Mel Bay's Complete Banjo Book [Paperback]

Neil Griffin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 1989 | Series: Complete

This comprehensive book contains 139 solos for the 5-string banjo. Arranged by Neil Griffin, Mark Barnett, Karl Kurth, Carl Jackson, and Bob Forrest, this book is the perfect resource to expand you repertoire of solo pieces. The Complete Banjo Book contains no text and should not be considered a method book, but rather a superb collection of intermediate to advanced solos. These pieces reflect contemporary concepts of both Scruggs style and melodic/chromatic styling. While most of these tunes are written in both standard notation and tablature, a few are in tab only.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Neil Griffin was born and still resides in Charlotte, North Carolina. Music has always been his prime interest, starting wtih clarinet instruction in the fifth grade and learning guitar on his own. He performed as a member of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra at age 15 playing bass clarinet. He also began performing with area dance bands on saxophone, clarinet, and guitar.

He studied music at the Univeristy of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, playing First Chair Alto Sax as a freshman in the UNC Concert Band. Neil taught as Band Director at three county schools for several years and at the same time privately for Kidd-Frix Music Co. in their Charlotte accordion school. When the School was purchased by Music Inc. Neil went into management and retail music sales for them. At the same time, Neil played regularly with his own band for wedding receptions, office parties, etc., and gained valuable experience from playing summer theater for many well-known stars as well as being called on a regular basis to play banjo, guitar, and clarinet for traveling Broadway shows appearing in the area.

Neil was very active in the Charlotte Musicians Association and served as president for approximately 13 years as well as holding other executive offices.

Some of the first professional jobs Neil played were good old southern square dances, which at that time weren't as fancy as they are today but provided him with an appreciation for country and bluegrass music that was never forgotten. He enjoyed doin 5 radio shows and two TV shows per week at WBT and WBTV in Charlotte for over a year.

In the early 60's Neil was hired to manage Tillman Music Co. in Charlotte. There he helped in starting the Aria Pro II line of instruments. Neil and his brother Steve, who also writes for Mel Bay Publications, went into the music-school business tohether in the 70's and later expanded as a retail music store. During this period Neil met Mel Bay and began to write material for 5-string banjo which was pretty scarce at the time. He has thoroughly enjoyed writing and teaching.

Currently, Neil is a performing musician, band leader and co-owner of the Neil Griffin Studios of Music in Charlotte, North Carolina where his instructional books are field tested and proven effective with students of all ages. He has authored or co-authored several books for Mel Bay Publications on the subjects of 5-string banjo, rock guitar, and accordion.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (October 31, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0871665727
• ISBN-13: 978-0871665720
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,386,272 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Banjo Lessons, April 6, 2000

By 

Linda A. johnson "mortonssalt" (Middleboro, MA. USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mel Bay's Complete Banjo Book (Paperback)

I am a beginner 5 string banjo student. My teacher was thrilled when I brought this book in, it is so complete in excercises etc.... and some classic songs too.