Introduction 1 Part 1: Getting Started with Bluegrass Banjo 5 Chapter 1: Bluegrass Music and the Banjo 7 Chapter 2: Finding the Perfect Bluegrass Banjo and Getting the Gear You Need 21 Chapter 3: Hitting the Ground Running: Tuning, Reading Music, and Making Chords 37 Chapter 4: Fretting and Picking 51 Part 2: Let's Roll! Scruggs-Style Banjo Essentials 69 Chapter 5: Picking Techniques: Roll Patterns 71 Chapter 6: Fretting Techniques and Putting the Hands Together 89 Chapter 7: Getting Bona Fide: Playing Licks and Classic Tunes 109 Chapter 8: Working Up Your Own Scruggs-Style Solos 135 Part 3: Playing in the Band: Backup Essentials 165 Chapter 9: Getting Started: Playing Down-the-Neck Backup 167 Chapter 10: Taking It Higher: Playing Up-the-Neck Backup 181 Part 4: Progressive Banjo: Melodic and Single-String Styles 205 Chapter 11: Melodic-Style Banjo 207 Chapter 12: Single-String Banjo 227 Part 5: Keeping Your Banjo in Top Shape 243 Chapter 13: Setup Essentials and Live Performance: Getting the Best Sound from Your Banjo 245 Chapter 14: All Strings Considered: Choosing and Changing Strings 261 Part 6: The Part of Tens 275 Chapter 15: Ten (or So) Groundbreaking Bluegrass Banjo Players 277 Chapter 16: Ten Strategies to Make You a Better Player (Right Now!) 285 Part 7: Appendixes 291 Appendix A: A Guide to Chords, Notes, and Major Scales 293 Appendix B: Audio Tracks and Video Clips 301 Index 311.