Splitting the Licks Spiral-bound – July 24, 2003

This. Is the book I have been waiting for. Full of tabbed-out bluegrass standards, but that's not the best part. Ms. Davis deconstructs a banjo tune and hands you back the individual pieces (kick-offs, fill-in licks, ending licks and tags, and the melody). As the beginner quickly realizes, a banjo tune is not just the tune, it's all those elements carried along by a freight train string of various rolls.It is daunting to the new player left wondering how all that sound is coming out, and how to replicate it.Guess what? She gives you detailed descriptions and tabs of all those components and how to put them together. Banjo-playing is much more than paint-by-numbers, so she also gives you valuable, practical instructions on how to change it up, and she gives you the tools and encouragement to experiment and come up with your own arrangement and improvisations. Ultimately, that is what playing the banjo is all about, and studying this book will put you on that road.Building the skill is up to you, but this book will equip you with the knowledge you need to play songs on your banjo and more importantly, understand what you are doing. Once you understand what she is teaching, approaching new songs and learning them will become much easier.An awesome bonus is free audio and video you can download from the book's website.Happy picking!

I had bought this a couple of years ago. I let it sit on the shelf. Took a look at it here and there. Then I went to a bluegrass festival over the weekend. During the banjo workshop, one thing they drilled into me was that I need to build a banjo "vocabulary" of banjo licks. So I picked it back up and plan to play the licks in this book until I have them memorized (or I drive my wife batty). The licks that she has are G, C, D, A, F, B, and Em. Obviously very heavy on G,C and D. (normal key of banjo tunes). On one hand, I would have liked to have had a better library of licks in this book, but if I can get these under my belt, I can go for the Tony T book on licks. After the licks, Janet then goes into how to incorporate them into songs. I haven't gotten to that point yet, but I do plan on trying to commit the couple of pages of licks to memory first.

I borrowed a copy from a friend of mine who's been playing banjo for over 40 years and he wanted it back. I was so into it, I immediately bought a copy of my own. This is one of the best banjo books I've ever used. In fact, it has become my "go-to" resource for adding structure to my practice sessions. Included are some arrangements of classic bluegrass banjo breaks that build from simple melody to combinations of licks and rolls that can be recycled in slices of other songs. Additionally, there are collections of lead in, fills, endings, and most importantly transitional licks (one chord leading to the next)A must have reference for banjo players at all levels.

The sheer amount of information in this book is worth many times the purchase price. Janet lays out a huge number of great fill-in rolls, tag endings, etc. Then she takes you step-by-step through developing your own arrangement of each song. After learning the tunes from this book, you will be free of "tab-slavery" and will be able to learn a melody, and put your own rolls together and make the song your own.I can't say enough about this book. My only complaint is that it is not long enough. C'mon, Janet, get vol 2 out there!

What a great guide for the beginner/intermediate. The real advantage you get from this learning aid is that you rapidly develop a sense of how to improvise a bluegrass sound to any melody. Still working my way through this book but I'm confident it will improve my picking style and ability no end. Well done Janet

This is by far the best banjo book in my collection. Although I would not recommend for a complete novice/beginner, Janet Davis gives a great tutorial in this book with enjoyable songs, great tab and the cd's are extremely helpful and well done. Also like the spiral binding. Very very happy and pleased with this purchase. Highly recommend. Well worth the money.

Not just what to practice, but why and how it will make let you improvise/compose as well as fit in with a group. It's a definite must for any aspiring bluegrass picker. From what I've heard, it's got the same fundamentals as the Scruggs book, but much better explanation as to why, not just the how.

Great book for learning to play the banjo. Each song has multiple versions, starting with the basic melody and increasing in difficulty while adding new notes, licks and techniques. CD's help to learn to play along. Perfect for rookies like me.

Good Price and product

I play and teach banjo, and recommend this book for those who can already play a few tunes/songs. It takes you on to the next step. It includes around 20 or so classic bluegrass tunes, each approached in the same way. [It is tab only]1. Learn the basic tune with no rolls or frills. The words for the first verse only are included.2. Add the Forward Roll pattern3. Substitute other standard rolls in one or two bars for variety and to accommodate the melody. This is all tabbed for you, but explained as well.4. Add fill in rolls when the melody is sustained on a long note, or is silent.5. Add slides, pull offs, etc.By now the tune has become transformed and very usable in gig situations. There is a good explanation and exploration of the melodic style in the second-half of the book. And lots of of useful stuff here and there.If you are an experienced guitar player you could use this as your starting book, once you have your banjo in tune. Just do parts 1 and two of the above outline, for each tune. And build it up as your technique progresses.Highly recommended.

I like this book. No non-sense guide to sorting out your own arrangements of songs. If you're happy with first-position chords and simple rolls buy this book and continue your journey.

i love this item why you may ask because it is put in a manner thats easily understandable not that my skill level is there yet but working at it i would recommend wholeheartedly.ms davis great teacher

A must for banjo players who want to understand all the licks to use in bluegrass or just in general! Worked for me.