I've been playing classic banjo for a couple of weeks now and I'm happy to report that I'm making progress.  I've found a setup and sound that I really like and I've learned a few pieces (Sunflower Dance, Mississippi Breakdowns, Fred Wilson's Clog).  I'm looking for suggestions for a few new pieces to learn, especially a few minor ones.  I'm itching to play some rags or some "oriental" pieces like Zarana, but I'm no where near ready for music that difficult! :-P 

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Try a few Morley pieces... but NOT Zarana as you won't have enough fingers!!!

Jovial Huntsman, is a great and easy piece, or Georgia Medley. Both simple and effective.

...and, of course, you can never get enough of Whistling Rufus by K. Mills.

Hi John, work up "Berkeley March" from the Van Eps book.  It is an ABF favorite, not difficult but not easy.  A good piece to help understand fingerings.  

Thanks Ian and Joel.  I've printed out the music for "Jovial Huntsman" and "Berkeley March" and I'm learning "Gipsy Dance" as well, to get my minor fix.  The fingerings are really starting to become intuitive at this point, and I'm very pleased with the tone I'm getting from my banjo (thanks again Joel for the bridges!).  It turns out a Tubaphone with Labella 17s, a "hand finished" bridge, and a Remo Renaissance vellum nails the tone I was hearing in my head.

I might be at a similar learning stage to you, having played banjo before but new to the classic-style.  Some easier pieces are 'Hoedown' and 'Cannon Jig' by Joe Morley, 'The Ladbroke March' by Skinner and 'Reckless Rufus' by JE Agnew.  You might also like Kansas Jig' by Herbert J. Ellis and 'The Skeleton Dance' by N Greenhop.  I am almost there with 'Eli Green's Cakewalk' (Sadie Koninsky) but am struggling with the third part.  I've also got an interesting book published by Clifford Essex 'Forty Early Minstrel Banjo Solos' which has a great little minor tune that you probably are familiar with 'The Peanut Girl'. 

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