New Techniques For 5 String Banjo Volume 2, Beyond Beginner, Journeyman/Journeywoman has arrived!!! Available NOW on amazon.com! Christmas is around the corner, so what better gift could there be for the banjo picker in your life?
This second book in my banjo instruction “Trilogy,” has something for any banjoist with an insatiable curiosity of what makes this most exotic instrument tick.
You can use this book for review if you’ve been away from playing for awhile, and need a little push to get you “in the groove” again. It can stand alone if you don’t consider yourself a rank beginner. The first chapter, “Some Review Of Volume 1 Concepts,” may be all you need to get you on par with the special notation and various markings and music concepts that were discussed in Volume 1. There I go…talking myself out of a potential Volume 1 sale!
Another way you might use this second book, is as a reference for finding new ways to play popular bluegrass jam tunes: “Old Joe Clark,” “Little Maggie,” “All the Good Times,” “Devil’s Dream,” “Soldier’s Joy” and more! The free audio includes examples and explanations from the book. It also supplies an abundance of banjo/guitar interplay, giving you ample opportunity to try out melodies and back-up ideas. These ideas are all presented in both their simplest forms as well as more challenging variations. The variations are intriguing enough to turn heads of people you might find yourself jamming with at bluegrass festivals!
If you feel like you’re in a rut, stuck on strictly G, C and D7, there are chapters devoted to introducing new chords to you, and sample tunes they can be used with. One chapter is devoted to minor chords, and some useful information on how to move them around the neck of your banjo.
If you need a good warm up, try “77 Banjo Rolls” found in the first chapter. Other exercises found throughout the book include different kinds of endings, new fills, and toward the end of the book, a discussion of licks and how to practice them in a chord progression.
If you’re looking for more waltzes in your arsenal of tunes, there’s an entire chapter devoted to that very subject… from the traditional fiddle waltz, “The Ash Grove” to the classical “Blue Danube” among others.
If you need help with how or when to use a capo, Chapters 3 and 10 have got you covered. Chapter 3 explains how to get your capo(s) up and running, as well as the Music Theory behind the use of a capo. Chapter 10 expands your repertoire of capo 2 tunes, so you can play with a fiddle or mandolin in the keys that are most common for them.
Finally there is the Glossary. This is chock full of musical information, explained in the easiest ways possible. If a term anywhere within the book gives you pause, the Glossary should have a reasonable answer for you. The Glossary alone is worth a read for your own expansion of Music Theory and terminology knowledge!
Yes! This is a banjo book of many colors. As a Music Theory reference, an expansion of chord knowledge, useful exercises and licks, repertoire enhancement, and ways to improve on your jamming skills, it will beckon you to open it again and again!
and . . . here’s a video introduction to the book on my New Techniques on 5 String Banjo Youtube channel
Comments are closed.