Overall Comments

This is a very interesting book. No CD is included, but it's really not needed. There are 15 popular gospel songs tabbed out in Scruggs style banjo, with chords shown. What I really like about this book is that all songs are given in two keys, both played in open G tuning. No capo is used except for spiking the 5th string, and this makes for some very interesting arrangements. By learning the songs in the key of G, then in either C or D, you could cover about any key a singer might prefer by using a capo on the first few frets. I don't like capoing up very far, (and prefer not to use a capo at all), so I really like these arrangements. I think they will help me learn how to play other songs in some different keys without a capo.

The songs are mostly late beginner to early intermediate level IMO. There are no up-the-neck breaks included, and not too many tough licks. But, I don't think most gospel tunes need to be full of fancy licks anyway, so these arrangements suit me fine. The arrangments sound very good and there are some nice licks, so I don't want to give the impression that the songs are overly simple, they aren't. I can see where some of them would work very well as backup to singing without a banjo break too.

The songs in this book can be found in other gospel banjo books, but the arrangements being done in both G and either C or D makes this book a good choice for learning versatility in some popular gospel songs. I am very glad I purchased it and believe most would enjoy it.

Tom

Overall Rating

8