How To Excel On The Banjo

Written by Emile Grimshaw
Edited by Alan Middleton.

This book is essential reading for all players of the five-string banjo.

‘How to Excel on the Banjo’ is an excellent series of melodious exercises for the regular and plectrum banjoists. Originally published by Clifford Essex in 1926 and written by Emile Grimshaw, one of the world’s leading experts on fretted instruments, this updated version, is an essential resource. There are exercises for the left and right hands; on time and syncopation; to improve tone; and to speed up fingerboard technique, plus a section on Banjo Effects.

Print length 90 pages

Although the banjo has largely increased in popularity since it was first introduced to this country, enthusiastic players must often have felt the need for a work that would help them to continue their studies after having mastered the contents of their first instruction book.

Players often imagine that because a musical composition is called an exercise it must necessarily be monotonous.   It is true that many untuneful exercises have been written, but I cannot see why anything useful or instructive need be dull.

In order to obtain the full benefit from an exercise, a player must understand its purpose; this is given in the explanatory notes that precede the exercises.

Believing that students must be interested in order to excel, I have spared no effort to make every exercise in this book tuneful, as well as instructive.
Emile Grimshaw.

‘How to Excel on the Banjo’ is not a Tutor.   It will not teach frailing, clawhammer, or how to play bluegrass style: these exercises are designed to improve the technique of a player who uses the thumb and two fingers of their right hand to pick the strings.   There are exercises for the left and right hands; on time and syncopation; to improve tone; and to speed up fingerboard technique, plus a section on Banjo Effects.

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