Overall Comments

This DVD and book (1st of a series of three) has opened my eyes to learning to play the banjo. For years I have been using TAB to memorize songs. The result has been that I can read Tablature very well, my timing is good because I would practice with "Band in a Box". I had learned the various rolls and even phrasing so that I believe I sounded like a fair banjo player.
The result has been that I am limited to those songs that I have memorized really couldn't participate in jams very well and I would become bored with the songs I know which led to less interest in practice.
I recently purchased this series by Geoff Hohwald and the lights have really come on for me. Geoff is an excellent instructor and the material is exactly what I have needed all along. I am still in book one and am able to hear and play chord changes up and down the neck in the three major shapes and in all keys. This means I can now play along with nearly any song. Practice is exciting now and, although practice songs are included in the video, I can play along with any song I choose when practicing.
As I gain proficiency i will be adding various licks and rolls as I progress into the next two videos.
I would highly recommend any beginning or intermediate banjo player to base their learning on this series of videos.

I now feel I am becoming much better acquainted with the banjo neck. Up to now I have been shy about venturing up the neck.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

There's no better way to get started playing bluegrass banjo. You follow a step-by-step lesson plan, and enjoy applying the new licks and rolls to a rhythm track. There's a lot of advice on how to jam with other musicians, and enhance a song with simple banjo accompaniment.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

The Favorite Licks series is a great way to embellish what you've learned from Backup Licks and Rolls. There's a movie, backup tracks at different speeds, and tablature you can print or view on your computer screen. Progress at your own pace, and enjoy making music right away.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

If you're holding a banjo, sooner or later someone is going to ask you to play 'Dueling Banjos.' When you decide to add this crowd-pleaser to your repertoire, this is the way to go. Included are a backing track (with and without banjo), full tablature and instructional video. If you can play 'Nine Pound Hammer,' and 'Oh Susannah,' you're ready.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

How to Play The 5-string Banjo, taught by Pete Seeger is a complete waste of money. All Pete does is play the songs and talk. He does not show you how to do a thing. You're better off going on YouTube and watching Pete "teach" you how to play "Skip To My Lou". And it's free!

Overall Rating

1

Overall Comments

A helpful visual walkthrough on how to affect tone with proper set up of your Mastertone-style banjo. Steve explains the basics of head tightness, bridge placement, tone ring to rim fit, adjusting the height of a Presto, truss rod adjustments, and how to hunt down and fix the common sources of annoying buzzes. He also shows you how to break down a banjo, replace the head, and put the instrument back together. Pick placement technique and proper maintenance of nut slots, also are covered.

John Lawless of Acutab did his typically excellent job producing a very useful DVD, but there are some minor shortcomings. When Steve removes the Presto, it would have been nice if there had been a close up shot of how he removed the tailpiece nut and bracket. Close-ups of his removing the nuts of the coordinator rods also were absent and would have been helpful.

This video includes a video documentary of Huber Banjos. Keep in mind that since the time this DVD was produced during 2002/2003, the Huber line-up has changed significantly, and much of the DVD’s information for ordering Huber Banjos is out-of-date.

Overall, an excellent review of banjo set-up basics, especially for beginners. If you don’t mind paying for a subscription to Tony Trischka’s banjo teaching site, which is part of www.academyofbluegrass.com, Mike Munford’s video banjo set-up lessons (located under the “Special Guests” tab) goes into some of most of these topics in greater detail, although as of the date of this review, Munford’s lessons did not discuss tone ring fit or how to tap for the source of a buzz.

Overall Rating

8

Overall Comments

I bought this DVD off amazon because of the good reviews and for a beginner it's perfect.
It takes you from the very beginning and walks you through every aspect of learning the banjo without being too complicated. The layout is very easy to follow and it's explained in lots of detail.
It's not for someone who been playing for a while and wants to improve, it's strictly for the 'banjo rookie'. It even has a on screen banjo tuner to get you started. Great fun and perfect for the beginner who wants to give it a go.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

This Video is poorly done. Very little information pertaining to Setup is given. Most of the info is Greg D. taking a banjo apart and putting it back together during an open forum with terrible video quality. Really basic stuff.

Deering charges close to $30 dollars for this video which included shipping.. Deering should be nothing less than Embarrassed to charge for this DVD.

Look elsewhere if you need a Setup DVD.

Overall Rating

1

Overall Comments

Aside from one icky aspect, a truly worthy addition to a banjo reference library... Jamie Boss is a superb restorer (I have seen his craftsmanship on Ebay - NICE!! ) and a clear, illustrating speaker (coming from a near zero-point of knowledge, not once did he leave me scratching my head going, "huh?"). In fact, I would go as far as to say this DvD SHOULD be included in any aspiring banjo player's "Welcome to the Pickin' World" introduction. ;)

HOWEVER!! Now for the icky part:

Be aware that there is no menu selection on the 2nd Disk (Set-up and Adjustments). So tracking down a particular part, like fret harmony tuning, is relegated to hitting your chapter skip and looking for it by eyeball.

Honestly, for me this would drop my rating to even lower if it wasn't for the fact that the content itself is excellent... I really want to give it a 10 ... but that lack of a menu kills me. A technical oversight in DvD presentation that I can hope Mr. Boss will consider fixing in the future.

Overall Rating

8

Overall Comments

I'm a total beginner, never played anything before. This DVD leads you by the hand but does in quickly enough so that you don't get bored or discouraged. I really like David Holt's style of teaching and the video is not only fun but entertaining.

Overall Rating

9

Overall Comments

Very informative video explaining all the parts of the banjo and how to set up everything for "Killer Tone." I found a few things I was doing wrong. It's now available from Mel Bay as a download. I recommend it.

Overall Rating

9

Overall Comments

“Unfortunate Puppy & Other Fine Tunes”
By Hunter Robertson
http://hunterrobertson.com/


It isn't often that one is present to witness a real revolution, but I feel I have seen the future of Banjo Instruction with Hunter Robertson's new video “The Unfortunate Puppy & Other Fine Tunes: Lessons in Intermediate & Advanced Clawhammer Banjo”. The work Hunter and his associate, videographer Jonathan Vanballenberghe (www.openlensproductions.com/) have done with this video has brought the standard for DVD lessons up from mostly supplemental material to a new and vastly improved method of teaching stringed and fretted instruments.

I'm not joking. The two camera widescreen videos have as much to teach banjo teachers as they have for banjo students, and it will influence All fretted and stringed instrument teaching DVDs for decades to come.

Most banjo videos, consist of a medium shot of the player/teacher with a downright dinky close-up of either the left or right hand inserted into the blank space off to his left side. Both hands come out quite small, and the actual playing is really too fast to be caught on normal video. Hunter and Vanballenberghe have dumped that format entirely and created a new one that shows off both hands large and clear while eliminating everything that is not necessary for the lessons. The view appears to be what you would see sitting in the usual student's position across from your teacher. However, instead of wasting screen space the picture has been sectioned, leaving out wasted space above the instrument and even cutting out the dull, unchanging landscape between the frailing and the fretting. Why Didn't I think of That?

While this innovation alone would be a major improvement over most videos, it is only after extended viewing that I realized each of the hands had been filmed to be seen at the best angle for catching the details of the playing. It is easy to see exactly what happens at the fingers and frets level of the left hand and to catch exactly which string is being plucked by the right.

While this alone would be revolutionary there is another big improvement in the presentation. The video was probably filmed with the camera running at double speed (60 frames per second) so that when it is slowed down to 30 there is remarkably little of that low speed video mush in the picture. You can see the hands working side by side in smooth slo-mo. Every detail is right smack in your face. You can't miss a thing.

Each of the tunes is presented in four ways – First Hunter plays the tune at full speed, complete with variations. Then there is a section at half speed using the slo-mo technique described above. Next Hunter goes over the tune in full detail, showing each melodic figure complete with spoken playing notes explaining the various techniques as Hunter demonstrates them. Finally there is a simple medium speed version designed so the student can play along with the teacher just as at a live lesson.

The tunes go from very easy (Candy Girl) to moderately difficult (The Unfortunate Puppy). Learning each tune will also add new techniques to your playing repertory. In “Lonesome John” there are several Alternate String Hammer-Ons (ASHOs), the less known brother to the world famous Alternate String Pull-Off (ASPO), While in “Boatin' Up Sandy” you will find M Skips, Double ASPOs, syncopated M Skips, and the undeservedly rare “Down Slide”. “Ducks On The Millpond” Unually is taken from Tommy Jarrell's fiddling but Hunter uses a refreshingly different version from Emmett Lundy and adds a lesson on grace notes to boot. For those who (like me) love Triple C (or Triple D) tuning there is W. M. Stepp's superlative version of “Bonaparte's Retreat” and for the straight “G” tuning set, you'll find an exceptional version of “Cripple Creek” from the playing of Hobart Smith. While you could play this with your local jam group, it that has a voice and ambiance all its own. In fact the techniques used in these ten tunes will bring sparkle to all your current and future Old Time repertoire. Every new technique you learn becomes another tool in your kit, and another voice in your musical choir. Hunter recommends listening to the original versions of these tunes, and all are available on the internet.

Along with the 10 tune videos there is also a “Techniques Video” jam packed full of extremely useful stuff. This one video alone, is well worth the price of the entire DVD. There is also an (all too brief) demonstration of Up Picked styles. The DVD cannot have much space left over. I suspect most players will return to all the lessons from time to time in order to gain new insights from them.

While Hunter describes this video as being for Intermediate to Advanced students I am going to respectfully disagree. I don't think you have to be “advanced” much beyond beginning player to get more than your money's worth from The Unfortunate Puppy. Anyone with the basic strokes down comfortably, who can play the common clawhammer rhythms and follow clearly presented examples should be able to use these videos to one degree or another, and will know more about clawhammer in general than most other Beginners or Intermediate or even Advanced players. Furthermore you will be learning from a master player and a master instructor – these aren't always one and the same person. The banjo world is extremely lucky to have Hunter Robertson. He is a great banjo player and The Unfortunate Puppy, sets the Gold Standard for teaching videos.

In conclusion: While I think Hunter's technique video alone is worth the price of the DVD, everyone has to make their own decision as to when they are ready for this material. Still I would recommend it to my students on the early side rather than wait. This DVD costs less than a movie for two with popcorn. I think that most people will get their money's worth time and time again. Obviously the quality you get out will depend upon the work you put into it. Nothing actually “teaches” you the banjo – you still gotta do the work.
That said, this is the best instructional video I've ever seen. It is not only worth your money, more importantly, it is worth your time.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

In my opinion, Buddy Wachter’s VHS tape, “Learning Plectrum Banjo,” would be worthwhile for almost any banjoist, regardless of age or experience. I say this because Buddy has apparently gathered the best tips, techniques and secrets from the old masters –- Eddie Peabody, Perry Bechtel and others –- and passed them along to a new generation on this 90-minute tape from Homespun Video.

Although I’ve been playing plectrum for over 40 years, I was essentially self-taught, working only from a Mel Bay chord book and a “Volume 1” fake book. So I never really learned the proper way to position the banjo on your lap (NOT parallel to your body). More importantly, I never learned the various basic strums; I just sort of guessed and imitated as best I could. But Buddy breaks everything down into the smallest component parts and explains HOW and WHY to do them, in simple and understandable terms.

He has a very commonsense and effective approach, by beginning in focusing solely on the RIGHT hand. This way, that you can learn the various strum techniques without worrying about chords. He teaches the proper way to perform the basic strum, and then offers eight different variations. He goes on to teach tremolo technique and finally, how to combine that with two of the basic strums to produce a very neat rhythmic syncopated beat, in either 4/4 or 3/4 time, which he calls “riverboat style.” These last two combo strums made my jaw drop, because they produce a very clean and pleasant sound, as opposed to the sometimes “twangy” result of always strumming all four strings all the time. Now I can produce a cleaner sound, with more emphasis on the melody notes, and with actually less effort –- amazing!!

Buddy then discusses just the left hand, and explains the basic techniques of fingering the chords. I had forgotten some of these and appreciated the refresher. For example, Buddy notes that you do not always have to use the same fingering for a chord; it all depends on where you are going for the next chord or the next note. So you can finger a “C” chord at the nut with either the first and second fingers, or the first and third fingers. Who knew –- I was only doing what it showed in the Mel Bay chord book pictures!! Buddy also demoed the use of barred chords, which could be helpful in moving some otherwise unmoveable chords (such as a G7th) up the neck. He also provides some good advice on making your glisses neat, clean, and easier to accomplish. Finally, he explained some basics of chord melody. Although he noted that more would be explained “on the next tape,” a sequel was never produced. But there is more than enough great information on this 90-minute tape.

All in all, a very good reference for the beginning or the experienced banjoist. The tape will get the beginner off to a good start, and will likely provide many good tidbits even for an experienced player. It would be helpful, but not necessary, to know how to read music, because Buddy does refer to things like “quarter notes,” “eighth notes,” “time signatures” and “triplets.” But even if you can read music, it’s very helpful to watch Buddy demo all the strums and the syncopation. For a 1990 production, the picture and sound are very good, with lots of close-ups of both the left and right hands.

This 1990 tape is apparently out of print at this time (2011). However, Buddy also made a similar tape for the tenor banjo, which is still available on DVD from Homespun Video. Although I have not seen the tenor version, I am assuming that it contains the same basic strum information, which would still be of great value to the plectrum player. Ditto on left-hand technique, even if the chord fingerings would be different for a tenor banjo. SETH

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

Happy Traum takes an interesting approach in this DVD. He starts with two-finger (old time) style and progresses into Pete Seeger style up-picking. There aren't many DVDs that cover those techniques in a beginner's format. Absolutely worth the price.

Overall Rating

9

Overall Comments

Waffling back and forth about getting a setup video, I decided to start with the Deering video since I am a Deering owner.

This video is basically a presentation at a music store. The whole thing is filmed in one take. Greg Deering proves to be and interesting speaker. There is as much or more history than there is banjo setup. You find out how the company started and what Greg's personal history is. It could be of great interest if you're a Deering fan or owner. I did learn a few tricks about setting the bridge etc but was mostly confirmed in my care of my own banjo. For instance, he talks about the truss rod adjustment but not in detail so I'm still not sure what I'm looking for when adjusting the truss rod.

It's a good starter video which is what I wanted but would still need more info to attempt an overall setup. I'd like to see a video that is edited where you don't have to watch someone turn every single hex screw etc.

In my town the movie critics have a rating system that goes: Full Price, Matinee, Rental or Don't Go. I'd give this video.. a rental (possible matinee on a rainy day)

Overall Rating

6

Overall Comments

I'd had some bluegrass lessons in the early 90's but it didn't take to my disappointment. Then one day I saw this fellow Sean Condron playing on a street corner in Brooklyn, and I asked him what he was playing. He said "Clawhammer". It sounded terrific, and I thought hmmm maybe I could do that. So I went to the web and Googled for instructional materials. I immediately came up with a nice package then offered by Ken Perlman of his book Clawhammer Style Banjo and two accompanying VHS tapes (two seemed like real depth). The book and tape arrived, I pulled my banjo out of the closet and went to work. What I immediately liked about the instruction was I was playing tunes I like and was familiar with right from the start, John Hardy, Will The Circle..., Wildwood Flower. His tab was easy to read and follow. The techniques were adjoined to the music at a workable pace(pull offs, hammer ons, drop thumbing). The combinationation of hearing the music and being able to see it on paper made learning difficult pieces doable, with some concentration thrown in. At the end of every song a message flashes on the screen reminding us to 'Keep practicing'. So its afew years later and VHS is now DVD and I'm a third of the way through the second tape. Each tape has a ton on songs and practice exercises so its taking me a while. I play entirely for my own enjoyment and I'm enjoying myself a great deal. As such I can't really say whether Ken's instruction has put me in a place where I'm ready to 'jam' with other musicians. I just have never gotten around to that. Nevertheless I have high praise for Ken Perlman's Clawhammer Style Banjo and recommend it to anybody starting from scratch and wanting to enjoy palying the banjo in their closet.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

Great DVD. Comes with tab for the tunes covered. Anytime you can watch Bela Fleck play it is worth the money. He does a nice job of explaining patterns and even throws in a couple of practice techniques. The tunes covered span a wide variety of banjo music. Filmed in the 80's so that explains the haircut and clothes!

Highly Recommended!!!

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

I got volume 1. The show is really good but its pity its just an hour long.
One good thing is as its older there are no constant changes in camera angles. The camera often zooms towards Earls playing fingers which is interesting to see. I suppose they are a bit on the expensive side but its Flatt and scruggs!

Overall Rating

9

Overall Comments

I've been looking for intermmediate/advanced DVD's for a while and after quite a few dissapointments, I believe I have found a gem here. Mr. Munde will push you to a higher level of playing. If he can't then you probably don't need any lessons.

Not a super high quality production, just great versions of classic songs with detailed instruction and tab. I feel as though I get to sit down with him and really delve into his great style of playing.

If your looking for something to really push your scruggs/reno/melodic playing, you can't pass this one up.

Overall Rating

10

Overall Comments

I'm basically repeating a review from another of Mr. Munde's DVD's as I could only put one title in each reveiw.

I've been looking for intermmediate/advanced DVD's for a while and after quite a few dissapointments, I believe I have found a gem here. Mr. Munde will push you to a higher level of playing. If he can't then you probably don't need any lessons.

Not a super high quality production, just great versions of classic songs with detailed instruction and tab. I feel as though I get to sit down with him and really delve into his great style of playing.

If your looking for something to really push your scruggs/reno/melodic playing, you can't pass this one up.

Overall Rating

10