You Can Teach Yourself Banjo (Book/CD/DVD Set) Paperback – September 1, 2004

I'm enjoying working through this book I switched over from Seeger's book to this one. Both are good for new players but I would say it does help to have some prior knowledge of playing stringed instruments. I've only made it to lesson 22 in this book but so far so good. I'm gaining plenty of speed, accuracy, and learning riffs. I found the first 20 lessons or so to be very easy having playing finger style guitar already for a few years. I would say the only thing I find frustrating about this book is the included CD. On the CD the tracks don't have any kind of count in or metronome or anything like that (so far as of lesson 22), without a count in Janet goes from a slow demonstration of 80-90 bpm or so to full on jamming on the banjo. I'd like to play along to the tracks better but I'm playing catch up after the first few notes because there is no warning or count in etc. Overall good book I'll finish it and move on to Scrugg's or go back and finish Seeger soon.

I tried several instructional dvds before I found this one. They were confusing and did not go at a beginners speed. I decided to try Mel Bay's book and I am glad I did. Janet Davis is a great teacher. You have a dvd that comes included with the book to watch her play a slow version and faster version of many songs(not all songs are on the dvd). The beginning of the book shows you the basics like hand placement and lap position for your banjo. After you have learned this you learn to play roll patterns which are the most crucial element in learning to play banjo. Once you have mastered the most popular roll patterns you move onto chords, licks, slides, pinches and pull-offs. You will be surprised at how easy Janet Davis makes it to play banjo. I have playing banjo now for 4 months and I can already play a number of songs including; cripple creek, cumberland gap, blackberry blossum, good night ladies, boil them cabbage down and she'll be comin around the mountin. If you want to learn the banjo quickly and effectively you have to purchase this book. You will not be dissapointed. Happy pickin'!

This is my go-to book for teaching banjo. It is put together thoughtfully, with each song introducing a new concept. My students make good progress and enjoy the ride. The songs are performance quality, but do not overwhelm with too much new information at once. The CD is fast, and does not make it to the end of the book, but this is not a big deal. By the time the student is that far along in the book, listening to the CD is not a requirement for learning the songs (I send my students to YouTube, if they don't know how the song goes). To get the CD, you must order the version that has the DVD AND the CD. And I have had some problems with companies sending the wrong version (book and DVD only). Ordering from the author solves that problem.

I really like this learning banjo set, it is very complete and easy to follow. I am a total beginner on the banjo and this set has really helped me to progress as a player. Very well written and the DVD and CD are the icing on the cake!!! I would highly recommend this set ,I bought 4 beginner banjo book's and think this is the best of 4. If you are new to banjo or just sharpening up your knowledge ,this is the one to get. If you decide to pick it up ,I recommend the set with the book,DVD,CD. Really enjoy this set!!!!!!!! 5 STAR'S.....A+++++. What are you waiting for.........Knowledge is power , and this is a power packed Learning Banjo set!!!

This book was recommended by my music teacher for new 5-string banjo players. I already played 4-string plectrum banjo but wanted a new challenge (I'm 63 years old) so I purchased a 5-string banjo. I had never used 'tab' music before but this book makes it easy for the beginner. It comes with a DVD and CD so you get clear explanations from Janet Davis herself. After 2 lessons with a teacher and using this book I am already playing slides, pull-offs and hammers in addition to the 4 basic rolls and 4 alternate rolls. Onward to riffs! I recommend this book for 5-string banjo beginners, with or without a live teacher.

This book is very clearly written with easy to follow tablature and a CD to let you hear what an exercise or song should sound like. There is also a DVD included, but I haven't used it, yet. For someone like me who can't afford to pay for lessons, and who has no friends close by with whom I can play and share banjo hints and tips, this book is ideal. The lessons use a nice selection of traditional banjo tunes and include the main rolls and picking patterns and effects a decent banjo player needs to know. I feel that when I finish working my way through this book, I will have the basics I need to continue to learn and improve my skills as well as the ability to play along with a group without embarassing myself.

I like the simple approach this book offers- tuning, right hand, left hand, reading tablature, and finger picks. Also, easy explanation for several rolls - 4 basic and variations of each. - and songs to play for each. Licks, hammers, slides, chords- yes, great starter book!

I am not overly impressed with this book. It is good, it will help you with the fundamentals, and it will get you playing the banjo. My complaint with this book is the technical and dry approach it takes. This feels like a book I would have been issued in band class rather than a self-teach book. This book alone is makes playing the banjo no fun (for me) which is the entire point of playing it. I recommend this book as a reference volume to other materials, but not as a primary instruction book. I highly recommend the Wayne Erbsen books if you can only get one banjo book.

Decades on, this remains one of the best tutor books and teaching sources for bluegrass banjo around. It's logically arranged to lead a new player from basic rolls and simple tunes to fully developed breaks, introducing concepts like fill-in licks and the melodic style in a timely manner.The repertoire contains enough jam session warhorses to get you going in that direction too, while the "original" Sunnyvale Breakdown can be inverted into Foggy Mountain with a tweaked chord here and there.The best edition to get is undoubtedly the one with both CD and DVD, as the DVD mainly covers material from the front of the book where the CD covers the whole thing. What there is on the DVD is undoubtedly helpful, but the banjo is an instrument governed by right hand timing and stress on particular beats, something that is better expressed through audible examples than the printed page.A glowing review so far, so why only four stars? Well, for me there is a glaring omission from this book, and that's coverage of back-up. Learning breaks and licks is all very well, but you'll be spending much of your time playing behind a singer or other instruments, and there's nothing here ease you into that, not even a section devoted to basic techniques like chunking, simplified rolls or classic back-up patterns. In the end the best advice you can give anyone on back-up is "listen to Earl Scruggs," but there should be something to ease you in the great man's direction.

This is a great book/dvd combo for absolute beginners at finger picking on the 5string banjo. Everything is laid out very clearly and is easy to follow. The dvd makes it easy to see what finger should go where and when, also it helps you to know what the tune you are playing should sound like! This was the first book I bought when I bought my 5 string and even though I have no musical education at all I just dived right in. In fact the book arrived before the banjo so I found it really useful to practice the picking patterns while I waited for the banjo to arrive.Obviously you need to practice and play as much as you can, nothing can replace the time you spend with your instrument, getting a feel for it, strengthening your hands and adding flexibility.

Very good book with CD and DVD. I would really recommend getting the DVD version as I found it made the initial lessons much easier to understand and grasp. I did find that Janet started off nice and slow with easily paced demonstrations but occasionally she would rush over what seemed a simple part but playing it myself took quite a bit of going back and rematch ing her playing it and reading the tabs. It would have been really helpful if she played every part initially slowly with a bit by bit break down. But it's still all do-able and I'm very happy with the purchase.

Helped learn banjo but never took up in end

This is an old publication but a good one. It is great for starting off your picking career, if you want to play bluegrass then you are talking a career. The structure is clear and well thought out in bite sizes and with imagination. She, yes it is a she, has a great deal of experiance of banjo tuition and a keen eye for the pitfalls lying in wait for the beginner. De-mystification is one of her abilities and this is almost unique in the banjo tutors available. She clearly maps out everything you need to know to start up and builds the lessons to grow with your ability. The learning curve is easy to begin with but picks up pace and does not let you hide behind your own fear and you find yourself up past the twelth fret before you have time to look down but all is achieveable when you are safe in the arms of Janet Davis.