Old Time Banjo Tablature & Online Lessons

Want to learn some old time banjo tunes? Here you can download handwritten banjo tablature (tab) to learn at your own pace. Please note that all versions of tunes here are interpretations and may have, in some cases, drifted a bit from the sources.

You can either buy the tabs on their own for £2.00 or purchase a tab and video lesson bundle for £5.00. The videos are usually around 20 minutes long and will guide you through each tune, bar by bar. Detailed information on tunings, finger positioning, right hand technique and chord shapes is given in each video.

Below you will find links to the tablature and video lessons, arranged by difficulty. You can pay via PayPal or directly using your credit/debit card via Stripe. You will be able to access your tune lesson video link and download your tab in PDF format at the end of the payment process. Please get in touch if you encounter any problems.

Online Banjo Lessons

Old-time banjo video lessons. Each video is around 20 minutes long and comes with downloadable tablature. I’ll guide you through the tune, bar by bar. Giving you detailed information on tunings, finger positioning, right hand technique and chord shapes in each video.

Buy Online banjo lessons

Old time banjo Tablature

Browse by difficulty level

Difficulty levels are subjective, but the following should give some guidance on what to expect:

Beginner Banjo Tab

Beginner old-time banjo tab is suitable if you have been playing banjo for a few months or less. Tunes in standard tuning, mostly using “bum-ditty” rhythm with brush strokes. May contain some ornamentation (slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs)

Buy Beginner Tablature

Post-beginner Banjo Tab

Post-beginner old-time banjo tab is for you if you have been playing for a few months up to around a year. May use alternative tunings (e.g. double C) or  alternate rhythms (double thumb, skips). Introducing more advanced techniques (e.g. drop thumb) and plenty ornamentation

Buy Post-Beginner Tablature

Intermediate Banjo Tab

Intermediate old-time banjo tab is suitable if you’ve been playing for upwards of a year to several years (or fancy a bit of a challenge). Tunes in a variety of alternate tunings (e.g. double C, “Cumberland Gap” tuning etc). Regular use of more complex rhythms and playing techniques (e.g. drags/”Galax lick”, alternate string pull-offs)

Buy Intermediate Tablature

Advanced Banjo Tab

Advanced old-time banjo tab includes harder to play tunes. This level is suitable if you’ve been playing for upwards of a year to several years (or fancy a bit of a challenge). Tunes in a variety of alternate tunings (e.g. double C, “Cumberland Gap” tuning etc). Regular use of more complex rhythms and playing techniques (e.g. drags/”Galax lick”, alternate string pull-offs)

Buy Advanced Tablature