David Sawtelle the Happy Banjo Teacher

The Five String Banjo

David Sawtelle, the Happy Banjo Teacher, taught himself the basics of the 5 string banjo using the Earl Skruggs book and an excellent banjo text by Bill Knopf during the summer of 1978 just after graduating from Coronado high school in El Paso, TX,. He bought his first banjo for $50 from the brother of Tanya Barrientos, an oboe player in the Coronado High School Symphonic Band where David played the trumpet. 

Ten years later, while teaching music in the Los Angeles school district, assistant conducting the Pacific Palisades Symphony Orchestra and performing in the HMA Salsa Jazz Band, David stumbled across Bill Knopf author of one of the two banjo books David owned. What a coincidence! Bill Knopf is a leading recording banjo artist/instructor in the Los Angeles area and was Doc Severinsen's banjoist for his trumpet rendition of "Dueling Banjos." David decided to take the banjo seriously and became Bill's dedicated student for 6 years.

David enjoyed studying with Bill Knopf at the Blueridge Picking Parlor of Northridge. It wasn't until David was living in Austin Texas that he met up with the Good Medicine Band (aka the Sharecroppers) and had his first  successful run as the banjoist for this amazing Texas Roots Band. The Good Medicine band produced three albums, The Spirit of the Sharecroppers, Trick of the Light and Union Hill.

Please listen to David's banjo playing here: https://youtu.be/7UNTcoFcUN8

At happybanjoteacher.com you can download David's five string banjo tabs or you can commission David to arrange your favorite tune especially for your banjo playing. These banjo arrangements are precisely crafted with accurate five string banjo tablature that's easy to read and fun to learn. 

David published his first five string banjo book, Bluegrass Banjo Solos and More, while working on his masters degree in music and it is available at this website store. This book was reviewed for accuracy by both Bill Knof and Fred Sokolow Today is a good day to get started with a banjo lesson video with the Happy Banjo Teacher!

Happy Picking!

Questions? please contact the Happy Banjo Teacher (David Sawtelle) at happybanjoteacher@gmail.com

or 239-201-6648