Banjo Ben LIVE!

Steve Martin Banjo Prize recipient

2024 American Banjo Museum Banjo Hall of Fame inductee

Renowned Instructor

In this hour+ session, Bill Evans and Banjo Ben will teach a LIVE lesson on Slow-Songs and Country-Style Banjo: Backup and Working Up Solo! When a slow song gets played at your next jam session or band rehearsal, you'll be ready to play great backup and leads as Bill presents a step-by-step method to understanding the techniques used by Earl Scruggs, J.D. Crowe, and Sonny Osborne to create great sounding bluegrass banjo solos and fills in a country-influenced style. We'll cover two-finger or "teardrop" backup formulas, like Earl and Sonny play on tunes like "I'll Just Pretend." We'll then move on to a fingerboard exploration of 3rds and 6ths in the left hand and playing triplets in the right hand, as we take a look at the slow song backup and leads created by Sonny Osborne and J.D. Crowe on such tunes as "Sweethearts Again" and "Come On Down to My World." While detailed tab will be presented for all examples, reading tab can be quite difficult when playing these slow song techniques--it's easier to watch, hear, and imitate! For this session, the video will be essential for understanding these techniques and using them in your own playing.

If you have learned from Bill before, you know this is gonna be a great lesson!

When is the class?
Tuesday night, June 24, starting at 7pm US/Central and ending near 8pm.

Where is the class?
I'll send you a private ticket after you register that will have the video link for the lesson!

Who should take this class?
Anyone who is interested in a learning more about Slow-Songs and Country-Style Banjo: Backup and Working Up Solo from the 2024 American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame inductee, 2022 Steve Martin Banjo Prize winner, and renowned teacher and communicator Bill Evans. Plus, remember that you can play this lesson later as your understanding grows. So, here's your chance to learn from a pro, no matter your skill level!

What are we gonna do?
Bill is going to spend an hour talking about two-finger or "teardrop" backup formulas, like Earl and Sonny play on tunes like "I'll Just Pretend." We'll then move on to a fingerboard exploration of 3rds and 6ths in the left hand and playing triplets in the right hand, as we take a look at the slow song backup and leads created by Sonny Osborne and J.D. Crowe on such tunes as "Sweethearts Again" and "Come On Down to My World." Then, we'll have time for a Q&A with Bill, so come with your banjo questions!

How long does the class last?
This single class will last about an hour, plus a Q&A. And don't worry if you can't make the class as it streams or if you have a goldfish's memory...we'll publish it where you'll have access to watch over and over!

What if I can't make the live event? Can I watch it later?
You bet! I'm recording it and will send you a private link after the completion. This also helps those of you who can watch live. Don't worry about taking notes and remembering everything Bill says...you can always go back and review. Instead, I want you to come, relax, learn at your own speed, and have fun! We'll also do some fun giveaways and surprises!

Does each individual viewer need to have their own ticket?
Well, that depends. I require that each device have their own ticket. If you and your friend or family watch together on one device, that's great! But please don't share the event ticket with other folks. Want to buy access for someone else? Sure! Just contact us here!

How do I watch?
Great question! Purchase a ticket from this page and you will be emailed a virtual e-ticket. It will have a link to the event page where you'll be able to access the video feed for the upcoming class. All you need is a phone, tablet, or computer with a stable connection to the internet!