Jim Bottorff's

Eddie Peabody Plectrum Banjo Lessons

Return to Songs

 

---

Eddie Peabody made two record albums in the 1960's on "How To Play The Banjo".

Following are some of the lessons in video format for both beginning and advanced banjo players.

(The video clips are on Youtube, click on a selection below to see each video lesson)

---

Note to 5-string banjo players:  The 4-string plectrum banjo is the same as a 5-string banjo only without the 5th string.

It can be tuned with C tuning, G tuning, Guitar, Baritone Uke, or whatever.  C tuning is most common.

 

 

How To Hold & Tune the Plectrum Banjo  (Click here)

Eddie Peabody explains how to correctly hold the banjo and pick, and how to tune the plectrum banjo.

 

Lesson 1 - Making Chords On The Plectrum Banjo (Click here)

Eddie Peabody explains how to correctly make a C chord on the plectrum banjo.

 

Lesson 2 - How To Strum The Plectrum Banjo (Click here)

Eddie Peabody explains strumming the plectrum banjo with down strokes, up strokes, and tremolo.

 

Lesson 3 - Changing Chords On The Plectrum Banjo (Click here)

Eddie Peabody explains how to change between 4 chords using down and up strokes and tremolo.

 

Lesson 4 - Plectrum Banjo Rhythms (Click here)

Eddie Peabody explains how to play waltz and fox trot rhythms on the plectrum banjo.

 

Lesson 4 (cont.) - Chord Accompaniment (Click here)

Eddie Peabody explains chord accompaniment while playing

"Oh, Susanna", "Tennessee Waltz" and "Working On The Railroad".

(Click here for the chord accompaniment charts)

(Click here for chord melody charts for above songs, 4.8 meg pdf file)

 

Lesson 5 - Arpeggios On The Plectrum Banjo (Click here)

Eddie Peabody explains C and F chord arpeggios on the plectrum banjo.

(Click here for the arpeggios chart)

 

Lesson 6 - Advanced Chords For The Plectrum Banjo  (Click here)

Eddie Peabody explains diminished, augmented and 9th chords for the plectrum banjo.

(Click here for the advanced chords chart)

 

Lesson 7 - Chord Scales On The Plectrum Banjo (Click here)

Eddie Peabody explains C and F chord scales on the plectrum banjo.

(Click here for the chord scales chart)

 

Lesson 8 - Chord Melody On The Plectrum Banjo  (Click here)

Eddie Peabody explains and plays "The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise" to demonstrate chord melody.

(Click here for the chord melody chart to "Waiting For The Sunrise")

 

Lesson 8 (cont.) - More Chord Melody with Eddie Peabody  (Click here)

Eddie Peabody explains and plays "Oh, Susanna" to demonstrate chord melody.

(Click here for the chord melody chart to "Oh, Susanna")

 

Lesson 9 - Two-Banjo Style Strumming Trick  (Click here)

Eddie Peabody demonstrates Two-Banjo style strumming with "Let Me Call You Sweetheart".

(Click here for the chord melody chart to "Let Me Call You Sweetheart")

The above chart has some good information on tempo and tremolo as well.

 

Lesson 10 - A Personal Message And Tips  (Click here)

Eddie Peabody presents a personal message and some playing tips in this final lesson.

The background songs are from lessons 4 (cont.), 8, 8 (cont.), and 9.

 

 

Return to Songs              Top of page