Bluegrass Banjo For Dummies

Description

"Bluegrass Banjo For Dummies is the definitive guide to mastering the most popular banjo-playing skills and techniques. If you've always wanted to strum and pick a five-string, but never knew where to start -- or if you'd like to polish your bluegrass licks -- this book provides the instruction you'll need to take your playing to a new level. The accompanying online video and audio instruction helps drive home the key points, and makes for a great interactive experience to brush up on your roll patterns, picking, hammer-ons, pull-offs, and a whole lot more!"--;Getting started with bluegrass banjo. Bluegrass music and the banjo ; Finding the perfect bluegrass banjo and getting the gear you need ; Hitting the ground running : tuning, reading music, and making chords ; Fretting and picking -- Let's roll! Scruggs-style banjo essentials. Picking techniques : roll patterns ; Fretting techniques and putting the hands together ; Getting bona fide : playing licks and classic tunes ; Working up your own Scruggs-style solos -- Playing in the band : backup essentials. Getting started : playing down-the-neck backup ; Taking it higher : playing up-the-neck backup -- Progressive banjo : melodic and single-string styles. Melodic-style banjo ; Single-string banjo -- Keeping your banjo in top shape. Setup essentials : getting the best sound from your banjo ; All strings considered : choosing and changing strings Getting started with bluegrass banjo. Bluegrass music and the banjo Finding the perfect bluegrass banjo and getting the gear you need Hitting the ground running : tuning, reading music, and making chords Fretting and picking -- Let's roll! Scruggs-style banjo essentials. Picking techniques : roll patterns Fretting techniques and putting the hands together Getting bona fide : playing licks and classic tunes Working up your own Scruggs-style solos -- Playing in the band : backup essentials. Getting started : playing down-the-neck backup Taking it higher : playing up-the-neck backup -- Progressive banjo : melodic and single-string styles. Melodic-style banjo Single-string banjo -- Keeping your banjo in top shape. Setup essentials : getting the best sound from your banjo All strings considered : choosing and changing strings The part of tens. Ten (or so) groundbreaking bluegrass banjo players. Earl Scruggs (1924-2012) Don Reno (1927-1984) J.D. Crowe (1937- ) Veronica "Roni" Stoneman (1938- ) Bill Keith (1939- ) Tony Trischka (1949- ) Murphy Henry (1952- ) Béla Fleck (1958- ) Alison Brown (1962- ) Jens Kruger (1962- ) Kristin Scott Benson (1976- ) Noam Pikelny (1981- ) -- Ten strategies to make you a better player (right now!). Sweat the details Take it step by step Find a good teacher Play with others Use the metronome Flow with your rolls Listen, watch, and learn Use your ear more than tablature Practice using looping techniques Track your progress -- Appendix A.A guide to chords, notes, and major scales -- Appendix B. Audio tracks and video clips.