badger - Posted - 11/21/2024:  07:00:44

I'm an intermediate player looking to jump-start my reso playing after a decade or so of neglecting it in favor of playing bass, and want to find online courses to help motivate and focus my attention. Can anyone offer recommendations, share good or bad experiences (PMs are fine if you don't want to flame anyone publicly) and generally offer guidance? Thanks in advance!

hlpdobro - Posted - 11/21/2024:  07:33:32

I can think of no better resource than Mike Witcher, also based in CA!  mikewitcher.com/



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NCNewbie - Posted - 11/21/2024:  07:52:22

+1 on Mike Witcher. He has a beginning Dobro class online with Peghead Nation that I'm taking and it's good. I'm also doing some zoom classes with him. I like his teaching style and approach. Very laid back.

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 11/21/2024:  14:05:38

The two learning scenarios in which I have participated  the most in recent years are  Rob's Reso Room and Mike Witcher's group Zoom classes. 

Here is a sample from Rob playing Maiden's Prayer. He breaks it down piece-by-piece in the extended video on the site. Sometimes tab is supplied, other times there is none. 

It's an excellent site overall, but to really get your money's worth, what you get out of it is what you put into it, like any music teaching program. When I get too busy with a lot of other stuff (retirement isn't an excuse when the Missus has the "Honey Do" list in her hand, unlike when I was still working and played the "I don't have the time" card on a fairly regular basis). 

Today is a good day to sign on to the Reso Room - badger and I live within about a half hour drive of each other here in Sonoma County, and we've been getting slammed by rain from the "atmospheric river" and there are flood warnings throughout the region.

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 11/21/2024:  14:41:49

Here is a link to a couple of free lessons at Rob's site to give you an idea - Fireball Mail (with rolls), and Vibrato:

bigmusictent.com/free/

Edited by - MarkinSonoma on 11/21/2024 14:42:54

joeyd - Posted - 11/22/2024:  05:40:54

Check out Joe Wilson dobrojoe.com/. He has IMHO a great set up that includes everything from basic exercises to advanced "Real World Dobro" tracks. Joe is a true professional, not only a great player but an excellent teacher/coach.

l2t - Posted - 11/22/2024:  08:12:49

I looked at dobrojoe, shaneakers, and troy brenningmeyer. Each has a bunch of free teasers on youtube and then you can subscribe or buy individual lessons (re Troy B.'s his current site is lwtstreaming.com but some of the teaser videos point to his old site which is still online but doesn't work for purchases any more).

For me, I can't practice more the 30 to 60 minutes four to five days a week or I get overuse injuries so subscribing wouldn't be cost effective. So what I've been doing is buying individual lessons from Troy B. for $9.99. Subscription is $24.99 a month. So if I'm only working on one new lesson every few weeks, it's cheaper to buy individual lessons. And then I have them in my library forever.