Posted by alan munde on Sunday, March 27, 2016
Beth Mead and I are about to turn in to publisher Hal Leonard our arrangements for 72 song for the Great American Songbook for Banjo. They include such as "The Nearness of You," "All of Me," "Elmer's Tune," "Little Rock Get Away," "After You've Gone," "My Blue Heaven," "Georgia," "Cheek to Cheek," "All The Things You Are," and on and on until we reach 72 songs. They are really fun tunes with wonderful melodies, chords, and plenty of challenges for the 5-string banjo player. I love playing through them and hearing the special life the banjo brings to those tunes. I play a number of casual gigs for a general audience and these arrangements add a special connection between my playing and the audience that might not always be made with straight ahead bluegrass picking. I am not sure of a publication date but will keep you posted.
15 comments on “The Great American Songbook for Banjo”
thebanjobert Says:
Sunday, March 27, 2016 @4:11:55 PM
Sounds like it would be a fun book to work through, Alan.
Terry
banjoman717 Says:
Sunday, March 27, 2016 @5:23:25 PM
Hey sounds great... Look forward to seeing it.
Mike
RB3 Says:
Tuesday, March 29, 2016 @2:43:45 PM
I hope that you're going to include "I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover" in the new banjo songbook. I'm a long time fan of your playing, and I think that's your best instrumental arrangement. I co-hosted a weekly Bluegrass radio show for many years at the public station affiliated with Northern Kentucky University (WNKU) and I made sure that we played it regularly.
It also inspired me to take a crack at working out my own arrangement for the tune. I did it in the key of G, but I'd also like to learn your version.
Wayne Clyburn
alan munde Says:
Tuesday, March 29, 2016 @7:08:24 PM
Yes, "Four Leaf Clover," is included. I like it a lot, also. So glad you liked it.
chuckv97 Says:
Saturday, May 14, 2016 @3:38:02 PM
Great! Right up my alley - love all those old tunes with the cool chords.
John Harper Says:
Wednesday, June 1, 2016 @11:51:44 PM
Can't wait!
wesmont Says:
Thursday, March 30, 2017 @1:49:02 PM
Hello Alan, when will the book be available? Looking forward to meet you at Ruedigers Banjo Camp Germany.
alan munde Says:
Tuesday, April 11, 2017 @7:06:50 AM
I have written to Hal Leonard and it is still in the process of being done. It's been a year now and hopefully will see the light of day in the near future. We shall wait and see.
Old Hickory Says:
Monday, April 17, 2017 @4:24:09 PM
I can't wait to see this in print and get a copy. You are so correct that people who don't listen to much banjo music can really relate to tunes like these. To my mind, it's the type of thing that solo guitar players do all the time. Why not banjo?
I've worked up my own arrangement to On The Street Where You Live (posted on YouTube) and have been working intermittently on Almost Like Being In Love and Someone To Watch Over Me. Are any of these in your book?
jparin Says:
Monday, June 19, 2017 @7:28:49 PM
Is this songbook available yet? Anxiously waiting to purchase it.
alan munde Says:
Monday, June 19, 2017 @7:49:56 PM
Beth Mead Sullivan and I just turned our corrections. Hopefully it will be ready to go soon. I will keep you posted.
jparin Says:
Tuesday, June 20, 2017 @3:02:45 PM
Is this songbook available yet? Anxiously waiting to purchase it.
jparin Says:
Tuesday, June 20, 2017 @3:05:06 PM
Sorry for repeat message. Technology, sometimes it gets ahead of you. Thanks, I'll be waiting.
John Stout Says:
Monday, September 11, 2017 @10:55:43 AM
I bought it one reason is I just like listening to the songs. Turns out it's just tab. Is there anywhere to go to heat the songs recorded?
alan munde Says:
Monday, September 11, 2017 @11:57:03 AM
John, sorry there is no recording that accompanies the book. I have recorded a few of the songs throughout the years as has coauthor Beth Mead-Sullivan but there are 70 songs in the book making a recording of them all difficult. Maybe the book will be an impetus for me, or someone else, to record more of them. Hope you enjoy playing through them.
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