Chords for 4 Easy Banjo Chords for Beginners
Tempo:
106.425 bpm
Chords used:
Em
C
G
A
D
Tuning:Standard Tuning (EADGBE)Capo:+0fret
Start Jamming...
Hey guys, today I'm going to show you four banjo chords that are really simple to play,
but they're also standard chord shapes.
So they're beginner friendly, but they're not necessarily just for beginners because
everybody uses them.
And if you don't know what a chord is, it's basically a certain combination of notes.
And different combinations make different chords.
For example, the G chord is made up of the notes G, B, and D.
And the open strings of
your banjo are tuned to those notes.
G, D, G, B, D.
So if you strum your banjo open, that's a G chord.
This is a [C] C.
This is [A] a D7.
This [Em] is an E minor.
And if you're not familiar [G] with these being used on banjo, usually they're used with either
rolling or vamping.
And I'm sure you've heard these on a guitar if you're brand new to the banjo and haven't
heard it a whole lot.
Usually they're strummed on a guitar.
[C] [A] [Em]
[G] But on a banjo, you would usually do rolls like this.
[C]
[Em] So I'm going to show you how to play these four chords, how to do the fingerings, and
also how to keep them clean to where there's [A] no buzzing.
Then I'm also going to show you some exercises so that you'll be able to play them without
buzzing and you'll be able to do smooth transitions.
And before we get started, I just wanted to mention that if you like this sort of content,
please consider leaving a like on the video and maybe subscribing to my channel.
That really helps me out a ton and I would appreciate it so much, so thank you.
Okay, since your open strings are a G, you already know that one.
So you know the G chord.
So we're just going to go right on to C.
And to fret the C chord, I'll put a diagram up
there and then I'll also show you how to do it.
You'll put your middle finger on the second fret of the fourth string, your index finger
on the first fret of the second string, and your ring finger on the second fret of the first string.
And then a way that you can practice that is you don't have to pick the strings yet.
Try strumming it.
[C] Also make sure you can pick each note individually with no buzz, like this.
If there's buzz, it likely means that either you're not pushing down hard enough or your
finger may be too close to the fret.
Also you could be hitting a string with one of your other fingers.
For example, your middle finger could be touching the third string a little bit, causing it
to buzz like
Make sure you've got room there so your middle finger's not against it.
So your exercise, just strum it.
And after you get comfortable with strumming it and it's completely clean, try doing a pinch pattern.
And a pinch pattern is just third, pinch.
A pinch is the fifth and the first string together.
And then try moving the pinch.
Each string you hit, do third, pinch, second, pinch, third, pinch, [Em] fourth, pinch.
So just practice it like that.
[C]
[Em] And then you can also practice the rolls from my rolls video.
I'll link that in the pinned comment below, so check that out if you don't know your rolls yet.
But you can also use your rolls for these chords.
And the next one is a D7.
This one's [D] often used to give kind of a bluesy sound to a D.
And I'll go ahead and show you
two different Ds.
One is often referred to as the Scruggs D.
The D7, that's the first one, will be your
middle finger on the second fret of the third string and your index finger on the first
fret of the second string.
So picking all strings individually, starting at fifth, sounds like this.
[D]
So try [Gm] doing the pinch pattern variation that I just showed you with this chord.
[A]
[D] And then the Scruggs D will be your index finger at the second fret of the third string
and your ring finger at the fourth fret of the fourth string.
So it'll sound like this, all strings individually.
[F#] [A] [G] These are both used very often.
So try doing the pinch pattern [A] variation with that.
[G]
[Bm] [G]
And here's the last one.
It's an E minor.
The way you play this one and a good way to remember it, it's identical to the C except
you'll let your index finger up.
So the strings individually will sound like [Em] this.
So it's middle finger at the second fret of the fourth string and ring finger at the second
fret of the first string.
And like I said, super easy way to remember it is it's just a C chord, same thing, but
you let your index finger off.
So try doing that pinch pattern variation with this one.
Okay, and [N] after you've practiced these chords individually and gotten fairly comfortable
with them, you can try making smooth transitions.
Do this as slowly and as smoothly as you need to.
And remember to stop buzzing, either put on more pressure, [G] move away from the fret a little
bit and make sure that your finger's not touching any other strings.
So starting on the G chord, do that pinch pattern.
[D] Switch [G] to C, [C]
[Em] D7, [Gm] [C] [D]
E minor.
[Em]
Then you can [E] alternate.
You could do the Scruggs D instead of the D7.
Just change it up and make sure that you get used to all of these.
It'll feel kind of weird at first and you haven't been playing them long, but they will
get a lot more solidified in your fingers and it'll be so much easier after you do a
little bit of practice.
So yeah, if you're buzzing, it's most likely because of one of the three reasons I mentioned.
So just pay attention to those three things.
It'll likely fix it.
If there's buzzing no matter what you do, then there's likely an issue with your neck.
So you'll need to check with someone about your truss rod or check out a video and make
those adjustments yourself.
So yeah, just practice these chords as much as you can.
And then if you haven't learned rolls yet, be sure to check out my rolls video in the
pinned comment so that you can start learning those and
but they're also standard chord shapes.
So they're beginner friendly, but they're not necessarily just for beginners because
everybody uses them.
And if you don't know what a chord is, it's basically a certain combination of notes.
And different combinations make different chords.
For example, the G chord is made up of the notes G, B, and D.
And the open strings of
your banjo are tuned to those notes.
G, D, G, B, D.
So if you strum your banjo open, that's a G chord.
This is a [C] C.
This is [A] a D7.
This [Em] is an E minor.
And if you're not familiar [G] with these being used on banjo, usually they're used with either
rolling or vamping.
And I'm sure you've heard these on a guitar if you're brand new to the banjo and haven't
heard it a whole lot.
Usually they're strummed on a guitar.
[C] [A] [Em]
[G] But on a banjo, you would usually do rolls like this.
[C]
[Em] So I'm going to show you how to play these four chords, how to do the fingerings, and
also how to keep them clean to where there's [A] no buzzing.
Then I'm also going to show you some exercises so that you'll be able to play them without
buzzing and you'll be able to do smooth transitions.
And before we get started, I just wanted to mention that if you like this sort of content,
please consider leaving a like on the video and maybe subscribing to my channel.
That really helps me out a ton and I would appreciate it so much, so thank you.
Okay, since your open strings are a G, you already know that one.
So you know the G chord.
So we're just going to go right on to C.
And to fret the C chord, I'll put a diagram up
there and then I'll also show you how to do it.
You'll put your middle finger on the second fret of the fourth string, your index finger
on the first fret of the second string, and your ring finger on the second fret of the first string.
And then a way that you can practice that is you don't have to pick the strings yet.
Try strumming it.
[C] Also make sure you can pick each note individually with no buzz, like this.
If there's buzz, it likely means that either you're not pushing down hard enough or your
finger may be too close to the fret.
Also you could be hitting a string with one of your other fingers.
For example, your middle finger could be touching the third string a little bit, causing it
to buzz like
Make sure you've got room there so your middle finger's not against it.
So your exercise, just strum it.
And after you get comfortable with strumming it and it's completely clean, try doing a pinch pattern.
And a pinch pattern is just third, pinch.
A pinch is the fifth and the first string together.
And then try moving the pinch.
Each string you hit, do third, pinch, second, pinch, third, pinch, [Em] fourth, pinch.
So just practice it like that.
[C]
[Em] And then you can also practice the rolls from my rolls video.
I'll link that in the pinned comment below, so check that out if you don't know your rolls yet.
But you can also use your rolls for these chords.
And the next one is a D7.
This one's [D] often used to give kind of a bluesy sound to a D.
And I'll go ahead and show you
two different Ds.
One is often referred to as the Scruggs D.
The D7, that's the first one, will be your
middle finger on the second fret of the third string and your index finger on the first
fret of the second string.
So picking all strings individually, starting at fifth, sounds like this.
[D]
So try [Gm] doing the pinch pattern variation that I just showed you with this chord.
[A]
[D] And then the Scruggs D will be your index finger at the second fret of the third string
and your ring finger at the fourth fret of the fourth string.
So it'll sound like this, all strings individually.
[F#] [A] [G] These are both used very often.
So try doing the pinch pattern [A] variation with that.
[G]
[Bm] [G]
And here's the last one.
It's an E minor.
The way you play this one and a good way to remember it, it's identical to the C except
you'll let your index finger up.
So the strings individually will sound like [Em] this.
So it's middle finger at the second fret of the fourth string and ring finger at the second
fret of the first string.
And like I said, super easy way to remember it is it's just a C chord, same thing, but
you let your index finger off.
So try doing that pinch pattern variation with this one.
Okay, and [N] after you've practiced these chords individually and gotten fairly comfortable
with them, you can try making smooth transitions.
Do this as slowly and as smoothly as you need to.
And remember to stop buzzing, either put on more pressure, [G] move away from the fret a little
bit and make sure that your finger's not touching any other strings.
So starting on the G chord, do that pinch pattern.
[D] Switch [G] to C, [C]
[Em] D7, [Gm] [C] [D]
E minor.
[Em]
Then you can [E] alternate.
You could do the Scruggs D instead of the D7.
Just change it up and make sure that you get used to all of these.
It'll feel kind of weird at first and you haven't been playing them long, but they will
get a lot more solidified in your fingers and it'll be so much easier after you do a
little bit of practice.
So yeah, if you're buzzing, it's most likely because of one of the three reasons I mentioned.
So just pay attention to those three things.
It'll likely fix it.
If there's buzzing no matter what you do, then there's likely an issue with your neck.
So you'll need to check with someone about your truss rod or check out a video and make
those adjustments yourself.
So yeah, just practice these chords as much as you can.
And then if you haven't learned rolls yet, be sure to check out my rolls video in the
pinned comment so that you can start learning those and
Key:
Em
C
G
A
D
Em
C
G
Hey guys, today I'm going to show you four banjo chords that are really simple to play,
but they're also standard chord shapes.
So they're beginner friendly, but they're not necessarily just for beginners because
everybody uses them.
And if you don't know what a chord is, it's basically a certain combination of notes.
And different combinations make different chords.
For example, the G chord is made up of the notes G, B, and D.
And the open strings of
your banjo are tuned to those notes.
G, D, G, B, D.
So if you strum your banjo open, _ that's a G chord.
This is a [C] C.
This is [A] a D7.
This [Em] is an E minor.
_ And if you're not familiar [G] with these being used on banjo, usually they're used with either
rolling or vamping.
And I'm sure you've heard these on a guitar if you're brand new to the banjo and haven't
heard it a whole lot.
Usually they're strummed on a guitar. _ _
[C] _ _ [A] _ _ _ [Em] _ _
[G] But on a banjo, you would usually do rolls like this.
_ _ [C] _ _
_ _ [Em] _ _ So I'm going to show you how to play these four chords, how to do the fingerings, and
also how to keep them clean to where there's [A] no buzzing.
Then I'm also going to show you some exercises so that you'll be able to play them without
buzzing and you'll be able to do smooth transitions.
And before we get started, I just wanted to mention that if you like this sort of content,
please consider leaving a like on the video and maybe subscribing to my channel.
That really helps me out a ton and I would appreciate it so much, so thank you.
Okay, since your open strings are a G, you already know that one.
So you know the G chord.
So we're just going to go right on to C.
And to fret the C chord, I'll put a diagram up
there and then I'll also show you how to do it.
You'll put your middle finger on the second fret of the fourth string, your index finger
on the first fret of the second string, and your ring finger on the second fret of the first string.
And then a way that you can practice that is you don't have to pick the strings yet.
Try strumming it.
[C] _ _ _ _ Also make sure you can pick each note individually with no buzz, like this. _ _ _ _ _
_ If there's buzz, it likely means that either you're not pushing down hard enough or your
finger may be too close to the fret.
Also you could be hitting a string with one of your other fingers.
For example, your middle finger could be touching the third string a little bit, causing it
to buzz like_
Make sure you've got room there so your middle finger's not against it.
So your exercise, just strum it. _ _ _ _ _
And after you get comfortable with strumming it and it's completely clean, try doing a pinch pattern.
And a pinch pattern is just third, pinch.
A pinch is the fifth and the first string together. _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ And then try moving the pinch.
Each string you hit, do third, pinch, second, pinch, third, pinch, [Em] fourth, pinch.
So just practice it like that.
_ [C] _ _ _
_ [Em] _ _ _ And then you can also practice the rolls from my rolls video.
I'll link that in the pinned comment below, so check that out if you don't know your rolls yet.
But you can also use your rolls for these chords.
And the next one is a D7.
This one's [D] often used to give kind of a bluesy sound to a D.
And I'll go ahead and show you
two different Ds.
One is often referred to as the Scruggs D.
The D7, that's the first one, will be your
middle finger on the second fret of the third string and your index finger on the first
fret of the second string.
So picking all strings individually, starting at fifth, sounds like this.
_ _ _ _ [D] _ _ _
_ _ So try [Gm] doing the pinch pattern variation that I just showed you with this chord.
[A] _ _ _ _ _ _
[D] _ _ _ _ _ _ And then the Scruggs D will be your index finger at the second fret of the third string
and your ring finger at the fourth fret of the fourth string.
_ So it'll sound like this, all strings individually.
[F#] _ _ [A] _ _ [G] _ _ These are both used very often.
So try doing the pinch pattern [A] variation with that.
[G] _
_ _ _ _ _ [Bm] _ _ [G] _
And here's the last one.
It's an E minor.
The way you play this one and a good way to remember it, it's identical to the C except
you'll let your index finger up.
So the strings individually will sound like [Em] this. _ _ _ _ _
So it's middle finger at the second fret of the fourth string and ring finger at the second
fret of the first string.
And like I said, super easy way to remember it is it's just a C chord, same thing, but
you let your index finger off.
So try doing that pinch pattern variation with this one. _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ Okay, and [N] after you've practiced these chords individually and gotten fairly comfortable
with them, you can try making smooth transitions.
Do this as slowly and as smoothly as you need to.
And remember to stop buzzing, either put on more pressure, [G] move away from the fret a little
bit and make sure that your finger's not touching any other strings.
So starting on the G chord, do that pinch pattern.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
[D] Switch [G] to C, _ _ [C] _ _ _
_ _ _ _ [Em] _ _ D7, [Gm] _ _ [C] _ _ [D] _ _ _ _
_ E minor.
[Em] _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ Then you can [E] alternate.
You could do the Scruggs D instead of the D7.
Just change it up and make sure that you get used to all of these.
It'll feel kind of weird at first and you haven't been playing them long, but they will
get a lot more solidified in your fingers and it'll be so much easier after you do a
little bit of practice.
So yeah, if you're buzzing, it's most likely because of one of the three reasons I mentioned.
So just pay attention to those three things.
It'll likely fix it.
If there's buzzing no matter what you do, then there's likely an issue with your neck.
So you'll need to check with someone about your truss rod or check out a video and make
those adjustments yourself.
So yeah, just practice these chords as much as you can.
And then if you haven't learned rolls yet, be sure to check out my rolls video in the
pinned comment so that you can start learning those and
but they're also standard chord shapes.
So they're beginner friendly, but they're not necessarily just for beginners because
everybody uses them.
And if you don't know what a chord is, it's basically a certain combination of notes.
And different combinations make different chords.
For example, the G chord is made up of the notes G, B, and D.
And the open strings of
your banjo are tuned to those notes.
G, D, G, B, D.
So if you strum your banjo open, _ that's a G chord.
This is a [C] C.
This is [A] a D7.
This [Em] is an E minor.
_ And if you're not familiar [G] with these being used on banjo, usually they're used with either
rolling or vamping.
And I'm sure you've heard these on a guitar if you're brand new to the banjo and haven't
heard it a whole lot.
Usually they're strummed on a guitar. _ _
[C] _ _ [A] _ _ _ [Em] _ _
[G] But on a banjo, you would usually do rolls like this.
_ _ [C] _ _
_ _ [Em] _ _ So I'm going to show you how to play these four chords, how to do the fingerings, and
also how to keep them clean to where there's [A] no buzzing.
Then I'm also going to show you some exercises so that you'll be able to play them without
buzzing and you'll be able to do smooth transitions.
And before we get started, I just wanted to mention that if you like this sort of content,
please consider leaving a like on the video and maybe subscribing to my channel.
That really helps me out a ton and I would appreciate it so much, so thank you.
Okay, since your open strings are a G, you already know that one.
So you know the G chord.
So we're just going to go right on to C.
And to fret the C chord, I'll put a diagram up
there and then I'll also show you how to do it.
You'll put your middle finger on the second fret of the fourth string, your index finger
on the first fret of the second string, and your ring finger on the second fret of the first string.
And then a way that you can practice that is you don't have to pick the strings yet.
Try strumming it.
[C] _ _ _ _ Also make sure you can pick each note individually with no buzz, like this. _ _ _ _ _
_ If there's buzz, it likely means that either you're not pushing down hard enough or your
finger may be too close to the fret.
Also you could be hitting a string with one of your other fingers.
For example, your middle finger could be touching the third string a little bit, causing it
to buzz like_
Make sure you've got room there so your middle finger's not against it.
So your exercise, just strum it. _ _ _ _ _
And after you get comfortable with strumming it and it's completely clean, try doing a pinch pattern.
And a pinch pattern is just third, pinch.
A pinch is the fifth and the first string together. _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ And then try moving the pinch.
Each string you hit, do third, pinch, second, pinch, third, pinch, [Em] fourth, pinch.
So just practice it like that.
_ [C] _ _ _
_ [Em] _ _ _ And then you can also practice the rolls from my rolls video.
I'll link that in the pinned comment below, so check that out if you don't know your rolls yet.
But you can also use your rolls for these chords.
And the next one is a D7.
This one's [D] often used to give kind of a bluesy sound to a D.
And I'll go ahead and show you
two different Ds.
One is often referred to as the Scruggs D.
The D7, that's the first one, will be your
middle finger on the second fret of the third string and your index finger on the first
fret of the second string.
So picking all strings individually, starting at fifth, sounds like this.
_ _ _ _ [D] _ _ _
_ _ So try [Gm] doing the pinch pattern variation that I just showed you with this chord.
[A] _ _ _ _ _ _
[D] _ _ _ _ _ _ And then the Scruggs D will be your index finger at the second fret of the third string
and your ring finger at the fourth fret of the fourth string.
_ So it'll sound like this, all strings individually.
[F#] _ _ [A] _ _ [G] _ _ These are both used very often.
So try doing the pinch pattern [A] variation with that.
[G] _
_ _ _ _ _ [Bm] _ _ [G] _
And here's the last one.
It's an E minor.
The way you play this one and a good way to remember it, it's identical to the C except
you'll let your index finger up.
So the strings individually will sound like [Em] this. _ _ _ _ _
So it's middle finger at the second fret of the fourth string and ring finger at the second
fret of the first string.
And like I said, super easy way to remember it is it's just a C chord, same thing, but
you let your index finger off.
So try doing that pinch pattern variation with this one. _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ Okay, and [N] after you've practiced these chords individually and gotten fairly comfortable
with them, you can try making smooth transitions.
Do this as slowly and as smoothly as you need to.
And remember to stop buzzing, either put on more pressure, [G] move away from the fret a little
bit and make sure that your finger's not touching any other strings.
So starting on the G chord, do that pinch pattern.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
[D] Switch [G] to C, _ _ [C] _ _ _
_ _ _ _ [Em] _ _ D7, [Gm] _ _ [C] _ _ [D] _ _ _ _
_ E minor.
[Em] _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ Then you can [E] alternate.
You could do the Scruggs D instead of the D7.
Just change it up and make sure that you get used to all of these.
It'll feel kind of weird at first and you haven't been playing them long, but they will
get a lot more solidified in your fingers and it'll be so much easier after you do a
little bit of practice.
So yeah, if you're buzzing, it's most likely because of one of the three reasons I mentioned.
So just pay attention to those three things.
It'll likely fix it.
If there's buzzing no matter what you do, then there's likely an issue with your neck.
So you'll need to check with someone about your truss rod or check out a video and make
those adjustments yourself.
So yeah, just practice these chords as much as you can.
And then if you haven't learned rolls yet, be sure to check out my rolls video in the
pinned comment so that you can start learning those and