Banjo Picking Styles [Plastic Comb]

Bela Fleck (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2001

On these six CDs, banjo master Bela Fleck teaches bluegrass, Celtic, ragtime and fiddle tunes as well as his original "new grass" solo banjo pieces. He starts with bluegrass basics and then moves into single-string techniques, moving bass lines, counter melodies, chromatics and scales in a variety of keys and tunings. Twenty tunes are taught, including: East Virginia Blues * Snakes Alive * Reach * Christina's Jig * The Plain Brown Jug * Kitty's Wedding * Flexibility * Reverie * In the Pines * Wildwood Flower * White Freight Line * Eager and Anxious * Frosty Morning * Salty * Eighth of January * Blackberry Blossom * Lowdown * Flapperette * and more. SIX CDs * INCLUDES TAB * LEVEL 4

Product Details

• Plastic Comb: 44 pages
• Publisher: Homespun (August 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0634036734
• ISBN-13: 978-0634036736
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,111,104 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Advanced Level Essentials, June 6, 2011

By 

Joshua Miller (Boise, ID USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Banjo Picking Styles (Plastic Comb)

While the price may be off-putting at first, I was pleasantly surprised to see what was included once it arrived.

The book layout is concise, but well written. Nothing is left to the imagination. The comprehensive six-CD collection feature the songs at both slowed and at-speed pacing. Breaks, tricky fingering, and techniques are all thoughtfully explained in detail. Typical variations are also outlined, with even some tips for improvisation on a few songs. Scales, single-string picking and triplets are also covered.

If you learn primarily by seeing or hearing, you'll have your bases covered. If you learn by seeing, you'll have to shell out extra for the DVD. Though the DVD features many fewer songs, it has to be my one complaint--for this much money you should getting everything. Though the 80's visual's are almost worth the price of the DVD alone.

That said, this book is definitely not for beginners. However, if you've played the banjo for some time and want to take it to the next level--look no further.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fleck picking styles, January 10, 2011

By 

Linda Gearing (Collingwood, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Banjo Picking Styles (Plastic Comb)

Bela does a great job, showing and explaining the differences between three finger style , melodic , single string styles on the very first song.he also has picked songs from a wide selection of albums he has recorded, he also has selected different genres eg. bluegrass, jazz,newgrass,fiddle tunes. he shows using different tunings and different keys. this instruction book and cds .are a must for those who wish to progress from the Scruggs style to the melodic to the single string style. Christopher Jarvis

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn from Bela!, May 8, 2009

By 

Jeffrey A. Hensley "Hensley's Bluegrass Music" (Harrisonburg, VA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Banjo Picking Styles (Plastic Comb)

Bela Fleck is a true genius on the 5-string. Although he primarily leans towards jazz these days, his ability to play straight bluegrass is amazing. This book will take you through both levels of playing. Picking the way Bela picks will give you insight into his style and allow you to take the parts you like and incorporate them into your own playing.