Homespun Tapes, Ltd How To Play The 5-String Banjo

I have played the guitar for 30 years, and wanted to try the banjo. I bought a couple of other books, but couldn't get on with them...then someone recommended Pete Seeger's book. It's wonderful...his voice comes through in the text, as if he is coaxing me along. The notation is easy to follow, and playing technique is introduced in easy, bit sized chunks. I'm getting a decent sound after only a month.. and I've been taught by a master...

Bearing in mind this book was originally written in 1948, it is, by the author's own admission, a little dated, even in it's 2002 revised edition. Nevertheless, it is the perfect introduction to that older-style of banjo playing so often heard on re-released folk-music recordings. If you want to learn "modern" bluegrass-style banjo picking, this possibly wouldn't be the publication of first choice, but if you want a good all-round introduction to "how it used to be done" you'll probably not find a better book, especially at the price.

I learned to play the 5 string almost 50 years ago using this book... So bought it out of pure nostalgia. Have no idea how well it would stand up to the mass of competing instruction books these days, but I still love its chatty nature and the coverage of so many styles... I'd say it was a necessity on every banjo players book shelf.

being walked through the first stages of banjo ownership by Pete Seeger, what an honour.

I bought a copy of the Pete Seeger banjo tutor in 1959. It was the only tutor around then, now there are hundreds - but this is still the best one!!!Full of useful advice, and glorifies the music, not the writer.