
From 2007 to 2014, Pete wrote a regular column for Banjo Newsletter, and continued to write occasional columns until 2017. These columns were a mix of topics selected by Pete as well as “Ask Dr. Banjo”, a Q&A banjo/bluegrass advice column. These articles are presented here, searchable by year and key words. There’s lots of good stuff here for banjo players and bluegrass musicians of all skill levels.
Also included are a several stand-alone articles written by Pete, and several written by others about Pete. Enjoy!
Select any year or key word to immediately see the new results. You can also search for any single word, or use quotes to search for a phrase (example: “Joan Wernick”). Scroll down to see sorting options.
Stage fright and playing under pressure
This article is a transcription of a talk at Pete's Banjo Camp, Boulder, CO. Transcribed and edited by Don Nitchie, ... Read More
Pete Wernick BNL Interview
This article by Bill McKay originally appeared in the September 1996 issue of Banjo Newsletter. For most musicians, mastering a ... Read More
Dr. Banjo Goes to Jam-Grass Fest
The weekend of Sept. 9 and 10 was an interesting and exciting one out at the Planet Bluegrass headquarters in ... Read More
Remembering Winnie Winston
I was very surprised and sad to hear from a friend at the recent Merlefest, that my good friend Winnie ... Read More
Earl Scruggs Tribute
Earl did something miraculous when he started a way of playing the banjo that took advantage of so many ways ... Read More
Loop Exercise Method
I’d like to share with you the method I have used for years to iron out problems in my playing, ... Read More
Prucha’s Elban, and Playing Electric Banjo
My Elban sounds like a “real banjo,” which it is (full 11” head, some cavity created by the resonator, though ... Read More
Find a Lead Singer; Backup Video; The Prewar Sound
I just turned 61 at the end of February, and find myself reflecting on getting older and “taking stock”. I ... Read More
Tough Banjo Love Result: “My breaks are mine”
Duane writes: In BNL this month you mention seeing you run a jam hosted by Steve Martin on your website ... Read More
End Thwonging Forever; New Flexigrass CD
Summer’s about here, perfect timing for a highly useful trick that solves two annoying picking problems: 1. Sweaty Rotating Pick ... Read More
Work Less on Instrumentals, More on Singing? The Year of the Melody
Jim from Ohio writes: Inspired by my experience at your jam and banjo camps I have focused more on singing, ... Read More
Sound Bites from Hollywood and West Virginia
The word has gotten around that Hot Rize played at Steve Martin’s wedding, and as with about anything involving Steve, ... Read More
Teachers: Help Your Students More with Videos
When a student hires me to teach, that is, to direct their learning program, I’m sometimes awed by the responsibility ... Read More
Nick Hornbuckle – Part 1
I have admired Nick’s playing since I first heard it on John Reischman’s “Up in the Woods” record in the late 1990s ... Read More
Nick Hornbuckle – Part 2
Nick Hornbuckle: Talking about having some sort of unique sound, I’m a huge fan of clawhammer, and old-time banjo. Some of ... Read More
Jamming Fundamentals: Chord Changing Made Easy
People sometimes wonder why a well-known banjo player/teacher like me has switched from teaching banjo to teaching mostly “bluegrass jamming” ... Read More
Breaking Out of the Intermediate Rut, and Learning to Play in D
Gary from British Columbia asks some great and typical questions: First, I would like to thank you for all the ... Read More
Advice to Young Player
In March of 06 I purchased a banjo flight case from Gary Price of Oklahoma. It was #008. In short, ... Read More
Stepping Into a Group
Jim from Colorado Springs here with an update on my progress. I was invited to play in a group called ... Read More
Banjo Claus Spotted in Eastern Kentucky
For the past several years Joan and I have been invited to perform and teach in Morehead, KY by one ... Read More
Ten Repertoires
This summer presents me some good challenges. Between late April and mid-July, I will have been on stage performing no ... Read More
A Jam Skill You Can Use: Hearing Chord Changes
We’re in peak jamming season now, and I hope those of you who bring your banjos to festivals actually take ... Read More
Can’t Find People to Jam With?
Think “no one where I live is into bluegrass”? Maybe you're wrong and don't know it. There may be someone ... Read More
Getting Away from Strict Memorizing and Creating Your Own Solos
Will J. writes: I have been taking banjo lesson for about a year and a half now. My instructor is ... Read More
Productive Practicing
Bill writes: Hey! I’m 53 with a family and work 6 days a week. I’ve been playing for 2 years ... Read More
Back to Basics: Are You a Successful Musician? and Pick Noise
The recent financial meltdown is doing a number on all of us. Everyone’s financial outlook is worse than it was ... Read More
The Year of Good Tone
Lenny asks: How do you define good tone? What are some things to look out for that detract from good ... Read More
Jam Etiquette re Breaks and Choices in Recording Banjo
Patrick writes: I picked up a copy of your jam etiquette flyer. Enjoy your tips a lot – Something is ... Read More
Steve Martin and Ambassadors of the Banjo
Chances are, everyone reading this column has done some work as an Ambassador of the Banjo. We of “Banjoland” are ... Read More
Let’s Get This Straight: Controversial Topics
This month’s column jumps headlong into some issues where I will rail against “common wisdom” ... Read More
Breaking News! Banjo Goes Mass Media, Media Go Buggy Over Steve Martin
It’s been interesting to watch the extremely rare mass exposure the banjo has been getting lately due to the major ... Read More
Recommended Summer Banjo Stay-Cation (or Anywhere) Adventure…The Pleasures, Perks, and Lessons of Busking
I’ve been “playing in the street” since I was a teenager, going back to my pre-college summer, at the short-lived ... Read More
Music for the Masses
I along with my Hot Rize compadres will be co-hosting the IBMA Awards Show October 1 at the Ryman Auditorium ... Read More
Not Clutching at Jams
Attendees of last January’s Basic Banjo camp recently exchanged emails about their progress. Keith P. from Maryland wrote: ... Read More
Hot Rize for Public Consumption
I am lucky to have had some neat opportunities in music these days. Along with three banjo camps and six ... Read More
Get Out of the Rut
Gary from British Columbia asks some great and typical questions: Hi Pete, First, I want to thank you for all ... Read More
Let’s Talk About the Key of D, and Comfort Zone
What better topic for the first column of the year than one that makes a lot of banjo players squirm? ... Read More
Beginner Banjo Advice and Good Tone
First, big congratulations to Steve Martin for winning the Bluegrass Grammy! From my research, this is the first time that ... Read More
Tune It Or Die
Yes, that sounds severe. I was taken aback by that catchy phrase on a t-shirt worn by one of the ... Read More
How to Spend the Least Amount of Time Tuning (and be in tune)
So many fine points to cover about tuning a banjo! Keep your strings changed with some frequency, wipe them with ... Read More
Secrets – (Shhh , donʼt tell!) Hearing the Tune in a Tab, and the “Secret Sauce” of the Pro Sound
Two pickers writing last week to the Forum on DrBanjo.com asked me to share “secrets”. Well OK, but then they won’t be ... Read More
The Pro Sound
Zeek writes to the Forum on DrBanjo.com: In ads for your camps I’ve seen mention of segments of your teaching ... Read More
Jam Class Teacher Network; My Take on Tab/Rote Learning
I am proud to announce this month the launch of my Wernick Method Teacher Certified Jam Classes. As you dear ... Read More
Rekindling the Hot Rize Fire; Bulletproofing Your Solos; Rhythm Machine vs. Metronome
October 28 in Berkeley, California, Hot Rize will kick off its first tour in 12 years. The group’s full-time run ... Read More
Finding the Melody Using Chords and Your Voice; Finding Chords Using the Melody; Cleaner Bar Chords
Here’s some advice I gave a fellow who sent me a playing sample to qualify for Advanced Banjo Camp. He ... Read More
Hot Rize and Wichita Lineman, Still on the Line
Last month I was kinda busy during the time I’d usually prepare a column; Hot Rize’s “Berkeley to Berklee” tour, ... Read More
Tough Love for a Struggling Picker…and Playing the Words of Wichita Lineman
This article originally appeared in the January 2011 issue of Banjo Newsletter, and is also available as an easy-to-print PDF ... Read More
Advice to Non-Singing Banjo Player
Dax is a very talented player in Kentucky, a high school senior. One of these players about whom people say, ... Read More
The Groove, Jam Classes, Skin
Bill writes: I’ve looked all over your site to find information about developing a groove or flow but I can’t ... Read More
“I Am 54 But…”, Drum Machine Report
J.C. from Nebraska writes: Pete… I am very interested in your jam camps which are geared toward those with no ... Read More
Jam Skills Checklist; Flag Day Banjo Op; Remembering Carlton Haney
Here we are again, beginning of summer. Are you ready to hit the festivals, do some fun listening, visiting, and ... Read More
Banjo Bullies Needn’t Peel Paint and Other Jam Etiquette Issues
Just last weekend I really wanted to jam and there was a good one going in the campground at our ... Read More
Bill Monroe Centennial and Why to Get There Early
One hundred years ago there was not much pavement in America, no such thing as an old car or a ... Read More
Bill Monroe and the Banjo
The powerful musical force known as Bill Monroe turns 100 this month. It’s hard to believe he’s been gone 15 ... Read More
Jonny Mizzone: Now No One Can Complain About Their “Small Hands”
It’s been an interesting few months lately for the banjo in the media…. A couple of new 5-string stars are ... Read More
It’s About Fun and Results… As Soon As Possible: Recommendations from a Lifetime of Banjo Teaching
The following ideas have served my students well since I developed them in the 1960s and 70s. They have been ... Read More
Wernick Method Progress…and How YOU Can Improve in 2012
This month I host my 28th annual Winter Banjo Camps, three weeks of full banjo-immersion in Boulder, Colorado. These are ... Read More
Why Teachers Should Offer Jam Classes
Almost every aspiring musician dreams of playing music with other people. And any way you slice it, bluegrass banjo is ... Read More
The How-To’s of Family Busking …and Advice to Advanced Beginners
Amber Waves is a talented Colorado family band that I started coaching last summer. I met them when one of the teenage ... Read More
Remembering Earl
Everyone has a story about the first time they heard him. When I was 12 or so I was at ... Read More
Doc Watson Remembrance
The passing of Doc Watson seems especially momentous to me. Though his banjo playing was wonderful, he was of course ... Read More
New York Banjo Story
I am excited and honored to be part of an unprecedented tour this fall—the New York Banjo Summit. Béla Fleck, ... Read More
What Makes A Banjo Camper Advanced? More NY Notables, and Tab Policy
Ted in Arizona writes: Am I ready for Advanced Class??? Concern: Get there and slow your class down because I’m ... Read More
The NY Banjo Summit Tour
It’s impressive just to look around and see an array of amazing musicians I’ll be spending the next 11 days ... Read More
Reviews and Resolutions
The Deering folks and I have been allies over the years, and they recently asked if I’d review one of ... Read More
Dealing With Prodigies (“Mental Health is Number 1”), & The All-Europe Jam
Ah youth! I still remember my years as a teenaged musician and how much excitement and energy I had for ... Read More
How To Not Freak Out at the Jam; Clear Pull-offs
Michael from Minnesota writes: I just read your article about stage fright. It describes me so well, I feel you ... Read More
The Groove, and Warming Up for Fast Ones
Pat in Alabama writes: I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind sharing some advice. It’s about warming up. I’m playing ... Read More
Pete Seeger at 94
You’re reading this not long after I’m writing it, September 8, just after a concert of one of my all-time ... Read More
Some Favorite Advice
I’ve been teaching banjo almost 50 years now. Though most banjo teaching addresses typical technical challenges, I have some pet ... Read More
Holiday Thoughts and Kids and Instruments and Singing in Tune
Holidays can be the best of times, often with families close at hand. Gift-giving is on our minds, with the ... Read More
21st Century Bluegrass
I’ve noted that some of my fellow BNL columnists run amok at times, discussing non-banjo things. I rarely run amok, ... Read More
Age Related Challenges
Here I am, 71 as of Feb. 25, and still picking the five. The “new Granada” I got in 1988 ... Read More
Pete Wernick Looks Back and Looks Ahead
If you got into bluegrass in the 1970s, you probably first became aware of Pete Wernick as half of the ... Read More
It’s About Jamming
I love to jam. Jamming is truly “bluegrass in its most natural habitat”… more than performing (in a circle you ... Read More