The Thorough Banjoist

[Joel Hooks]

Here is another banjo tutor in the seemingly endless stream of 19th century banjo books...

"The Thorough Banjoist" by F. W. Wessenburg, 1891.

http://archive.org/details/ThoroughBanjoist

As a tutor from 1891, this one still gives instruction on stroke style.  He also makes a point to tell you not to use wire strings and I feel this needs a comment.

By the mid 1880s wire strings were the cheap goods option. There is an overwhelming amount of documentable evidence that "players" did not use wire strings until they were forced to by WW1.

Then, as now, most people who buy musical instruments won't actually play them.  They like the idea (and have every intention) of learning but they are not willing to pay for a "real" (meaning substantial) instrument.  Jobbers/music stores/ pawn shops did(do) not want to lose a sale because of price.  Thus wire strings (a set costing less than one gut string-- and they don't snap in damp weather, just rust) filled the trade goods gap.

This is no different from the huge volume of plywood ukes that have flooded the market in the past few years.  Even though they are unplayable, they sell in large numbers(with big markups for the retailers).

The music in this one is what you would expect-- schottisches, polkas, marches, light opera, Gilbert and Sullivan, etc.  It is worth a look and a great addition to the ever growing number of tutors on the interwebs.

Thanks to Marc Smith!

[Jody Stecher]

Joel, you provide a valuable service with your historical research. I sure do 'preciate it.

[Thomas Edgar]

Hear, hear! Thanks to both of you for providing all this material for the group.