Product Description

Picking up where DVD One left off, Mike Seeger continues his in-depth lesson/demonstration of predominant banjo styles of the 19th and early 20th century. Volume Two focuses on two- and three-finger techniques, some of which are the foundation for contemporary three-finger style. Each segment features a complete performance of a song or tune, comment on its style and source, and detailed split screen instruction for playing it. You'll also see close-up views of each of the nine banjos used. The enclosed booklet includes tabs, a banjo discography, how to choose and set up a banjo, and much more.

Songs include: Flop Eared Mule (up-picking double-note style); Lost Gander (thumb-lead with extensive use of harmonics); The Sailor and the Soldier (a variant of the previous technique); American Spanish Fandango (from 19th-century parlor banjo repertoire); Got No Silver Nor Gold Blues (Uncle Dave Macon minstrel style); We're Up Against It Now (arpeggio technique); That's What Old Bachelors Are Made Out Of (waltz-time back-up techniques); The Last of Callahan (fiddle tune); Lady Gay (Dock Boggs's style).

The material presented here is based on Mike Seeger's Grammy-nominated Smithsonian CD "Southern Banjo Styles."

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #115330 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-12-12
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 115 minutes

Customer Reviews

Long Time Coming but Worth the Wait
I would like to review this product but more than a month after it was ordered it still has not been delivered. I originally wanted to give this as a Christmas gift but until about a week after the confirmation I had no idea that the item was going to take so long to be delivered. Amazon should be a bit more upfront about their product offerings. I am sure that Mike Seeger does not have to create each video and in the product description, when it is not in current stock, it should be noted. Unfortunately, for all of the videos in this collection, the delay is a couple of months.

The DVD finally arrived (in August) and like other Seeger products it is first rate. In each of the songs Mike goes through the specific style at full clip and slowly. You need to play this through several times because a lot of his style is subtle - but the DVD is well worth the price for anyone interested in old time banjo styles.