Jul 25: Intro to Seeger Style Banjo with Peter McKee

Saturday, July 25, 2026

Time 11am – 1pm

Dusty Strings 3406 Fremont Ave N

Maximum Enrollment: 16

Registration & Refund Deadline: Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Pete Seeger’s banjo playing became a defining sound of the American folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s. His unique style is often overlooked; however, it offers an accessible introduction to learning the 5-string banjo. His style is especially well suited for playing and singing along. In this introductory workshop, we will cover some basics of playing the banjo: learning three basic chords in both C and G tunings, capo use, basic rhythm skills, reading tablature, and Seeger’s right hand “basic strum.”  We will apply all this to learn to play a few songs. Mastering these basic techniques will give you the tools to continue learning and loving to play the 5-string banjo!

Skills Needed: The workshop is intended as an introduction for those who are new to the instrument or just learned their first few chords. Seeger’s approaches to learning and playing are especially well suited for beginners. People who have some experience but have never attempted the Seeger style are also welcome.

What to Bring: A 5-string banjo and a capo. Helpful, but not necessary is a clip-on tuner. I will be working out of Seeger’s book, “How to Play the 5-String Banjo.” If you have a copy, bring it along!  If not, I will have handouts. 

Teacher: Peter McKee is a singer, songwriter, and banjo player, who has been playing in the Seeger style for more than 50 years. He is a founding member of Seattle’s folk band “Clallam County” that performed original, traditional, and delusional folk music throughout Washington State for 43 years. He has written, produced, and performed a two-hour, one-man show “Pete:  The Songs and Times of Pete Seeger.” For the past 12 years, he has led the annual Pete Seeger Sing Along at Seattle’s Northwest Folklife Festival. Peter hopes that new banjo players who learn some of Seeger’s basic techniques will come to appreciate the versatility this style can give their own playing.

Pete: The Songs and Times of Pete Seeger

*Most classes and workshops are geared towards late-teens and adults. Younger learners will benefit most starting with private lessons.

If you have any questions about group classes, or the school in general, don’t hesitate to contact us at (206) 634-1662 or music@dustystrings.com.