This site is for ordering our phyiscal DVDs and CDs only. For downloads visit our main site at murphymethod.com. Free shipping on orders $100+ (US Only).
Great Banjo Tunes (formerly titled Advanced Banjo): We’ve spoken of banjo greats Earl Scruggs and Ralph Stanley (if you are reading these blurbs in order), but we have yet to mention the magnificent work of Don Reno. Don played in a jazzy, often single-string, style that is hard to duplicate. We do the best we can with his versions of “Limehouse Blues” and “Dixie Breakdown,” two light-hearted, fun-filled pieces that include some tricky left-hand fingering. (Be prepared to stretch!) (Note: The DVD opens with an awesome twin-banjo version of “Dixie Breakdown” by Murphy and Casey. We say with all modesty.)
Then, from the Father of Bluegrass himself, Bill Monroe, come mandolin tunes “Goldrush” and “Shenandoah Breakdown.” Both include some not-too-difficult melodic licks, as does the traditional fiddle tune “Bill Cheatum.” Last, and perhaps hardest, “Kansas City Railroad Blues” (in the key of C), features Casey teaching a tune for the first time at age 17.
You’ll have your work cut out for you with these tunes, but when the work’s all done, you’ll have made a quantum leap in your playing. No Tab.
Goldrush, Bill Cheatum, Shenandoah Breakdown, Limehouse Blues, Dixie Breakdown, and Kansas City Railroad Blues (2 hours, 15 minutes)
DVD
(For download order here: https://digital.murphymethod.com/shop/tmm_greatban...)
Watch a sample here:
Murphy Henry
Co-founder
Thanks for your interest in the Murphy Method. You're probably wondering what the Murphy Method is. The Murphy Method is a way of teaching bluegrass music BY EAR. We use no tablature in our teaching because we believe tablature is a crutch that interferes with learning to play bluegrass. We explain each song note by note, so that it is easy and quick to learn. As you learn these tunes, you are also developing your ear, so that learning actually gets easier as you go along!
We hope you will soon be joining the thousands of Murphy Method students all over the world who are learning to play bluegrass the Murphy Method way. One reason our Method is so successful is that we work with you slowly, one step at a time. First you will be learning the easy songs which will provide a solid foundation. Then you will move onto harder songs, which won't seem so hard because you will have already learned the basics. And you will have learned them right!
Many of our students tell us that the Murphy Method is the fastest, easiest, most enjoyable way to learn that they have ever tried. And the facts speak for themselves: our students are learning to play!
We have a wonderful group of instructors: Murphy Henry teaches banjo, guitar, mandolin, and fiddle; Lynn Morris, the leader of the award-winning Lynn Morris Band, teaches clawhammer banjo; Marshall Wilborn, the International Bluegrass Music Association's 2009 Bass Player of the year, teaches bass; Jim Wood, a Tennessee State Championship Fiddle player, teaches our beginning, intermediate, and advanced fiddle videos; and David McLaughlin, of the Johnson Mountain Boys, teaches our advanced mandolin video cleverly entitled David McLaughlin Mandolin Video. Mark Panfil, a great dobro player and experienced music teacher from New York, teaches our Beginning Dobro DVD. Our daughter Casey Henry teaches on several banjo DVDs and our son Christopher Henry, teaches the Bill Monroe Style Mandolin DVD. IBMA Banjo Player of the Year Ned Luberecki teaches Start With The Melody, and two-time IBMA Banjo Player of the Year nominee Gina Furtado teaches A Little Something For Everyone.
We now offer lessons at every level of instruction. If you are picking up an instrument for the first time, you have come to the right place. Our beginning videos are truly "beginner friendly." If you are a tablature dropout, you will be pleasantly surprised at how quickly you can learn by ear, the Murphy Method way. If you're "just not sure" about this learning by ear, we think you will be amazed at how easy it is. And if you are looking for new challenges in your playing, our advanced videos should suit you fine. We welcome you to the Murphy Method family. Join us today and learn how to play. We know how to teach!!