Best country & folk composer biographies according to redditors
We found 2 Reddit comments discussing the best country & folk composer biographies. We ranked the 2 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 2 Reddit comments discussing the best country & folk composer biographies. We ranked the 2 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
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.
There is At the Zoo by Paul Simon. I believe the girl takes pictures the whole time but they are really looking to get a picture of the polar bear? It was one of my favorite books growing up in the early 90s.