Ever since I was in high school I’ve wanted to be able to play the banjo. Most teenagers want to play something cool, the drums, guitar or saxaphone. Not me, I wanted to play the five string banjo like Earl Scruggs. I think it goes back to my first trip to Philmont and just sitting on the porch at Crooked Creek and listening to the camp staff pick away at the banjo in the rain. Something about that was cool (not to mention the suave plaid jacket in the album cover to the left!).

I finally got a banjo for Christmas two years ago and I picked up a couple of books on how to play and slowly tried to learn. However, being the non-musically inclined oaf that I am, I quickly got frustrated and finally convinced my love to sign me up for Banjo lessons.

I’ve been taking lessons from Jody Hughes for about 8 months now and while I am not the best, nor have I ever been accused of practicing too much (something I need to remedy) I get a little better each week. Below is a tune called Doug’s Tune. It was written by Doug Dillard and has been played everywhere (ok, on the Andy Grifith Show). If you want to hear what it really sounds like check out some of the other videos after my clip.

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