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peterreynoldsuk - Posted - 07/27/2024: 08:56:25
Basic Music Theory for Banjo Players: Illustrated with Playing Examples for the 5-String Banjo
Can anyone post the contents pages of this book and offer some comments on it? I can only get general info from the blurb, and want to avoid buying stuff I already have elsewhere. I find a lot of books cover the same 'beginner' things. I am looking for material that helps me move from intermediate to advanced both as a player and in my knowledge of music theory. Many thanks.
banjered - Posted - 07/27/2024: 10:17:06
We've all heard the joke,"How much music theory does a banjo player need? Not enough to harm the music." OK that out of the way, I have found basic music theory very useful that I leaned out of a basic music book. I play old time tunes but also a lot of folk songs where tab doesn't exist. I can learn a song/tune by tab, notation or audio although audio remains my weakest. I can look at notation and translate it into banjo tab. Knowing music theory which really is music language has helped me adapt a banjo to my voice rather than the other way around. It can sometimes be useful in communication with another musician (Habla Banjo?). Don't need tons of theory, one evening was enough for me. So yeah a little music theory won't hurt you too much, might help. banjered
Patrick1962 - Posted - 07/27/2024: 18:09:59
Peter, before you shell out the bucks for that book read through the thread here that Sherry/Texas Banjo kindly/generously posted:
banjohangout.org/topic/71709
That covers most everything on music theory for the banjo..makes it much easier to wrap your head around it all and gives you a strong foundation for further study.
peterreynoldsuk - Posted - 07/27/2024: 23:52:27
Excellent responses guys. Thank you so much. I will check out the links.
Cheers,
Peter
PIzzaPastaMafia - Posted - 07/29/2024: 07:24:01
There was a time one could find free books on Libgen, but, after the beginning of the Russia vs Ukraine war, it is either censored on our (= the good people) side or geoblocked from their side.
Edited by - PIzzaPastaMafia on 07/29/2024 07:24:27
Old Hickory - Posted - 07/31/2024: 12:18:13
At $20, Rick's book is not expensive. It's a well thought-out and organized approach to the basics of music theory as they apply to 5-string banjo. It's clear and easy to follow. Importantly, it doesn't simplify to the point of error.
I'd prefer if there were more examples in tab to illustrate what's being discussed, but that's a quibble. The book is really good at describing how music works and making music theory less mysterious to the beginner.
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