How to Play the 5-string Banjo a Manual for Beginers

by pete seegar

76 pages of music photos and narrative description about how to play banjo

Genres: Music

73 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1962

Reviews

[Denis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dabble with various types of musical instruments. As do most, when just a "tween" I started with guitar, started a band with school buddies and quickly got demoted to bass - which I have kept up ever since. I have since messed with the drums, the violin, mountain dulcimer (this one in particular is very fun to both play and build). Next came the mandolin and finally I came across a banjo. One day while browsing a used bookstore, I cam across a copy of Pete Seeger's "How to play the 5-String Banjo" (3rd 2002 Edition). This book is a true gem. Nothing like those old "Mel Bay" or "Suzuki"method books of my youth. It begins with a hand written introduction dated April 2002 by Mr. Seeger himself, then includes cool folky picking techniques for a variety of tunes to try. There are also little illustrated tidbits of the history of the instrument and various humorous fun facts penned by Mr. Seeger himself. The instrument is, for me, the most difficult of them all to learn, so it is fun just to thumb through this very cool book instead.

[Altivo Overo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and practical introduction to 5 string banjo suitable for both experienced musicians approaching a new instrument and the absolute beginner. Seeger was a master of pop and folk music who is best known perhaps for the years he played with the Weavers. His approach here is concise and has not gone out of date.

[FIND ME ON STORYGRAPH]

Just browsed the 1954 edition, and it looks both helpful and hilarious, reading like an early Shel Silverstein satire. Seeger pokes fun at the fact that he refused to pay the $4 copyright fee, tells the reader to steal specific phonograph records for study, and just generally writes like the subversive weirdo he is.

[Rodolfo Pardi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this 5 string banjo manual in 1955, and since then it helped me play end enjoy folk music.

[Ken Blucker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the copy and pasted block text 'zine format of this book. It looks and feels very DIY and captures a lot of Seeger's charm. As a how-to manual, it's not super helpful.

[Michael]

In the forward for the 2013 reprint, Seeger acknowledges any criticisms I have. It was interesting to read.