pghmatt - Posted - 01/23/2026:  19:56:57

So the mel bay website has a deal where if your total is over $50 you get free shipping and 20% off. Already getting one book (a new tenor guitar book that they offer) but “need” two more books for the deal to make sense.



The Wade Ward book stands out to me, where Bob Carlin and Dan Levenson each give their takes on Wade’s tunes. I like the idea of having multiple interpretations from accomplished fellas like those two. Curious if anyone here has gotten that book and what their thoughts are on it. They did two other books in the same style (kyle creed and tommy jarrell & fred cockerham)



Beyond that just looking for a recommendation for any other of the clawhammer mel bay books. I heard the Brad Leftwich ones are great but I figured I’d save that for when I stumble across a gourd banjo at a flea market or something. Any recommendations, thoughts or good natured ribbing is appreciated. Thanks

Edited by - pghmatt on 01/23/2026 19:58:18

tonygo - Posted - 01/23/2026:  22:34:52

I got all three of the Carlin/Levenson books. I went completely thru the Wade Ward and a bunch of the Kyle Creed one and enjoyed them very much. They are clear and if you can read tab they will be no problem.
I only used the Carlin transcriptions because I wanted insight into the way Ward and Creed play, and was not looking for the alternative interpretations offered by Levenson. One of these days I will start on the Tommy and Fred one.

Gar - Posted - 01/24/2026:  05:33:22

A Mel Bay book that I have used a lot is Dan Levenson's  "Old Time Festival Tunes". There are 117 tunes with basic and advanced tabs for each tune. Also has two DVDs with all the tunes played by Dan.

Edited by - Gar on 01/24/2026 05:35:06

amsweet - Posted - 01/24/2026:  05:38:20

I recommend any of Ken Perlman's books. Over the years, I have frequently returned to both "Clawhammer Style Banjo" and "Everything You Wanted to Know About Clawhammer Banjo".

Bob Buckingham - Posted - 01/24/2026:  06:11:00

Art Rosenbaum's Old Time Banjo with 2 DVDs and tabs for everything he plays on the DVDs.

banjered - Posted - 01/24/2026:  06:41:41

And for two cents of off-target advice..... It took me a long time ( years!) to realize that tabbed tunes are not the only/best/correct way to play a tune. I usually play old time tunes at jams and – for me – simpler is most often better, keeping a steady rhythm and not letting embellishments derail me. There are embellishments ( hammer-ons, pull-offs, blue notes etc.) in almost every tune that to me are essential to bring out that particular tune's flavor, but not ALL those embellishments. For instance, Perlman's renditions are quite masterful but in a jam become buried in the din of other instruments. His versions are great on a stage with one or two other instruments but in a larger jam they are mostly inaudible. However, if you have both the talent and inclination to play more melodic versions in jams or otherwise for your own enjoyment, go for it! Again, no one "correct" way to play a tune. Two-cents banjered

pinenut - Posted - 01/24/2026:  08:30:06

quote:

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Originally posted by amsweet

I recommend any of Ken Perlman's books. Over the years, I have frequently returned to both "Clawhammer Style Banjo" and "Everything You Wanted to Know About Clawhammer Banjo".  Yup.

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I also recommend Ken Perlman's "Clawhammer Style" book and would add two more:  

  - Tim Jumper "Songbook"

  - Barbara Koehler's "Frailing" book.

Unfortunately, the books at the top of my list are not published by Mel Bay.  Used books, like used banjo's are an excellent value. 

Cheers.

Edited by - pinenut on 01/24/2026 08:30:44