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Introduction
You just can't get that wild and complex sound out of your head. You thought about trying to play, and you ended up here — with a copy of Banjo For Dummies in your hands. It's time to join the hundreds of thousands of other players all over the world who can't get enough of one of the world's most unique and loved instruments. You're ready to play the five-string banjo.
You've probably already come to the realization that no matter what you may have seen on television or in old movies, real banjo players aren't comedic rubes or country bumpkins. They're folks just like you and me from all walks of life who at some point heard the sound of a banjo and said to themselves, “That's for me!”
While the five-string banjo is usually associated with bluegrass, folk, and country music, these days musicians play just about any kind of music on the banjo — from rock to jazz to classical and everything in between. You can use the banjo to accompany songs around a campfire or to play a Bach partita. You can play anything on a five-string banjo. It's time to get started!
About This Book
Banjo For Dummies, 2nd Edition, is your musical road map for wherever you may want to roam in your banjo travels. From choosing the right instrument and accessories to hands-on experience playing bluegrass, old-time, and historical styles, it's all here. This book transports you from the most basic beginners’ questions to performing intermediate tunes played in the most popular styles used today. I even sneak in more than a few advanced concepts for those of you who really want to be challenged. You can find clear, step-by-step explanations to each and every technique and discover shortcuts that are especially helpful to the adult student.
In this new edition, you'll find a chapter covering intermediate to advanced clawhammer and old-time fingerpicking styles (Chapter 8) and another new chapter revealing the secrets of how to sound great playing with others using bluegrass accompaniment techniques (Chapter 10). You can also dig deep into bluegrass styles (Chapter 9) and discover the fascinating world of early American banjo (Chapter 11).
With this edition of Banjo For Dummies, you can now watch as well as listen. There are over 40 short videos on 24/7 standby online, ready to provide assistance with tuning, hand positions, basic playing techniques, songs, and even changing strings. Need more? Check out the online audio tracks that correspond to techniques and songs presented