Instruction & Music Collections
The Eclipse Self Instructor For The Banjo, by Paul de Ville. This is a great book to start with.
The Minstrel Banjoist, by S. S. Stewart. Courtesy of Clarke Buehling’s collection, this is not a great book, but is interesting and has a few good pieces.
All of the works here are in Public Domain. These are free to use, unlike modern copyrighted material.
The Current US copyright laws do not, as Article !, section 8 of the US Constitution says...
“To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for Limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.”
These laws have been hijacked by corporations to protect their interests and prevent artistic progress. The above works can by performed freely, without fees, licensing, or fear of lawsuits.
Do your part to stick it to the man!
Stewart’s Lessons for the Banjo, by S. S. Stewart, 1879. From the Library of Congress’ American Memories Collection. A good introduction to banjo playing and reading. Click to download Stewart's Lessons.PDF
Sorry, but you won’t find any modern TAB (except 19th century “simplified” methods) here. But don’t let that scare you, reading music is easy, really. The current generation of musicians have been bamboozled into believing that reading is impossible. The reason... money. Music publishers want to resell you other’s work, work that is in the public domain. They want to force you to have no other choice but to buy their books and videos. I encourage people to buy and not steal new music. I just don’t think that the author’s children’s children should continue to collect money on their parents work, thus preventing artistic progress.
I went for a long time as a illiterate, coming up with all sorts of excuses for not learning to read. One of the major catalysts the sent me over the edge is that any modern TABs, unless expressly put into public domain by the author/arranger, is protected under copyright law (see below). Performing in public any work written after 1923 is (by law) stealing, and could cause the performer all kinds of legal problems.
Then there is the magic that comes from playing a song directly from the original “dots” as seen 100+ years ago. That is a sensation that cannot be duplicated by modern TAB.
One widely believed myth is that facsimile reproductions are protected under copyright in the United States. This is not true. Only new additions and significant changes to public domain works are protected. For example, the currently available reprint of the Sears, Roebuck & Co, 1897 catalog may say that it is copyrighted and protected, but according to www.copyright.gov only the covers, introduction, and any new additions are covered. see circ14.pdf
The First Ten Studies For The Banjo, by Fairbanks & Cole, 1883. From the Library of Congress’ American Memories Collection. Similar to the Stewart pamphlet above. Click to download First 10 Studies Banjo.pdf
College Songs For Banjo, by A. Baur, 1888. This one came from Google books. Fun stuff including a version of “Bingo” not often heard today College_songs_for_banjo.pdf
Observations on the Banjo & Banjo Playing, by S. S. Stewart. A must read for any banjoist. This is a complete “how to” including thimble or stroke style, right and left hand fingering, even how to use friction pegs. Download it now absolutely free! Observations.pdf
Observations on Stroke or Thimble Playing on the Banjo, 1887, by S. S. Stewart. This is one of those articles that dispels the myth that SSS hated the thimble player. A very interesting read for any down stroke banjo player.Observations on Thimble Playing.pdf
The Rise of the Banjo by S. S. Stewart. Special thanks to Marc “The King of Banjo Publications” Smith. SSS had been compared to Charles Dickens (well, in his own Journal). This superior work of art puts him in the ranks with Lewis Carroll. The Rise Of The Banjo.pdf
Frank B. Converse’s Analytical Banjo Method, by Frank Buchanan Converse, 1886. A complete and scientific course on the banjo covering Guitar and Banjo styles. This is the Banjoists bible. A true textbook. This is the most important work on the banjo to have ever been written to date. And it is yours for free thanks to Marc Smith. Converse ABM 1886.pdf
The Banjo Philosophically, by S. S. Stewart. “Its Construction, Its Capabilities, Its Evolution, Its place as a Musical Instrument, Its Possibilities, and Its Future.” Read this before “Observations.” The Banjo Philosophically.pdf
Remarks on the Banjo-Fingerboard, the Chromatic Scale, Tuning, Fretting, etc. 1892, by S. S. Stewart. Interesting article by SSS discussing the above subjects. Remarks on the Banjo Fingerboard .pdf
Banjo Necks, 1887, by S. S. Stewart. Published in The Journal, June & July, 1887. Describes the process of manufacturing banjo necks. .Banjo Necks .pdf
The Complete American Banjo School, by S. S. Stewart, 1883-1887. We have J. Adam Latham to thank for this one. He is a hero to the banjo world!
This is SSS’ prized work. Originally published entirely from engraved plates, old Sam just kept adding to it. Most of the added articles will be found below. The first part is instruction w/ and interesting section on thimble playing. The second part is music. Complete_American_Banjo_School.pdf
Banjo Reminiscences Written Exclusively for The Cadenza, by Frank B. Converse.
If you do not know who F.B.C. is, then you should sell your banjo and use the money to buy a Zither “banjo.”
This is a series of letters to The Cadenza magazine recounting Converse’s career. We are lucky that he put pen to paper before he passed on. We are even more lucky that Banjoist Carl Anderton has offered to share his research with us by putting this together. PDF was created by banjo historian Greg Adams.
Weidt’s Elementary Studies for Banjo, by A. J. Weidt, 1905. This was sent to me by the great Eli Kaufman, go join the ABF right now. Don’t forget to bring your thimble ‘cause they hate that.
Weidt was a composer and orchestra director, wrote many ragtime pieces. These series of 5 books make a great course in the style. There are also some great exercises for “alternate fingering.”
“Kaloola” for two banjos is below the books.
