Play your way to banjo-playing expertise Traditionally associated with country; folk; and bluegrass music; the banjo is accessible to anyone with the patience and willpower to learn it. This second edition of Banjo For Dummies does the rest of the work for you with updated practice lessons; teaching techniques; and step-by-step examples. With this guide; you will learn tips and techniques for selecting the right instruments and accessories; how to develop correct hand position and posture; and how to tune; care for; and make simple repairs to the instrument. An updated multimedia component features companion audio tracks and complementary video lessons that cement the concepts readers gain during their reading. Written by Bill Evans; an accomplished five-string banjo player; teacher; writer; and historian Includes access to "how-to" videos on Dummies.com Ideal for anyone who wants to learn to play this classic instrument For musicians hoping to lend their art an edge or interested learners looking to pick up a unique skill; Banjo For Dummies is a must-have; straightforward guide to success.
#2185268 in eBooks 2004-01-13 2013-07-18File Name: B00F1RLRRC
Review
200 of 210 people found the following review helpful. Useful; Practical Tips from a Witty; Funny ChickBy Jillian HastingsAlison Freer is a Hollywood costume designer; and Ive followed her style articles on the website xoJane for years. Her advice online has never led me astray; and Ive used many of her tips to great success (including making my own wax-coated denim). I was obviously super excited about her book; and I have to say; it didnt disappoint!How to Get Dressed is like Lucky Magazine or Cosmo; if either of those magazines were actually remotely useful. Where fashion magazines fall short; How to Get Dressed delivers. Its not a book about fashion; but about style. Its not about trends; but about making YOUR personal style work for you. Its not about following fashion rules; but about breaking them to great success. Its about looking great; but still being yourself. What more could we ask for?! Well; the book offers a lot more than that.I think my favorite section of the book is the chapter on closets. As a person with far too many clothes and clutter in my life; I long for organization; and Alisons tips for organizing ones clothes and closets are actually useful and doable; and make me think that even *I* could be organized (that remains to be seen; but thats because of me; not Alisons awesome tips)! As an avid knitter; I jumped with joy at her spot-on advice for storing knits (dont hang them up by the shoulders--theyll stretch!); and learned a great many tips on storing other types of garments that I didnt know about.Thats the thing about Alison: she REALLY knows her stuff. She isnt just a fashion blogger who can put together a cute ensemble; shes a professional; unionized costume designer; and she knows how various fabrics and garments inherently work (nylon doesnt unravel; the physics behind a bra; how darts and other alterations work). If theres a problem with your clothes that you can think of; Alison likely has a quick fix in her book.The best part of How to get Dressed is Alison herself. Her personality and voice are clear in her writing; and you feel like you are BFFs with her by the end of the book. While she is incredibly knowledgeable; all this information would be a snooze in the hands of another writer; but Alison keeps the book moving along. Its not just a reference book to look things up in for future use; but also just a pleasant; entertaining read (and I rarely read nonfiction for pleasure).Unlike those fashion magazines I mentioned before; Alison doesnt try to say "this style is better for this body type" or "this is unflattering for this body type;" but instead she tells you how to make your clothes fit your body. In fact; some clothes that you might think are unflattering could be extremely flattering if they were properly fitted to you! When I read fashion magazines; I feel like I need to throw out all my clothes and start over; which is of course totally impossible and cost prohibitive. But with How to Get Dressed; I feel like I already have a lot to work with; most of my clothes just need some extra love to really sing.Alison really supports every woman (or man) as an individual. As she says in her book; the fashion "rules" weve heard all our lives are really just to make us all dress and look the same; and that is so boring I could scream! Alison has a chapter about finding and nurturing your signature style. I love this idea; because without a signature style in mind; I feel like I am just buying whatever I see in stores; but not putting my own spin on it; which results in me dressing just like everyone else. Alison makes no judgment on different styles; and is supportive of everyones unique style. I think thats what I love most about Alison; and How to Get Dressed. I didnt feel like I needed to change who I am in order to look great; or buy a bunch of new expensive clothes. Its the only book or magazine Ive read that emphasizes the fact that every style and every body can look and feel great.Buy this book! Buy it now; and start feeling great in the clothes you already own!220 of 235 people found the following review helpful. Make Your Clothes Work For YouBy Eva WoodsIts hard to know where to start on this review; because I loved *so many* things about the book; but Ill try to go in order!Its wonderfully inclusive. Too much fashion advice focuses on one body type; narrow gender expression; whats "flattering" rather than what you love. How To Get Dressed does none of that. Its got advice for everyone. It doesnt treat one type of body as more worthy of feeling and looking beautiful than any other. The author doesnt just use feminine pronouns; but uses "people who..." as well; and talks directly to the reader frequently through the book. You can really feel the care thats been taken not to exclude anyone or make them feel like a gate-crasher to femininity; which is so rare and so important.Its incredibly practical! I kind of went in like; "Im dressed. I know this stuff" but NOPE. Broken heel strap? Bloodstain? Bra strap wont stay put? Alison Freer seriously has a fix for everything. I now know what to put in my bag for every wedding I ever attend forever and ever amen.This was a big one for me; and my fave chapter: How to create a signature look. I havent put this into action yet; but I cant wait to go into a shop and not have to wonder "Yeah but will I really ever wear it?" again. Thats because theres a whole chapter in here that helps you figure out what you need before-hand; and whether any item fits in with the steez youre trying to cultivate. Its super enlightening.And finally; its funny. Just skimming through it I laughed out loud. There are tons of TV behind-the-scenes stories; personal anecdotes and examples so you dont ever feel like its a text book. I absolutely love this book; and plan on buying copies for a friends daughter whos graduating high school; my sister for her birthday; and a new mom for mothers day. Theres so much useful stuff in here for any point in your life; because everyone wants to get more out of their clothes; and this book tells you how.45 of 46 people found the following review helpful. Stylist ApprovedBy D. ElleI am a personal fashion stylist; and consume tons of fashion and style-related content on a daily basis from blogs; magazines; etc. so it is rare that I read anything new and educational. Most of the material out there about fashion is regurgitated from the same sources.This book was a complete exception. It totally wowed me with its cover to cover tips and practical advice. There was so much in here that Ive already been able to share some new tips with my clients. Alison shares so much information about tricks to remove stains; make clothing fit better; improve the comfort of your clothing; and so on that could only be gathered from years of experience. If was so refreshing to read a book written by someone who isnt afraid to actually share valuable knowledge!