New Course! Beginning Banjo by Ear with BB Bowness

Learn to play bluegrass by training your ear and internalizing the techniques, chords, banjo rolls, and licks that banjo players use on classic tunes and songs.

By: Dan Gabel

June 3, 2026

We’re excited to announce our latest course with a new-to-Peghead-Nation instructor. Please join us in Beginning Banjo by Ear with BB Bowness, now available for a monthly or annual subscription! Use promo code BBLand to get your first month free.

In Beginning Banjo by Ear, you’ll learn to play the banjo as generations of players have—by ear! Build a repertory of classic bluegrass tunes, learn to embellish the melodies, and develop essential picking and fretting techniques, all without looking at tab or notation. BB starts by covering fundamental skills like proper posture and hand positioning, and moves on to learning the most common roll patterns, including the forward-backward roll, drop-thumb roll, and others. She guides you through a bit of music theory (enough to help you keep up at bluegrass jams), chords and movable chord positions, and various techniques like pull-offs and slides, all with an eye on learning to play bluegrass tunes and songs. She takes things slowly and gives you play-along tracks to help you practice and internalize the tunes, licks, and phrases, which will help you get comfortable playing bluegrass banjo with others so you can join the fun of bluegrass jams and gatherings.

Your subscription to Beginning Banjo by Ear includes:

In-depth bluegrass banjo video lessons tailored for the beginning player
New lessons added every month
High-quality video with multiple camera angles so you can see closeups of both hands in action.
Lessons on multiple techniques for both picking and fretting hands
Special focus on learning to play by ear
All the tools you need to play bluegrass banjo songs and instrumentals
Play-Along videos so you can play along with the instructor
Downloadable audio MP3s of each tune
Your first month FREE, with promo code BBLand when you sign up

Subscribe to Beginning Banjo by Ear with BB Bowness

Beginning Banjo by Ear with BB Bowness Peghead Nation

Born in the small town of Marton, New Zealand, Catherine “BB” Bowness largely taught herself to play banjo through determination and persistence, eventually becoming the first banjo student at the New Zealand School of Music. After moving to the USA in 2012, BB co-founded Mile Twelve, one of bluegrass’s most acclaimed young groups. In 2025, BB released her debut solo album, Goodtime Revival, a collection of original compositions featuring performances by some of New England’s finest acoustic musicians. BB’s individual accolades include winning the FreshGrass Banjo Contest in 2015 and receiving the Steve Martin Banjo Prize in 2020. In addition to performing, she is a dedicated educator who enjoys sharing her passion for the banjo with students of all ages and experience levels.

Join us in Beginning Banjo by Ear with BB Bowness! Use promo code BBLand to get your first month free.