The Banjo Book -- A banjo primer I wrote in 1979 ... free online viewing

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Posted by banjoy on Saturday, February 25, 2012

6 people like this

Broken links and missing images fixed on August 15, 2014
(Originally posted to BHO on February 25, 2012.

The Banjo Book
written by Frank Eastes, Jr.
©1979 (rev.2013)

FREE VIEWING ONLINE
ANY TIME

Beginner to Intermediate

This is a banjo instruction manual I wrote in 1979 at age 19. It is a 26-page file which I offer for free viewing online at any time. I had intended as a primer for the beginner, as well as an introduction to chord theory for the intermediate player.

I created this banjo primer because of a “gap” I perceived in some of the better banjo books around at the time. This basic tutorial is intended for the beginning and intermediate banjo player to gain a foundation from which to springboard into those other instruction books, and the intermediate player to begin on the path of music theory. The primary emphasis is on the translation of chord construction and basic theory applied directly to the fingerboard.

So whether you play bluegrass or clawhammer banjo, as long as you're in open G tuning,
the theory section of this booklet (about the last 1/2) may still be very helpful to you.

Click here to view The Banjo Book online for free

—Frank Eastes, Jr.
Spartanburg, SC

5 comments on “The Banjo Book -- A banjo primer I wrote in 1979 ... free online viewing”

StephenARhodes Says:
Saturday, February 25, 2012 @7:21:51 AM

Thanks, Frank. I looking forward to reading and using it.

janeway Says:
Saturday, February 25, 2012 @8:20:34 AM

Frank I too look forward to taking a look at your book and learning from it. Thanks for sharing. Trish

f#dead Says:
Saturday, February 25, 2012 @2:18:54 PM

thnx Frank, I have it downloaded. I'm glad you saved that all these years. Cool that it has the water stains and all. Well done. I'm using the theory part along w/ other resources. Thnx for posting it.

ridetwowheels Says:
Friday, March 2, 2012 @8:12:50 AM

I started playing banjo a year ago. I have some music background playing a saxophone 35 years ago. This got me really interested in music theory as it relates to the banjo. So I've been looking for months for something exactly like what you've posted in the Banjo Book. Thanks for posting it! It's going to be really helpful.