Banjo virtuoso Jens Kruger has devised a uniquely satisfying way for beginners to get started on this great American instrument. His is a completely different approach to learning to play the banjo: it s liberating, inspiring and will allow anyone to make music in minutes. Even if you already play the banjo there will be revelations here for you. Jens approach is based on playing a simple melody line surrounded by open drone notes. You only have to play one string at a time, finding the tune by ear as you slide up and down the fingerboard. By combining this with a simple forward roll, your songs sound full and deceptively complex. This easy but highly musical lesson will teach anyone to play the melodies to songs such as Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Aunt Rhody, Grandfather s Clock, Wildwood Flower, Old Folks at Home, Shady Grove and other favorites in the three-finger banjo style. Rhythmic backup by the Kruger Brothers Band adds a rich and cohesive sound and enables you to play along with Jens for productive practice sessions.
Product Features
- DVDIncludes Guitar TABSize: 7-1/2″ x 5-1/2″Artist: Jens KrugerISBN: 1597732842
Music, not notes I have been a bluegrass music fan all my life. I had heard of the Kruger Brothers through publications like Bluegrass Unlimited, but never paid much attention to them. Then I heard them, and everything changed.It was at a bluegrass festival in New York State about three years ago where I first heard their amazing music — not always bluegrass, but always amazing music. I was stunned at the musicality, inventiveness and breadth of their music, and have been a “fanatical fan” ever since. I’ve seen them anytime they play in the Northeast, and even flew halfway across the country last summer to see them perform in Branson Missouri.I have had a banjo for most of my life, and have tried off and on to learn to play it with little success. I’ve tried several different books, video lessons, and even live teachers, but always felt that I was meant to be a listener, not a player.Then I got the Jens Kruger Banjo Method for Beginners DVD, and everything changed, in a matter of days. Jens, and his brother Uwe are musical geniuses, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that they know how to teach. But they way Jens goes about it is unmatched by anyone else: The difference is that he teaches you how to play the MUSIC. Others concentrate on teaching how to play the notes. And there is a huge difference between the two.Jens, always with a smile on his face and a self-deprecating manner, helps you figure out how to find the melody (any melody, not just bluegrass) and pick it out on one string. He teaches you how to hear and play the scales, and shows you how those notes on the scales are the building blocks for the songs. It works, folks. It really works. If you have an ear for music, you can learn the basics of the banjo from Jens [with backup from Uwe and Joel].I could go on and on about this, but hopefully you get the drift. I’ve never written a review of any product before, but feel so strongly about this DVD that I thought I’d share my enthusiasm with others.billsbills100@gmail.com
Jens Kruger’s Banjo Method for Beginners DVD Great instruction from possibly the greatest of all banjo players. This DVD will have you sounding like a banjo player almost immediately. Jens Kruger does a great job of simplifying banjo playing and helps you get started playing quickly. This DVD is a must-have for the true beginner.