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Steve Dilling -AcuTab Transcriptions Vol. I

ACUTAB
Transcribed from the playing of Steve Dilling

Few bluegrass bands have made such a powerful impact on our music this past few years as IIIrd Tyme Out, and banjo picker Steve Dilling is a big part of the reason why. His clear, straightforward style always features the recognizable melody of the song and his tasty licks and fills keep the music driving right along.
This new book features all the banjo breaks and many prominent backups from all four IIIrd Tyme Out CDs on which Steve has appeared: Letter To Home, Living On The Other Side, Live At The MAC and John & Mary . Perhaps more so than with previous AcuTab books, this one contains music that will be of great benefit to novice and intermediate players. Few of the tabs will present much technical difficulty to less experienced players and, coupled with the text notes and the left/right hand fingering indications, these breaks should be accessible to all but the rankest of beginners. The text notes also break down the more prominent elements of Steve’s style and will be a big help as you learn to assemble your own solos and play effective backup.
Together with the four IIIrd Tyme Out CDs ( also available from AcuTab ), Steve’s book is like a master class for bluegrass banjo players. Less skilled players can get their fingers (and ears!) around some great examples of contemporary bluegrass banjo while more experienced pickers analyze the subtleties that set Steve’s playing apart—and make IIIrd Tyme Out such a dominant force in bluegrass music. It’s like a text book for today’s style of traditional bluegrass banjo.

About Steve Dilling

Steve Dilling was born August 5, 1965, at Ramey Air Force Base, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, while his father was stationed there. About a month later, the family returned home to North Carolina, fertile grounds to bluegrass banjo players. Steve fell in love with the banjo at the age of 10, after hearing a recording of Earl Scruggs playing the Foggy Mountain Breakdown. He finally got his first banjo on his 12th birthday, and he hasn’t been quite the same since. After a few years of playing, he became friends with two other musicians in North Carolina by the name of Greg Luck and Wayne Benson, and the three jammed around together for several years at local festivals and bluegrass shows. In March of 1985, Steve joined regional favorites, The Bass Mountain Boys, and stayed there until a job with The Lonesome River Band opened in 1992. Then, in July of 1993, Steve, also known as ‘Big Man’, brought his banjo playing skills and emcee talents to IIIrd Tyme Out, being regarded as one of the best in the business. His musical influences are varied, and include well known artists Flatt & Scruggs, J. D. Crowe, Terry Baucom and Tony Rice. When off of the road, steve enjoys spending time at home with his family and watching sports. Steve and his wife, Macie, were married on December 14, 1985, and have two children, Stephanie (born Jan. 16, 1991) and Matt (born Sept. 16, 1995).

Copyright @2005 The Stringman