Developing New Licks and Ideas Banjo Workshop
Developing New Licks and Ideas is a bird's-eye-view of one of the ways I develop new ways of playing.
Hour 1: Learn "Gonna Have Myself a Ball" solo by Earl Scruggs. We use specific licks to explore the fingerboard.
Hour 2: Learn my solo from "On the Outside Looking In" from Paper Airplane by Alison Krauss and Union Station. Use specific licks to
Developing New Licks and Ideas is a bird's-eye-view of one of the ways I develop new ways of playing.
Hour 1: Learn "Gonna Have Myself a Ball" solo by Earl Scruggs. We use specific licks to explore the fingerboard.
Hour 2: Learn my solo from "On the Outside Looking In" from Paper Airplane by Alison Krauss and Union Station. Use specific licks to explore the fingerboard and make up variations.
Intermediate/advanced. When you order you'll get a download link for two pdf files - one with the tabs and one with instructions on accessing the Dropbox and videos.
Comments by students on Developing New Licks and Ideas:
"Fantastic session Ron! Thanks for doing it. Great stuff."
"Thanks Ron! The BEST!"
"This was a great session. Thanks!"
"Awesome!!"
"Thanks, very informative!"
"Truly amazing and eye opening for me!"
"Thank you. Awesome stuff!"
"Excellent, thank you!!"
"So good! Glad you invited us!"
"Thanks very much! Enjoyed it!"
"Thank you for sharing your thinking in such detail."
"Thanks Ron! Excellent perspectives."
"Looking forward to your next workshop!"
"Thank you Mr. Block! Great stuff!!! Looking forward to next time!"
The live workshop is over, but the first six parts are up. I'll be editing more video soon.
NEW! Ron Block Online Guitar Workshop
This four-session workshop is up on RonBlock.com, along with two bonus lessons . I've shared the elements of guitar playing that have made my lead guitar solos and rhythm a mainstay of Alison Krauss & Union Station for 29 years. Intermediate to advanced.
Topics: Roots and Influences - Bill Napier, Larry Sparks, and Clarence White to piano, Bill
This four-session workshop is up on RonBlock.com, along with two bonus lessons . I've shared the elements of guitar playing that have made my lead guitar solos and rhythm a mainstay of Alison Krauss & Union Station for 29 years. Intermediate to advanced.
Topics: Roots and Influences - Bill Napier, Larry Sparks, and Clarence White to piano, Bill Monroe, and electric guitar players. We'll move on into some of my solos in a bonus lesson but at the front end we'll look into some of the players that helped create my style.
The Psychology of Playing Well (this is incredibly important)
Right and Left Hand Technique
Tone - Timing - Taste
Rhythm Playing
How I Learned and Continue to Learn the Neck
Make Solos More Moving with Expression
Make Solos More Engaging with Intervals ("doublestops")
Playing the Melody: The Many Ways to Vary a Solo.
Crosspicking
Plus many other topics!
With these freebies and more: Downloads Hogan's House of Music instrumental record (I took quite a few guitar breaks on it); a pdf of my Traditional Guitar Workbook with my personal tabs of George Shuffler, Larry Sparks, Bill Napier, Don Reno, Clarence White, and Junior Blankenship. These freebies alone are worth about $47.
When signing up, you'll get a download link for Hogan's House of Music, and a short time later you'll get an email with a Dropbox link and information for the rest of it - the email isn't automated and I do them myself.
Ron Block Online Banjo Workshop
“Ron Block has not only become a world class banjo player in terms of technical proficiency, he has also accomplished what is often seen as the pinnacle of musical achievement, the development of a recognizable personal style. Since 1991, the sound of his driving open string rolls and emotive bends have been an integral part of the sound of Alison
“Ron Block has not only become a world class banjo player in terms of technical proficiency, he has also accomplished what is often seen as the pinnacle of musical achievement, the development of a recognizable personal style. Since 1991, the sound of his driving open string rolls and emotive bends have been an integral part of the sound of Alison Krauss and Union Station, a band that is both a mainstay of the bluegrass world and has done as much as any other group to put the sound of bluegrass in front of new audiences around the world.” (Banjo Newsletter, October 2016)
Greetings, fellow banjo pickers!
Have you had moments where you've wanted your playing to move along more quickly? Have you ever wondered if you have what it takes to go to the next level?
I've struggled with all those things. At nearly every level, I've plateaued and thought, "Is this it? Am I stuck here?" Since the age of thirteen I've been obsessed with learning how to play the banjo well, because going to the next level is always such a thrill.
As a result I've had to develop some tried-and-true ways of doing things through experimentation and study. I've used these ideas for my 26 years with Alison Krauss & Union Station, for the O Brother soundtrack, and for everything else I've ever played on - and I'd love to share them with you.
Just got this in an email: “I’ve just got to say, this workshop has been so much more than I expected….The effort you’ve put into this and the ground you’ve covered will keep me busy for years….Again, thanks so much. I call that a bargain, the best I ever had!” David W.
TOPICS: Just a few of the things I've covered:
Releasing tension (the thing that puts a lid on our dexterity).
How I work on timing and feel.
Dynamics.
Tone.
Backup.
The trick to learning the neck well.
String bending, vibrato, and working it all into rolls.
Single-string playing.
Slow playing.
Clinch Mountain Backstep.
Mollie Catherine Carter.
Man of Constant Sorrow.
Learning from recordings.
How to practice effectively.
EXTRAS: By signing up for the workshop you'll receive free downloads of my banjo-oriented bluegrass record Hogan's House of Music, and a pdf of my long out-of-print The Traditional Banjo Workbook.
I look forward to seeing you there.
LESSONS WITH A PRO: 29 Years With Alison Krauss & Union Station, banjoist on the O Brother Soundtrack’s “Man of Constant Sorrow,” and on sessions with Dolly Parton, Kate Rusby, Dan Tyminski, Vince Gill, Randy Travis, Alan Jackson, and many more.
LEVEL: Broadly Intermediate - lots of material for not-so-beginners all through early advanced players.
SUBJECTS: Playing without tension, improving timing and feel, dynamics, tone, string bending, vibrato, scales, single-string playing, transcribing, and more.
BONUS MATERIALS: Each participant will receive a free download of Ron’s banjo-oriented bluegrass cd Hogan’s House of Music, and a free download of the long out-of-print Traditional Bluegrass Banjo Workbook – a total of $45 in free extras.
After ordering you'll receive a download for Hogan's House of Music, and a short time later you'll get an email with a Dropbox link and information for the rest of it - the email isn't automated and I do them myself.
WORKSHOP REVIEWS: "As a guy who's been participating in this clinic I promise you the value you'll receive is worth FAR more than the price. I've done banjo camps, clinics, and lessons with the best in the business. The wisdom Ron imparts is second to none. You WILL be a better player, and you'll enjoy every second. You'll have a hard time putting your banjo down after the first session, and you'll be thinking about it all day at work after the second. And it only gets better from there."
"Great class. Ron knows how to communicate; he 'teaches ideas' and is well prepared. No wasted time. The overall class experience is like having a one on one lesson with good friend."
RON'S ONLINE 4-SESSION BANJO WORKSHOP
"The content is all geared to us unlocking our own creativity while keeping the 'fun factor' high."
Greetings, fellow banjo pickers!
Have you had moments where you've wanted your playing to move along more quickly? Have you ever wondered if you have what it takes to go to the next level?
I've struggled with all those things. At nearly every level,
"The content is all geared to us unlocking our own creativity while keeping the 'fun factor' high."
Greetings, fellow banjo pickers!
Have you had moments where you've wanted your playing to move along more quickly? Have you ever wondered if you have what it takes to go to the next level?
I've struggled with all those things. At nearly every level, I've plateaued and thought, "Is this it? Am I stuck here?" Since the age of thirteen I've been obsessed with learning how to play the banjo well, because going to the next level is always such a thrill.
As a result I've had to develop some tried-and-true ways of doing things through experimentation and study. I've used these ideas for my 26 years with Alison Krauss & Union Station, for the O Brother soundtrack, and for everything else I've ever played on - and I'd love to share them with you in four sessions containing SIX hours of teaching and demonstration.
Just got this in an email: “I’ve just got to say, this workshop has been so much more than I expected….The effort you’ve put into this and the ground you’ve covered like a fog will keep me busy for years….Again, thanks so much. I call that a bargain, the best I ever had!” David W.
TOPICS: Just a few of the things I've covered:
Releasing tension (the thing that puts a lid on our dexterity).
How I work on timing and feel.
Dynamics.
Tone.
Backup.
The trick to learning the neck well.
String bending, vibrato, and working it all into rolls.
Single-string playing.
Slow playing.
Clinch Mountain Backstep.
Mollie Catherine Carter.
Learning from recordings.
How to practice effectively.
BONUS TEACHING VIDEOS: Clinch Mountain Backstep (breaks 1 and 2 from Hogan's House of Music), Man of Constant Sorrow (from O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack), Foggy Mountain Special (break 2 from Earl Scruggs tribute record), Will You Be Loving Another Man by Earl Scruggs
Oh, I almost forgot the extras. By signing up for the workshop you'll receive a free download of my banjo-oriented bluegrass record Hogan's House of Music and a pdf of my long out-of-print The Traditional Banjo Workbook.
I look forward to seeing you there.
LESSONS WITH A PRO: 26 Years With Alison Krauss & Union Station, banjoist on the O Brother Soundtrack’s “Man of Constant Sorrow,” and on sessions with Dolly Parton, Kate Rusby, Dan Tyminski, Vince Gill, Randy Travis, Alan Jackson, and many more.
LEVEL: Broadly Intermediate - lots of material for not-so-beginners all through early advanced players.
SUBJECTS: Playing without tension, improving timing and feel, dynamics, tone, string bending, vibrato, scales, single-string playing, transcribing, and more.
BONUS MATERIALS: Each participant will receive a free download of Ron’s banjo-oriented bluegrass cd Hogan’s House of Music, and a free download of the long out-of-print Traditional Bluegrass Banjo Workbook – a total of $45 in free extras.
WORKSHOP REVIEWS: "As a guy who's been participating in this clinic I promise you the value you'll receive is worth FAR more than the price. I've done banjo camps, clinics, and lessons with the best in the business. The wisdom Ron imparts is second to none. You WILL be a better player, and you'll enjoy every second. You'll have a hard time putting your banjo down after the first session, and you'll be thinking about it all day at work after the second. And it only gets better from there."
"Great class. Ron knows how to communicate; he 'teaches ideas' and is well prepared. No wasted time. The overall class experience is like having a one on one lesson with good friend."