Customer Reviews

Clawhammer Style Banjo

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ken Perlman's book has been around for almost 30 years and, with the sentimental exception of Pete Seeger's "How to Play the 5 String Banjo", is clearly the leading "how to" book on this unique style of play. However comprehensive and well written a book is if you don't get the earliest lesson down pat you're gonna be dead meat when things speed up down the road. If you don't have a competent teacher and are trying to learn from any book alone clawhammer, more than any other picking style, will beat you into the ground.

Fortunately for those of us too cheap to hire an instructor Perlman has produced a 2 DVD (originally VHS) set that bests most teachers for clarity and continuity in following the text of this excellent book. I can't recommend highly enough just how effective the book and DVD combination is. You'll save years of struggle and have a great time learning this most fascinating style of play. A great book made much better with the available video.

This book is easily the best beginner and up book on clawhammer banjo. Perlman has an uncanny ability to lay all this down and make it understandable. He brings you along in a way that you don't realize your learning and getting better. Next thing you know your sittin on the front porch playin old songs from our past effortlessly

This book is the most well organized, clear, and fun book on clawhammer I have ever encountered. If you are a clawhammer banjo teacher, as I am, this book is absolutely essential for you and your students. I especially apprecite Ken's attention to detail, the accurate rhythmic notation (which is often less then desirable in clawhammer books), and the generous amount of songs within the book. If there's a clawhammer equivalent to Earl Scrugg's book, this is it.

As a bluegrass player this book totally demystified the process of clawhammer. I highly recommend getting the DVD with the book. I was up and running in no time. I'm still working thru the book as we speak, but I feel like a I have a good grip on it. Ken starts off very slow and dissects the action and rythmn of clawhammer banjo. The best part is that this book keeps giving, plenty of tunes and much to learn after you get the basics.

Pete Seeger's famous little book got me started frailing and picking, but it was this book that really taught me how to play clawhammer. Besides teaching the basics, Perlman presents a full repetoir of well-known traditional songs- enough for a couple of sets. I can't recommend this book (and Perlman's other banjo books) highly enough.

This book takes you to an incredibly advanced level from the very basics. It is hands down the best instructional book I've ever read- not just for clawhammer, but out of all books I've read for guitar, Dobro, autoharp, etc... You will be a wonderful frailer if you buy this book and stick at it.

I initially only puchased the DVD videos, but they reference the book constantly. Well laid out book and good instructions. I'm not that far into the lessons yet, but so far it's fairly easy to follow.

This book offers a perfect balance between some very basic concepts and arrangements and some truly challenging ones. What an amazing work this is! If you're learning CH or wanting to improve, this is the book for you. I also very much recommend the accompanying DVD's. While not necessary, the DVD's add further clarity to a few things in the book.

Excellent compilation of melodic clawhammer stype and technique from beginner to expert. One lesson from a teacher would cost twice as much. This is an excellent buy.

This is an excellent book for getting going on clawhammer style banjo playing. It is the companion book to the video that came with my banjo and was well worth buying. I am an experienced musician on an number of other instruments but had absolutely no experience with the banjo. Within a week I was able to handle the basic technique and have a lot of fun playing.

Great job, Ken!