This workshop series is now only available in archival form at a discount. Upon purchase you’ll receive an downloadable file with a link to the archive (send me an email at camerondewhitt@gmail.com if you have any issues).
Here is the original description:
There are 17 frets on most old time banjos, but we often stay below the 9th, even though there is so much lovely tone up the neck that’s waiting to be unlocked. Those sounds are more accessible than you might think! Let’s demystify the upper register of your banjo.
Over the course of 4 workshops we’ll cover:
How to play in vertical positions up the neck instead of searching around on the 1st string
How to maintain tone and character in the upper register
How to alter a melody to make it more playable in the upper register
How to play some of your favorite old time tunes an octave higher!
+ plus plenty of time for open discussion
Workshops will take place online on Wednesdays (1/17, 1/24, 1/31, and 2/7) from 5:30-6:45pm Pacific via Discord (it’s not that different from Zoom, I promise, and it’s better for keeping track of workshop materials). After signing up, registrants will get a downloadable .html file (openable in your internet browser) with links and instructions. The download link expires 24 hours after purchase so I recommend downloading it right away. Workshops will be recorded and posted in the Discord server.
This is an intermediate workshop. Participants will be most comfortable if they’re already able to play the basic clawhammer stroke, as well as hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, and drop-thumbs at a medium speed.
This workshop series is now only available in archival form at a discount. Upon purchase you’ll receive an downloadable file with a link to the archive (send me an email at camerondewhitt@gmail.com if you have any issues).
Here is the original description:
I’m so excited to dig into some old time songs with y’all! In this series we’ll adapt the playing and singing of Ola Belle Reed, Roscoe Holcomb, and other great old time banjo songsters.
Over the course of 4 workshops we’ll cover:
Banjo and voice old time heterophony (and what the hell that means)
Tuning by interval instead of pitch to adapt banjo tunings to your preferred vocal register
Clawhammering old time banjo songs that were recorded with other techniques
+ plus plenty of time for open discussion (yes, we can talk gear).
Workshops will take place online on Wednesdays (10/11, 10/18, 10/25, and 11/01) from 5:30-6:45pm Pacific via Discord (it’s not that different from Zoom, I promise, and it’s better for keeping track of workshop materials). Registrants will get an invite link to the private Discord server after payment (I have to send these links and assign roles manually, so please be patient). Workshops will include supplementary tab and video.
This is an intermediate workshop. Participants will be most comfortable if they’re already able to play the basic clawhammer stroke, as well as hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, and drop-thumbs at a medium speed.
This workshop series is now only available in archival form at a discount. Upon purchase you’ll receive an downloadable file with a link to the archive (send me an email at camerondewhitt@gmail.com if you have any issues).
Here is the original description:
Join me for a 4-part clawhammer banjo workshop series this spring! I’m really excited for this one, y’all—we’re playing rags in C! If you typically put down your banjo and go get a beer when someone calls a rag at the jam, this one’s for you. In this series we’ll cover:
Playing in C major out of standard G tuning (Trust me, it’s WAYYY easier for rags)
Rag rhythms with the pitchfork stroke
Secondary dominant chords
Playing in closed positions
+ plus plenty of time for open discussion (yes, we can talk gear).
Workshops will take place online on Sundays (4/30, 5/7, 5/14, and 5/21) from 5-6:15pm Pacific via Discord (it’s not that different from Zoom, I promise, and it’s better for keeping track of workshop materials). Registrants will get an invite link to the private Discord server after payment (I have to send these links and assign roles manually, so please be patient). Workshops will include supplementary tab and video.
This is an advanced workshop! Participants will be most comfortable if they’re already able to play up to speed at a jam. If that doesn’t describe you, you’re certainly welcome to try anyway! Or keep an eye out for the next intermediate series I announce.
This workshop series is now only available in archival form at a discount. Upon purchase you’ll receive an downloadable file with a link to the archive (send me an email at camerondewhitt@gmail.com if you have any issues).
Here is the original description:
There are THOUSANDS of tunes in the Old Time repertoire; too many to learn independently! It’s best to learn on the fly. But how???
Over the course of 4 workshops we’ll cover:
How playing by ear is 90% educated guessing and how to educate your guessing
A practical theory of how melodies are constructed
As a banjo player, which notes to leave in and which to leave out
+ plus plenty of time for open discussion
Workshops will take place online on Wednesdays (11/29, 12/6, 12/13, and 12/20) from 5:30-6:45pm Pacific via Discord (it’s not that different from Zoom, I promise, and it’s better for keeping track of workshop materials). Registrants will get an invite link to the private Discord server after payment (I have to send these links and assign roles manually, so please be patient). Workshops will include supplementary tab and video.
This is an intermediate workshop. Participants will be most comfortable if they’re already able to play the basic clawhammer stroke, as well as hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, and drop-thumbs at a medium speed.
NOTE: please read the bold text for important details, especially regarding the file download that expires within 24 hours of purchase.
This workshop series is for any clawhammer player (or old time musician in general!) who wants to learn enough music theory to improve their old time music comprehension but doesn’t want to analyze figured bass, write proper baroque counterpoint, or any of the other stuff they made me learn in college that you won’t use at old time jams. We’ll cover:
harmonic (dis)function in old time music
relative pitch, or why the letter names don’t matter
how to think in old time beats, or why old time music is in 1/2 time
form, or how to think crooked
plus plenty of time to answer your burning questions!
Workshops will take place online on Tuesdays (5/7, 5/14, 5/21, and 5/28) from 5:30-6:45pm Pacific via Discord (it’s not that different from Zoom, I promise, and it’s better for keeping track of workshop materials). After signing up, registrants will get a downloadable .html file (openable in your internet browser) with a link to instructions. The download link expires 24 hours after purchase so I recommend downloading it right away. Workshops will be recorded and posted in the Discord server.
This workshop could be for any skill level, but participants will be most comfortable if they’re already able to play the basic clawhammer stroke, as well as hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, and drop-thumbs at a medium speed.