Harry F. Reser is considered one of the best tenor banjo players of all time. This thorough method book was designed to train professional banjo players. It focuses primarily on scales and also includes a section on lead “breaks.” The picking is notated on most examples. Additionally, he includes a detailed section on the strumming patterns used by professional banjo players of the time (i.e. Fox Trot, Oriental, Blues, Latin and Tango, Arpeggio Stroke, Syncopation, etc.) 93 pages with over a hundred examples.

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Charles McNeil was one of the top tenor banjo players of the swing era. This fascinating book documents many of the techniques used by professional jazz banjo accompanists. It focuses primarily on chords, organized into his system of chord families (chords are written with both standard notation and fret board diagrams). He gives precise instruction on right hand picking technique, which is nearly identical to the style of picking used by Django (see Gypsy Picking). McNeil also discusses how to create banjo parts from scores for piano or 2nd violin. Additionally, he includes 22 lead breaks and a fascinating section on the strumming patterns used by professional banjo players of the time (i.e. Shimmy stroke, New York stroke, Whine stroke, Chicago stroke, patter stroke, etc.) Many of these strokes are reminiscent of some Django’s accent patterns (Django started his career on the guitar banjo.) 100 pages with pictures, diagrams, and over a two hundred examples.

Mandolinists looking to expand their jazz chord vocabularly might also benifit from the chord diagrams and strumming patterns in this book. (The tenor banjo is tuned a 4th down from the mandolin CGDA).

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We all know how difficult and expensive it is to get Argentine strings in North America. I’m now an Argentine string dealer and am offering a special price for my customers. Its my way of saying thanks for all of you that have supported my little publishing endeavor.

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Eddie Lang (1902-1933) was the world’s first great jazz guitarist. He’s one of the few guitarists who can claim to have had a significant influence on Django Reinhardt. Lang’s brilliant chordal work laid the foundation for jazz guitar. Also, he was arguably the first jazz guitar soloist. His influence is clearly present in many of the guitarists who came after him: Django, Charlie Christian, etc.

Eddie Lang’s Modern Advanced Guitar Method documents Lang’s incredible fret board knowledge. It includes hundreds of examples of his chord shapes, arpeggios, and lead lines. An invaluable resource for any guitarist, especially one trying to emulate Lang’s brilliant chordal work. Additionally, I’ve found many of the chord voicings and arpeggios are similar to that of Django. Also includes a transcription of his chordal accompaniment for Joe Venuti’s classic Doin’ Things. 80 pages. Includes chord and arpeggio diagrams.

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These 33 studies were written by the mandolin virtuoso G. L. Lansing. They are intended as a supplement to his edition of the Christofaro Method for the Mandolin

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