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NOTE: "Prices subject to change in the event of the manufacturer's increase."
Some Janet Davis Book Comments
Hi Janet,
I am taking a chance that this little note gets to you somewhere along the way. Rarely do I ever endorse anything or send letters to complaint any thing, but this time I really am excited about your book and DVD. I have bought a number of book that teach Blue Grass Banjo and found that all of them were lacking tell I found your book on Teach Yourself Banjo. Your instructional DVD is just outstanding. It really brought me out of the fog in to understanding what I was doing wrong and what I need to do right. I just purchased an APPALACHIA Morgan Monroe Banjo and the book came with it. Pat yourself on the back for a well done on your DVD. I will be recommending it to everyone I talk about banjo to. Hope this note finds you well and hope you have a good day.
Respectfully, Donald Jones
Stuart, Florda
Janet
I am a newcomer to Bluegrass Music and have recently bought a new Banjo.
I also bought your Mel Bay "You can Teach Yourself Banjo" The book was
very easy to use. I particularly liked the fact that within the first
couple of pages you were already playing some banjo songs. I am making
good progress on the banjo and am looking forward to getting to an
"adequate" level of skill. I recently met with Mike Casey in Houston.
His band "Bluegrass Solution" was one of the bands that inspired me to
get into the Bluegrass culture. He is giving me some lessons. He
recommended your site. I have found the site to be easy to use and very
complete with everything a person could want (In the Banjo Category at
least). I am sure I will be visiting again soon. My first purchase
should be arriving shortly. I just wanted to let you know, I think you
have a great website and store.
Ron H
Spring, TX
Hi, I would like to thank all the members of jdms who were involved in
sending my order to the UK, small as it was ( The Ultimate Banjo
Songbook) by "Janet Davis".
The service I recieved was second to none, the product wrapped and
boxed, the delivery faster than the speed of light.
Janet Davis books are well worth your investment, brilliantly written
and in a format that is easy to follow,( I could not play a musical
instrument until I studied Janet's book " you can teach yourself banjo"
learning could not have been easier, definately worth ordering direct.
Thank you,
Lionel M
Hey everyone at JDMC,
I just wanted to say that I've been a customer of many music dealers in many
places, both instore and internet/mail-order, and seen lots of fine
establishments, but none better than you all at Janet Davis Music. You're level of
service is the best, something way-way lacking in the nationwide "chain" stores. It
is a pleasure to do business with JDMC and I will certainly continue to do
so, and have recommended your fine business to Chicago area musicians and those
elsewhere via email and discussion groups. Everyone gripes about stores they
dislike, but not near enough when it's a great place.
Please forward this along to Ms. Davis and all the staff there.
By the way, her excellent book/CD/DVD "You can teach yourself Reso" has been
of great help in getting me up to speed quickly.
Have a great weekend!
Best regards,
Mark L
BTW ~ Recently received Janet Davis' "Back-up Banjo" with DVD and CDs. The course is great, but the best bonus was the wonderful music played on the CD's. Wow! That band is fan-tas-tic! The singing was so lovely on "All the Good Times are Past and Gone".
So the question is..........when is Janet going to come out with an album with that bunch of musicians and singer?
Thanks so much!
Irene K.
Dear Ms. Davis:
I wanted to take some time to sincerely thank you for the for the
excellent instructional material you have provided to help me learn and
enjoy the banjo. Over the years I have purchased several of your books,
CD's and a video. Your material is consistently clear, concise and your
presentations are well paced with a clam tone. (Are you that patient all
the time?) I am a school teacher and on occasion "educate" my students
about the history of the banjo and explain that their are more songs
then Dueling Banjos and Foggy Mountain Breakdown!! I still have a lot to
learn about the banjo and plan to continue to buy more of your material
when I can. All the best to you in good health - and please keep up the
good work.
Sincerely,
Ed K
I have been playing, or learning would be a better word..the banjo
for over 2 years. I have ben a collector of..."how to learn banjo"
books and have many many of them...I have had 2 teachers who are
excellent..however...no where since I started learning how to play
my banjo have I come across any instruction manuals like you present
to the public...
I recently picked up your (Back up Banjo) book and found it beyond
what I am now able to work with, so since I liked the format of
your publication I thought why not try Janet's YOU CAN TEACH
YOURSELF BANJO book along with the CDs I am more than thrilled at
the way you place instructional material in the book..
I am sure now that I have these publications I will progress much
better than without them...
You and your company are a class act and I thank you for all you
have done to enable my love for my banjo to go further..
Best wishes
Jim C
Dear Janet,
I just received my copy of your new "The Ultimate Bluegrass Songbook". I
really think it's going to help me develop leads, fills, and backup
techniques for a lot of songs that people around Southwestern Virginia like
to jam on. Several songs are classic, but have stymied me because but I
haven't found some of them anywhere else, or I lacked an up-the-neck
technique for the song, or I wasn't able to find the right version or the
right lick. Some that jump out at me include Gold Rush, Farewell Blues,
Alabama Jubilee, Roanoke, Wheel Hoss, and Bugle Call Rag. Others are ones
I've known, but you've given me something to use that I didn't have before.
Some of the phrasing and licks in the book/CD are right where I want to be
stylistically, but I just haven't been able take that step until now.
The text is wonderful, and adds to my understanding of the culture and
history of the songs, which is important to the whole bluegrass banjo
tradition. For example, I never knew what "a wheel hoss" was, in all the
meanings of that expression. Now that I do, it helps explain why I've always
been drawn to the song and to the title.
I think you gave up some trade secrets with this one, Janet.
Thanks,
Jay V
Dear Janet,
I hope you don't think I'm, "beatin' a dead horse," but wanted a
little additional input from you, when you've got the chance.
Not long ago I purchased Banjo Scales in Tab. It's the best
instruction book for me that I could have ever gotten and I
suspected that when it first came out. I can tell by peoples faces
that my playin' has improved. But anyway on the CD you state, in
addition to one scale per month, that the scale should be memorized,
and known inside and out before moving on. What I have done, and
I'm now on the A scale, is memorize the scale and "circular scale,"
the single string stuff, the diatonic progressions, the locations of
the particular chords and notes on the finger board, and some of the
licks, and am sticking to one scale per month. In your opinion
should I memorize everything or am I OK in my approach? Thanks for
any help you could bestow!
If it weren't for you I'd a canceled by BNL subscription years ago,
but as it is I've been a loyal follower since '79. You taught me backup.
Sincerely, your ole student from back east, I know you're a Rice,
Tom Rice
Hey, I just started getting Banjo Newsletter. You're a very good writer!
Very clear prose that informs without excessive efforts to entertain. Your
writing does entertain, but what you write about provides the source of
interest and the source of entertainment. And you write in a very
transparent manner where you convey an idea without coloring it very much
with your own agenda, which shows a lot of integrity and modesty. Quite
impressive.
James V.
Greetings, Folks,
I have purchased many instructional programs. I want to tell you that
Janet's beginner's lessons have been the absolute best! Exceptionally
well presented, brilliantly thought out, and sequenced perfectly, everything
falls into place. Well done! Believe it or not, I have only been at this
for two months, and at last Friday night's Monthly Jam in New Hamphire I
was taking breaks on nearly every number. What a thrill! Thank you, Janet.
You are a great teacher. Much thanks from Vermont, and God Bless! Skip T
Thanks for taking the time to reply. Your courses are great! Mike U.
You walk a person through with your CD ,
just as if you were in the room with the Student. Wish I had found you
twenty years ago. Much thanks from Vermont, and God Bless!
Skip T
Hello!
Just wanted to let you know that you have a student that is progressing quite well here in Cincinnati. I travel quite a bit so it's hard for me to nail down a teacher locally that can deal with my erratic schedule. I bought the book (YCTYB) a year ago, but ever since I got the CD about 3 months ago (when I got an OB-250) I haven't been able to put it down! I'm driving my sister nuts!
I haven't mastered the book by ANY means, but I can play most basic variations and even some harder variations up to speed! Tonight I finally figured out the up the neck 'Lonesome Road Blues' and feel like I've hit a major milestone.
I can't compare your material against other banjo instructors, but I can say that I have tried to learn both guitar and piano with a book and always given up... you make it impossible to give up! I am so loking forward to "Splitting the Licks." (unless you think "Back-up" would be a better next step.)
Your book is also rapidly making me desire to play with other people. I think it's the accompiament playing behind your leads. Sheesh! If I could just get my 2 guitar friends to learn the guitar parts. I actually just got a Martin DM so I could figure them out and teach them.
Just one question (for now.) Is it normal, for someone at this stage in the game, to constantly be running banjo rolls in their head? I mean, I do it ALL the time. Even when I'm talking to people!
Well thanks again... I'm sure you'll be hearing from me in the future.
David W
Dear Janet: Your beginners 5 string banjo video and book arrived safely to my office here
in Scotland. Already, I have found the video and book most helpful and have taken on a new
enthusiasm for practice. Although it is early days, the exercises and links
to the chords have finally clicked! Very many thanks. Colin S
Hey Janet, thanks for being there for me as I got your Mel Bay book and its
helped alot. Thanks!
The books appear to be exactly what I was expecting. After years and
years of playing musical instruments and singing in choirs of various styles
and sizes, I am only now, as a beginning banjo player at age 35, starting to
get an idea about music theory (how scales, keys, chords and the like really
work). I already started in on the scales book and the lights are really
going on. I have the impression that that book will help me make enormous
headway on both the theory and the banjo fronts. (One example of a light
going on: I was repeating and repeating the first C scale in the book when
suddenly I realized that I was fingering many of the same notes I do to play
a simple arrangement I know of "Banjo in the Hollow". I thought, "Ahhh, so
this is what it means when they say that a song written in a particular key
uses the notes from the scale of that key".) The back-up book appears to be
graduated with regard to difficulty - easy stuff first. Good! What a wealth
of material. This will take me years! Mark H
Hi Janet! I just thought I'd send you a note to thank you for the great tapes and music lessons I bought.
I have been trying to learn bluegrass banjo for years and your lessons are the greatest I have ever got.You got me finally started. (not bad for a 66 year old man) which shows that if you persue, someone like you can make it happen. Thanks again and I will always be indebted to you. Keep up the good work, and most of all keep pickin'. John R, British Columbia Canada
Hi, Janet,
I am now teaching a little banjo on the side and am using your beginning
book with them. Its great to have a book that not only covers the
basics, but gives beginners real banjo tunes to learn and practice. Thanks
for a SUPER book. I wish it was around when I was starting. There's a
reason your site is listed first on my Banjo Links page.
Al
Janet,
I've enjoyed several of your instructional tapes in the past but none more
than this scales tape. As someone who cannot read music, I feel this tape
fills an enormous hole in my musical understanding and is going to get me
past some serious barriers in my musical skills. I've tried learning music
theory from traditional, piano based books, but it was hard to go from a
keyboard to a finger board, and I could never translate what I learned to my
banjo playing. Your book and tape is exactly what I've wanted. Thanks!
Steve B
We played Cripple Creek tonight at my first official Bluegrass Jam!
Man
was it a scream!! It was myself and a guitar/mandolin player and a
Reso
player. When I started playing Cripple Creek they both joined in and
we
went nuts on it. Then we went through a whole bunch of other tunes
the
majority of which were in Janet Davis' book. I must say that Janet
had me
well prepared for this Jam. Don R
Janet:
Just wanted to drop you a line and thank you for creating "Backup Banjo"
and "Up the Neck," both the videos and the textbooks.
I recently bought both from Mel Bay and have found them (especially Backup
Banjo) excellent, answering virtually all my questions.
Very sincerely, Stuart K
Dear Janet,
You would be more than welcome to post my comment on your website. It's
the least I could do! Thanks again! You have given me many hours of enjoyment
and instruction! Bet you didn't know you are one of my banjo teachers!
Your books are great for every level of player and being able to order tab
by the song is a great idea! Could I possibly use any more exclamation
points?! Thanks for responding so quick.
Thanks again,
Jamie K
Instruments - Parts -
Accessories
- Books/Courses - Software
- Recorders - Videos/DVD
- CDs
