Dan Levenson's Master Collection of Old-Time Tunes


Book Description

Whether you already play old-time music, or you are just getting started, this is the book for you. Dan Levenson’s Master Collection of Old-Time Tunes presents more than 300 tunes in standard notation with suggested chords for you to explore and enjoy. All but a few are traditional or older tunes and are easily searched online to discover their pedigree as well as several recorded versions of them. Some might call this a complete repertoire in a book in the following sense: It is a large (though not encyclopedic) collection of old-time fiddle tunes played in today’s sessions. Learning the tunes in this book will give you a solid old-time repertoire that would allow you to join in jams in the many communities playing old-time music today.




Wade Ward Clawhammer Banjo Master


Book Description

Wade Ward Clawhammer Banjo Master is a collection of clawhammer banjo tablature as played by Wade Ward, with modern interpretations by Bob Carlin and Dan Levenson. This book is the second in a series of transcriptions of tunes from the old masters-in this case, Wade Ward-who gave definition to our style of old time clawhammer banjo playing. the repertoire, presented in tablature, is intended to be a starting point for your journey through the old time music world. As such, each piece is presented in multiple arrangements, but on the page and on the accompanying audio CD. the recordings are for the most part played at a learning tempo and are close to the written notation but not exact in all cases.




Kyle Creed - Clawhammer Banjo Master


Book Description

Kyle Creed Clawhammer Banjo Master is a collection of clawhammer banjo tablature as played by Kyle Creed, with modern interpretations by Bob Carlin and Dan Levenson. This book is the first in a series of transcriptions of tunes from the old masters-in this case, Kyle Creed-who gave definition to our style of old time clawhammer banjo playing. the repertoire, presented in tablature, is intended to be a starting point for your journey through the old time music world. As such, each piece is presented in multiple arrangements, but on the page and on the accompanying audio CD. the recordings are for the most part played at a learning tempo and are close to the written notation but not exact in all cases.




Dan Levenson


Book Description

This is a biography of Dan Levenson, an old-time banjo and fiddle player from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Between 1987 and 1991, Dan worked for Goose Acres Folk Music Center in Cleveland, Ohio, where he dove deeply into old-time music. In the late 1980s, he formed the Boiled Buzzards; they recorded four albums between 1989 and 1994 and were a consistently active presence at old-time music festivals. He also played with Bob Frank during that time as one-half of the Hotfoot Duo. In 1995, he teamed up with Kim Murley and recorded New Frontier: Instrumentals from China and America. Levenson undertook his first cross-country trip as a solo performer in 1996. His traveling workshop "Meet the Banjo" ran with the sponsorship of Deering Banjos from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. Dan recorded three projects in the first five years of the 2000s and began editing the quarterly "Old Time Way" section for Banjo Newsletter in 2005. He continues performing old-time music, teaching fiddle and banjo, writing instructional and repertoire books featuring banjo and fiddle tunes for Mel Bay, and making plans for more old-time music projects.




The Art of the Mountain Banjo


Book Description

A complete survey of traditional banjo styles complete with tunings, playing tips, and the author's deft drawings. Progresses from easy tunes for the beginner to more difficult pieces. The styles include up-picking or Pete Seeger's basic strum; two-finger picking; three-finger picking; and what had variously been called frailing, clawhammer, knocking, rapping, overhand, fram-style, flayin' hand, andother Appalachian names, here called down-picking. Audio download available online




Old-Time Fiddle Round Peak Style


Book Description

Traditional Southern old-time fiddling from the world-renowned Round Peak area of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina, focusing on the style and repertoire of master fiddler Tommy Jarrell (1901–1985). Author Brad Leftwich, himself an acclaimed fiddler who learned the music in person from Jarrell, presents detailed, accurate transcriptions of 83 tunes (the bulk of Jarrell's repertoire) both in standard music notation and fiddle tablature, along with interesting anecdotal information relating to each tune. All of the tunes are included on the accompanying CD as transcribed, played solo at a moderate tempo to facilitate learning. Helpful stylistic tips and important background information on the area and the music, along with biographical information on Jarrell and many of the musicians from whom he learned, illustrated with many fascinating old photographs.• Featuring the old-time Round Peak fiddle style and repertoire of Tommy Jarrell• Detailed, accurate transcriptions of 83 tunes in standard notation and tablature• CD including all 83 tunes played solo at moderate tempo• Stylistic tips, photos, and background information on Round Peak music and musicians




On the Bus with Bill Monroe


Book Description

A backstage audition led Mark Hembree into a five-year stint (1979–1984) as the bassist for Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys. Hembree’s journey included playing at the White House and on the acclaimed album Master of Bluegrass. But it also put him on a collision course with the rigors of touring, the mysteries of Southern culture, and the complex personality of bandleader-legend Bill Monroe. Whether it’s figuring out the best time for breakfast (early) or for beating the boss at poker (never), Hembree gives readers an up-close look at the occasionally exalting, often unglamorous life of a touring musician in the sometimes baffling, always colorful company of a bluegrass icon. The amusing story of a Yankee fish out of water, On the Bus with Bill Monroe mixes memoir with storytelling to recount the adventures of a Northerner learning new ways and the Old South.




Clawhammer Style Banjo


Book Description

(Banjo). A complete guide for beginning and advanced banjo players! From Ken Perlman, here is a brilliant teaching guide that is destined to become the handbook on how to play the banjo. The style is easy to learn, and covers the instruction itself, basic right and left-hand positions, simple chords, and fundamental clawhammer techniques; the brush, the 'bumm-titty' strum, pull-offs, and slides. For the advanced player, there is instruction on more complicated picking, double thumbing, quick slides, fretted pull-offs, harmonics, improvisation, and more. The book includes more than 40 fun-to-play banjo tunes.




Fiddle From Scratch: An Un-Shuffled Guide for the Bowless!


Book Description

This book and accompanying audio are an excellent introduction to the fiddle andold-time music. The lessons are designed to help the reader develop a solidfoundation on the instrument. The book employs a practical teaching style, rather than traditional methods and conventions. A brief history of the fiddle is presented first, followed by a visual overview of the instrument, basic technique and playing style. Twelve jam session tunes are included, along with a commentary on jam session etiquette and an extensive discography of suggested recordings. Theaudio includes slow and up-to-speed versions of all the exercises and tunes. Includes access to extensive online audio




Buzzard Banjo - Clawhammer Style


Book Description

Provides the intermediate clawhammer (5-string) banjo player with a fresh repertoire of 21 traditional and 5 original tunes as played by the author with the Boiled Buzzards Old Time String Band. The book briefly addresses clawhammer basics with a few pages of exercises and scales before presenting the tunes. The banjo tunings in this book are: double C tuning (gCGCD), modified double C tuning (eCGCD), G tuning (GDGBD), A tuning (aEAC#E), D tuning (aDADE), and Double-D tuning drop 5th (f#DADE). Written in banjo tablature only with suggested backup chords. Voted one of the top 10 clawhammer banjo players by "Banjo Newsletter" readers, Levenson advises the reader that the tablature in this book is to be used only as a guide and to "play the tune as you hear it, not slavishly as written". This approach allows the reader to play within his/her style and level of ability. Includes access to online audio.