Ballantine's Banjo Library a Book of Original Breakdowns, Hornpipes, &c

[Joel Hooks]

More "jigs and reels" to play.

https://archive.org/details/ballantines-banjo-library

[IAN SALTER]

By 'England's Premier Classical Banjoist'. 

If anyone is playing through this book, what do you make of the thumb + instructions in some of the tunes, the majority of which are on the D? In his tutor book, he says 'Always use the 2nd finger for the 1st String, the 1st finger for the 2nd and thumb for the 3rd, 4th, 5th and Octave, this rule must always be observed, with the exception of rare cases, when they will be specifically marked'. I've looked at all of his other published tunes and can't find anything else 'specifically marked'. I don't normally adhere to such instructions, but in this instance I'm somewhat intrigued to see what difference they make to the tunes. I regularly use the D on the 2nd string/3rd fret and in applying the + marking to that note, it does seem to work better than on the open 1st string.

[Russ Chandler]

Don't be disrespectful, the man got a testimonial from the Hon. Mrs Trollope. Can you say that?

IAN SALTER said:

By 'England's Premier Classical Banjoist'. 

If anyone is playing through this book, what do you make of the thumb + instructions in some of the tunes, the majority of which are on the D? In his tutor book, he says 'Always use the 2nd finger for the 1st String, the 1st finger for the 2nd and thumb for the 3rd, 4th, 5th and Octave, this rule must always be observed, with the exception of rare cases, when they will be specifically marked'. I've looked at all of his other published tunes and can't find anything else 'specifically marked'. I don't normally adhere to such instructions, but in this instance I'm somewhat intrigued to see what difference they make to the tunes. I regularly use the D on the 2nd string/3rd fret and in applying the + marking to that note, it does seem to work better than on the open 1st string.

[IAN SALTER]

I would never disrespect a man who displayed such stupendous testimonials.

[Jody Stecher]

I agree that the second string is usually intended for D when x marks the spot, especially as part of a 4 note phrase entirely on the second string.   The x also occurs after the middle finger is used. Ballantine doesn't seem to "beg to intimate" (to quote his teaching advert) what finger to use after the thumb in some of these phrases. In short I think his instructions on how to play "these charming instrument"  are incomplete.