, discuss common mistakes banjo buyers make, and look at alternative brands such as Recording King, Gold Tone, Pisgah and Ozark. Topics covered: • History of Deering Banjos • Which components make the biggest difference • Open-back vs resonator banjos • Tone rings explained • Best Deering banjo for beginners • Intermediate and professional banjo options (Sierra, Boston and the Eagle II) • What to look for when buying a banjo • New vs used banjos • Alternative banjo brands worth considering If you've ever wondered "Which Deering banjo should I buy?" this episode is for you. Thanks for joining and as always... Happy Picking! #DeeringBanjos #BanjoPodcast #BluegrassBanjo #BanjoBuyingGuide #GoodtimeBanjo #SierraBanjo #BanjoReviews #BanjoPlayer #BanjoLessons #OldTimeMusic #BluegrassMusic

    EP4 - Deering Deep Dive: Choosing the Right Banjo for You & What to Look out for When Buying a Banjo...
  2. Jun 8

    EP2 - All About Licks! - Deconstructing & How to Write Banjo Licks

    Welcome to Episode 2 of the 'Happy Picking!' podcast! This episode we talk 'All About Licks'. Playing, learning and being able to craft licks on the banjo is such a fundamental tool for all banjo players and has been for over 100 years! In this episode we take a deep dive into the world of licks and look at understanding licks by approaching the questions of: - What is a lick? - When do we play licks? - How do we know which lick toplay? - How many licks should I learn? With that knowledge in mind, we will progress to look atdeconstructing a lick and the recipe for building them yourself. We look at: - What is in a lick? - The recipe for writing a lick. - Writing licks in 'G'. - The G major scale and the theorythat we need to know to write a lick. - Adding techniques and scalenotes to licks. - Writing licks for 'C' and 'D'chords. In the final part of the show we will delve even furtherand get into the awesome nitty-gritty world of the blues note and the dominant 7th and how to really flavour your licks in a more 'bluegrass' way. - Bluegrass techniques for licks - What is a 'blues note'? - Using blues notes in 'G' and 'C'. - What is a 'dominant 7th'? - Using the dominant 7th in licks. * Please remember to like, subscribe and get in touch totell me how you enjoyed the show and which sort of licks you have written. LINKS Click on the links below to get the files for the show. HP#2- 'All About Licks' Tab Sheet: - Download the tab file for today's episode and check out the other tabs available. Patreon Ko-fi Store SBL Tab Store Blank Tablature Sheet: - Print these blank tablaturesheets for 5 string banjo and write your own licks. ⁠Patreon⁠ ⁠Ko-fi Store⁠ ⁠SBL Tab Store⁠ ⁠12 Bar in G Backing Tracks:⁠ - Practice different licks playingalong to these 12 bar backing tracks in the key of G. - Available at 80/100/120/140 bpm.   Have fun writing and...Happy Picking!

    EP2 - All About Licks! - Deconstructing & How to Write Banjo Licks

About

Welcome to 'Happy Picking!' a podcast about all things banjo! This show will bring you information, tips, breakdowns and information to help you explore the fabulous world of the banjo. Get in touch with any questions you would like to ask, nothing is too small if it helps! I'll keep checking the mailbag. For more lessons, tabs, tips, information and tracks; check out Sheffield Banjo Lessons at the links below: Website - www.sheffieldbanjolessons.co.uk Tab Store & Ko-fi - https://ko-fi.com/sheffieldbanjolessons Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/cw/SheffieldBanjoLessons Happy Picking!