Harmonized Scales, Part 1

from: Contemporary Bluegrass Banjo with Wes Corbett

This lesson is part of the course Contemporary Bluegrass Banjo with Wes Corbett.

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Learn the style of contemporary three-finger banjo used by Béla Fleck, Noam Pikelny, Ron Block, and others. With lessons on single-string and melodic style, fingerboard theory, improvisation, and more. For intermediate to advanced players.

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VARIATIONS ON “CRIPPLE CREEK”

Wes shows you some ways to vary the melody of “Cripple Creek” and introduces the concept of “melodic style” banjo. Melodic-style was invented by banjoist Bill Keith, who devised a way to play linear note-for-note melodies where you never play the same string consecutively. Wes walks you through the variations phrase by phrase, pointing out how each variation relates to the original melody.

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Detailed tablature for every lesson
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Play-Along Tracks so you can practice what you’ve learned

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HARMONIZED SCALES

Harmonized Scales, Part 1

Harmonized Scales, Part 2

Harmonized Scales, Part 1

Wes introduces the concept of harmonized scales and explains how they are essential to learning to playmelodies on the banjo, or any instrument. He shows you to play a major scale starting on the root and starting on the third and combine them to create a major scale harmonized in thirds. He walks you through the thirds on the second and third strings, pointing out how the shapes of the thirds change as they move up the neck, and how to play them within a roll pattern.

Harmonized Scales (Available to subscribers)

Previous Lesson

← Variations on “Cripple Creek,” Part 5: Play-Along Track for Variation #2

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Harmonized Scales, Part 2 →

Previous Lesson

← Variations on “Cripple Creek,” Part 5: Play-Along Track for Variation #2

Next Lesson

Harmonized Scales, Part 2 →

Previous Lesson

← Variations on “Cripple Creek,” Part 5: Play-Along Track for Variation #2

Next Lesson

Harmonized Scales, Part 2 →

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