Each in easy-to-follow DVDs with book.

Here is how Don Van Palta describes
his instructional programs:

Dear Banjo Enthusiast, You are going to be excited when you find out about these unique video banjo lessons and the free banjo music cassettes or CD that will be yours as a bonus.

Back in 1971, when I was the banjoist with the well known Mickie Finn show, I developed a system for teaching the plectrum banjo with a combination of cassettes and books. (The plectrum banjo has four strings, tuned CGBD, and 22 frets.) This system was the result of many years of teaching private lessons. Over the years this system has been so successful that I receive letters from students all over the world telling me how much they enjoy and benefit from it.

Many of these students started from scratch. They didn't know a thing about music or the banjo. They started with Program #1 which taught them fundamental chords. In a very short time they were accompanying me on the cassette, and feeling a real sense of accomplishment. You can do the same thing, and before you know it we'll be having that jam session! What's so much fun is that right away you're making music, because on the cassette I'll be playing the melody to ten different songs while you're reading the correct chords and accompanying me. At the end of Program #1 you'll learn, note for note, two regular banjo solos, and then on the cassette, I'll accompany you!

With Program #2 you'll do a basic study of harmony. You'll go on to learn how to construct all of your chords, and then you'll practice those chords by accompanying me while we play nine more beautiful melodies. Towards the end of Program #2 you'll learn three more solos, and then we're ready for another jam session!

Program #3 gets really interesting. It is devoted mostly to teaching you right hand techniques. These are all the interesting strokes, rolls, tremolos, and syncopations that make the banjo such a unique instrument. You'll learn how to make an interesting, flashy arrangement, using your knowledge of chords, strokes, and syncopatis. By this time your friends will be begging you to play them your latest solos! Towards the end of Program #3, I explain the duo-banjo technique. This is the technique that makes it sound as if you are playing two banjos at once. We also go into more complicated syncopated strokes, many of them used by the top professional banjoists. Then I'll give you some hints on arranging your own solos.

If you've followed the three programs diligently, then you could very well be ready to play some professional jobs, or you might be interested in volunteering your talent to cheer up the shut-ins at a local hospital or rest home.

Now You Can Play The Banjo

Video Lessons For The Plectrum Banjo By Don Van Palta
 

About The Banjo

Caring For The Banjo

How To Hold The Banjo

The Pick Or Plectrum

Pictures 1, 2, and 3

Pictures 4, 5, 6 and 7

Lesson 1, "Campton Races"

Lesson 2, "Ring Ring The Banjo"

Lesson 3, "Oh Susanna"

Lesson 4, "Daisy Bell"

Lesson 5, "Just Let Me Play My Banjo"

Lesson 7, "Love's Old Sweet Song"
Love's Old Sweet Song" in 4/4 time

Lesson 8, "Mighty Lak' A Rose"

Lesson 9, "Banjo Waltz"

Lesson 10, "Melody In F"

Lesson 11, The Notes On The Staff And Note Values

Lesson 12, "Camptown Races" the solo

Lesson 13, "Oh Susanna" the solo

Lesson 14, "After The Ball" the solo

Now You Can Play The Banjo
Video Lessons For The Plectrum Banjo By Don Van Palta

PROGRAM #2, FOREWORD

    Welcome to "Now You Can Play The Banjo", Program #2.  In Program #1 you learned enough chords to accompany me on ten sons, in different tempos, various keys, in 4/4 time and 3/4 time.  Then you wrote out the chords to three solos so that you were able to play both melody and accompaniment at the same time.

In Program #2, we're going to be equally ambitious.  You're going to learn a little bit about scales, because this knowledge will help you to understand how the different chords are constructed.  Then I'll show you how to locate all these chords on the banjo.  And then I'll help you to memorize them by exercises and by playing melodies.  As we did in Program #1, I'll be playing along with you during each one of the tunes.  Towards the end of this program you'll learn three different solos and I've again put some interesting accompaniment tracks on the video so that it will be fun for you to practice yoursolos.

I hope that learning to play the banjo will be as exciting and enjoyable for you as it has been, and still is, for me.

  Lesson 1, Major Scales

  Lesson 2, Major Chords

  Lesson 3, Minor Chords

  Lesson 4, Dominant 7th Chords

  Lesson 5, Diminished & Augmented Chords

  Lesson 6, "Raggin' The Frets"

  Lesson 7, "Waltzing The Strings"

  Lesson 8, "Banjo Blues"

  Lesson 9, "Golden Slippers"

  Lesson 10, "Jeannie With The Light Brown Hair"

  Lesson 11, "Dixie"

  Lesson 12, "Under The Double Eagle"

  Lesson 13, "America The Beautiful"

  Lesson 14, "Golden Slippers" solo

  Lesson 15, "Jeannie With The Light Brown Hair" solo

  Lesson 16, "Just Let Me Play My Banjo" solo

  Lesson 17, "God Bless America" solo

  Advanced Music Theory