Early American Classics for Banjo

[Jonathan Weaver]

Have become absolutely obsessed with this book by Rob MacKillop.  Can't seem to do the old time stroke, but I can certainly pick single notes(to much time spent on the Scruggs style).  I love the sound and music of a by gone era.  Has anyone else used this book and if you have, what do you think of it?

[Joel Hooks]

I've not seen a copy, but looking at the table of contents, I've played through everything that is in there.  The original format books that he harvested the pieces from are available as free downloads (public domain, and a special thinks to Marc Smith) from various places.

Rob was a member here for a while.  He was a regular contributor on the Classicbanjo.ning site.  Then he vanished and took all of his posts with him.

I think he got into plectra banjo playing, but I don't know.

It is great that you are enjoying the book and that it got you interested.  Think about taking it one step further and playing from the source books.  There are thousands of great banjo pieces waiting to be played.

Stroke style takes a little bit to get used to, but is fantastic for true banjo sound.  Frank B. Converse's "Analytical Banjo Method" has the best exercises and instruction in the banjo style ever written.

Get it here, free...

http://www.banjothimble.com/THE_CONVERSE_COLLECTION.html