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Important! You will need to have Windows Media Player installed to play the sound clips The Don Reno Banjo Workshop By Jason Skinner ***
Click here for direct link to sound file
Click here for direct link to sound file Ok lets move on to another key. We’ll work out of the key of “G” this time. Let’s walk up from the “F” position “G” to the “D” position “G” chord. Then we’ll walk back down again. We’ll be on the 1st and 3rd string this time. Again transpose this to any key.
Click here for direct link to sound file
Click here for direct link to sound file
Click here for direct link to sound file The same thing can be done on the 2nd and 4th strings from the “G” chord starting at the 9th fret using the “D” chord position. The same techniques we used in the key “D” apply to the key of “G” using those same positions.
Click here for direct link to sound file
Click here for direct link to sound file
"Dixie Breakdown" This walk down will be full chords instead of partial ones. The chord positions are very simple, it’s the roll that’s tough. Basically Don is walking from a barred position to a “D” chord position. We’ll be using this to walk to go through the G, C, and D chord changes of the song. Reno used these rolls and positions a lot. “Banjo Special” is based on these positions and is one of Don’s toughest tunes.
Click here for direct link to sound file
Click here for direct link to sound file
Click here for direct link to sound file
Descending “D” lick This lick is probably one of Don most “infamous” licks. He used this on almost all of his recordings from the 60’s until his death. It is one of my favorites. Basically it is comprised of some of the same type two string walk downs we have discussed. We’ll be moving from the “F” position D chord to the “D7th “chord out of the barred position. As usual you can transfer it any where. Well moving from one position to the other Don threw in a little single string for a unique sound. Again I believe this originally was a guitar lick because I have many electric guitar players use it. Or maybe they got it from Don! We’ll never know!
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Here is an example of the above lick played at various positions on the neck, followed by a tag lick and ending. Listen carefully to the recording and see if you can work out the various positions. Find the start note of each phrase Click here for direct link to sound file
Well that’s it for now. I hope this workshop will help you understand a little more about Reno style picking. Hopefully it will give you an extra edge on learning all those great tunes Don recorded. These exercises should give some basic understanding of your neck as well. Play around with as many keys as possible. You will be playing without a capo before you know it! If you have any other things you would like me to add or something you need help with please email me. I will be glad to help you. Thanks for stopping by and happy picking!
Jason & Family (The skinner Band) ***
Here are some of Jason's own recordings of Reno Songs Click to play "Five By Eight" [mp3 1,617kb] "I Know You're married " [mp3 2,127kb] "Limehouse Blues" [mp3 2,242kb] "Love Please Come Home" [mp3 2,310kb] "Remington Ride" [mp3 2,261kb] "Talk Of The Town" [mp3 2,592kb] [Right click/'Save target as' to download]
ATTENTION To expand the workshop Jason has created another section where he talks about some of Don's famous songs and instrumentals. He offers insight into what Don was doing and gives Hints & Tips about the tunings and techniques etc, used in the various tunes. The link to the Hints page can be found at the bottom of this page
Click icon above to download all the tabs in Tabledit format in a single zip file
Click icon above to download all the tabs in ASCII text format in a single zip file |
