Eddie Collins Archives - Bluegrass Today

Eddie Collins has taken advantage of all the multimedia options offered by the iBook format in his latest instructional offering, Bluegrass Banjo in 10 Easy Steps. The package is available for iPads or Apple MacIntosh computers running OS 10.9 with the iBook software for $15.99.

Over the course of 192 pages, and dozens of video and audio clips, Collins take a new picker from the basics, through common songs and licks, all supported by the interactive technology at the heart of the iBook. All photos can be enlarged, video and audio content is presented right on the page with tab examples, and the split screen videos show close ups of both the left and right hands.

A glossary with more than 200 banjo and music-related terms can be accessed from any page, and the more advanced sections demonstrate complete songs, including backup, complete with intros, solos, and endings in various keys.

This video trailer shows most of the interactive features in action.

Collins has previously authored more than 25 titles for bluegrass instruments, both books and videos. He is also a popular teacher at banjo and bluegrass camps in his native Texas.

Find out more about Bluegrass Banjo in 10 Easy Steps by searching on the title in the iBooks store, or check it out in iTunes.

ASAP Bluegrass Mandolin is the title of a newly-released instructional method from Hal Leonard.

The book, by Eddie Collins, consists of 112 pages of “quick-start” mandolin lessons (presented in both tab and standard notation), plus 2 audio CDs. The first CD contains a solo demonstration of each lesson from the book, and the second has 32 songs played by a full bluegrass band, with the mandolin part separated on the right channel.

We contacted the author for his concept of what the book sets out to do…

“Hal Leonard’s new ASAP Bluegrass Mandolin began as a book that I self-published, Basics of Bluegrass Mandolin.

From personal experience, I dislike how most bluegrass mandolin ‘methods’ are little more than a compilation of fiddle tunes. I wanted to focus on helping learners find their way around the neck using common double stops, developing creative back-up skills, playing solos to vocal tunes in the style of Bill Monroe, and beginning the process of making up your own solos.

Fiddle tunes are used as examples of incorporating scale fragments and double stops in the studied keys.

Also, the play-along CD is designed to be enjoyable listening, thus folks get to know the tunes better from repeated plays.”

The book/CD set sells for $24.95 and is available wherever bluegrass instructional materials are sold. More details – including a sample lesson – can be found on the Hal Leonard site.