How to Play the 5-String Banjo: Third Edition

I remember starting to learn with this book 40+ years ago

This is a book compiled over a period of time by the late, great Pete Seeger, a master of the folk banjo art. You won't find any bluegrass here. His technique is based fundamentally upon frailing, and expands from there. Pete's style was the inspiration for Dave Guard's banjo wizardry when the Kingston Trio was the hottest act in show business. I had a copy of this book, and misplaced it. I thought it so valuable that I replaced it with a second purchase. Then, of course, after receiving the new copy, I found the old copy, but that's OK, this book is so good it somehow feels comforting to know I now have "one to use and one to lose." HIGHLY recommended!

It is full of information, but poorly structured. It's worth adding because of the famous author. If it wasn't by Seeger I would not buy it.

Pete Seeger devoted a foreword (dated May 2012) on this book to explain the flaws he felt were unresolved in the original text. It is an older book with some dated material and it’s not really a complete instruction book. A lot of material is presented in a way that makes it seem incomplete. I personally consider it more of a supplement than a method book. I like reading it to get an opportunity to pick Seeger’s mind about how he arranged folk songs. I especially enjoyed the way he explained clawhammer technique and how to hold your hand while playing.I like this book despite its flaws. It has a long history in banjo playing circles and is more like a historical document in this sense. It should be part of any banjo player’s library because it is an interesting read.

The plus is that Pete Seeger gives instruction. The negative is a big one as few banjo players work in the key of C to which tuning Pete directs you. Most choose D or G tuning because not many banjo playing bands feature a piano, which begins with middle C. That said, if you want to aspire to the level of the master of folk music then C will do fine so long as you have a Seeger-style banjo, which has a neck that is darned near as long as a piano or a football field. Put a capo on that sucker and you are at D already. Or you may already have piano chops and can do transpositions easily on the fly.

Pete Seeger has contributed a great amount to banjo playing and folk music throughout his life. This book is definitely one of those contributions. As Pete admits in the note written on the inside covers of this latest edition, there are changes that could be made to make this a more convenient instructional book. However, I would still highly suggest it. It's full of interesting tidbits on everything from the history of the banjo to instructions on how to make your own gig bag. But the thing I appreciate most about this book is the "big picture" perspective that it offers. Mr. Seeger doesn't spend the whole book on how to master specific riffs. He emphasizes an inventive and curious attitude toward banjo playing an music in general, which I think is invaluable to an aspiring musician.I believe that, more so than with almost any other artist, Pete Seeger is about sharing the joy of music with others. It is that sincerity which makes this book a wonderful resource. It may not be the only resource you will need to learn (he does give lists of others in the book,) but it will certainly be helpful.

First of all the Book is printed in small 1/4 page reductions.. so its hard to see..Each page could be reprinted into 4 full pages.. BUT, this is more of a Historical source for the Banjo players..Pete covers most all the traditional styles. but there is nothing new or up to date in the material...His comments are priceless about the editions done thru the decades... A great buy to have in your library..

This manual has been around since the 1950's. It is very concise. Its companion is an LP, which is now available on YouTube. There is a lot of other banjo instruction on YouTube, but I believe this is still among the best for starting off.

I have played the guitar for 30 years, and wanted to try the banjo. I bought a couple of other books, but couldn't get on with them...then someone recommended Pete Seeger's book. It's wonderful...his voice comes through in the text, as if he is coaxing me along. The notation is easy to follow, and playing technique is introduced in easy, bit sized chunks. I'm getting a decent sound after only a month.. and I've been taught by a master...

Bearing in mind this book was originally written in 1948, it is, by the author's own admission, a little dated, even in it's 2002 revised edition. Nevertheless, it is the perfect introduction to that older-style of banjo playing so often heard on re-released folk-music recordings. If you want to learn "modern" bluegrass-style banjo picking, this possibly wouldn't be the publication of first choice, but if you want a good all-round introduction to "how it used to be done" you'll probably not find a better book, especially at the price.

I learned to play the 5 string almost 50 years ago using this book... So bought it out of pure nostalgia. Have no idea how well it would stand up to the mass of competing instruction books these days, but I still love its chatty nature and the coverage of so many styles... I'd say it was a necessity on every banjo players book shelf.

being walked through the first stages of banjo ownership by Pete Seeger, what an honour.

I bought a copy of the Pete Seeger banjo tutor in 1959. It was the only tutor around then, now there are hundreds - but this is still the best one!!!Full of useful advice, and glorifies the music, not the writer.