Bluegrass Banjo for the Complete Ignoramus (Book + Online Audio)

I had been picking banjo for about three months using several other resources (the Scruggs book, the Janet Davis book, Banjo Ben Clark's website, plus a teacher) and doing pretty well at learning the motions. I could play Cripple Creek, Old Joe Clark, Blackberry Blossom, etc, from muscle memory but I could tell something was missing - I was learning to pick a lot of arbitrary notes without really understanding how they were put together. I finally realized that what I was missing was the melody - it was buried under all those mysterious notes. Then I remembered evaluating Erbsen's book when I first started. I skipped it because I didn't think I would like the approach - the tablature is just a bare melody! But it turns out this is exactly what was missing from my banjo education. He gives you the melody for each song, then step by step shows you how to build all the other notes and rolls around it to make it sound like a banjo. You start out improvising right away, but there's plenty of structure so it doesn't seem scary (stuff like "try an alternating thumb roll instead of a pinch"). It turns out this is exactly how professional musicians create banjo solos! (google "Melodies and Rolls: Creating a Bluegrass Banjo Solo" by Bruce Stockwell). I've been working through Erbsen's book page-by-page, and it's like someone suddenly flipped on a light switch. Banjo music makes sense now! I wish I had started with this book; it would have saved me a lot of wandering in mental fog. The other books seem to be built inside-out; they start with all the fluff and assume you'll somehow find melody inside. Bluegrass Banjo For the Complete Ignoramus teaches you how banjo songs are constructed. Aside from the methodology, the book has a few other characteristics to recommend it: * Unlike other books (which typically just have one demonstration of each song), the CD includes several different versions of each song (99 tracks in total), played slowly so it's not too hard to play along at each level of difficulty (ie, Cold Licks -> Warm Licks -> Hot Licks). Put a track on repeat and play along with it over and over until you match the timing. But don't always play the same rolls as the recording - by using different roll patterns you get neat harmonies. * The pieces in the book are actually fun songs with good melodies. They're all classic tunes you will find at bluegrass and old-time jams; if you're at all familiar with the genre, you will recognize most of them immediately. But before trying to play each song, I highly recommend looking it up on youtube and hearing what it's supposed to sound like at speed in a "full band" setting, especially with a real singer. Listen to different versions until you find one you really like, and then listen to it over and over until you're humming the melody in your sleep. * It's entertaining to read. Erbsen provides a short historical note for each song so it feels like you're taking a little tour of living history rather than playing a bunch of notes on the page. For me, this is part of the appeal of folk music. That said, Bluegrass Banjo for the Complete Ignoramus is not the only book you need - just the first. It's designed to bootstrap both your motor skills and your understanding of banjo music in a short 63 pages. There's no discussion of vamping or playing backup or alternate keys or any of a million other things you will want to know next; it's not supposed to be a comprehensive guide of everything banjo. If you want to play like Earl (and who doesn't?), you will eventually need the Scruggs book - but it's not really for beginners. For learning songs, I really love Banjo Ben's combination of tab and video lesson (and price!). Of course, you can find tab for almost any tune on The Banjo Hangout. And I'm really, really looking forward to Erbsen's Bluegrass Jamming for Banjo... but if you're looking for a place to begin, this is THE book to start with.

To sum up this book in one word I would say: methodical. I've been a musician for 2/3 my life and I've completed many tutorial books for various instruments. This book is by far the most effective learning book that I've come across! I just ventured into playing the banjo, so I'm elated that I stumbled upon this one in particular. The main reason for it's charm is the way that the author surgically dissects the elements of good banjo playing down to its very core, then individually presents all the progressive layering needed to make the banjo's magical sound. The book is very well focused on increasing the difficulty smoothly and incrementally with each new song; there are no big steps, but rather, a steady incline. Many a books lose their focus in this regard, leaving most musical novices feeling left behind. The author concretely displays how playing an instrument should be organic, instead of robotic. He gives you various ways of playing each song, and it is up to you to decide how to mix these ways of playing together into a well-crafted piece. This, in essence, is what makes music FUN and it separates the distinction between "playing an instrument" and being a musician...believe me there is an undeniable difference. Here's a few minor flaws with this book (the book still deserves a solid 5 stars): - It would be beneficial if the author included the singing parts of the songs in the audio tracks. True, the lyrics are presented, but taking that extra step by presenting how to sing the lyrics will aid in memorizing the melody lines and all around feel of each song. - Writing out the tablature for the newly presented drills would be advantageous. He does do this for some of the drills, but in my opinion, he didn't take it far enough. This shouldn't worry anyone with a musical ear, because the audio tracks clearly present the each drill that is to be worked on. Remember, this is a beginner's book! Don't expect to be a pro after completing this book. But, I'd be surprised if there was a more effective method to learning the banjo...or any instrument for that matter!

This was the first bluegrass book that I got when I started playing/teaching myself the 5-string banjo about 2 months ago. I really liked it as a beginner because the first levels that the author presents ("Ice Cold", "Cool", and "Warm" licks) are easy to get into while also playing at a reasonably fast pace so that other people can tell what tune you're aiming for. In the Warm Licks level, the author moves from just playing melody notes, drones on the first string with eighth notes, and pinches, to using a "two-finger roll" that have not seen in other bluegrass banjo books that I've used. From what I've read, this is closer to an Old Time two-finger thumb lead style than Bluegrass. It sounds like it has two drone strings and is very haunting and modal-sounding. However, from there it was actually kind of difficult (for me at least) to start moving into rolls like the forward, backward, and foggy mountain rolls that do not use the thumb for the melody note. I would suggest practicing some of these rolls early on so that they don't feel and sound alien once you start using them. Also, if you can, practice the C, D7 and F chords early on rather than only playing melody notes, it'll make the transition to chords easier. Pros of this book: -Like others have said, it gets you to think for yourself in terms of arrangements -It's easy to find the melody when only the melody is tabbed out -You can get to higher speeds fairly rapidly -The melodies are tabbed out in a way that makes them easy to learn quickly once you've gotten a few down, so you can learn a bunch of songs quickly. -It's really good for complete ignoramuses! -Once you start learning more complex techniques elsewhere, it's a good book to revisit. Cons: -There's a tradeoff between learning a lot of songs easily, and learning techniques. Without the latter, you can end up getting tired of hearing the actual songs because playing a bunch of songs in the same key and style starts to sound the same after a while. -Everything is played "down the neck". If you want to start exploring up the neck like a lot of BG songs do, you have to get another book. -Sometimes it wouldn't hurt to see what a more complex tab would look like, at least for a section. -It's hard to know what book to use next. I emailed the author after, and he didn't recommend his older bluegrass book after this one, so I had to look for other recommendations on where to go next. If you get this book, I would recommend using it at the same time as another beginnging BG book if you want to get used to reading fully-tabbed out songs, play up the neck, or use more licks with pull-offs, hammer-ons, and slides. I recommend Mel Bay's You Can Teach Yourself Banjo by Janet Davis and I've heard her other books are good for elaborating on a melody, so you can revisit Wayne Erbsen's book again. I would also recommend to try fingerpicks from the beginning, rather than waiting, because they feel and sound very different than playing with bare fingers.

I picked up my first banjo and started playing a couple years ago after discovering a Carter-family style jam circle in my town. I began going every week and just strummed along with chords only. Another banjo player came alongside me then and encouraged me to try Clawhammer banjo, and he even gave me a beginner instruction booklet to help me learn. Well I continued playing at the jam circles every week for about 6 months and practiced Clawhammer a little non-committally since I wasn’t using Clawhammer for my jam-session songs. And then I had to move for work and put the banjo down for a couple years. Fast forward to a couple months ago, I had an inspiration to continue learning the banjo and have really committed to it this time. I decided I would try Scruggs-style, or Bluegrass, banjo on this go. I picked up this instruction booklet after realizing that the one given me a few years ago was by the same author, only for Clawhammer banjo. I’ve studiously worked through all the tabs (what banjo song sheets are called) in this version and am really enjoying the simplicity that this author has written his book. Everything is dumbed down to the very basic tabalature (for us ignoramuses no doubt) where the melody notes are the only notes listed. This basic tabalature is in contrast to tabs that have the filler rolls, or static note patterns played after a melody note, that help keep rhythm for the rest of the band, fully on each tab, it’s a sight for sore eyes especially when you’re just starting out because there are so many notes listed! The author then includes an accompanying page to each tab that lets the banjoist up his skills gradually by adding in extras to the song when ready. Extras could include drone notes, pinches, slides, hammer-on’s, and basic and more advanced roll patterns. Let me stress again the point that the tabs are *simple* and that you can progress at your own pace to different difficulty levels without feelings pressured to play at those levels because of the basic song structure. To me, this made the difference between giving up or going forward because before I bought this book, the only tabs on the web I could find was for skilled banjoists. Lastly, another great thing about this booklet is that a free CD is given, or free access to an online midi file page, to listen to the basic song and all of its increased difficulty levels as well. Great instruction booklet, highly recommend!

I'm 46 years old and have wanted to play the banjo all my life since I was a skinny little kid with braids mesmerized by my parents' old Dillards and Kingston Trio LPs. My parents never took me seriously about the banjo - what little girls played the banjo? - but they did arrange for me to take guitar lessons. The itch was never scratched. So when I was 30 I finally bought a beginner banjo and took a few months of very very hard lessons that discouraged me and I gave it up in utter defeat, my confidence completely shot. The banjo sat in my closet in its case collecting dust for 15 years. Twice I almost sold it. I basically gave up my guitar as well during those years of concentrating on raising my family. Then suddenly I began playing my guitar again in a newly-formed bluegrass jam last year and it renewed my interest in the banjo because although I enjoy my guitar, I found myself sitting there listening and looking on with envy at our banjo player. Then I found out he has been playing for only 2 years!!!!!! Right then and there I thought if HE can do it, I can do it. So I dug my banjo out from under a mighty mountain of clothes, dusted it off, changed the strings, and went online to see a whole array of tempting beginners books and CDs. I picked this Ignoramus book because it was the one that best described me, and began to use the book and the CD. To my shock and surprise, I made immediate progress and within a short amount of time was able to play what the author calls a "cool" version of each tune and now am at the point where I am playing "hot" versions. This all simply means the amount of rolls and fancier stuff added to the basic tune. I'm not red hot or white hot yet but I am finally fulfilling my dream, at long last. The feeling of accomplishment and pride is amazing when I truly thought I would never be able to do this. I think the key to the success of this book, other than the fun vibe of it, is the fact that you make progress right away and that inspires you to keep working at it. So the bottom line is, IF I CAN DO IT, ABSOLUTELY ANYONE CAN. And it's a blast. P.S. The only tiny thing I would suggest - and this is very minor - is that the author tells beginners to not even bother with finger picks at this point. I say, start right off the bat with those babies!! Yes, they feel awkward and disembodied from your fingers at first. Get used to them (it only takes about a week) and you will never be sorry! They made the sound of the instrument infinitely better!!!!

In a very easy to follow technical development sequence, this author has provided ANYONE the tools to pick up a banjo (or even a guitar with the low E string removed and re-tuned as described... Something I have dubbed with the name "Git-Jo") and begin to hear by their own making, Real Honest Bluegrass music. I've played guitar since the Beach Boys recorded "In My Room", so much of the initial learning curve of being able to put fingers on frets and getting the right hand fingers plucking the correct strings was not there, but understanding the concepts needed to get the Bluegrass sound actually coming out of the instrument was strongly facilitated by this man's excellent work. Don't let the title fool you, its written so that anyone can do this, but the quality of the result available is there for anyone that can pat their head and rub their tummy at the same time. This book WILL BE the catalyst for me to find and buy my first Banjo. Maybe one day I can approach the skill of Steve Martin. And what a hoot it is. there is something about banjo and bluegrass that are as American as my West Texas birthplace.

This book has some potential for people who are teaching themselves, but in the bigger picture, this is not the ideal way to learn to play bluegrass banjo from the ground-up. It's important to note that this book teaches you about rolls and then provides tablature describing the melody only. The player is then meant to master the melody and add in their own rolls when they're ready. While I can see the appeal of learning this way, this is not a well-rounded or ideal teaching method. The foundation isn't really there, and it's lacking some key fundamentals. Several of the techniques that are very commonly used in Scruggs-style banjo picking aren't really addressed in an approachable way (ie., slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs). Another important thing to keep in mind is that the roll patterns aren't necessarily intended to be exclusively "added in for embellishment of a melody", the way this book leads you to believe. They're picking patterns that are commonly utilized in the complete tune. This book doesn't do a sufficient job of illustrating that. I used this book for a little while, but when I moved to private lessons and got some better tablature, this book was relegated to gathering dust on a shelf and I actually had to unlearn some of what it taught me. Another review mentioned that this book is more useful to folks who have already learned the fundamentals of bluegrass banjo, and I would agree... making the title a bit misleading, as it's not what I'd choose to give to a "complete ignoramus", personally!

I am 60 years old and never held a banjo, much less play one, until my wife gave me one for Christmas 2013 . For that matter, I've never played any sort of instrument, other than plunk around with my brother's ancient guitar as a kid, which frustrated me and I quit. I can't read a single note of music. This book is amazing and was apparently written specifically for me. The book (and it seems the banjo world as a whole) uses "tablature" diagrams to show you where to hold each string for a note or chord, and does not use music notation. And, fantastic as it is....about 80% of bluegrass uses only three chords, one of which is "G", which is the "open" (unfretted) key that the banjo is tuned to , so that leaves two chords to learn. The book starts off with very simple tunes, the banjo equivalent of "chop sticks" and then adds "rolls", "pinches", "reverse rolls", "slides" and other tricks to add spice to the tune. The book comes with a CD that plays out each lesson and all the variations so you can get instant response....basically it tells you "this is what this lesson should sound like".....note by note....at a pace you can replicate....so you will know whether or not you are doing things right. Bottom line is I was able to play at the pace of the book within a day or two of practice....one tune at a time mind you. I'm on my sixth song....after one month....practicing about 30 minutes a day. I'm far from being any sort of musician, but this book has allowed me to realize the sort of satisfaction that always eluded me as a kid....I can't wait to pick up the banjo each day and push my abilities to the next level. I am really satisfied with this book and the gift that it has brought me.....I guess I'm becoming a musician of sorts....even my wife is excited about the results. I bought several "how to play" books after the banjo arrived, but all the others were too complicated for me....this one really "strikes a chord" in me....and I'll use this one until I've mastered all the tunes. If you're a complete ignoramus like me, you'll really like this book.

ok so while stuck at home during the pandemic, I finally committed to dedicate some time to learning the banjo. I have books and had a few kicks at the can over the last couple of years. I got this book as a means of new inspiration and right away I liked the approach. Well written, almost apologizes for having to do cover the basics. Light hearted approach takes nothing away from the excellent explanations and has more than enough to get you going and understanding how to play. excellent instructional book !

A very reassuring book. I'm not a master musician or anything but I can play a bit on some stringed instruments but I found the idea of picking up a banjo very daunting. Mr Erbsen has done a wonderful job in this manual.He starts off by explaining the banjo and how to read banjo music and then presents a number of old folk songs with just enough history to spark your interest and at least five levels of difficulty for each song. The idea is that you start with the first song at a basic level and then play through the book and then come back and add levels of difficulty to your playing. At the end of the book he explains the rolls and other augmentation necessary for expert banjo playing. You also get a CD and access to online audio - downloadable or streamed - with multiple recordings for each song that covers each level of complexity described in the book. This book gives the beginner a place to start with banjo playing and makes it less daunting. Highly recommended.

Having never even heard much banjo music, let alone played any, I was nonetheless impressed when one arrived at Christmas time. What to do with it was the issue. Aside from strumming a couple of tunes on the ukulele, I have never played a musical instrument of any description. I really was the "Ignoramus" of the title, so this book seemed the perfect fit. Of course, having only had the book for a few weeks, I would still describe myself as an ignoramus, but I am certainly making progress with my playing. The format of the book is great - Wayne Erbsen takes a tune and gives the melody only; the "skeleton" as he calls it. Once you can play the melody, Mr Erbsen then gives flourishes, licks, rolls and patterns that you can put into the melody to spice up your playing. This is a great way of doing it and allows you to get playing quickly , then continue improving. When I have looked at other banjo tutorial books, which give the tab with the licks and rolls already in, I have found that much harder to follow. There are 22 songs in all to learn so this book should keep me busy for a while yet. The cd is clear and easy to follow too, but the book also comes with a link to download the audio from the internet. Highly recommended.

Mit diesem Buch habe ich mir selbst das Banjo spielen beigebracht, alle Lieder sind in mehreren Schwierigkeitsstufen, so das man Anfangs alle Problemlos durchspielen kann. Das Buch hat Witz und Charakter. Nur zu empfehlen!

Es un excelente libro para aprender a tocar el banjo, yo no sabía tocar ni la guitarra y con este libro se me está facilitando mucho