Melodic Banjo

  • December 5 - 12, 2024

  • Folk School of Fayetteville

    207 West Center Street
    Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701
Register Now
Description

Intro to Melodic Banjo  with Adams Collins 

Most bluegrass banjo players start by learning Scruggs style, which uses roll patterns to create arpeggios, along with signature licks made famous by Earl Scruggs. While this style is central to the traditional bluegrass sound, it has a limitation: it doesn’t allow players to replicate melodies note-for-note like other instruments can-- like fiddle, guitar, or mandolin.

Melodic banjo style—also known as Keith style or Fiddle style—focuses on using scales to play melodies, rather than relying on chords.  Unlike the single-string style used by guitar and mandolin players to play scales, melodic banjo style generally avoids playing two consecutive notes on the same string.

This class is designed for intermediate players. We will be focusing on:
- melodic scales specific to the banjo
- how to integrate melodic scales into rolls
- common fiddle tunes and how to adapt them from a Scruggs-style arrangement into a more melodic approach

Students should bring their instruments and be comfortable reading tablature, as well as understanding basic roll patterns (forward, backward, and alternating/mixed).


HOSTED BY ADAMS COLLINS
Cost: $50
Enrollment: 8 maximum 

Adams is a talented musician and fun to play music with, the Folk School of Fayetteville is thrilled to welcome Adams and offer this workshop to our music community!  
 

ABOUT ADAMS COLLINS
Adams Collins is a dedicated music educator and accomplished musician based in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He holds degrees in Music Education and Jazz Studies from the University of Arkansas and the University of Colorado, which have provided him a strong foundation of knowledge and experience in his field.  With over 25 years of teaching and performing experience, Adams has honed his craft and developed a deep understanding of music education.  

Currently (and for 10 years), Adams tours the US and Europe playing banjo with the group Arkansauce. He has toured with Dana Louise and the Glorious Birds playing vibraphone and banjo, and he has performed & recorded as a side-man on numerous projects.

Date & Time

Dec 5 - 12, 2024

Venue Details

Folk School of Fayetteville

207 West Center Street
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701 Folk School of Fayetteville
Folk School of Fayetteville

FOLK SCHOOL OF FAYETTEVILLE is a 501(c)3 non-profit music organization popularly known as Fayetteville Roots. 
For over a 13 years we have carried out our mission to connnect community through music and food. Over that time we have fostered concerts & community/educational events in Northwest Arkansas. We believe in our music community and strive to create opportunies for connections and learning. 

In 2022 one of our signature events, the Fayetteville Roots Festival, was paused. 2023 brings a new chapter and a new location for our organization. The Folk School of Fayetteville, located in the historic Walker Stone House near the Fayetteville Square, will open in late Spring 2023 with space for lessons, classes, workshops, jams, and more.


What is a Folk School and why do you need to know about it?
Folk Schools originated as a way for communities to learn from each other, especially vital to communities that didn’t have access to “formal education”.     Folk Schools create an environment that encourages People teaching People, rather than a classical education approach of Professor and Student.

Folk School of Fayetteville is continuing this model by providing space for musicians to learn from each other, for new players to learn, and for long time musicians to develop new technique and skills — and this is available to ALL the FOLKS (people).  Folk School is open to all genres, identities, and cultures, and is excited to host music that is as dynamic and varied as our community.


Folk School of Fayetteville is buit on the body of work (13 years) of Fayetteville Roots Festival, and is fostered on many of its guiding principles:
Create opportunities for our music community
Support and present multivaried music genres, identities, & cultures
Commitment to free & low-cost community learning
Creative re-use of existing urban spaces
Collaboration with the community & music/arts organizations
Low waste & low impact sustainable events


Find more Folk School of Fayetteville Events and Music events in Fayetteville