Published by Santorella Publications and written by Larry McCabe, How To Play Banjo is:
“The #1 method for new banjo pickers of all ages."
There is no note reading required to learn solos, accompaniment patterns, chords, and more.
This best selling banjo method includes helpful diagrams and unique photos, so you’ll not only get a banjo lesson, but a lesson in history as well.
Have some fun learning to play the five-string banjo! With the included instructional CD, teaching yourself has never been easier. This simple, step-by-step “no-nonsense” approach will have you playing songs like these in no time at all.
Old Molly Hare • Going Down the Road Feeling Bad • I Wish l Were Single• Boones Mill Breakdown • Down in the Valley • Amazing Grace • Skip to My Lou • Blow the Wind Southerly • Boil ‘em Cabbage Down • Sally Goodin • Cripple Creek • Will the Circle Be Unbroken • Careless Love • Hand Me Down, My Walking Cane • Skip to My Lou • Liza Jane • Hush, Little Baby • Jim Along Josie • Old Folks at Home
FOREWORD by the author, Mr. Larry McCabe
The unique tone of the banjo has been described as a barbaric twang, and that’s probably pretty darned accurate, for the tone of the banjo is quite unlike that of a soothing harp, a sweet dulcimer, or a moody cello.
The banjo, with its wild twang, seems to grab hold of you and wiggle you up and down like a helpless sunfish who just sank his last bobber. Indeed the bewitching instrument has often compelled people to commit actions in public establishments that brought shame and embarrassment in the days to follow, but there wasn’t a thing they could do about it at the time.
No, there is nothing sheepish about the howl and wail of the always-assertive banjo. It needs no amplifier. It invariably shouts, “I'm comin' in!” then barges forward like a maniacal cowpuncher busting through a pair of swinging saloon doors on his trusty bronc. And it never evens raises its hand when it needs to ask about going...well, we better not talk about that here.
It is thought that the banjo originally made its way to our shores from Africa; we do know that it was widely played by black musicians on southern plantations. Then, during he 1830s the instrument was introduced to the public by white minstrel bands. Traveling minstrels such as Joel Sweeny (he may have added the 5th string) and Dan Emmett (author of “Dixie”) popularized the instrument throughout the land while performing tunes like “Miss Lucy Long”, “Pea Patch Jig,” and “Turkey in the Straw”.
Thus, the five-string banjo was heard ringing all across the country long before Stephen Foster’s immortal “Oh Susannah” - the quintessential banjo tune - was published in 1848. By the time of the Civil War, banjo pickers on both sides of the conflict entertained their fellow troops with tunes they had learned from their grandfathers or the popular minstrels of the day.
Today, the banjo remains a pure and uncorrupted folk instrument, and it is a joy to play and hear. We hope this book will introduce you to a lifetime of music making on this distinctive instrument that always guarantees good times and great music.
