 Best Sellers
| | Home Introduction to Bluegrass Banjo | |
|  | |  | | | Introduction to Bluegrass Banjo | | SKU:
| | In Stock | | Availability:
Usually ships in 1 business days | | | This book is designed to aid the novice attempting to learn the 5-string banjo using 3-Finger Style, where the strings are picked by three fingers (thumb,index and middle) of the right hand. Upon completing this volume, you will have learned how to combine left-hand notes with right-hand patterns so as to perform bluegrass style solos and back-up. You will also have the foundation needed to explore other styles of music, such as blues and jazz. No prior knowledge of music or any musical instrument is needed to learn from this method. Enough detail is given to allow the beginner to fully grasp each concept. In addition, exercises are designed to facilitate a gradual increase in the student s understanding and dexterity. When a new concept is presented for the right hand, the left hand performs previously learned tasks. Likewise, a new left-hand technique is demonstrated with familiar right-hand patterns. This instructional technique is used throughout the text. | | | |
List Price:
| $22.95 | |
Our Price:
| $15.61
& eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.
| |
You Save:
| $7.34 (31%)
|
| | |
|
| | Product Details | | Author: | Eddie Collins | | Paperback: | 108 pages | | Publisher: | Mel Bay Publications, Inc. | | Publication Date: | June 20, 2007 | | Language: | English | | ISBN: | 0786672900 | | Package Length: | 11.5 inches | | Package Width: | 9.0 inches | | Package Height: | 0.3 inches | | Package Weight: | 0.75 pounds | | Average Customer Rating: |  based on 2 reviews |
| |
| | Customer Reviews | Average Customer Review:
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Duplicate of a previous title Jun 16, 2008
This is an excellent instructional book, but is word for word and page for page identical to Eddie Collins' self-published "Basics of Bluegrass Banjo...and a whole lot more".
This older title may no longer be available from Mr. Collins. If you already own the previous title (as I do), there is no reason to buy this re-publication.
If you don't already own it, I would highly recommend the book.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
 More complete than other banjo methods Jul 16, 2007
The first thing I noticed about this book, is that there is a lot more text in this book than in many of the music books I've purchased. Eddie sprinkles in lots of paragraphs with helpful tips on things like the importance of memorizing songs, types of exercises, explaining the different parts of a song or how to structure your practice. This aspect of the book appealed to me since I really enjoy the verbose explanations and thought provoking statements (I'm not as much of a learn-by-example kind of guy as some folks might be).
All of the normal stuff you'd expect to see is in there.. hand position, the rolls, common chord progressions, common licks, hammer-ons, slides etc.
One of the things that I really like about this book though is that the many different elements of playing are taught in an integrated manner. You won't spend 2 years learning a bunch of lead breaks and then be clueless in your first jam session! Eddie starts from the very first song (Camptown races) encouraging you to try to pick out the melody by ear. He then gives you the lyrics to the song and the chord structure and discusses how to accompany the song with chords (just basic strumming at this point). This structure continues throughout the book. All aspects of the songs are introduced at basically the same time: playing the solo, singing along and playing backup. In addition music theory is slowly introduced including rhythm, scales, chord progressions, etc.
As the book progresses, it discusses arranging the songs (meaning how you would perform it with a group, not writing your own solos). For example, when the song, "Golden Wings" is introduced on page 35, the solo is given. On the next page is a description of some new chords needed for the song followed by a chord chart and a lead sheet with the lyrics / chords that shows when you take the banjo break. If you decide to play along with the CD, you can play the chords during the verse and chorus (and sing along as well if you are so inclined!), then play the break at the appropriate time. By the time you get to page 94, the arrangement for New River Train takes the whole page. It shows a suggestion for the intro, when to play the rolling backup, when to vamp, when to play the fills when to take the solo and how to tag out the song. The lyrics for all three verses are given and the CD contains the full 3 minute arrangement with the singing and guitar break so you can exercise all of your skills at a comfortable speed.
The book includes two CDs, one containing the examples and songs at a fairly slow pace and the 2nd one at a little faster pace. The idea of the 2nd CD is that it can be used just for general listening pleasure as well as to play along so that you can learn how the songs sound. The Banjo is recorded more heavily on one of the stereo track so you can adjust its volume according to your needs.
In Chapter Five, the book introduces ¾ time and at the same time discusses the process of building up a solo from a melody you pick out by ear. It discusses how you might want to fill in the beats in between the melody notes of "Amazing Grace" and then shows the tab for the whole solo. Again the chord chart is given and the CD gives you the chance to play backup while the other instruments play a solo.
There are chapters on using the capo, learning the notes on the banjo, effective practice and warm-ups, melodic style, up the neck and embellished back-up. At the end of the book, you will have been introduced to all of the skills needed to play with others, different styles (including Melodic, blues and Reno), basic music theory and playing by ear. All of this is at a fairly basic level and you will still need to use additional resources to explore these topics in more depth. Many of these are covered in Eddie's second book or you could use other resources.
I feel that the strongest point of this book is that all aspects of playing the banjo are presented in an integrated manner and that working through the material will develop the skills needed to become a well-rounded banjo player. Again, I haven't looked at everything on the market, but of the books I have seen, I feel that this is definitely the most complete and well-rounded approach.
| |
| |
| |  | |  |
|
| You may also like ...
|
