| Formatted Contents Note: |
Introduction -- About this book -- Conventions ... used in this book -- What you're not to read -- Foolish assumptions -- How this book is organized -- Part 1: Amazing five-string banjo -- Part 2: Let's pick! The basic ingredients -- Part 3: Playing styles past, present, and future -- Part 4: Buyer's guide, care and feeding, and more -- Part 5: Part of tens -- Part 6: Appendixes -- Icons used in this book -- Where to go from here -- Part 1: Amazing Five-String Banjo -- Chapter 1: First steps: banjo basics -- Getting into banjo -- Loving that amazing sound -- Becoming a true believer -- Identifying different kinds of banjos -- Five-string banjo: the subject of the book -- Tenor and plectrum banjos: look for another book -- Knowing the parts of a banjo -- Looking at the neck -- Checking out the pot -- Picking up string vibrations -- Becoming a banjo player -- Making wise purchase choices -- Tuning and holding your banjo -- Fretting chords with the left hand -- Playing authentic right- and left-hand patterns -- Practicing some real tunes -- Making music with others in jam sessions -- Meeting other banjo lovers -- Keeping your banjo sounding great -- Chapter 2: Meet your banjo -- Talking banjo talk -- Positioning body and banjo -- Strapping on your banjo -- Sitting down to play -- Standing with your banjo -- Fretting with the left hand -- Tuning up -- G tuning: getting your strings in order -- Relative tuning: tuning the banjo to itself -- Reference tuning: getting a little outside help -- Checking out chord diagrams -- Reading a chord diagram -- Interpreting up-the-neck chord diagrams -- Fingering G, D7, and C chords -- G chord: real easy -- D7 chord: a little harder -- C chord: more challenging still -- Chapter 3: Playing by the rules: not enough theory to hurt -- Breaking down the parts of a song -- Rhythm: catching the beat -- Chord progressions: playing your first songs -- Reading tablature -- Finding notes -- Tracking down the rhythm -- Playing pinch patterns -- Being a great team player -- Lead playing: shining the spotlight on yourself -- Backup playing: allowing others to stand out -- Part 2: Let's Pick! The Basic Ingredients -- Chapter 4: Getting right with the right hand -- Clawhammer and bluegrass: down-picking and up-picking -- Clawhammer right-hand basics -- Finding a good right-hand position -- Playing your first clawhammer notes -- Using clawhammer banjo as accompaniment -- Bluegrass right-hand basics -- Choosing and fitting thumbpicks and fingerpicks -- Acquiring a good right-hand position -- Playing roll patterns -- Using bluegrass rolls as accompaniment -- Chapter 5: Sliding, hammering, and pulling: adding the left hand -- Slipping into the slide -- Getting down the slide: the basics -- Trying 3rd-string slides -- Undertaking 4th-string slides -- Focusing on 1st-string slides -- Nailing the hammer-on -- Playing open-string hammer-ons -- Giving fretted hammer-ons a chance -- Pulling off the pull-off -- Digging into open-string pull-offs -- Mastering fretted pull-offs -- Sizing up special clawhammer pull-offs -- Bending the chokes -- Playing the foggy mountain choke -- Experimenting with choke variations -- Putting your hands together -- Making sure your clawhammer right-hand is ready -- Double-checking your bluegrass right-hand skills -- Joining forces: using both hands in clawhammer banjo -- Keeping both hands busy in bluegrass banjo -- Read MoreChapter 6: Working up your first tunes: clawhammer ... and bluegrass -- Finding the melody -- Starting with the scale -- Trying out a tune (or two) -- Making melody with style -- Starting with the right hand -- Adding the left hand -- Tackling a few more tunes -- Part 3: Playing Styles Past, Present, And Future -- Chapter 7: Playing historical styles: African, minstrel, and classic banjo -- African-American banjo roots -- Converging cultures: the world of minstrel banjo -- Uncovering the historical background -- Getting into minstrel banjo -- Discovering drop-c tuning -- Mastering minstrel technique -- Trying some minstrel tunes -- Branching out with classic banjo -- Understanding classic banjo technique -- Introducing yourself to the classics -- Chapter 8: Playing three-finger styles: Scruggs, melodic, and single string -- Playing a Scruggs-style banjo -- Flowing with the rolls -- Making your music hot with some licks -- Progressing to Scruggs-style songs -- Making music with melodic banjo -- Discovering how to play melodic scales -- Getting a feel for melodic-banjo songs -- Playing single-string banjo -- Using the right hand -- Taking a crack at single-string scales -- Exercising single-string techniques in songs -- Combining three-finger techniques -- Part 4: Buyer's Guide, Care And Feeding, And More -- Chapter 9: Finding your banjo bliss: a buyer's guide -- Establishing your banjo boundaries -- Making the leap: resonator or open-back? -- Pumping up the volume: resonator banjos -- Going the old-time way: open-back banjos -- Finding a great beginner's banjo -- Knowing what's in the pot -- Getting good string action -- Finding bridge height -- Measuring string spacing -- Checking the tuners -- Taking the plunge -- Stepping up to a better banjo -- Budgeting for a quality banjo -- Knowing a quality banjo when you see it -- Plugging in: electric banjos -- Going vintage -- Finding the right music store -- Buying from an acoustic specialty store -- Buying online -- Getting you started: a banjo store directory -- Chapter 10: Getting the right stuff: banjo gear -- Picking up the stuff you really need -- Cases: becoming king of the road -- Strings: you can't pick without 'em -- Picks: giving your fingers playing power -- Straps: take a load off! -- Capos: playing easily in different keys -- 5th-string capo and spikes: going along for the ride -- Electronic tuners: getting by with a little help -- Collecting more cool tools to help your playing -- Metronomes and drum machines -- Your computer and the banjo -- Swapping out parts to make your banjo sound better -- Bridges -- Heads -- Tailpieces -- D tuners -- Chapter 11: Taking care of your baby: string changing & basic maintenance -- Replacing banjo strings -- Deciding when your strings need a changin' -- Changing strings 1 through 4: a step-by-step guide -- Replacing the 5th string -- Setting the bridge -- Discovering harmonics -- Using harmonics to set the bridge -- Adjusting head tension -- Relating head tension to banjo tone -- Tightening the head -- Keeping your banjo looking its best -- Knowing when to consult a professional -- Read MoreChapter 12: Networking into banjo culture -- ... Taking private lessons -- Overcoming lesson anxiety -- Finding just the right teacher -- Playing music with others -- Finding a good jam -- Getting ready for a jam session -- Joining in a jam -- Observing good jamming etiquette -- Attending workshops and camps -- Workshops: fine-tuning your techniques -- Banjo, bluegrass, and old-time camps: rubbing elbows with the pros -- Heading to a bluegrass festival -- Discovering what festivals are all about -- Finding a festival that's right for you -- Part 5: Part Of Tens -- Chapter 13: Ten tips to make practicing more fun -- Listen actively -- Set goals -- Practice regularly -- Warm up -- Use tablature sparingly -- Get the right hand first -- Gradually increase your speed -- Take songs one measure at a time -- Play the right repertoire -- Keep track of your progress -- Chapter 14: Ten banjo players you need to hear -- Earl Scruggs (b 1924) -- Pete Seeger (b 1919) -- Bela Fleck (b 1958) -- Tommy Jarrell (1901-1985) -- Bill Keith (b 1939) -- Mike Seeger (b 1933) -- Uncle Dave Macon (1870-1952) -- JD Crowe (b 1937) -- Don Reno (1927-1984) -- Sylvester (Vess) Ossman (1868-1923) -- Alison Brown (b 1962) -- Tony Trischka (b 1949) -- Other banjo players you should hear -- Part 6: Appendixes -- Appendix A: Banjo chords and notes -- Chords -- Notes on the banjo in G tuning -- Appendix B: About the CD -- Relating the text to the CD -- System requirements -- Audio CD players -- Computer CD-ROM drives -- Using the CD -- Tracks on the CD -- Troubleshooting -- Wiley Publishing, Inc end-user license agreement -- Index. 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| Summary, etc.: |
From the Publisher: A complete guide to the world ... of the five-string banjo written for both beginners and more experienced players. Packed with over 120 how-to photos and 130 musical examples. 94 track CD included-hear and play along with every exercise and song. The only book to offer instruction in clawhammer, bluegrass, melodic, single-string, minstrel and classic styles. From Earl Scruggs' driving bluegrass picking to the genre-busting jazz fusion of Bela Fleck and the multi-million selling movie soundtrack O Brother Where Are Thou?, the five-string banjo can be heard just about everywhere in American music these days. Banjo For Dummies is the most complete guide to the five-string banjo ever written. It covers everything you need to get into the banjo: including how to choose, tune and care for your instrument, developing a good playing posture, fretting your first chords and getting comfortable with the left and right hand picking patterns used for clawhammer and bluegrass playing techniques. You'll then add the left hand, spicing up your playing with slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs, and chokes for an authentic five-string banjo sound. From there, you'll move on to play 19th century minstrel style, early 20th century classic style as well as try your hand at more advanced examples of bluegrass style. An in-depth chapter on bluegrass music explores Scruggs licks and techniques as well as melodic and single-string styles, with song examples. Also included is a banjo buyer's guide, a section on music theory as applied to bluegrass and old-time music, an accessories guide (advice on cases, picks, straps, metronomes, computer aids and much more), information on how to find a good teacher, banjo camp or festival, chord charts, bios of twelve influential players, practice tips and much, much more! Banjo For Dummies is accessible and fun to read and it's easy to locate just what you're interested in playing. Included are 20 songs including several new compositions written by the author just for this book, including Reno Rag (single-string style),"Winston's Jig" (Irish three-finger), and "Everyday Breakdown" (Scruggs style). All musical examples are played slowly on the accompanying CD, many with guitar and mandolin accompaniment. Read More |
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