Lick of the Week
Banjo Video Lessons by John Boulding
This reference list has been compiled by Jack Suter of JSuterGraphix.com,
(AKA Banjo Hangout member JackJack) with permission from John Boulding.
If you should discover any broken links, be sure to let me know. Thanks!
* Redo video with higher image definition and better audio.
Random Licks
- Scruggsy low position idea *
- A dissonant/modal combo idea *
- Licks based on fragmented positions *
G Melodic
- A common melodic passage idea *
- A prevalent melodic idea with chromatic intervals *
- G major 16th note (2 note) melodic scale pathway*
- Very common melodic lick in B flat pentatonic (G blues) scale*
C Melodic
- Lick Of The Week-July 13, 2008
Intro C Melodic Licks
- Lick Of The Week-July 24, 2008
More on the C scale melodic licks....
- Lick Of The Week-Aug 4, 2008
Continuing the C melodic licks....
- Lick Of The Week-Aug 4, 2008
Continuing the C melodic licks....Part 2
D Melodic
- Lick Of The Week-Aug 11, 2008
Starting the Melodic D series
- Lick Of The Week-Aug 18, 2008
Continuing in the D Melodic ideas.
- Lick Of THe Week-Aug 24, 2008
Continuing in D melodic.
Two note D maj scale and suing the pathways covered to play St Anne's Reel
- Lick Of THe Week-Aug 24, 2008
Part II D melodic/St Anne's Reel
- Lick Of THe Week-Sept 8, 2008
Ending the D melodic series with some 4 note ideas
- Lick Of THe Week-Sept 8, 2008 Part II
Using the scale in a fidlle tune setting-Whiskey Before Breakfast
Single String
- Lick Of The Week-Sept 15, 2008
An introduction to single string style...a 'primer', if you will.
We'll use the G scale for the introduction.
- LOTW-Sept 15, 2008 Part II
Continuing with the single string primer.
Putting the scale to work and adding blues notes to create some lick ideas.
- LOTW-Sept 22, 2008
Using Chromatic notes mixed with the G scale
to produce nice single string ideas....
- LOTW-Sept 29, 2008
C single string scale and ideas-primer
- LOTW-Oct 8, 2008
Adding chromatic to the C maj scale in frets 1-5...
- LOTW-Oct 15, 2008
Continuing the Cmaj single string primer.
Mixing chromatic intervals with the scale tones to make licks...
- LOTW-Oct 20, 2008
A primer for D major single string.
- LOTW-Oct 27, 2008
Making single string licks in and around the D pos...
- Lick Of The Week-Nov 10, 2008
Continuing the D single string vids.
Adding chromatic intervals to make licks in the D pos area...
Scruggs Foundational: Licks and Rolls
- Lick Of The Week-Nov 20, 2008
Here's the first video for the LOTW dealing with Scruggs low pos licks/ideas.
Here's some essential rolling vocabulary ideas....
- Lick Of The Week-Nov 24, 2008
Continuing in the Scruggs 'foundational' low pos licks and fills.
G Licks
- Lick Of The Week-Dec 2, 2008
More on the Low pos 'G' ideas/licks in Scruggs style.
- Lick Of The Week-Dec 8, 2008
Continuing in Scruggs low pos 'G' foundation licks/fills.
- Lick Of The Week-Dec 15, 2008
More Scruggs low pos ideas/fills/licks...
C Licks
- Lick Of The Week-Dec 23, 2008
Starting the 'C' low position Scruggs foundation...
- Lick Of The Week-Dec 28, 2008
More on low position Scruggs "C" fills and ideas...
- Lick Of The Week-January 5, 2009
The next vid in the low pos Scruggs ideas for 'C'...
- Lick Of The Week-January 11, 2009
Concluding the Low pos C fill/Lick ideas for Scruggs style...
D Licks and Playing in The Key of D
- Lick Of The Week-September 3, 2015
Playing in The Key of D - Part 1
- Lick Of The Week-September 9, 2015
Playing in The Key of D - Part 2 Adding Rolls and Pinches
- Lick Of The Week-January 19, 2009
Starting the "D" licks and fill ideas for Scruggs, in the low positions...
- Lick Of The Week-January 26, 2009
More "D" position Scruggs ideas.
- Lick Of The Week-February 7, 2009
Finishing up the basic Scrugggs low pos "D" series.
Scruggs Foundational: Backup
- Lick Of The Week-February 15, 2009
Beginning a series on foundational Scruggs backup ideas. Here's an overview of Basic Vamping...
- Lick Of The Week-February 20, 2009
Continuing in the backup videos. Vamping Part 2...
- Lick Of The Week-February 27, 2009
Adding a couple new 'twists' to the Vamp patterns. Vamping Part 3...
- Lick Of The Week-March 5, 2009
Scruggs backup ideas- the "boogie Woogie" idea.
- Lick Of The Week-March 12, 2009
Adding to the 'boogie' idea and moving into shape '2' for ideas.
- Lick Of The Week-March 19, 2009
Scruggs backup ideas continued...moving from the '2' shape into the '3'.
- Lick Of The Week-March 25, 2009
Working on common variations for the two finger backup pattern.
- Lick Of The Week April 1, 2009
Concluding the vids for basic and essential Scruggs backup licks
- Lick Of The Week April 8, 2009
Using the backup ideas in the context of a tune.. Part 1
- Lick Of The Week April 8, 2009
Using the backup ideas in the context of a tune.. Part 2
Blues and Scruggs Style
- Lick Of The Week April 15, 2009
Beginning a series on Blues and Scruggs style....
- Lick Of The Week April 23, 2009
Continuing in the blues ideas in Scruggs style...JD Licks
- Lick Of The Week April 30, 2009
Adding some single string movement to the position/shape..
- Lick Of The Week May 8, 2009
Scruggs style blues,working out of the barre position...
- Lick Of The Week May 14, 2009
Finishing up the basic ideas for bluesy Scruggs...
Chords
- Lick Of The Week May 18, 2009
Beginning the study of the 3 chord shapes. Part 1
- Lick Of The Week May 18, 2009
Beginning the study of the 3 chord shapes. Part 2
- Lick Of The Week May 25, 2009
Minors and 7ths. Part 1
- Lick Of The Week May 25, 2009
Minors and 7ths. Part 2
Beginngs and Endings
- Lick Of The Week June 5, 2009
A few classic Scruggs style intros/kick-offs
- Lick Of The Week June 8, 2009
Standard Scruggs style endings
Alternate Tunings
- Lick Of The Week June 16, 2009
Drop C Tuning
- Lick Of The Week June 22, 2009
D Tuning Basics Part 1
- Lick Of The Week June 22, 2009
D Tuning Basics Part 2
- Lick Of The Week July 7, 2009
D Tuners Part 1
- Lick Of The Week July 16, 2009
D Tuners Part 2
Tremelo Series
- Lick Of The Week July 24, 2009
Tremelo Part 1: Looking at playing slower tempo material with tremelo.
- Lick Of The Week July 27, 2009
Tremelo Part 2: Adding some suspended ideas to the pattern
- Lick Of The Week August 9, 2009
Tremelo Part 3: Adding some other chord extension ideas to the patterns.
- Lick Of The Week August 14, 2009
Tremelo Part 4: Using Amazing Grace as an example tune.
Building Solos in Scruggs Style
- Lick Of The Week August 18, 2009
Part 1: Identifying melody and chord structure
- Lick Of The Week August 28, 2009
Part 2: Adding rolls and ornaments to the melody line
- Lick Of The Week September 1, 2009
Part 3: Adding standard Scruggs licks
"Formating" or "Job" of the Banjo throughout a Tune:
Worried Man Blues
- Lick Of The Week September 8, 2009
Part 1: Introduction - The kick-off and fills before the vocalist sings.
- Lick Of The Week September 16, 2009
Part 2: Backup - Supporting the other members as they are playing
"active backup" behind the singer.
- Lick Of The Week September 30, 2009
Part 3: Backup - Conclusion. Playing behind the guitar, last solo, and ending.
Using a Metronome
- Lick Of The Week February 3, 2009
Counting in time, playing rolls, licks, etc with the metronome.
Triplets
- Lick Of The Week October 15, 2009
Part 1: Establishing the basic idea of the triplet.
- Lick Of The Week October 19, 2009
Part 2: Looking at stylistic ideas for triplets.
Advanced String Bending
- Lick Of The Week October 30, 2009
Part 1: G Major 6th Pedal Steel guitar bend using the "D" (#2) chord shape formation.
- Lick Of The Week November 4, 2009
Part 2: D Major Pedal Steel guitar bend, using the "F" (#1) chord shape formation.
- Lick Of The Week November 10, 2009
Part 3: Suspended half-step bends using the "F" (#1) and "D" (#2) chord shape formations
(example song Last Train To Clarksville), and barred chord bends.
Outtakes
- Lick Of The Week November 16, 2009
Reggea Techniques Part 1: Using The Police song Roxanne as an example, we explore
using a drum machine and feeling the vibe with the help of an original reggea outfit.
Understanding Keys
- Lick Of The Week December 12, 2009
Part 1: Chord Progression in the key of G, using Nine Pound Hammer as an example.
- Lick Of The Week December 16, 2009
Part 2: Moving from the key of G to D, using Nine Pound Hammer as an example.
- Lick Of The Week December 28, 2009
Part 3: Adding the minor.
Scruggs Style Single String
- Lick Of The Week January 4, 2010
Part 1: Hi Reg Single String
- Lick Of The Week January 12, 2010
Part 2: Single String Variations
- Lick Of The Week January 20, 2010
Part 3: Transposing Hi Reg Idea
Understanding the Minor Key
- Lick Of The Week March 22, 2010
Part 1: Minor keys
- Lick Of The Week March 29, 2010
Part 2a: Minor keys
- Lick Of The Week April 7, 2010
Part 2b: Minor keys
- Lick Of The Week April 12, 2010
Part 3: Minor keys
- Lick Of The Week April 20, 2010
Part 4: Minor keys
- Lick Of The Week April 25, 2010
Part 5: Using the Am scale to solo
- Lick Of The Week May 3, 2010
Part 6: Jerusalem's Ridge Part A solo
- Lick Of The Week May 11, 2010
Part 6b: Jerusalem's Ridge Part B solo
- Lick Of The Week May 27, 2010
Part 6c: Conclusion of Jerusalem's Ridge Part C solo
Understanding the Capo
- Lick Of The Week September 8, 2010
Part 1: The capo
- Lick Of The Week September 10, 2010
Part 2: The capo in the key of D
- Lick Of The Week September 13, 2010
Part 3: The capo in the keys of E and F
Music Theory Application for the Banjo
- Lick Of The Week October 17, 2010
Part 1: The 12 Notes
- Lick Of The Week October 18, 2010
Part 2: Application
- Lick Of The Week October 21, 2010
Part 3: Adding Whole Steps
- Lick Of The Week October 21, 2010
Part 4: Exploring Major Scales
- Lick Of The Week October 26, 2010
Part 5: Exploring Scale Pathways
- Lick Of The Week October 26, 2010
Part 6: Exploring Pentatonic Scales
- Lick Of The Week November 2, 2010
Part 7: Aeolian/Relative Minor Scales
- Lick Of The Week November 8, 2010
Part 8: Modes Introduction
- Lick Of The Week November 21, 2010
Part 9a: Modes and soloing using G major as an example
- Lick Of The Week November 21, 2010
Part 9b: Conclusion of modes and soloing using G major as an example
- Lick Of The Week Dec 2, 2010
Part 9c: Modes in C major
- Lick Of The Week Dec 5, 2010
Part 9d: Modes in D major
Beginning Banjo
- Lick Of The Week Februray 4, 2011
Part 1: Basic Rolls
- Lick Of The Week Februray 4, 2011
Part 2: Timing with a Metronome
- Lick Of The Week Februray 10, 2011
Part 3 Ornaments: Slides
- Lick Of The Week Februray 15, 2011
Part 4 Ornaments: Hammer Ons
- Lick Of The Week Februray 23, 2011
Part 5 Ornaments: Push Offs
- Lick Of The Week Februray 28, 2011
Part 6 Ornaments: Chokes
- Lick Of The Week March 7, 2011
Part 7 Ornaments: Conclusion
Understanding Licks
- Lick Of The Week March 23, 2011
Part 1: What is a Lick?
- Lick Of The Week March 24, 2011
Part 2: Licks as "Filler"
- Lick Of The Week March 28, 2011
Part 3: Substituting Licks
- Lick Of The Week May 2, 2011
Part 4 (conclusion): Improvising with licks
Partial Chord Positions
- Lick Of The Week May 9, 2011
Part 1: The F Shape
- Lick Of The Week May 17, 2011
Part 2: The D Shape
- Lick Of The Week May 23, 2011
Part 3: The Barre
Chromatics
- Lick Of The Week June 30, 2011
Part 1: Understanding Chromatics
- Lick Of The Week July 12, 2011
Part 2: Melodic Positioning
- Lick Of The Week August 16, 2011
Part 3: Moving Up The Neck
- Lick Of The Week August 29, 2011
Part 4: Chromatics Conclusion
Waltz Time
- Lick Of The Week September 13, 2011
Part 1: Feeling the Pulse
- Lick Of The Week September 19, 2011
Part 2: Adding the left hand. Using the song "Before I met You" as an example.
- Lick Of The Week September 27, 2011
Part 3: Backup
Double Stops
- Lick Of The Week Febuary 21, 2012
Part 1: Double Stops
- Lick Of The Week February 27, 2012
Part 2: Double Stops
- Lick Of The Week March 16, 2012
Part 3: Double Stops Conclusion
Up The Neck
- Lick Of The Week August 17, 2012
Part 1: Exploring Up The Neck
- Lick Of The Week August 22, 2012
Part 2: Exploring Up The Neck
- Lick Of The Week August 27, 2012
Part 3: Exploring Up The Neck
Revisiting the Classics
- Lick Of The Week September 4, 2012
Gold Rush: Part A
- Lick Of The Week September 10, 2012
Gold Rush: Part B
- Lick Of The Week September 16, 2012
Bill Cheathum: Part A
- Lick Of The Week September 25, 2012
Bill Cheathum: Part B
- Lick Of The Week October 2, 2012
Salt Creek: Part A
- Lick Of The Week October 8, 2012
Salt Creek: Part B
- Lick Of The Week October 18, 2012
Sally Gooden
- Lick Of The Week October 25, 2012
Reuben (D Tuning): Part A (Low Breaks )
- Lick Of The Week October 25, 2012
Reuben (D Tuning): Part B (High Solo Breaks )
- Lick Of The Week November 15, 2012
Home Sweet Home: Part A
- Lick Of The Week November 19, 2012
Home Sweet Home: Part B
- Lick Of The Week November 28, 2012
John Hardy
- Lick Of The Week December 5, 2012
John Hardy: Up the neck solo
- Lick Of The Week December 11, 2012
Pike County Breakdown
Transition Licks and Ideas
- Lick Of The Week January 23, 2013
Transition Licks: Part 1
- Lick Of The Week January 26, 2013
Transition Licks: Part 2
- Lick Of The Week February 7, 2013
Transition Licks: Part 3
- Lick Of The Week February 22, 2013
Transition Licks: Part 4
- Lick Of The Week February 26, 2013
Transition Licks: Part 5
Chord Groupings
- Lick Of The Week March 19, 2013
Chord Groupings: Part 1 - F, D, and Barre Groupings
- Lick Of The Week March 25, 2013
Chord Groupings: Part 2 - Adding the vi and VII
- Lick Of The Week March 25, 2013
Chord Groupings: Part 3 - Adding the ii and iii
- Lick Of The Week April 4, 2013
Chord Groupings: Part 4 - Modal substitute chords
- Lick Of The Week April 15, 2013
Chord Groupings: Part 5 - Conclusion
Pentatonic Scales
- Lick Of The Week April 23, 2013
Pentatonic Template: Part 1 - Three Shape Outline
- Lick Of The Week April 29, 2013
Pentatonic Template: Part 2 - Finding Melody
- Lick Of The Week May 8, 2013
Pentatonic Template: Part 3 - Color Tones
- Lick Of The Week May 30, 2013
Pentatonic Template: Part 4 - Minor Pentatonic: F Shape
- Lick Of The Week June 1, 2013
Pentatonic Template: Part 5 - Minor Pentatonic: D Shape
Playing Banjo & Singing
- Lick Of The Week June 27, 2013
Playing Banjo & Singing: Part 1
- Lick Of The Week July 1, 2013
Playing Banjo & Singing: Part 2
- Lick Of The Week July 10 2013
Playing Banjo & Singing: Part 3