Beginning Banjo Track 2024

“In what order should I go through the videos?” Thanks for asking! To get the most out of our Murphy Method videos, we strongly suggest you follow our Beginning Banjo Track, laid out below. Our step-by-step approach makes learning the banjo as easy as possible. Each song builds on the previous song so please don’t…

Tips For Learning By Ear From A Lesson Video By Casey Henry

Go here for a downloadable/printable PDF of these tips. Before sitting down to learn a song, listen to it a minimum of five times. (It is typically played through at the beginning and the end of the lesson.) Listening to it every day for a week is even better. You should aim to be able…

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (Bluegrass Style) By Murphy Hicks Henry

Published originally in the General Store column of Bluegrass Unlimited, December 2004.With apologies to the original writer Clement Moore and to Dr. Suess. ‘Twas the night before Christmas,And all through the house,Not a picker was stirring,Not even a mouse. The party was over.We were picking no more,But guitars and banjosStill covered the floor. The fiddles…

Blast From The Past: Mac and Me By Murphy Henry

Here’s an article Murphy wrote long ago for the Winchester Star’s “Slice of Life” column. It was published on April 15, 1991. As the song goes “that has been some time ago!” Mac And Me When I heard that Mac Wiseman was going to be playing at the Apple Blossom Bluegrass Festival this year my…

Picky Fingers Banjo Podcast: My Interview With Keith Billik By Murphy Henry

As many of you may know, Keith Billik recently did a long interview with mefor his Picky Fingers Banjo Podcast. Thinking back on it, I’m reminded of thetime I interviewed Missy Raines for my book Pretty Good for a Girl: Womenin Bluegrass. At the end of the interview, I thanked her profusely for beingwilling to…

Murphy Featured on Picky Fingers Banjo Podcast

Murphy was interviewed by Kieth Billik of the Picky Fingers Banjo Podcast last month and her episode has just been released on all your favorite podcast platforms, as well as over on the Picky Fingers website. They chat about all aspects of playing, learning, and teaching the banjo. Give it a listen!

Which Videos Concern Roly Polys?

I woke up this morning to this question in my inbox: Hey guys! Could you please confirm which video(s) concern "roly polys”? Thank you in advance, I figured more than one person might be wondering this very thing, so here is the rundown: The main roly poly video is Kickstart Your Jamming. That is for…

Intermediate Banjo Camp April 21-23: Learning to Play the Melody

Casey and I are really looking forward to our upcoming Intermediate Banjo Camp, April 21-23! We love seeing all of you—old faces and new—and this is one of the few times Casey and I actually get to play music together. And remember: At this camp we have an Advanced Beginner/Beginning Intermediate track. Check with us…

My Surprise Birthday CD! By Murphy Henry

Back in May of this year, I had a special birthday. I turned 70! No one was more surprised that I was—not surprised that I’d made it that far (although I am extremely grateful for each of those years)—but surprised that I was SEVENTY! It seems so old, yet I feel so young! (At times!)…

I Blew The Kickoff! (With Video) By Murphy Henry

Recently I spent six wonderful days teaching beginning banjo at Augusta Heritage Bluegrass Week in Elkins, West Virginia. It had been many a long year since I’d walked those “green rolling hills of West Virginia” (Hazel Dickens song) and they seemed to have gotten a bit steeper! One of the highlights of the camp every…