2 comments about Mel Bay Banjo and Chord Reference Wall Chart.

1. If you want a master list of every banjo chord formable, this is your source. It even displays the fingerboard pointing out each fret's number and musical note. A perfect teaching aid as well as reference, I've even seen it used by Hensley's Bluegrass Music, so I'm a believer. This chart is helpful for beginner's through advanced pickers. Janet Davis has outdone herself yet again. I commend her and Mel Bay for producing it.
   
   Other charts I've seen are just little four page booklets that require flipping of pages to get to what you want, this poster is right on the wall, and plenty big to read at a distance. Of all of the Banjo Chord Charts available, I would choose this one over the competition.



2. this has to be the best chord chart i have ever used to learn to play something.not only is every chord you'll ever need on it theres alots more than just that all the fret notes as well.just fantastic.

1 comments about Mel Bay Banjo Chord Encyclopedia.

1. The book "Delux Encyclopedia of Banjo Chords: For Five String and Plectrum Banjo-G & C Tuning", is an excellent handbook for those banjo pickers who want an access to common major chords as well as very uncommon chords to possibly enhance the music they're playing or make the playing easier. I would recommend it to any banjo picker no matter what the experience level.

3 comments about That Half-Barbaric Twang: THE BANJO IN AMERICAN POPULAR CULTURE (Music in American Life).

1. This is one of the best books on the nature of cultural perception and the wars between reality and the stereotypes of the dominant culture, as well as the relationship between capitalism and culture, race and capitalism in America, as well of class race and style. This book belongs in every home.

   Linn deals with the social image of the banjo from its African and African American origins, to minstrelry's role in popularizing this instrument as well as the conflicts between the racism of minstrelry and the explosion of an instrument suited to popularize African American music. She continues by charting the now-forgetten age of the classic banjo from post civil war period until the first decade of this century, when manufacturers and teachers tried to elavate the five string instrument from its working class and African American roots, to becoming a polite and priviledged possession for the rich. She then charts the evolyution of the instrument and its image into the jazz age with the various 4 string banjos. Finally she deals with the images in the culture created by the persistence of the instrument in appalachia and its revival in the folk scene of the 1950s through today.

   This is a gross summary of a subtle, well written book, that provides pictures about how stereotypes and misinformation based on the racial and class conflicts of society both cloud our knowledge of the real culture and constitutes part of it.
   
   This is a fascinating book about American history and culture and race under capitalism, even if the reader is not interested in the banjo. If one is interested in the banjo in any way, you Need this book!




2. The author does an excellent job of outlining the social history of the banjo in America, but in the end this is a merely academic critique of banjo culture(s), which she skewers like dead butterflies in a case. It's not clear if the author likes banjo music or even listened to much of it. The author is critical of both those who would describe banjo music as "that half-barbaric twang" as well as anyone who actually plays the darned thing. The author's elitism and ivory tower perspective can be forgiven because of the many interesting historical details she provides. It will take another person, probably someone without a PhD, to reassemble the details in a meaningful way for those of us who simply love the sound and the music for what it is.



3. This book reads as if it were written to fulfill a thesis requirement, and not out of love for the banjo. The author only touches on banjo technique and music, instead she prefers to base her arguments on iconography. I gave it two stars since it provides some interesting perspectives on race relations in the U.S., but it severely falls short for anyone who loves banjo music and the instrument itself.

No comments about Banjo-Tooie (Bradygames Take Your Games Further).

3 comments about Bluegrass Fakebook 150 All Time Favorites Includes 50 Gospel Tunes for Guitar Banjo & Mandolin.

1. The book is essentially a collection of 150 songs played by bluegrass bands. All songs have chord, melody notation and lyrics. There are also chord charts for guitar, mandolin and banjo. Most of the songs are arranged in a key of G, you can use capo to play in different key. Very recommended for bands and playing at bluegrass jam sessions.



2. This books is excellent for taking along to Bluegrass jams or just for learning songs. Our band takes it along in case we get requests for songs we do not know. We can usually fake our way through it good enuff.



3. This is a great book, full of classics that are written easily to play and understand incluing the lyrics!

5 comments about Banjo-Tooie: Prima's Official Strategy Guide.

1. This strategy guide is SO is easy to follow! It helps you find things such as jiggies, jingos, and cheato pages. It tells you were new moves are and it helps to beat the EVIL Gruntilda!



2. This strategy guide helps you find jiggies, jingos, and other cool things. It is very easy to follow! SO, JAM ON INTO THE GAME!!!!!



3. This guide helps u find things such as jiggies, jingos, and much more. With the eight new worlds (which are cool!) they help u beat the EVIL Gruntidila! GOOD LUCK!



4. I have just got the game and the book and I am going great guns with it. I have found the book to be really helpful in getting at those jiggies. I know that some of the other reviews have said that the maps are not very good, but I prefer to find my own way around the worlds. I especially like the tick sheet at the back of the book, so that you can tick off each jiggy, cheato page or other item that you have got in each of the worlds. It makes it easy to leave the ones that you find difficult to get and then come back at a later time and have another go at getting them. A hit as far as I'm concerned!



5. This guide is amazing! It will help you find EVERYTHING! It tells you exactly where to find every Jiggy, Jinjo and it also helps you through EVERY mission. Check out the great features, every character is introduced, every move is listed and there's even a checklist in the back of the book! Wow! The only bad thing that I would have to say about this guide is that the maps (which help gratefully alot) are sort of undetailed, but if you're good with your left and right, you shouldn't have too much of an issue. I've had the game and guide for years, and mine's falling apart, but it still serves it's purpose. You won't need any other guide than this. It's loaded with everything a perfect guide should have.

No comments about Classical Banjo.

1 comments about Fretboard Roadmaps: 5-String Banjo.

1. This book isn't for a person who can pick out a tune by ear, and is happy with that. This book is for the person trying to teach themselves banjo, and isn't happy with just picking out what they hear without any rhyme or reason. This book gives you not only the how of picking, but also the why and the when of different styles. It will be a lot easier going through this book with an instructor who teaches musical elements in regards to the banjo, but quite doable on you own.

No comments about How To Play the 5 String Banjo 3RD Edition.

5 comments about Mel Bay Deluxe Gospel Banjo Songbook.

1. This is a fantastic collection of Gospel music including not only the old Church standbys, but also some of the ones you sang in Sunday School. The selections are written in Melody tab, Standard notation and Tablature along with the lyrics. I had mine spiral bound for $1.49 at Staples which allows it to lay flat for easier following on a music stand or table. You will wear out this book with these popular hymns. Keep apickin'.



2. I purchased this book, hoping for halfway easy to follow tabs. I also wanted to learn some music that I can play at church. The tabs in this book are really easy to follow. The melody sheets help you to learn how the song goes, than throw in the tablature, and it works out beautifully. With the notation, my sister can easily convert it to fiddle music. I'm going to have to do like that other person and have mine spiral bound. Great idea. Too bad music books don't all come that way. Great price, great songs. You won't be disappointed.



3. A great collection of songs. Unfortunately, the tabulature has the notes in between the lines (like piano music) instead of on the line like traditional banjo music. It was so hard to follow I acutally had to transpose the songs I wanted to learn. I really like that there is piano music to accompany the banjo music.



4. I bought this book to learn some of my faviorite gospel tunes. All of the songs were very easy to learn. The tab is pretty standard and does not have anything tricky. There are just slides and pull-offs. The book provides tab and what looks to be piano music which are both on the same page. This made it difficult to follow along with at first but once you memorize the song it is fine. If you like good old time songs of the faith and love to play America's national instrument this book is for you. Happy pickin'!



5. I wanted a book of easy gospel hymns and thats just what this book is. For the most part the songs are played using simple roll patterns. As you advance you can add some of your own hamer-ons slides and pull-offs to make it more interesting. by learning to play songs using basic roll patterns I have learned to make my own basic arrangements by ear. The tabs are alittle goofy the way they are written between the lines vs. on the line. But that just takes a little getting used to. Overall a great banjo book for beginers!!!