__BanjoJim's Pickin' Parlor__

Here is a sampling of some famous and not so famous pickers! There is so much more out there that I encourage everyone to go out and buy as much banjo music as you can find. I'll be adding some links so that you can find them easier.  Remember that these clips are not intended for distribution but for the sole purpose of demonstrating the talents of some of the finest banjo players ever!! Enjoy!!

Bela fleck is now known as the leading instrumentalist in the banjo realm. His ultra-creative work with the Flecktones exemplified his passion for the unexplored realms of music. He quickly and decisively reduced those lonely recesses with his release of "Perpetual Motion", a bold take on some of the most challenging music ever written by classical composers. Here's just a taste of his various creative genius!

 Blue Mountain Hop

 Down in the Swamp

 Down in the Swamp(electronic banjo version)

 Katmandu(this song uses D-tuners to change the pitch of strings without ever touching a fret! Amazingly, every note is open!)

 Moto Perpetuo (This composition by Panini is every bit as challenging as it sounds! Bela actually needed a massage both before and after the recording!)

There is no more recognizable name in Bluegrass than this one. He is the ICON for our instrument and the father of the 3 finger style. Taught to him by musicians like Smith Hammet in the 30's, his 3 finger style has energized audiences and bluegrass music for years. With it's lightning fast speed and driving force, this style of picking belongs to Earl! He showed us how to do it, but no one does it better! Check out Earl!

 Pike County Breakdown

Creative and interesting are apt terms for the banjoist John McEwing. John can take traditional banjo music and make it... not so traditional. He is pure genius on banjo and this piece that takes a banjo on clawhammer and tackels some classical style music. 

 Classical Banjo Suite