Buy Now, Pay Later
As low as
$4
/ mo
Learn more
- – 4-month term
- – No impact on credit
- – Instant approval decision
- – Secure and straightforward checkout
Ready to go? Add this product to your cart and select a plan during checkout.
Payment plans are offered through our trusted finance partners Klarna, PayTomorrow, Affirm, Afterpay, Apple Pay, and PayPal. No-credit-needed leasing options through Acima may also be available at checkout.
Learn more about financing & leasing here.
Free shipping on this product
30-day returns
Learn more
This item is eligible for return within 30 days of receipt
To qualify for a full refund, items must be returned in their original, unused condition. If an item is returned in a used, damaged, or materially different state, you may be granted a partial refund.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
Availability:
In Stock.
Arrives
Friday, Sep 19
Recently Viewed
Description
This is the ideal beginner’s book, presenting the basics of the 5-string banjo in a way that is both fun and easy. Janet Davis takes you on an extensive tour of this instrument’s fundamental techniques, as well as some intermediate possibilities including rolls, chords, bluegrass banjo techniques, playing up the neck, licks, endings, and other basics needed to play bluegrass and melodic-style banjo. Thorough performance notes are provided from beginning to end, revealing the secrets of this versatile instrument. Includes access to online audio and video. Read more
Publisher : Mel Bay Publications, Inc.
Publication date : April 4, 2017
Language : English
Print length : 116 pages
ISBN-10 : 0786698985
ISBN-13 : 81
Item Weight : 12.8 ounces
Dimensions : 8.5 x 0.27 x 11 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #131,267 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #13 in Banjo Songbooks #13 in Banjos (Books) #591 in Music Instruction & Study (Books)
#13 in Banjo Songbooks:
Frequently asked questions
If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is:
Friday, Sep 19
Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
- Klarna Financing
- Affirm Pay in 4
- Affirm Financing
- Afterpay Financing
- PayTomorrow Financing
- Financing through Apple Pay
Learn more about financing & leasing here.
Similar Products
Top Amazon Reviews
Format: Paperback
I feel that this Mel Bay author really got the idea about explaing how to play the banjo right! Janet Davis, the author of “You Can Teach Yourself Banjo” seems to want her readers to understand the key concepts rather than have the opportunity taken away, far exceeds any explanations I’ve heard on Utube and I haven’t yet heard these ideas from other sources.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2025 by Randi R Burke
I bought a banjo. I, like many others thought to myself one day 'i know, I'll learn the banjo, that'll be fun'. And as if by magic there was one that I could afford right on my local sales site. But, how do you learn the banjo? Well, I found a teacher and my teacher told me to go buy this book. So between his expertise and this book, I"m learning how to play a little bit of banjo. I know what to do if I need to flail and I know what to do if I need to pluck. I can do a few forward and backward rolls. And sometimes, if I try really hard I can make my fingers into the contortions it takes to play pretty good C chord. I don't think this book alone will teach you banjo. Luckily there are teachers and videos that will help you if you need it. There are great drawings, simple songs, and encouraging words. There are superb explanations of how to pluck and how to read tabs. BUT it helps a lot to sit and watch another person and see how they are holding their hand and holding the banjo and to hear their banjo and then try it yourself. That is my opinion. If you have a good grasp of music and other stringed instruments then you can probably learn with just this book. Enjoy.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2020 by apoem
Look no further if you are a complete beginner or, like me, an experienced guitarist. Since most of the bluegrass repertory seems to be public domain, Janet was able to demonstrate theory and technique with real songs that you will recognize. The examples are complete songs, not boring excerpts. I already had finger picking technique and fretboard experience but I soon ran into fun and challenging songs that needed some serious practice. She starts off with Scruggs style and then introduces the melodic style. I didn't know about the melodic style but now I love it. You can go a long way playing solo or maybe with a friend on guitar for a lot of fun. I have all of Janet's books and they are all wonderful. In no time you will be able to play something that your friends or family will appreciate. My copy of the book is fairly well dogeared. I love to practice everyday because the material is so rewarding and just plain fun. Be sure you have a metronome. They are free or very cheap for your smartphone. By the way, I like to play along with Band In A Box for the full band effect and to hear how the banjo sounds with background chords.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2016 by Jim Hoffman
I love the book but to download the video it asks for credit card info which freaks me out as I dont want additional charges for something I already paid for.
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2024 by Strommer
I tried several instructional dvds before I found this one. They were confusing and did not go at a beginners speed. I decided to try Mel Bay's book and I am glad I did. Janet Davis is a great teacher. You have a dvd that comes included with the book to watch her play a slow version and faster version of many songs(not all songs are on the dvd). The beginning of the book shows you the basics like hand placement and lap position for your banjo. After you have learned this you learn to play roll patterns which are the most crucial element in learning to play banjo. Once you have mastered the most popular roll patterns you move onto chords, licks, slides, pinches and pull-offs. You will be surprised at how easy Janet Davis makes it to play banjo. I have playing banjo now for 4 months and I can already play a number of songs including; cripple creek, cumberland gap, blackberry blossum, good night ladies, boil them cabbage down and she'll be comin around the mountin. If you want to learn the banjo quickly and effectively you have to purchase this book. You will not be dissapointed. Happy pickin'!
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2007 by Dave
Well laid out. Easy to understand. Quick to get you started if you're new to learning to play an instrument.
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2024 by Stella Newby
Format: Library Binding
Don't let the dopey-looking cover fool you, this is the real deal. I took a single banjo lesson, where my instructor taught me out of this book. The book was so effective that I ditched the lessons and just bought the book to learn on my own. I can't say enough good things about this book. Janet Davis really understands the mind of a complete beginner, while ensuring the confidence needed that she knows what she's doing. So many people feel like the banjo would be an impossible instrument to play. And friends who saw me play after just days of using this book thought that I had achieved miraculous feats. Nope. I just diligently followed along with Davis' pragmatic instructions. I'm grateful to Janet Davis her many other books; I've purchased most of them. But it all started with this one. If you want to play 3-finger banjo, you simply need to start with this book. You won't regret it, I promise.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2014 by dave
Ms. Davis does not teach or do a thorough basic music theory presentation. She assumes that the banjo student has already learned that. She does a concise job of showing the student the basics of banjo part names and how to tune, hold and anchor your fingers on the instrument. Reading tablature, learning finger roll paterns and basic chords are next. Throughout the book she continues to progress through introducing a new concept and then giving the student a song to practice it on. I am very happy to start banjo with this instruction at my own pace. The charts of chord fingerings at the back of the book complete this work. Even after mastering all of the lessons, I plan on keeping this book handy as a reference. Well done!
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2016 by Cynthia K Cowden