Reddit reviews Earl Scruggs and the 5-String Banjo: Revised and Enhanced Edition

In my opinion, it's better to spend your money on music rather than books.

There are some banjo books that are important. I used to own these. I really should build my library back up. Currently I only have the "Hot Licks," "Banjo Styles by Bela Fleck" and "Masters of the Five String" as I've leant out the other ones and never got them back.

Earl Scruggs and the 5-string banjo has already been mentioned. I would recommend trying to find an older version, simply because I'm a nerd.

Masters of the Five String Banjo. A very cool, very informative piece on bluegrass banjo players, their set-up, and some tablature. Obviously dated, but an incredibly insightful book.

Melodic Banjo: by Tony Trishka. Again, I like the older cover

Hot Licks for Bluegrass Banjo, another book by Tony Trishka, is pretty good.

Banjo Picking Styles: Bela Fleck is also a pretty interesting book. And not just for the 80s shirt that Bela is wearing on the front.

If you're looking for specific bluegrass songbooks.

Bluegrass Songbook, by Pete Wernick. Seriously, this is a great book.

Bluegrass Fakebook. This covers most of the standards.

And though you didn't ask, here are some other books that may be of interest to bluegrass/banjo nerds:

Bluegrass: A History Neil Rosenberg's very thorough history of Bluegrass music

Spann's Guide to Gibson 1902-1941. If you're interested in prewar Gibson banjo, this is an incredible resource.

Gibson Mastertone: Flathead Five-string Banjos of the 1930s and 40s. For the prewar nuts.

Can't You Hear Me Calling: The Life of Bill Monroe Father of Bluegrass Music. An interested read.

What I Know 'Bout What I Know: The Musical Life of An Itinerant Banjo Player. This is an autobiography of Butch Robins. It's... interesting.

Once I felt I had hit the wall of what I could figure out by ear, I picked up (and had a lot of luck with) this book. It's the one that Earl Scruggs wrote, and it's very well paced. I might even suggest starting out with it, because I ended up having to do a lot of right hand reprogramming.

This is the banjo bible for complete beginners. I highly recommend getting this book.

Books;
Earl Scruggs and the 5-String Banjo: Revised and Enhanced Edition https://www.amazon.com/dp/0634060430/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_H.ArDbGBY9Q57

The Complete 5-String Banjo Player https://www.amazon.com/dp/0825603552/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_laBrDbDE9THKJ

Or

Tony Trischka Master Collection of Fiddle Tunes for Banjo https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0109O79WS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_EaBrDbRF753TS

Videos:
YouTube BanjoBen
YouTube Homespun banjo lessons

Site:
Banjohangout.com for lessons, info about banjos, tabs, and more.

Technology:
TablEdit is a free tab editor where you can find lots of downloads for songs on the previously mentioned website

Try this! I'm still a beginner with the bluegrass style as well, and Earl Scruggs knows his shit and teaches it really well. It's like a little banjo bible :)

https://www.amazon.ca/Earl-Scruggs-5-String-Banjo-Enhanced/dp/0634060430 Good resource for learning the banjo.

Earl Scruggs and the 5 String Banjo indeed. The master of 3-finger picking or Scruggs style. I bought it, it's terrific for learning.

http://www.amazon.com/Earl-Scruggs-5-String-Banjo-Enhanced/dp/0634060430

Some complaints are it gets complicated quite fast but there's only way to get good at the banjo: practice. But you have to make sure your form is good. Good form will help tremendously.

Earl Scruggs and the 5 String Banjo is 160 pages. Perhaps you're thinking of Tony Trischka's The Complete 5 String Banjo?