stevebo - Posted - 11/12/2009:  16:38:23

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I am looking for a tab book, for my wife to buy me for Christmas. If you had to buy just one clawhammer book, what would you recommend? Im a new banjo player, but am progressing rapidly---------------Im not looking for a tab book of watered down beginners tabs. Are there tab books that come with CDs?, Any suggestions? Thanks!

RogerThailand - Posted - 11/12/2009:  16:57:11

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I think Tim Jumper's "The Banjo Player's Songbook" is excellent. (Oak Publications ISBN 0.8256.0297.1) It has over 200 easy to read tabs in many music styles; ring bound for easy access. Includes the complete lyrics for the songs. Not too elaborate for a novice but not overly simple. A great source book - I'd highly recommend it.
Regards,
Roger

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Edited by - RogerThailand on 11/12/2009 17:26:07

banjo_brad - Posted - 11/12/2009:  17:51:58

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For Old Time CH stuff, I heartily recommend Dan Levenson's "Old-Time Festival Tunes for Clawhammer Banjo" from Mel Bay, or Dan directly ( www.clawhammerbanjo.us ). 117 tunes that you will commonly found played at OT festivals and jams.

This is a repertoire book, with 2 accompanying CDs, containing each tune in the book played through one time on banjo at moderate speed. Fiddle versions of the tunes can be downloaded for free from the Mel Bay website.

Brad
------------------
www.PricklyPearMusic.net
http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/5/ My ezFolk page
http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/3371/ Tucson Old Time Music Circle page on ezFolk
http://www.totmc.org Tucson Old Time Music Circle Homepage

tfaux - Posted - 11/12/2009:  17:55:58

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I think Ken Perlman's "Everything You Wanted to Know About Clawhammer Banjo" is one of the best resources around. 120 tabbed tunes, great technical advice, all kinds of thoughtful info based on about 20 years of Banjo Newsletter columns, and two CDs.

RG - Posted - 11/12/2009:  19:33:15

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How about getting OWC's "Rocket Science Banjo" for free...

******************************************************
"It's a league game Smokey..."

majikgator - Posted - 11/12/2009:  20:03:15

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i'm not familiar with Ken Perlman's Eferythg you wanted.. book but agree with Banjo Brad on the Dan Levenson Festival tunes for Clawhammer Banjo. i really like the way this book is layed out spiral bound with two page tunes having the pages layed out so you never have to flip a page to go through the entire tune as you say you are begining but progressing well the book offers two versions of each of the tunes on easier and one a bit more difficult most of the tunes are done in the more popular tunings and a lot of if not most of the tunes are ones that are pretty well known (hence festival tunes) the accomanying CDs cover all of the tunes but are not verbatim to either the easier or more difficult tab but at least give you an idea how the tune goes, so as a one book solution it's a little hard to beat. Before i shelled out a nickel i asked the forum here what they thought of it and it's praises were sung. Not all the tabs are my favorite arrangements in the entire world but are just fine in anybodys book. Dan is an excellent instructor and a BHO member, also as stated don't forget our Old Wooodchuck and his Rocket Science Banjo either. I just noted i am repeating a lot of what Banjo Brad had to say but somehow i think that's ok.

jk

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Edited by - majikgator on 11/12/2009 20:06:20

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 11/12/2009:  20:16:18

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Rocket Science Banjo is free but my continuing tab project is not. However it is a bargain at $15.00 since you get more than 150 tabs immediately, and if you buy before I reach the critical number (150 Titles) will continue to receive all updates for as long as I live and can still tab tunes.

How can there be 150 tabs and not 150 tunes - because this is an in-depth project and contains things like versions in different keys and versions in different tunings (mostly used for G tunes where I tab most tunes in the standard tuning and in a more modal sounding tuning) plus special features like "Tune Stripping" - turning a fiddle tune into a banjo tune, and more.

My tabs are quite basic for the most part. I believe a tab should have a clear presentation of the tune and whatever else is necessary - like the Galax Lick sound that so many tunes from that area feature. But I don't do a lot of extra this, that, and the other stuff in the separate tabs. If you know how to do a double pull off in Angeline The Baker you should be able to use the double pull off in Sugar Hill too. In fact you should be able to do it in Fisher's Hornpipe, or St. Anne's Reel or just about any tune in D - A little study will also indicate how to do it in A, G, C, or any other key.

You can get an idea of how my tabs are structured by downloading Rocket Science Banjo (which is free). You will find about 40 tabs in the book - all playable with your computer's MIDI just like the Tab Bonanza, and numbered for difficulty (although I currently use a more advanced numbering system for tabs).

I don't really see how it can be used for a Christmas present though - kinda hard to wrap since it is emailed out. On
the other hand - its easy to get yourself - check out the website below



http://www.rocketsciencebanjo.com
Rocket Science Banjo - Advanced Clawhammer Techniques for beginners and long time players alike. Plus videos and 25-40 EZ Clawhammer Tunes.
& check out "How To Mold A Mighty Pinky" at:
http://www.pricklypearmusic.net
banjo brad's great banjo site

majikgator - Posted - 11/12/2009:  20:50:59

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Good point Tony, Dan Levenson's book doesn't exactly have 117 tunes either as variations of several tunes are included, What the Festival tunes book won't do for you is give you banjo lesson's, he has others books/DVDs for that, but it's a collection of tunes. The Rocket Science Banjo will do both and i guess it could be printed out in holiday colors (haha)

jk

dbrooks - Posted - 11/13/2009:  10:00:08

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All tab books will have their limitations.

I agree that Dan Levenson's "Festival Tunes" book is the single best. Plenty of tunes with basic and advanced lines for each tune. These are festival tunes, however, and you may not familiar with many of them today. Over time, you would probably find yourself coming back to find a tune in the bookafter you heard it elsewhere.

Ken Pelrman's "Clawhammer Style Banjo" and "Everything You Wanted to Know" books have lots of tabs. Again, there will be lots of tunes that you may not know or want to play, jigs, schottisches, polkas, Prince Edward Island tunes, etc. But that's one of Ken's strengths; he has a wide variety of styles of music in his books. His tabs tend to be more difficult in that he plays chord psoitions up the neck.

"The Banjo Player Songbook" has lots of familiar songs grouped by category, love songs, patriotic songs (well not those categories maybe, but you get the idea. I can't remember the actual categories.) I seldom have used this book. I just don't think about it, I guess.

"The Banjo Player's Fakebook" has both clawhammer and bluegrass arrangements and pairs well with the "Fiddler's Fakebook."

Oldwoodchuckb's tab collection may actually be the most mainstream. I haven't seen it but it seems like a safe purchase.

Finally, you might consider asking for a subscription to Banjo Newsletter. Two or three (sometimes more) clawhammer tabs per issue, plus lots of good ideas from both bluegrass and clawhammer players. I find the comments from professional players about practice habits quite interesting.

David

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 11/13/2009:  10:08:48

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I would recommend Dan Levenson's festival tunes collection.
See the review:
http://www.banjosessions.com/jun07/Lunceford.html

R.D. Lunceford- "Missourian in Exile"
Model 1865 Bowlin Fretless Banjo
****************************************************
"Drink from the Musselfork once, and you'll
always come back." -Dr. Bondurant Hughes, 1917

slabounty - Posted - 11/13/2009:  10:28:03

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Dan's Festival book is great and I'd heartily recommend it. R.D. above is being a bit (OK, a *lot*) modest in not recommending his own books. Both Cotton Blossom and Drop Thumb are great. See if your wife can see clear to get two of them.


Scott LaBounty
Orange, CA

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 11/13/2009:  12:04:41

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Since I had to come back and fix a few of my bizarro typos anyway, I might as well add the URL of my review:
http://www.banjohangout.org/reviews...4&redir=true


I guess I punched send early last night.

I had wanted to say that R.D. Lunceford's

Cotton Blossom
&
Drop Thumb

Would make excellent repertoire books and they CAN be given for Christmas. Each has a companion CD and the tab writing is a joy to read. I spent many an hour with these books (go to my BHO homepage for a review of them) and I KNOW they taught me a lot about writing banjo arrangements that are both simple - but not simplified - and sound great. I have never seen a tab/cd set that is as good as these. You will not only learn a bunch of great new tunes from these books but if you take the time you could learn something about arranging for banjo, just as I did.


http://www.rocketsciencebanjo.com
Rocket Science Banjo - Advanced Clawhammer Techniques for beginners and long time players alike. Plus videos and 25-40 EZ Clawhammer Tunes.
& check out "How To Mold A Mighty Pinky" at:
http://www.pricklypearmusic.net
banjo brad's great banjo site

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Edited by - oldwoodchuckb on 11/14/2009 19:41:18

wallnutsbanjo - Posted - 11/13/2009:  12:39:46

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R D's 2 cd's and tab books were a Christmas gift to myself several years ago. They are a gift that keeps on giving. Highly Recommended.

wallnutsbanjo

Viper - Posted - 11/13/2009:  13:58:09

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I just got Dan's festival tunes book, and so far I'm liking it a lot. I feel I'm just ahead of the beginner tabs, and having the advanced tab just below it make it easy to mix and match parts.

__________________________________________________________
Right way or wrong way, I just want to play the banjo SOME way.

Alan Hill - Posted - 11/13/2009:  14:07:14

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Ken Perlmans Melodic clawhammer book or his Everything you wanted to know about clawhammer book both great and a true investment ,,,well thats what i told the wife

alan

dfwest - Posted - 11/13/2009:  14:52:50

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My favorite is and has always been "Clawhammer Banjo", by Miles Krassen. The big shortcoming is the lack of a CD (it came out in the 70's). Otherwise, I agree with those posted already.

David West

Fort Collins, Colorado & Racine, WI

erstokke - Posted - 11/13/2009:  15:20:44

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One great approach in Dan Levenson’s Festival book that is mentioned above, is that it is written in both simple and different versions in double staff. So you can mix and match as you want and as your skills allow. With all the different combination of bars and even notes between these two versions, you will soon have your own version that is somewhere between the two.

Woodchuck’s $15 Tab Bonanza is also recommended. There is a tune list in this thread:
http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/161973
And if you don’t already have it, his Rocket Science Banjo is free and has 25 tunes or so. One other great resource is Mike Iverson’s tabs at http://www.bluesageband.com/Tabs.html. Not to mention all the great tabs in the tab section here at Banjo Hangout. But of course, all these are not real books. You will have to print them and put them in a binder before gift-wrapping them to yourself.

I also have two great old clawhammer tab books, "Old Time Mountain Banjo" by Art Rosenbaum and "John Burke’s Book of Old Time Fiddle Tunes For Banjo". They are both out of print and are expensive bought second hand. You may be able to find them on Amazon or Ebay.

I have a lot more tabs than I will ever learn. But I find it great to have different versions of a tune so I can find my favorite version.


My banjo is pre-war. Pre the next war
Jan Erik from Norway

un5trung - Posted - 11/13/2009:  15:41:08

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I have and use both the Jumper book and Levenson's Festival book. Jumper is more folk oriented and Levenson is old time. A big difference is that Levenson's comes with a CD to let you know how to tunes should sound.

That being said, I'm trying to get away from tabs, with varying success. I pick out tunes by ear on my guitar or mandolin, then transpose to the banjo. It's slow going. At this rate it will be a long while before I'm able to wean myself from tabs, but I think the effort will be worth it in the long run.



Just breathe.

Matt Buckley - Posted - 11/13/2009:  15:56:09

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Not sure why you're limiting yourself to just one book. But since you are, for my money Dan Levenson stands above them all.

If you're willing to spend a bit more money, I'd also buy Miles Krassen's and Round Peak Clawhammer, by Brad Leftwith.

Levenson, Krassen and Leftwich combined got me off to a great start several years ago.

If you're into folk banjo, the Jumper book may be fine. But just too many dorky non-old-time tunes for my taste.

Cheers, Matt

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Edited by - Matt Buckley on 11/13/2009 15:57:35

ScottK - Posted - 11/13/2009:  16:12:12

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I would second what Matt just said. The Brad Leftwich book Matt mentions does contain a CD with banjo recordings for all the tunes. I really like the arrangements I've learned out of Krassen's book and Krassen includes about a dozen tunes in sawmill tuning.

While you're waiting for Christmas , you might want to also check out the tab selection on Mike Iverson's web site. Mike includes mp3 recordings for each of the tunes and I've enjoyed the arrangements of his that I've learned:

http://bluesageband.com/Tabs.html

Scott

handsup8 - Posted - 11/13/2009:  16:59:07

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For an advanced beginner who would probably profit from working from basic to advanced arrangements of tunes, the Levenson book is hard to beat. I'm not as much a fan of its advanced arrangements as I am of the basic. For someone looking for a more advanced book to really challenge yourself and expand your style, I would recommend the Krassen book, Leftwich book or John Burke's book.

To respond to your question, I would choose the Krassen book since that's the one I explored the most when I was in a similar situation. Levenson's was not published then.

Handsup8

supah_g - Posted - 11/13/2009:  17:19:33

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Just a thot here Steve, but if you are at, or approaching "intermediate level" playing territory, I think you might consider in your decision, whether or not you care for the prospective teacher's playing style. Although, there is much we can all learn from others regardless, I have found that I gravitate toward the materials that contain arrangements & stylings that I find most appealing to me personally. No disrespect to Mr. Perlman, but I generally haven't enjoyed some of his arrangements of tunes as found in "Clawhammer Style Banjo" near as much as some others I have found, free on the internet, or from folks here. I don't much care for Bob Carlin's playing insofar as what I have heard, and I don't find myself often motivated to refer to his teaching materials that I posses either, coincidentally,...or not. (just one man's personal tastes.)

As others have said, avail yourself of the many free resources available. The woodchuck, Mike Iverson, & even Richard Heffner of E-Z Folk, have all been most helpful, and enjoyable in my journey.

Out of the 7 or 8 books on my shelf, (and Dan Levenson's isn't there YET unfortunately,) I find myself most often referring to 1 of 2 - neither of which are available in stores as far as I know. But they can both be purchased directly from the artist themselves for little cost.

No.1: "Clawhammer Banjo Tunes" by Jim Pankey (BHO's wildjimbo.) 18 tunes with unique & interesting, & mostly manageable arrangements (with some effort on your part.) Accompanying sound files on his website. About $12 if memory serves. Jim is an accomplished player well versed in clawhammer as well as 3F. I enjoy his approach to music, and I am a fan. I wouldn't have bought the book otherwise, and it was some the best 12 dollars I ever spent!!! He has a great ear for arranging, and keeping things a little fresh IMHO. http://wildjimbo.blogspot.com/2008/...d-jimbo.html

No.2 "Clawhammer Banjo" vol III by Mark Schatz. Yes the Mark Schatz, that is mostly known as a bass player. Well, the man is full of music & rhythm, and his clawhammer banjo playing maybe lesser known, but it is equally remarkable and as musical as his bass playing which appears on dozens of records in my collection. I haven't counted but there are a lot of tunes in there, including just about everything he has recorded on banjo, plus there are even a couple of 3F tabs of Bela Fleck's part for some CH / 3F duets. It also contains various exercises & some trad. tunes he hasn't recorded. Again, if I wasn't a fan of his playing, I wouldn't have bought the book. (Wisdom gained along the journey.) http://www.yellowcarmusic.com/markschatz/index.htm

It gives me an extra warm fuzzy to purchase music, or instruction direct from the artist. Aside from the notion of a personal touch, or possible communication, I presume the artist's return is maximized by the "direct" arrangement.

Finally, my late grandmother told me that "variety is the spice of life." I think she was talking about girls at the time, way back when. Nevertheless, I would favour the approach of keeping ears & eyes open for inspiration from varied sources. A little from here, some from there... Most all teachers seem to espouse the idea of making tunes "your own." I think that tends to happen naturally to some degree, but keeping an open mind to various, and possibly divergent sources will only help in my view.

Cheers,
g.

bdavidoff - Posted - 11/14/2009:  06:41:51

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I'll just tell you my experience in the year and a half that I have been playing. I started with Ken Perlman's "Clawhammer Style Banjo", which was invaluable for learning various techniques - pull offs, drop thumb, whatever. Start with that has given me a supply of moves that I am grateful for. Since then I have worn through RD's "Drop Thumb" and Cotton Blossoms" and Brad Leftwich's "Clawhammer Banjo". I've practically worn the print off the pages looking at them while learning the tunes. I love those books.

majikgator - Posted - 11/14/2009:  13:16:29

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Well after hearing so many praises about R.D. Lunceford's books they will definitely be added to my wish list, don't spend the money yet R.D. the cash flow is even less than a dribble more like an occasional drop, excuse me little drip. trying to find that church mouse to hit him up for a loan etc. ad nauseum. But it will happen, God willing and the creek don't rise (too much deeper)

jk

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 11/14/2009:  16:26:56

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I hear you jk.
Whenever you get them
I hope you enjoy them and
I'm always here to answer
questions or receive feedback.



R.D. Lunceford- "Missourian in Exile"
Model 1865 Bowlin Fretless Banjo
****************************************************
"Drink from the Musselfork once, and you'll
always come back." -Dr. Bondurant Hughes, 1917

jmod - Posted - 11/14/2009:  17:59:00

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I will throw my cap in for Brad Leftwich's book as well as anything by Ken Perlman. But you may hate them both, it is really about what you want to play. Brad is great with roundpeak and old timey and Ken delves more into melodic and fiddle tunes. I think the best way to pick a good book is find about 5 or 6 songs you really want to learn and see which books have them. Unless you are looking to grow in styles, then you may look for books by what style of clawhammer people are playing.

Good luck!

RogerThailand - Posted - 11/14/2009:  18:01:01

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As you specifically requested book titles I didn't include the aforementioned Mile Iverson's website and Old Woodchuck's $15 subscription tabs which I have found invaluable. Tony's have the advantage of including full, informative notes on each tab.
Thanks folks for all the other suggestions - I was beginning to look around for additional tab books - but you are making me poor with my ever expanding wishlist.

Clawdan - Posted - 11/16/2009:  16:03:44

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Thank you all for the recommendation of my book(s). I would note also that the fiddle versions of ALL of the tunes are available as free download when you get the book. It has always helped me to have a fiddle version in learning a tune so I have provided that also. I mention it in the text before the tunes, but most of us are so excited to get at the tunes, we often forget to check that info out.

Also, there is a fiddle/mando version of the same book (Festival Tunes...) which follows the basic line exactly for both books and provides an "advanced" version (and basic) in standard notation and mando/fiddle tab so your other instrument friends can play from the same reference for all tunes.

Hoping to do another 75 or so and augment "Buzzard Banjo Clawhammer Style" in the same form over the next year or so.

Thanks again.

Play nice ,
Dan "Ain't no bum-ditty" Levenson
www.Clawdan.com
Now teaching Clawhammer Banjo and Old Time Fiddle at San Diego Old Time Music
Get started with Dan's Clawhammer Banjo From Scratch - Book and DVD (Mel Bay Publications) THEN:
Come to Clawcamp! www.ClawCamp.com

banjo_brad - Posted - 11/16/2009:  18:10:53

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"Hoping to do another 75 or so and augment "Buzzard Banjo Clawhammer Style" in the same form over the next year or so."

Okay, Dan, you've got me back on pins and needles waiting!

"I cannot use your abuse, you may have it back!" Kerouac.
------------------
www.PricklyPearMusic.net
http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/5/ My ezFolk page
http://www.totmc.org Tucson Old Time Music Circle Homepage

Matt Buckley - Posted - 11/16/2009:  18:53:10

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quote:

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Originally posted by Clawdan

Hoping to do another 75 or so and augment "Buzzard Banjo Clawhammer Style" in the same form over the next year or so.

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One thing I would love to see is for Dan et. al. to publish tune books of their favorite lesser-known-but-brilliant tunes. Tab books abound these days, and another tab of Soldier's Joy is just not particularly needed. I hear so many wonderful -but-more-obscure tunes at sessions/festivals that should have a broader audience. I particularly enjoy R.D. books, as they feature several little-known tunes and/or little-known settings of standard tunes.

Cheers, Matt

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Edited by - Matt Buckley on 11/16/2009 18:54:18

un5trung - Posted - 11/16/2009:  18:57:51

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quote:

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Also, there is a fiddle/mando version of the same book (Festival Tunes...)

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I have the banjo book, the mando book next!

Just breathe.

oilman - Posted - 11/19/2009:  21:44:08

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After four years I still consider myself a novice and, since I live in Qatar, clawhammer teachers are a little thin on the ground. When I first started playing I bought Ken Perlman's Clawhammer Banjo and downloaded Pat Costello's How and Tao. While these were both very helpful (although I still find Perlman too finiky and Costello too folksy) I didn't really get a feel for playing real songs until I bought Tim Jumper's book - it is pitched a level which is not too challenging for a player who's learning on his (or her) own and covers just about every type of music. Also, once one has mastered the tabs in the book it is then simply a matter of embellishing Jumper's tabs with one's own style. Definitely recommended and an absolute bargain. PS Why isn't Qatar included in the list of countries of origin? After all, half the US Air force are posted here!

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Edited by - oilman on 11/19/2009 21:45:39

oilman - Posted - 11/20/2009:  05:47:51

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Just been reminded - Old Woodchuck's Rocket Science Banjo is a fantastic source of encouragement and free advice and tabs. My sand-filled brain had forgotten about it!