The How and the Tao of Old Time Banjo by Patrick Costello
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Book Reviews of The How and the Tao of Old Time Banjo
Book Review: A great way to learn to be a banjoist & a musician
Summary: 5 Stars
Pat's How and the Tao of Old Time banjo is one of the best basic instruction books of any kind that I have ever seen. I don't just mean banjo, but any kind of music, and I am sure people writing other instruction books can learn from this too.
Too many banjo books center on the author showing off his own virtuosity and presenting a course that really isn't helpful to a beginner. This book IS oriented at getting a beginner going playing the banjo, learning how to do everything practically. You will be playing tunes quickly, but more importantly you will be learning basics about the banjo that will take you further places.
All along, Pat has very good and basic tips about banjo playing that often are not in banjo books that can save a beginner who cannot afford a teacher much trouble.
What impresses me is that this book teaches basic concepts of music to the new player without going into things an old time banjoist doesn't need to know. Pat's concept of a player is someone who is really getting to learn more broadly about music itself than what a particular instrument can do. This is a good approach, but I have never seen it done as practically as in this book.
My only quibble is Pat's obession with doing everything in the G tuning. One is taught to play in other keys by making chords and positions from the G tuning, something that I've never heard of before in an instruction book, although I confess I have done this playing in bands when my knowledge of the banjo was scant and inaccurate.
Old time banjo is played in a multiplicty of tunings. Indeed, the adjustment of the tuning is really key to this approach to music unlike the tenor banjo, plectrum banjo, bluegrass banjo, or guitar. Even a beginner who hopes to play old time music should learn the double c tuning, the D tuning, and the sawmill tuning.
Despite this one drawback, this is a great instruction book. The thinking is clear and easy to understand. The book addresses practical problems a beginner will face in clear and easy and instructive language, there is a good selection of real old time songs here that are worth the price of the book.
This is a good book to use, but once you get picking look around for information about other tunings
Book Review: The How and the Tao of Old Time Banjo by Patrick Costello
Summary: 5 Stars
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to learn to play the banjo in the frailing style, even if you have no musical experience at all. Patrick Costello's method of teaching makes learning easy and fun, and you do not even need to be able to read music!
After the introduction by Patrick, (and Pat, his 'Dear Old Dad'), there are tips on how to tune your banjo, and advice on the correct technique for holding and playing it, and then you are shown your first chord. You will then be able to 'frail' your very first folk song! After the first couple of songs, Patrick explains how to read the tablature which is used throughout the rest of the book. There are many tunes in the book to learn to play, lots more chords to be learned, and different techniques to practice. Towards the back of the book there is a lot more 'in depth' stuff which I have not attempted yet!
Learning the banjo is great fun, and Patrick Costello's friendly and relaxed manner of teaching makes this book an absolute must for beginners. At the end of the book he relates little anecdotes which are both amusing and encouraging.
The book is A4 size, with 168 pages full of instruction along with the words to the tunes you can learn. There is even a bit about reading music if you are interested in that!
I was a complete novice when I bought my banjo 5 weeks ago and have found this book invaluable. I live in the UK and could not find it in any of my local music shops so looked on Amazon and bought it from there! It arrived in possibly a shorter space of time than if I had ordered it from a shop in the UK anyway! And it is worth its weight in gold. Highly recommended!
Book Review: Take Your Banjo Playing Where You Want It
Summary: 5 Stars
Patrick Costello is a great teacher. He focuses on the basics as a foundation through out the book. However, this is not a step-by-step instructional book. There is plenty of instruction, but there is also lots of encouragement to work many things out on your own. While this book will take your banjo playing a long way, it is not just about playing the banjo. The book is designed to teach the reader musical knowledge that crosses from the banjo to other instruments.
One thing to note is that while Patrick teaches a frailing or clawhammer style of banjo, his focus begins in folk music, with a bit of bluegrass. Some people think of clawhammer as a style of music more than a playing technique. Those who take their time to learn will be able to play anything, including fiddle tunes. The focus is not on learning as fast as possible, but to enjoy the journey of learning to make music. Patrick doesn't want a tribe of people playing to sound like himself, he wants you to find you own sound and run with it.
If you are interested in learning the banjo, I highly recommend this book to you. I have purchased too many books that full of tab and charts but little else. This book contains a lot more advice on making music and discovering things on your own while having fun along the way.
Book Review: The How and the Tao of Old Time Banjo
Summary: 5 Stars
As a student of the 5 String banjo I was pleased to discover the author's video submissions to You Tube. In this way for the past twelve months or so he has been giving free instruction in the craft of clawhammer style frailing. This instruction has been helping players at all levels to improve. His teaching methods are very effective and the whole affair is light hearted and full of humour. His book The How and the Tao of Old Time Banjo is written on the back of the demand created by the free videos and carries the same massive sense of humour and fun while bringing the reader into the realm of proficient banjo playing. It carries entertaining anecdotes of the author's own journey towards becoming the expert that he is and sets out the way of progress for the student in a manner that boosts confidence and sense of achievement without to much technical theory.
I think this is without doubt the best tutor book for frailing the banjo that I have read and I have tried quite a few in the past. I fully recommend it to anyone that wants to learn to play this instrument.
Book Review: Book offers great guidance for new banjo player!
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased The How and Tao of Old Time Banjo for my husband for his birthday in March. Within a month, with practice, and a special visit to the Costellos, he was playing dozens of songs and continues to improve steadily as a banjo player.
What helped Brian as much as the book was the companion computer CD-Rom that features Pat Costello, the author's father, giving a virtual lesson. Brian was able to stop the CD and watch over and over as he practiced his basic skills.
Also, a note about the essays included in the book: These are delightful reflections that each have a lesson for the novice player. They are thoughtfully written and enjoyable, even for non-banjo playing readers, such as myself.
Before How and Tao, Brian had gotten a banjo but had no guidance. It has been a wonderful resource for him!