Video Lessons

Feel free to browse our entire video lessons list below, or use these links to jump to lessons on: Bluegrass Banjo, Clawhammer Banjo, Fiddle, Mandolin, Guitar or Ukulele.

Bluegrass Banjo

• “Down the Road” on Bluegrass Banjo
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLt-0FFVXhk&t=148s
• Little Maggie played by Wayne Erbsen
  A Ralph Stanley type bluegrass rendition...
• Sharecropper’s Son played by Wayne Erbsen
  I think this is one of the last songs that Carter Stanley wrote. 

Clawhammer Banjo

• Wayne Erbsen teaches Sawmill Tuning on the banjo
  This tuning goes back a long way and was probably Clarence Ashley or Tom Ashley from Mountain City Tennessee who first came up with the term "Sawmill."  Sawmill tuning on the banjo has other names; some people call it Mountain Minor or G-modal.  It's basically a G tuning.
• Wayne Erbsen teaches the Clawhammer Banjo Lick
  The clawhammer lick is your basic rhythmic stroke.  It's just three parts...
• Little Sadie played by Wayne Erbsen on Banjo
  This is a ballad localized to North Carolina, also called the graveyard blues.
• Wayne Erbsen teaches Double C Tuning on the banjo
  One of the reasons I like this tuning so well is that the melody is frequently on the first string which is easier to play in clawhammer style.  
• Wayne Erbsen Demonstrating a Minstrel Banjo
  Wayne Erbsen at Warren Wilson College October 4, 2009 demonstrating a minstrel banjo. Wayne plays the pre-Civil War tune Pattyroller in the clawhammer style.

Fiddle

• What’s the difference between a violin and a fiddle?
  Wayne clarifies the difference between a violin and a fiddle.
• Wayne Erbsen Teaches a D Scale on the Fiddle
  Start with a D string open, then with my index finger I'll  play E on the same string.

Mandolin

• How to Play a G Scale on the Mandolin
  Wayne shows you the G Scale on the mandolin.
• Wayne Erbsen Teaches a C Scale on the Mandolin
  Wayne teaches the C scale on the mandolin  
• Wayne Erbsen Teaches the D Scale on the Mandolin
  D Scale on the Mandolin  

Guitar

• Wayne Erbsen teaches a D scale on the guitar.
  How to play a basic D scale on your guitar.
• Wayne Erbsen shows a C scale on the guitar.
  A basic C scale on the guitar  
• Wayne Erbsen teaches the G scale on the Guitar
  How to make a G-Scale on your guitar  
• Wayne Erbsen teaches C run for Bluegrass guitar
  In Bluegrass, you will often be in the key of G which means you will frequently be changing chords to C.  In this lesson, Wayne teaches you different fingering options for the G chord to help you most efficiently change chords.  

Ukulele

“Oh, Susanna” on Ukulele

“Go Tell Aunt Rhody” on Ukulele