This is the follow-up to "New Techniques For 5 String Banjo, Volume 1 - Beginner" and is geared to the later beginner as both a bridge to enhanced playing technique and a reference of musical knowledge regarding the banjo.
Some of the highlights include:
- Banjo tablature for traditional and original tunes
- How and when to use a capo
- Introduction of new chords beyond G, C and D7
- Moving chords up the neck
- How to build a banjo solo
- 77 banjo rolls and a library of licks
The book begins with a review of Volume 1, such as reading tablature notation, rhythm, picking, fretting, basic chords and banjo rolls.
The use of the capo is introduced, along with many sample tunes that incorporate the capo, such as "Cripple Creek," and "Devil's Dream," among others.
New chords are presented: Emin, Dmin, and F and sample tunes to go along with them including "A Minor Madness," "Little Maggie" and "Old Joe Clark."
You will learn how to move chord "shapes" around the banjo neck to get different inversions of the same chord.
An expansion of repertoire of popular bluegrass tunes is emphasized. Besides some of the aforementioned tunes, there is "Red Wing," "Bile Dem Cabbage Down," "Soldier's Joy," and "Turkey in the Straw." Provided with these popular tunes are several variations for both melody and back-up parts.
There is an entire chapter devoted to Waltzes: "The Ash Grove," "All the Good Times" and even the classical waltz "The Beautiful Blue Danube."
There is an all-important discussion of banjo licks: How to practice them, and how to put them into use in your everyday playing.
A free audio companion is available at jeffbelding.com. It plays through every musical example in the book, and includes banjo/guitar duet versions of all the main tunes for an interactive jamming experience.
A Glossary of musical terms is provided which explains many aspects of Music Theory as simply and succinctly as possible.
