Overall Comments

You get a TAB book with arrangements for 21 "essential" tunes. The song selection is very good, there are many nice songs with a good melody line. A lot of them use more than three chords.

The songs are in different keys, and for many of them you have to use a capo. There are even three watzes. The TABs are first basic versions, then solo/up the neck versions. The up the neck versions are often in melodic style. The TABs are very good, and the banjo arrangements are a little different - better - from what I find in other books that I have.

Then to the CD. There is one track for each song. Each track has bass, guitar and mandolin all the way through. First, the song is played with banjo in a basic version, then up the neck, then backup banjo (mostly pinch) and then without any banjo - you jam along yourself. Tempo is moderate to slow.

Tony Trischka´s banjo playing is really beautiful. It is very clean and right on time all the way. You will enjoy just listening to the CD. His banjo sounds great!

Sound quality is great, but you might like or dislike that the backup band is in the left channel and the banjo alone to the right. The benefit of this, is that you can listen to the left channel only to get the backing band playing without Tony Trischka.

The really great new thing about this book/CD, is that there are versions for banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar and bass. This must be the best way to start a bluegrass band. Let each band member rehearse with their own book. When you meet, you are all ready to jam!

Overall Rating

10