By Kristina R Gaddy (Author), Rhiannon Giddens (Foreword by) An illuminating history of the banjo, revealing its origins at the crossroads of slavery, religion, and music. In an extraordinary story unfolding across two hundred years, Kristina Gaddy uncovers the banjo’s key role in Black spirituality, ritual, and rebellion. Through meticulous research in diaries, letters, (read the rest…)
Banjo Roots & Branches – Edited by Robert B. Winans tells the story of the banjo’s journey from Africa to the western hemisphere. Blending music, history, and a union of cultures, Winans presents cutting-edge scholarship that covers the instrument’s West African origins and its adaptations and circulation in the Caribbean and United States.
The contributors provide detailed ethnographic and technical research on gourd lutes and ekonting in Africa and the banza in Haiti while also investigating tuning practices and regional playing styles. Other essays place the instrument within the context of slavery, tell the stories of black banjoists, and shed light on the banjo’s introduction into the African- and Anglo-American folk milieus.
Wide-ranging and illustrated with twenty color images, Banjo Roots & Branches offers a wealth of new information to scholars of African American and folk musics as well as the worldwide community of banjo aficionados.
Wayne’s newest clawhammer book has something for everyone: beginners, intermediate, and advanced players. Includes tabs and lyrics to 40 Old-Time banjo tunes, plus tips on learning tunes on the fly, how to jam, the art of faking it, and improvising.
The Ignoramus book is 40 years old! Originally written in 1973, this book has taught more people to play clawhammer banjo than any other book ever has! This brand new 40th Anniversary Edition is newly updated and improved, complete with spiral binding. It contains the same friendly, clear and simple instruction as the original book, and it will teach you to play 31 old-time classics from the ground up. It’s been said that “Wayne can even teach a frog to play! Give this fun book a try and you’ll see why Wayne personally GUARANTEES it will teach you to play! (How many books come with a personal guarantee by the author?) 64 pages, 9″ x 12″, includes instructional audio CD with 85 selections!
