Mel Bay's Complete Tenor Banjo Method (Complete Book Series) [Spiral-bound]

Mel Bay (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1986 | Series: Complete Book Series

The finest tenor banjo method available, this text represents Mel Bay's own approach to fundamental musicianship for those desiring to play tenor banjo. This book is the standard by which others are judged. Easy-to-understand and thorough in its approach, this method addresses both melody playing and chord strumming. Through numerous studies, folk songs and several duets, students are systematically introduced to the various notes and positions on the tenor banjo fretboard. Photos of the fretboard fingertips aid in learning the proper hand positions. Once in two volumes, this method is now presented it its entirety in this single comprehensive edition. In notation only.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mel Bay was born on February 25, 1913 in the little Ozark Mountain town of Bunker, Missouri. He bought a Sears Roebuck guitar at the age of 13 and several months later played his first "gig." (He recalled playing until his fingers were raw!) Mel took up the tenor banjo shortly thereafter and continued to play both instruments. During his teenage years Mel played with a wild assortement of bands and characters in rural Missouri. Perhaps no "gig" was as strange as the job he landed with, in Mel's words, "a snake oil salesman." This flamboyant peddler would pull his ostentatious Pierce Arrow automobile, complete with steer horns mounted on the grill, into the center of a small, rural town. Mel would sit on the car and play up a storm on the tenor banjo. After a crowd gathered, the peddler took over and began extolling the merits of his "wonder elixer." In 1933 Mel Bay moved to St. Louis and began his professional career. He played with numerous local and traveling bands. In addition, he landed staff guitar jobs on several radio stations. Mel fronted his own trio (piano, bass, guitar) and played steadily for 25 years! He was equally adept on most fretted instruments and played mandolin, uke, Hawaiian guitar, tenor and plectrum banjo professionally. While Mel was actively pursuing his playing career, he continued to teach as many as 100 students a week. He decided to begin writing instructional materials due to the difficulty encountered by guitarists at playing good sounding chord forms in rhythm sections and due to the poor note reading ability prevalent among guitarists. After the war Mel was asked to write instructional materials on guitar for GI's wanting to learn music under the GI Bill. In 1947 Mel formed his own publishing company and wrote his landmark initial book titled The Orchestral Chord System for Guitar. (This book is still in print under the title Rhythm Guitar Chord System and continues to be one the finest rhythm guitar chord texts available!) His Modern Guitar Method was penned shortly thereafter. For years Mel traveled from town to town talking to guitar teachers and players and showing them his publications. At one time Mel claims to have known virtually every guitar teacher in America on a first name basis! The guitar and Mel Bay books caught on in a big way in the 1950's. Things have continued to grow ever since. Mel used to sell D'Angelico guitars. At any given time he would have 5 or 6 "lying around the house." Mel played professionally on his New Yorker model but his favorite was the initial Mel Bay Model crafted as a gift for him by John D'Angelico. This famous guitar had all of the main features of the New Yorker but was a "cut away" model and had a slightly thinner neck. This instrument has been pictured on the Mel Bay Modern Guitar Method for decades. Someone once calculated that sales of guitar books written by Mel Bay have exceeded 25 million copies. When asked, Mel frequently said that he quit counting long ago. Sales of his Modern Guitar Method have alone surpassed the 7 million mark. It is safe to say that Mel Bay is one of the pivotal figures in the world of guitar music and instruction in this century.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 104 pages
• Publisher: Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (June 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1562220187
• ISBN-13: 978-1562220181
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,935 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Complete Tenor Banjo Method, February 6, 2011

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trucktricks - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Mel Bay's Complete Tenor Banjo Method (Complete Book Series) (Spiral-bound)

Tenor banjo methods are not easy to find, because the tenor banjo does not seem to have the popularity it did in, say, the 1920's. (Not to be confused with Irish Tenor Banjo, which is tuned differently). I inherited a 1928 tenor banjo in cherry condition when my father passed away. It seemed such a shame to have such a beautiful instrument, and not be doing anything with it. This Mel Bay method is perfect particularly for anyone who has some musical experience on another instrument. Published in 1968... so, no CD included, but this method takes you through basic chords as well as scales, both major and minor, in every key. It covers both tablature and chord shapes, as well as some nomenclature that is specific to banjo playing. I would highly recommend this method for anyone who has a tenor banjo.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Complete Tenor Banjo, January 27, 2008

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Tom Thacker (London, KY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mel Bay's Complete Tenor Banjo Method (Complete Book Series) (Spiral-bound)

This is and excellent learning aid which starts with the basics and works step by step into the more advanced material. this book could be used with an instructor or as a self study guide.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mel Bay's Complete Tenor Banjo Method, March 9, 2011

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Dave - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Mel Bay's Complete Tenor Banjo Method (Complete Book Series) (Spiral-bound)

Great book for an adult beginner. Although the earliest copyright is 1968, it has been around much longer...withstood the test of time...the best things usually do. My father used this method book in the 1950s.

If you like your guitar and want to try something that always sounds happy, highly recommend a 4-string tenor banjo and Mel Bay's method books. This complete method book starts at the beginning with simple melodies and string introductions...then on through to much more advanced chord progressions and exercises. I also have (and recommend) Mel Bay's guitar and ukulele method books. Some come with CDs and DVDs. Have fun...happy strumming!!