You Can Teach Yourself Dobro

Teaching 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.