Play Together · Level 2

Meet the Tablature

My banjo is in
Not sure? The tuner in Level 1 will tell you.
Your progress0 of 4 steps
1

Three Lines, Three Strings
Teaching tip for grown-ups

Say: “The tab is a picture of your banjo’s strings. The top line is the bottom string.”

Watch for: Mixing up top and bottom. That’s normal! Lay the banjo on the table next to the tab so the strings line up with the lines.

The tab is a picture of your strings

bottom stringmiddle stringtop string

Each line is one string on your banjo. Here’s the secret: the lines are flipped! The top line is the bottom string, and the bottom line is the top string. The middle line is the middle string.

Guitar, ukulele and banjo players all read tabs this way.

Tap a line to hear its string!
Then tap Start listening, and pluck each string on your banjo as its line lights up.
2

The White Circle
Teaching tip for grown-ups

Say: “White circle means open: no fingers pressing the neck. Just strum.”

The other hand: Have your child hold the neck loosely, like holding a cup, without their fingers touching the strings. That way every string can ring.

White circle on the middle line = the middle string is open. Don’t fret: just pluck the middle string, or strum all three!
Step 1 of 2

What’s a white circle?

bottom stringmiddle stringtop string

A white circle means open: no fingers on the neck. The line it sits on tells you which string. Here it’s on the middle line, so pluck the middle string, or strum all three.

Play each white circle as it lights up!
No fingers on the neck. Strum on each white circle as it lights up!
3

The Blue Circle
Teaching tip for grown-ups

Say: “Blue circle on the middle line means the middle string. Press the blue fret, hold it, then pluck or strum.”

Fingertip, not fingerprint: Help your child bend their finger so the very tip presses down, firmly, on just the middle string. Touching the other strings or pressing with the flat of the finger makes the note buzzy instead of clear.

Blue circle on the middle line = press and hold the blue circle on the middle string. Then pluck or strum!
Step 1 of 2

What’s a blue circle?

bottom stringmiddle stringtop string

A blue circle means press: put one fingertip on the blue painted fret, hold it, then pluck or strum. The line tells you which string. Here it’s on the middle line, so press the middle string.

Drive the bus to town!
Blue circle: press and hold the blue circle on the middle string, then pluck or strum.
4

White and Blue Together
Teaching tip for grown-ups

Say: “Look at the color first. White means no fingers. Blue means press the blue circle.”

Get ready early: While they play the white circles, have your child hover their pointer finger over the blue circle, so they’re ready to press it down when the blue circles come.

White and blue together

openopenpresspress

Now the circles change color as you go.

  • White circle: no fingers, just strum.
  • Blue circle: press the blue circle, then strum.

While you play the white circles, hover your pointer finger over the blue circle on your banjo, so you’re ready to press it down.

Watch the colors!
Strum once each time a circle lights up. White: open. Blue: press the blue circle.