DerekGoodman - Posted - 07/29/2024:  13:53:31

I will admit freely that I have enough books to keep me playing and learning for years to come, but i'm looking for any recommendations that fall outside of the Mel Bay/ Centerstream/ Homespun ranges.
I have Judy Marti's book on Ola Belle Reed and Kevin Neidig's duets book, as well as the counterpoint and bards banjos books from Bill's Music Shelf.
I'm sure there are independently published works out there I've never heard of, but outside of relying on Google searches I'm unsure of how to find them.

Please make any recommendations below.

Thanks in advance.

Eulalie - Posted - 07/29/2024:  14:13:05

R. D. Lunceford has a few good repertoire books. He is a member of this forum, so you can contact him directly.

banjo bill-e - Posted - 07/29/2024:  14:34:11

I have enjoyed the tab books from Mary Z Cox. She is a member here and I believe that she sells direct, and her books meet your description.

lapsteel - Posted - 07/29/2024:  19:00:02

Wayne Erbsen has a couple. He's a member here.

Edited by - lapsteel on 07/29/2024 19:01:48

trapdoor2 - Posted - 07/29/2024:  20:11:24

I've been using Hilary Dirlam's "All in one" jam books for years. Good tunes, well tabbed. I see there's a #3. I'll have to order it.

hilarydirlam.com/store

tonygo - Posted - 07/29/2024:  22:53:22

quote:

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Originally posted by DerekGoodman

I will admit freely that I have enough books to keep me playing and learning for years to come, but i'm looking for any recommendations that fall outside of the Mel Bay/ Centerstream/ Homespun ranges.

I have Judy Marti's book on Ola Belle Reed and Kevin Neidig's duets book, as well as the counterpoint and bards banjos books from Bill's Music Shelf.

I'm sure there are independently published works out there I've never heard of, but outside of relying on Google searches I'm unsure of how to find them.



Please make any recommendations below.



Thanks in advance.

I find Joe Weidlich's Minstrel Banjo Books to be very well done. But they are on Centerstream. Tim Twiss also has a book or two out on old sytle banjo playing.

Claude-Hammer - Posted - 07/30/2024:  06:15:25

Hilary Hawke!

etsy.com/listing/1011967202/di...lawhammer

Pomeroy - Posted - 07/30/2024:  06:18:40

The tune book that I've found really useful reference over the years is 'Clawhammer Banjo String Band Favorites' by Stephen C. Parker. Published independently by the author in 2010, I've no idea if it's still in print. If you can find a copy it has over 200 clawhammer arrangements of core tunes. It comes ring bound and with a protective plastic top sheet.



There comes a point in your playing when you'll find you're picking up new tunes as you hear them i.e. you no longer need tune books. But even then the Stephen Parker book functions as a handy reminder for those tunes we haven't played for ages that have got rusty. I'm headed to a band rehearsal this evening and I'm going to use the Parker book to remind me of Richmond Cotillion (very rusty!) before I go.

Edited by - Pomeroy on 07/30/2024 06:24:57

Barnacle Joe - Posted - 07/30/2024:  12:54:10

quote:

---

Originally posted by lapsteel

Wayne Erbsen has a couple. He's a member here.

---

Unfortunately Wayne Erbsen closed down nativeground.com a few months ago.  The website is still there (and the free stuff is still there) but they're not taking orders for anything (incl digital PDF copies of books). 

Pomeroy - Posted - 07/31/2024:  01:28:16

'Clawhammer Banjo String Band Favourites', Stephen C. Parker, 2010 is still available here:



ragtime-resource.com/clawhamme...n-parker/



I have no connection with the late author. I can just highly recommend his book as a resource. Now being kept in print by the author's wife.

Edited by - Pomeroy on 07/31/2024 01:32:02

DerekGoodman - Posted - 08/01/2024:  14:03:57

Thanks for the advice, everyone- some very interesting suggestions.

Turns out Wayne Erbsen's books are now available digitally from Mel Bay, so good news there.

Mary Z Cox charges $50 for shipping to the UK so that is a tough sell. No doubt there's a good reason for it, but I don't think I can justify it personally.

Stephen C Parker's book is available for international shoppers from Elderly for $39 + $24 postage, which for 200 tunes seems like my next target.

Mr Lunceford's books aren't in print right now, sadly.

Mad Hornet - Posted - 08/01/2024:  16:10:05

I have gotten hours and hours of use of Tim Jumper's book The Banjo Player's Songbook.  He's also a member here.  This book has over 200 songs including Christmas songs.  It was one of the first books I bought at Bluegrass Musician's Supply on South High Street in Columbus back when I first got started in banjo.