Your first song
With
Avram SiegelAvram Siegel teaches your first banjo tune, Bile 'Em Cabbage Down, building from the plain melody up to pinches, chords and the chicka-boom rhythm.
What's in the course
33 lessons (1h 35m) · 1 free
Lesson transcript
Learning Our First Song: Bilum Cabbage Down
Alright, let's learn our first song.
Song Overview
We're going to learn Bilum Cabbage Down. It's a pretty simple song with rather silly lyrics. But you know, some of these old fiddle tunes are like that!
Playing Methods
There are a couple of ways to play it:
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Straight Melody:
- That was one way to play it.
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Simpler Version:
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There's even a simpler way that would be this.
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This version only captures the straight melody.
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Making It Sound Like a Banjo
Obviously, it needs some more elements to start sounding like a banjo. Let's start adding the melody to some of the rhythm patterns we've played.
- That was just with the pinches.
- Now let's try it with the chicka boom.
I'll play it just a little faster too!
Practice Tips
- You'll notice it also includes the chords in addition to the melody.
- Right here, it ends on a C chord.
Try doing that. Practice that for a while!
33 lessons
1h 35m of structured video lessons
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Meet your guru
Meet your guru
Avram Siegel is a banjo player and a mainstay of the California bluegrass scene. He has played with the Kathy Kallick Band and True Blue, among many others, and has taught for decades - his step-by-step method has turned out some of the state's most respected young players. In his courses he breaks down three-finger Scruggs rolls, backup and melodic playing so you can build clean timing and tone at your own pace.
