You Can Teach Yourself Dobro
The Skills

You Can Teach Yourself Dobro

You Can Teach Yourself DobroTeaching yourself Dobro is easy—especially with this book!

You Can Teach Yourself Dobro by Janet Davis offers a logical sequence to learning this unique instrument, starting with the basics and using previous skills as a foundation for new skills. The book is divided into lessons, early lessons covering essential technique and subsequent lessons introducing a mix of music theory principles, improvisation exercises, and advanced slide techniques.

Examples of lessons include:

  • Tuning.
  • Chord locations.
  • Roll patterns.
  • Playing up the neck.
  • Slant chords.
  • Embellishing the melody.
  • Interchanging licks.
  • Seventh chords.
  • Using a capo.
  • Melodic style.
  • Minor chords.
  • Transposing.

The focus of You Can Teach Yourself Dobro is on bluegrass, as evidenced by the collection of standards used to illustrate the techniques and provide improvisation practice:

  • “Cripple Creek.”
  • “Blackberry Blossom.”
  • “Footprints in the Snow.”
  • “John Henry.”
  • “Train 45.”
  • “John Hardy.”
  • “Reuben.”
  • “Sally Goodin’.”
  • “Devil’s Dream.”
  • “Old Joe Clark.”

However, blues, Hawaiian, and old-time country styles receive some attention, as well.

The absolute beginner to Dobro couldn’t pick a better place to start than this book. Take your time to master each lesson before moving on to the next—it will pay off.