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Banjo For Dummies Paperback – August 13, 2007

by Bill Evans (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 240 ratings
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Banjo For Dummies: Book + Online Video and Audio Instruction
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  • A complete guide to the world of the five-string banjo written for both beginners and more experienced players.
  • Packed with over 120 how-to photos and 130 musical examples.
  • 94 track CD included - hear and play along with every exercise and song.
  • The only book to offer instruction in clawhammer, bluegrass, melodic, single-string, minstrel and classic styles.

From Earl Scruggs’ driving bluegrass picking to the genre-busting jazz fusion of Béla Fleck and the multi-million selling movie soundtrack  O Brother Where Are Thou?, the five-string banjo can be heard just about everywhere in American music these days.

Banjo For Dummies is the most complete guide to the five-string banjo ever written. It covers everything you need to get into the banjo: including how to choose, tune and care for your instrument, developing a good playing posture, fretting your first chords and getting comfortable with the left and right hand picking patterns used for clawhammer and bluegrass playing techniques. You’ll then add the left hand, spicing up your playing with slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs, and chokes for an authentic five-string banjo sound.

From there, you’ll move on the play 19th century minstrel style, early 20th century classic style as well as try your hand at more advanced examples of bluegrass style. An in-depth chapter on bluegrass music explores Scruggs licks and techniques as well as melodic and single-string styles, with song examples. Also included is a banjo buyer’s guide, a section on music theory as applied to bluegrass and old-time music, an accessories guide (advice on cases, picks, straps, metronomes, computer aids and much more), information on how to find a good teacher, banjo camp or festival, chord charts, bios of twelve influential players, practice tips and much, much more!

Banjo For Dummies is accessible and fun to read and it’s easy to locate just what you’re interested in playing. Included are 20 songs including several new compositions written by the author just for this book, including Reno Rag (single-string style), “Winston’s Jig” (Irish three-finger), and “Everyday Breakdown” (Scruggs style). All musical examples are played slowly on the accompanying CD, many with guitar and mandolin accompaniment.

Bill Evans is one of the world’s most celebrated banjo players and teachers. He has taught thousands of people to play the five-string banjo in private lessons and group workshops literally all over the world. In addition to leading the Bill Evans String Summit, Bill has performed with Dry Branch Fire Squad, David Grisman, Peter Rowan, Tony Trischka and many others and he hosts his own acclaimed banjo camp, the NashCamp Fall Banjo Retreat in the Nashville area. As an American music historian, he has taught at San Francisco State University, the University Virginia and Duke University. He has written a popular instructional column for Banjo Newsletter magazine for the last fifteen years and hosts three popular instructional DVDs for AcuTab Publications. To learn more about Bill, visit his homepage at www.nativeandfine.com.

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of the e-book file, but are available for download after purchase.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    360 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    For Dummies
  4. Publication date
    August 13, 2007
  5. Dimensions
    7.25 x 0.75 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0470127627
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0470127629
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Packed with how-to photos and musical examples

From folk to bluegrass and beyond, play great banjo music — even if you've never played before!

Ready to jump on the banjo bandwagon? This unique how-to guide gives you the latest tips on choosing and caring for a five-string banjo while covering both the popular clawhammer and bluegrass playing styles. You'll see how to fret your first chords, incorporate slides and pull-offs, understand rhythm, play popular banjo tunes, and survive your first jam session!

  • Select the right banjo and accessories

  • Develop correct hand position and posture

  • Play basic chords and simple tunes

  • Master bluegrass and clawhammer picking

  • Tune and maintain your banjo

About the Author

Banjo player Bill Evans is not to be confused with the deceased jazz piano legend or the very much living jazz saxophone player (or the Austin, Texas, real estate agent). This Bill Evans is a banjo player, performer, teacher, workshop leader, recording artist, composer, producer, record label owner, and American music historian. For a banjo player, Bill has an unusual amount of schooling. He earned his bachelor’s degree in anthropology with a specialization in folklore from the University of Virginia as a DuPont Scholar and a master’s degree in music with a specialization in ethnomusicology from the University of California, Berkeley. After completing coursework for the PhD at Berkeley with a specialization in American music and the music of Japan, Bill taught courses in ethnomusicology and American music history at San Francisco State University, Duke University, and the University of Virginia and was the Associate Director of the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky. A recipient of a Brown Foreman–Al Smith Artist Fellowship from the Kentucky Arts Council, Bill has also served as a consultant to the National Endowment for the Arts.
As a recording artist, Bill’s CD Native and Fine (Rounder Records) earned an honorable mention for Acoustic Instrumental Recording of the Year from NAIRD. His CD Bill Evans Plays Banjo (Native and Fine Records), featuring all original instrumental compositions, was on many “best of” lists, including those of the Chicago Tribune and County Sales. Bill earned a nomination for “Recorded Event of the Year” from the International Bluegrass Music Association for his work as producer on Suzanne Thomas’ CD Dear Friend and Gentle Hearts. As a performing artist, Bill has played with Dry Branch Fire Squad, Tony Trischka, David Grisman, Peter Rowan, Maria Muldaur, Jody Stecher, Kathy Kallick and Laurie Lewis, among others. He tours nationally with his solo show “The Banjo in America” in addition to leading his own band, the Bill Evans String Summit.
Bill is a long-time contributor to Banjo Newsletter magazine and co-hosts an annual banjo camp, the Sonny Osborne NashCamp Banjo Retreat, held each fall outside of Nashville, Tennessee. In addition, Bill participates in workshops all over North America, hosts several popular instructional DVDs for AcuTab Publications, and maintains an active private teaching practice at his home in Albany, California. His former students include Chris Pandolfi, Greg Liszt, Jayme Stone, and Eric Yates. He is the co-author of Parking Lot Picker’s Songbook: Banjo Edition from Mel Bay Publications.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ For Dummies; 1st edition (August 13, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 360 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0470127627
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0470127629
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.2 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.25 x 0.75 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 240 ratings

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  1. Bill Evans

    Bill Evans

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  2. Bill Evans

    Bill Evans

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    Bill Evans is an internationally known five-string banjo life force. As a performer, teacher, writer, scholar and composer, he brings a deep knowledge, intense virtuosity and contagious passion to all things banjo, with thousands of music fans and banjo students from all over the world in a career that spans over thirty-five years.

    In Bill's solo concert presentation "The Banjo in America," he presents the music from his three chart topping CDs but also much more: Bill takes the listener on a musical adventure, following the banjo from its West African roots to the New World, performing musical examples from the 1700’s to the present day on vintage instruments. From an 18th century African dance tune to the music of the Civil War, and from early 20th century ragtime to folk and bluegrass banjo styles to Bill’s own incredible original music, "The Banjo in America" illuminates as well as entertains, exposing audiences to over 250 years of banjo music.

    Bill also performs with flatpicking guitar legend Dan Crary and singer-songwriter Steve Spurgin in the trio Crary, Evans & Spurgin. Look for them at a bluegrass or folk festival or concert series near you!

    Bill is the author of the best selling banjo instruction books "Banjo For Dummies," "Bluegrass Banjo For Dummies" and "Parking Lot Picker's Songbook: Banjo Edition." He also hosts six instructional DVD projects for AcuTab, Homespun and the Murphy Method. Bill has appeared on A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor and performed with the San Francisco Symphony. In addition, he has toured with acoustic luminaries David Grisman, Peter Rowan, John Reischman, and Tony Trischka, among many others. Bill’s annual California Banjo Extravaganza concerts have attracted sell out crowds in throughout northern California and received standing ovations.

    Bill’s 2012 CD "In Good Company" features over 26 musicians, including the Infamous Stringdusters, Tim O’Brien, and Joy Kills Sorrow performing Bill’s innovative compositions that blend jazz, classical, folk and world music influences. This release topped the Roots Music Report/Cashbox Folk and Bluegrass Charts and was named to many Best Of lists.

    You can learn more about Bill by visiting www.billevansbanjo.com.

    Watch video performances from The Banjo in America by linking to Bill’s YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/BillEvansBanjo

    A Fretboard Journal video: Bill Evans Tells The History of the Banjo in 14 Minutes: https://vimeo.com/52518992

    What folks are saying about Bill Evans:

    “Bill Evans does for the five-string banjo what Van Gogh did for colour…treats it in a different way and then shares it with you. And his recent release ‘In Good Company’ is a virtuoso master class in exploring bluegrass from the tradition to the far edges of alternative.” Tom Franks, FolkWords

    “Not content to regurgitate a rehash of banjo clichés, Evans walks out on the limb and takes control of the entire tree.” Pete Kuykendall, Bluegrass Unlimited

    “It’s one thing to be a strong progressive banjo player, another to excel at the traditional end of the spectrum. To be able to add an indelible mark to the whole history of the instruments is getting ridiculous. High kudos to Bill Evans.” Tony Trischka

    “The banjoist has a world view shared by a precious few. It shows in the breadth of this own bluegrass playing and, especially, through his composing. Evans infuses his work with hints of jazz, classic and music of other realms, all fitting snuggly into his conception of the bluegrass sound.” –David Royko, The Chicago Tribune

    “One of the best banjo pickers on the planet.” Mark Wittington, San Jose Mercury News.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
240 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Tina Hayes
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2010
Verified Purchase
"Banjo for Dummies" by Bill Evans is full of information about all things Banjo. What makes this book so unique is that it teaches the basics of BOTH clawhammer and Bluegrass styles, and gives examples of other techniques such as minstrel. This lets new pickers get a taste for the different styles before they decide which they like best. (Most instructional books are dedicated to only clawhammer or Scruggs Bluegrass)

The CD that comes with it is the perfect learning tool, since a person needs an audio reference to really be sure they're getting the exercises and songs the correct way. And it's great for playing along with tunes after you learn them.

Another cool thing is that the book starts you off on two particular songs, "Red River Valley" and "Boil Them Cabbage Down", first on easy strums, then with basic clawhammer and bluegrass methods, and later shows advanced arrangements of these two classics with hammer-ons and slides. It was fun to play the easy version the day I got the book and progress to the hard versions.

Aside from a very nice collection of tabbed songs, Mr. Evans gives detailed instructions for such things as choosing and changing strings, basic care of the instrument, and an interesting history of the Banjo.

I highly recommend this book for first time banjo players, for pickers who want to experiment with new styles, or for the know-it-all who wants to learn even more. :)
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Alan Hogan
4.0 out of 5 stars Kinda lame there is no music to download
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2012
Verified Purchase
The description clearly states, "94 track CD included - hear and play along with every exercise and song." And the text of the book makes exhortations to listen to the CD. I don't understand why Amazon wouldn't bundle the CD as a bunch of MP3s and give us a link to download them.

The author's style is however light-hearted and humorous, as is, I expect, probably common in the Dummies series.

That said, the pace is fairly slow, and it takes a long time to get into things.
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Moondog
5.0 out of 5 stars Middle Weight Dummy
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2012
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I am about in the middle of this book. When I was in college, I tried to learn the banjo. I had a book, it didn't work for me. I had an instructor, it didn't work for me. I sold my banjo. That worked for me because I never learned. I bought this book. It works for me. Bill lays it out, step by step. After getting through all the right hand rolls and techniques for three finger picking, which is my interest, hey --- I can do it. I actually hear what sounds like music coming from my banjo when I play. I learned enough from the start to buy a decent learning banjo and keep it in playing condition as well as in tune. The book is layed out to encourage a new learner. I read the review from the guy who had a minor criticism that the tab was small and hard to read for us OFs. I solved that by enlarging scans and using them to get the techniques down pat. For me it was mostly reading which finger to use when doing the rolls. All in all its a great book and I will add or write another review when I finish the left hand techniques and melodic playing. In the mean time ---- THANKS BILL!!!!!
8 people found this helpful
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Jonathan M. Lourie
3.0 out of 5 stars Good starter for beginners
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2010
Verified Purchase
Having just received a banjo as a gift, I was eager to find as much help as I could. I started out with youtube and then decided I needed to have a couple of books. Banjo for Dummies is an interesting book with lots of great history, helpful tips, random facts, a CD and some tabs (music tabulatures allowing a person to sight read music without reading notes). However, having played guitar for years (although still an amateur), while I found the book very entertaining to read, I did not find it was going to advance my playing much more than what I received off of youtube. Guitar players already know many techniques such as hammer ons, pull offs, slides, etc. as well as how to read tabs. Nonethless, I do not regret my purchase as I have enjoyed the book very much and continue to find little gems here and there. If I was a complete neophyte to string instruments then I would have given it another star.
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BanjoRuth
5.0 out of 5 stars Get the audio file download!
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2013
Verified Purchase
I bought this book as a Kindle e-book. It's a great book and looks fine on an iPad. Don't avoid the e-book just because you don't get the CD with it. The audio files are available on the Wiley website. Instructions for downloading are in the introductory material in the e-book. Annoyingly for this era of fast and easy downloads, the audio files arrive in a zip file and the download process is somewhat opaque, but at least those audio files are available, free, on the website. I wish all publishers of music songbooks did the same! (Download first, uncompress, and when you double click each audio file, each file can be added automatically to your iTunes library with the true title of each track. Use the option, after all tracks are cataloged in iTunes, of "consolidate tracks" so the files are not in a temp folder. I know it seems difficult, but take it one step at a time, just like learning banjo! You do NOT need to pay money for winzip.)
3 people found this helpful
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Railfarmer
5.0 out of 5 stars This covers everything so far
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2013
Verified Purchase
I bought my wife a banjo. Then it dawned on me, she's never played a banjo before. She's not going to enjoy just a banjo. So I also got her some finger picks, an electronic tuner, and this book.

She found everything she has needed in this book so far. The banjo needed some assembly, some things tightened/adjusted, and a lot of tuning. All of that was clearly explained in this book.

She says there is also a section about choosing a banjo. I wished I'd thought about that before I bought the banjo but it turns out that the banjo I picked was a good one for her and the book confirmed that.

If you are starting in banjo, start with this book. Actually, get this book before you even buy the banjo.
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Top reviews from other countries

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D Lewis
5.0 out of 5 stars Must have if you play banjo
Reviewed in Australia on August 9, 2023
Verified Purchase
Great place to start and to continue. The dummies guides are always excellent and this is no exception. Whether you play claw hammer or Scruggs style this will guide you nicely. Maintenance, accessories and who to listen to as well.
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john carson
5.0 out of 5 stars Where do you find these great teachers?
Reviewed in Canada on October 3, 2013
Verified Purchase
I was looking for professional help for learning how to play 5 String banjo...you have provided a valuable easy-to-follow resource.
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Thilo Kumbernuß
5.0 out of 5 stars sehr umfassend
Reviewed in Germany on March 16, 2014
Verified Purchase
als bisher unmusikalischer Mensch - na gut, Country und Bluegrass hören kann ich schon :-) - und ohne jegliche Vorkenntnisse in Bezug auf Banjos, bin ich einfach nur überwältigt, wie breit diese Thematik hier abgehandelt wird. Wer ein 5-saitiges Banjo spielen will, ist hier genau richtig. Und das alles ohne Noten lesen zu können! Einfach toll!!
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G.H.
5.0 out of 5 stars Who Needs A Live Tutor?
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 30, 2013
Verified Purchase
I have always loved the Banjo because of it's unique sound compared to other stringed instruments and I always had the intension of buying one and learning to play.
I bought a middle of the road 5 string Banjo, a padded gig case, a set of finger picks and this book, Banjo For Dummies. I read through the first steps of learning to play the instrument and after a week, I was happily managing to play all the chords, off by heart. This book is excellent and Bill Evans makes learning to play, very easy and informative to the complete beginner, with easy to follow diagrams and photos. I have never played any musical instrument before now, except trying to get some tunes out of a mouth organ when I was a lad, something that almost everyone had a go at during the fifties, when I was growing up. Yes folks I am almost 70 years young and it's never to late to learn. So who needs a live tutor when you can learn to play with the aid of this easy to follow book. Ok, it is going to take a while and lots of practice every day, before I can rattle of tunes like more experienced banjo players, but everything is in the pages of this book, to help you achieve this. It just needs patience and lots of practice and you will get there in the end. Just bear this in mind, someone many years ago learned to play the very first Banjo, so if he managed to master it without any form of tuition whatsoever, then you can surely do so with the aid of this Banjo For Dummies. Don't be put of with the title, you are not really a dummy, if you can play the basic chords after just one week, you leave the dummies behind. When you have mastered these, you are on the way to learning to play some proper tunes on of your banjo.
Must be the best Banjo tutorial ever printed with over 300 pages of pure information and many more pages relating to further references relating to this instrument. Forget other tutorials, go for this one, you won't be disappointed.
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Kate
4.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for beginners
Reviewed in Canada on December 15, 2012
Verified Purchase
I gave it to my 16 year old great-nephew for his BD because his grampa had given him his banjo when he was visiting out west. My nephew says it's fantastic and he can't wait to get right into it.
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