Reddit mentions of The How and the Tao of Old Time Banjo

If he's a clawhammer/open back player;

The How and the Tao of Old Time Banjo

A goat skin banjo head.

If he's a picker;

A Blue Chip thumb pick.

If he's both, or you don't know;

A quality capo, they always get misplaced.

Or, a fancy head wrench.

The How and the Tao of Old Time Banjo

I can't recommend this book enough. It's well written and full of fun anecdotes but throughout the text Patrick also teaches you (implicitly and explicitly) how to develop as/into a musician. I can almost guarantee you'll become a better player if you spend the time and really study this one.

I know you aren't looking for tabs and this has them but it's far from the focus of the material. This guy wants you to stop buying books and reading tab and get you working from your own material asap.

He evidently believes in this philosophy enough to release all his books online for free under a creative commons license. So give it a try for no charge but this is exactly the kind of man we should be supporting with our money imo.

I just bought a banjo last month. I don't have any experience with instruments like you do, but I think the following recommendation might help you.

I picked up: "The How and the Tao of Old Time Banjo" by Patrick Costello

https://www.amazon.com/How-Tao-Old-Time-Banjo/dp/0974419001

It covers the clawhammer style.

You will probably breeze through the intro parts, but there are some really great items in the beginning of the book that really help with the "banjo mindset."

LOL. Yes, I believe there is a banjo mindset. Roughly formulated as I understand it: the best way to play it is the way that feels natural and play it like you mean it.

Enjoy.

-)

I started learning clawhammer banjo this year. The Deering banjo website had some good videos for the basics. Once I got the basics down I bought this book which took me a lot further.
The How and the Tao of Old Time Banjo https://www.amazon.com/dp/0974419001/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_BLrhDb59170ZR

It’s a very approachable book with a great writing style. Definitely a necessary step towards becoming a clawhammering folk-legend!