The Banjo Encyclopedia is a comprehensive, in-depth banjo instructional tool that covers the many intricacies of bluegrass banjo playing, including numerous topics that may have been overlooked in banjo instruction to date. The Banjo Encyclopedia can take a student from the beginning, to intermediate, and right through to more advanced styles of banjo playing. Ross Nickerson uses his many years of experience helping hundreds of aspiring banjo pickers by offering the banjo student an opportunity to learn in a practical, straightforward manner. This wide-ranging banjo instructional book will focus on many techniques that will help every aspect of a banjo player's musicianship whilesimplifying many subjects in the learning process. The downloadable audio with 99-track recording will enable the student to learn easily by hearing author Ross Nickerson demonstrate each song, and perform many of the banjo licks and phrases included in the book slow, and up to tempo. The audio download available online includes an advanced song section with a full bluegrass band accompanying Ross along with additional intermediate songs for the student to learn. The Banjo Encyclopedia is undoubtedly one of the most complete five-string banjo books on the market today and a must for every banjo player's collection. Includes access to online audio.
Contents
About the Author
Foreword by Ross Nickerson
Tips On Learning The Most From The Book
Chapter 1: The Basics
ÿÿÿHolding the Banjo, Using the Picks
ÿÿÿHow to Read Tablature
ÿÿÿParts on a Standard Five-String Banjo
ÿÿÿTuning Your Banjo
ÿÿÿRight-Hand Postioning
ÿÿÿÿÿÿOvercoming diffitculties
ÿÿÿÿÿÿFinal tips on right-hand positioning
ÿÿÿLeft-Hand Positioning
ÿÿÿÿÿÿDo's and don'ts for common problems with left-hand technique
ÿÿÿÿÿÿPhotos of left-hand positions
ÿÿÿFinal Note
Chapter 2: The Right Hand
ÿÿÿRhythm & Timing
ÿÿÿÿÿÿRhythm and timing exercises
ÿÿÿLearning the Basic Rolls
ÿÿÿÿÿÿMore tips on rolls
ÿÿÿÿÿÿEarl Scruggs' contribution
ÿÿÿÿÿÿExamples of basic rolls
ÿÿÿTiming Review
ÿÿÿÿÿÿUsing a metronome
ÿÿÿÿÿÿSome suggestions about using a metronome
ÿÿÿÿÿÿTiming exercises using a metronome
ÿÿÿAdvanced Rolls
ÿÿÿÿÿÿWorking with and learning some advanced rolls
ÿÿÿÿÿÿWorking with the thumb
ÿÿÿÿÿÿWorking with the index and middle fingers
ÿÿÿÿÿÿMiddle finger exercises
ÿÿÿÿÿÿIndex finger exercises
ÿÿÿÿÿÿExercising the index and middle fingers together
ÿÿÿDeveloping Tone and Dynamics
ÿÿÿÿÿÿAngle of attack
ÿÿÿÿÿÿBalance of tone
ÿÿÿÿÿÿMore about positioning
ÿÿÿÿÿÿThe effect of picks on tone
ÿÿÿÿÿÿDynamics in your banjo playing
ÿÿÿÿÿÿDynamic examples
ÿÿÿDeveloping Speed
ÿÿÿÿÿÿTechnique factors in speed building
ÿÿÿÿÿÿPsychology of speed
ÿÿÿÿÿÿWhat if I make a mistake?
ÿÿÿÿÿÿHow hard should I pick?
ÿÿÿÿÿÿShould I use a metronome?
ÿÿÿÿÿÿAlways use a metronome?
ÿÿÿÿÿÿSpeed-building metronome?
ÿÿÿTone Exercises
ÿÿÿAdvanced Rolls for Practice
Chapter 3: The Left-Hand
ÿÿÿOverview
ÿÿÿFinger Exercises
ÿÿÿÿÿÿSeveral reminders for practicing the exercises in this chapter
ÿÿÿÿÿÿMemorize
ÿÿÿÿÿÿA reminder before you start the exercises
ÿÿÿLeft-Hand Exercises
ÿÿÿÿÿÿLeft-hand exercises using thirds
ÿÿÿÿÿÿExercises for learning the notes on the fretboard in the G scale
ÿÿÿÿÿÿLearning tips
ÿÿÿWays to Improve Slides, Hammer-ons, Pull-offs, and Chokes
ÿÿÿÿÿÿTips and reminders on slides, pull-offs, chokes and hammer-ons
ÿÿÿÿÿÿImproving slides
ÿÿÿÿÿÿImproving hammer-ons
ÿÿÿÿÿÿImproving pull-offs
ÿÿÿÿÿÿImproving chokes or bends
ÿÿÿAdding and Improving Slides, Hammer-ons, Pull-offs, and Chokes in a Song
ÿÿÿÿÿÿBanks of the Ohio - basic version
ÿÿÿÿÿÿBanks of the Ohio - with slurs (slides, pull-offs, etc.)
ÿÿÿÿÿÿBury Me Beneath the Willow - basic version
ÿÿÿÿÿÿBury Me Beneath the Willow - with slurs (slides, pull-offs, etc.)
Chapter 4: Practice Habits and Practicing Priorities
ÿÿÿÿÿÿPractice builds confidence
ÿÿÿÿÿÿPractice priorities and making the best use of practice time
ÿÿÿÿÿÿHow often should I practice and for how long?
ÿÿÿÿÿÿYour practice area
ÿÿÿÿÿÿSetting goals
ÿÿÿLesson Plans
ÿÿÿÿÿÿPractice outline
ÿÿÿÿÿÿPractice outline example
ÿÿÿÿÿÿSplitting up practice time in the lesson plan
ÿÿÿWorking on Physical Challenges and Overcoming Obstacles
ÿÿÿÿÿÿIsolating areas of practice
ÿÿÿTablature Discussion
ÿÿÿUsing CD, Video or DVD
ÿÿÿMemorizing
ÿÿÿÿÿÿSuggestions for memorizing
ÿÿÿÿÿÿWorking on the left and right hand separately while memorizing
ÿÿÿÿÿÿA few more general suggestions on memorizing
ÿÿÿÿÿÿ
Chapter 5: Earl Scruggs' Style
ÿÿÿLearning the Basics of Scrugg's Style Picking
ÿÿÿAccenting Notes
ÿÿÿÿÿÿAccenting Exercise
ÿÿÿBringing out the Melody
ÿÿÿÿÿÿSitting on Top of the World
ÿÿÿBlues in the Scruggs' Style
ÿÿÿÿÿÿNine Pound Hammer
ÿÿÿLearning a Breakdown in Scruggs' Style
ÿÿÿÿÿÿBanjo Students' Breakdown
Chapter 6: The Melodic Style
ÿÿÿMelodic Style Exercises
ÿÿÿLearning Songs in the Melodic Style
ÿÿÿÿÿÿSailor's Hornpipe
ÿÿÿÿÿÿTurkey in the Straw
ÿÿÿÿÿÿJohn Hardy
ÿÿÿPlaying in Harmony in the Melodic Style
ÿÿÿÿÿÿDevil's Dream - Lead part
ÿÿÿÿÿÿDevil's Dream - Harmony part
ÿÿÿPlaying the Blues in the Melodic Style
ÿÿÿÿÿÿBlues Scale Melodic Exercise
Chapter 7: The Single-String Style
ÿÿÿExercises Using the Single-String Style
ÿÿÿLearning Some Scales in the Single-String Style
ÿÿÿChord shape single-string exercises
ÿÿÿÿÿÿDon Reno Style Exercise
ÿÿÿÿÿÿThe Darktown Stutters' Ball
ÿÿÿLearning Songs in the Single-String Style
ÿÿÿÿÿÿWildwood Flower - basic single-string version
ÿÿÿÿÿÿWildwood Flower - more complex single-string version
ÿÿÿÿÿÿArkansas Traveler
ÿÿÿÿÿÿWhiskey Before Breakfast
Chapter 8: Mixing the Scruggs', Melodic and Single-String Technique, Learning to Play
ÿÿÿUp the Neck, and Learning More About the Blues
ÿÿÿMixing the Scruggs', Melodic and Single-String Styles
ÿÿÿÿÿÿBanjo licks that serve a similar purpose in each style
ÿÿÿA Song Mixing the Three Styles With Some Blues
ÿÿÿÿÿÿThe Scruggs, Melodic, Single String Blues
ÿÿÿPlaying Up the Neck
ÿÿÿÿÿÿLicks serving the same purpose, up and down the neck
ÿÿÿLearning Both Down and Up the Neck Versions of a Song, for Comparison
ÿÿÿÿÿÿShe'll Be Coming Around the Mountain - lower neck version
ÿÿÿÿÿÿShe'll Be Coming Around the Mountain - up the neck version
ÿÿÿBonus Song, Mixing the Styles
ÿÿÿÿÿÿOh, Susanna
ÿÿÿLearning More About the Blues
ÿÿÿÿÿÿBlues Scales
ÿÿÿMaking Common Banjo Licks Bluesy
ÿÿÿÿÿÿBlues comparison licks
ÿÿÿÿÿÿLearning the blues scale exercise
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿThe Blues Scales Blues
ÿÿÿAnother Song Mixing the Styles
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿWhiskey Before Breakfast
Chapter 9: Rhythm, Chords and Playing Backup
ÿÿÿLearning Chords and More About Them
ÿÿÿÿÿÿF form chords
ÿÿÿÿÿÿD form chords
ÿÿÿÿÿÿBarre form chords
ÿÿÿÿÿÿMore about chords
ÿÿÿÿÿÿChromatic scale for finding any chord
ÿÿÿChord Inversions for G, G7 and G Minor
ÿÿÿChord Inversions for D, D7 and D Minor
ÿÿÿChord Exercises - Blackberry Blossom
ÿÿÿChord Progressions for Practice
ÿÿÿAugmented, Diminished and More on Seventh Chords
ÿÿÿÿÿÿAugmented chords
ÿÿÿÿÿÿDiminished chords
ÿÿÿLearning More About Scruggs' Style Backup
ÿÿÿÿÿÿScruggs' style backup lick examples
ÿÿÿPassing Tones
ÿÿÿÿÿÿAn exercise using bass run passing tones
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿBass Run Passing Tone Exercises With Chords
ÿÿÿFour Examples of Playing Backup
ÿÿÿÿÿÿBackup example for verse and chorus
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿSong Example for Verse and Chorus Backup
ÿÿÿÿÿÿPlaying backup on a slower tempo song
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿSlow Backup Song Example
ÿÿÿÿÿÿBacking up a fiddle
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿFiddle Backup Example
ÿÿÿÿÿÿWaltz backup
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿWaltz Backup Example
ÿÿÿUsing Seventh Chords
ÿÿÿÿÿÿSeventh chord form chart
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿSeventh Chord Exercise
Chapter 10: Improvising and Learning to Play by Ear
ÿÿÿImprovising
ÿÿÿÿÿÿTaking what you know and turning it into ten things
ÿÿÿÿÿÿImprovising in small steps
ÿÿÿÿÿÿThinking in terms of playing by the chords
ÿÿÿÿÿÿImprovising practice assignments
ÿÿÿSample Chord Progression Using a Specific Roll
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿReverse Roll Chord Breakdown
ÿÿÿBuilding Up Your Chord Changing and Locating Ability
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿSliding into the Chord Exercises
ÿÿÿÿÿÿTip on changing chords
ÿÿÿÿÿÿRecovering from mistakes
ÿÿÿKnowledge of the neck
ÿÿÿÿÿÿNotes on the fretboard chart
ÿÿÿMore on Improvising
ÿÿÿÿÿÿPlugging in licks that work with the chord changes in the song, and other
ÿÿÿÿÿÿ Options
ÿÿÿÿÿÿComments on improvising
ÿÿÿÿÿÿImprovising using chords
ÿÿÿÿÿÿWriting your own arrangements and playing songs that you have never
ÿÿÿÿÿÿ Heard before
ÿÿÿÿÿÿLearning to play without tablature
ÿÿÿÿÿÿCautions when improvising
ÿÿÿÿÿÿImportance and joy of not using tab
Chapter 11: Beginnings, Turnarounds and Endings
ÿÿÿBeginnings
ÿÿÿÿÿÿCommon bluegrass song beginnings or kickoffs
ÿÿÿÿÿÿBluegrass Song Kickoff Example
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿPig in a Pen
ÿÿÿÿÿÿBluesy Kickoff Example
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿKickin' Bluesÿÿÿ
ÿÿÿTurnarounds
ÿÿÿÿÿÿBasic turnarounds
ÿÿÿEndings
ÿÿÿÿÿÿSome common endings to bluegrass songs
ÿÿÿFinal Tips on Beginnings, Turnarounds and Endings
Chapter 12: Jamming
ÿÿÿPriorities in Preparation for Jamming
ÿÿÿÿÿÿPreparation and practice
ÿÿÿÿÿÿPractice timing
ÿÿÿÿÿÿKnow you chords and how to back others up
ÿÿÿÿÿÿLearn songs that others should know and standard bluegrass
ÿÿÿÿÿÿ Arrangements
ÿÿÿÿÿÿTaking the scare out of it
ÿÿÿLearning How Standard Bluegrass Arrangements Work
ÿÿÿÿÿÿTypical bluegrass vocal arrangement
ÿÿÿPopular Vocal and Instrumental Songs at Jam Sessions
ÿÿÿOther Tips and Suggestions for Learning How to Jam with Others
ÿÿÿNo One is Perfect and Everyone Makes mistakes
Chapter 13: Adapting an Easy Melody to a Bluegrass Banjo Arrangement
ÿÿÿMusic Reading Basics Made Easy
ÿÿÿÿÿÿLearning the notes
ÿÿÿÿÿÿCounting time
ÿÿÿÿÿÿRests
ÿÿÿCreating a Bluegrass Banjo Arrangement Using Quarter and Eighth Notes
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿWhen the Saints Go Marching In
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿRed River Valley
Chapter 14: Playing in Different Keys, Tunings and Using a Capo
ÿÿÿUsing a Capo
ÿÿÿÿÿÿTypes of capos and tips on using them
ÿÿÿPlaying Chords in Different Keys
ÿÿÿÿÿÿCapoing the fifth string
ÿÿÿÿÿÿThe I - VII chords in seven different keys - chart
ÿÿÿÿÿÿPlaying a song using roman numerals rather than chord names
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿChord Progression Practice
ÿÿÿLearning to Play the Same Song in Three Different Keys
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿDon't This Road Look Rough and Rocky - Key of G
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿDon't This Road Look Rough and Rocky - Key of C
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿDon't This Road Look Rough and Rocky - Key of D
ÿÿÿC Tuning
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿWildwood Flower
ÿÿÿD Tuning
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿHome Sweet Home
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿJesse James
ÿÿÿG Minor Tuning
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿPretty Polly
Chapter 15: Playing at Slower Tempos and ? Time
ÿÿÿDifferent Techniques Used in Playing Slower Songs