ISBN 9781513459622. 8.75x11.75 inches.

The primal pluck of the banjo fits right into the rustic character of Early Music. By combining these elements in artful arrangements in the 3-finger style, Lluis Gomez has brought new life to these Early Music Gems. These pieces seem to have been calling out for the banjo all along. Once you hear them played on the 5-string banjo, it will be hard to imagine them being played any other way. -John Bullard Arranged in tablature only for the 5-string banjo in gDGBD tuning. Includes access to online audio of all 34 selections as performed by the author.

Song List: Aura Lee Beautiful Dreamer Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair Black Sunday Darling Nellie Gray Hard Times, Come Again No More I Dream of Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair In The Pines Johnny Has Gone For a Soldier Just A-Wearyn' for You Just Before The Battle, Mother Land of Rest Lorena Mighty Lak' A Rose Paper Of Pins Prairie Sunset Pretty Peggy û O Shady Grove Shenandoah The Lonesome Dove The Long Road The Old Country The Old Homestead TO a Wild Rose Trail Of Tears

ISBN 9781610658089. First Lessons on Banjo is an ultra-easy instruction manual for beginning five-string banjo played in the three fingerstyle in G tuning. It can be used by those with no previous experience with the banjo or music of any sort. It is so basic it can be used even by small children. The book features very detailed descriptions of even the most basic aspects such as wearing the picks properly, the correct picking motion, and noting the strings properly. These are aspects that are so basic most manuals skip over them. There are many detailed photos, several from the player's point of view, not from in front of the banjo. First Lessons on Banjo covers the most basic rolls, the Alternating Thumb Roll and two Forward Rolls, plus the three basic chords plus the relative minor chord. All musical examples are presented in tablature, with the melody notes in boldface type so the student knows which notes to emphasize. All arrangements include lyrics, which is very important to the novice who is trying to train the ear to hear the melody among the fill notes. Several tips and suggestions about the proper mental approach are included that will lead to playing by ear and arranging at an earlier stage in the student's development. There are also suggestions about developing the proper mental approach and about speed reading of tablature. These suggestions are not found in any other banjo instruction book. The 'finale' arrangement is Cripple Creek, a popular banjo standard that when mastered, should give the novice a great sense of accomplishment. The accompanying recording includes all tabbed examples, with the rhythm instruments and lead banjo in separate channels. The songs are played at three tempos, the first tempo VERY slow, then a medium tempo version, and finally at performing speed with guitar, mandolin and bass accompaniment. The up- tempo accompanied versions are all together at the end of the recording so it the final tracks be used as a listening recording. This also allows the student to play along with all the more interesting arrangements in sequence without skipping around the recording. Includes access to online audio.