# Bright Star: Banjo > Interactive banjo lessons for the musical "Bright Star". (iPhone/iPad app by Jiri Markalous.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bright-star-banjo/id1114799523 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Jiri Markalous](https://appshunter.io/developer/569624502) - Category: Music, Education - Price: Free - Rating: 4.40/5 from 18 App Store ratings · 10 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 9.0 · 139 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2016-05-18 - Data updated: 2026-09-08 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bright-star-banjo/id1114799523/reviews.md ## What is Bright Star? Learn 3-finger and clawhammer style banjo parts for the musical, “Bright Star,” written by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell with the Bright Star banjo app! You get tab (that plays along with you!) and split-screen video to clearly demonstrate the banjo parts for “Bright Star.” Song list: If You Knew My Story She’s Gone Bright Star Whoa Mama Firmer Hand Do Right Man’s Gotta Do Asheville Picnic Dance Don’t Take Him Entre’Act Sun Is Gonna Shine Always Will So Familiar * All songs written by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell ## Key features - Interactive banjo tabs - Split-screen video lessons - Learn songs from "Bright Star" musical - Songs by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell - Multiple banjo playing styles ## Recent user reviews (10 of 10) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bright-star-banjo/id1114799523/reviews.md ### 4/5 — Pretty good *2023-06-13* Once I have the score, this app made more sense. But the videos aren't working on my iPad. Do they work at all? ### 5/5 — Terrific *2021-02-22* This app is great and has helped me a lot in preparing for the musical. Thankyou! ### 4/5 — Very Helpful App *2020-02-14* I just downloaded this app to prepare for upcoming performance I’ll be doing of the musical. I was a bit confused by the tuning/capo directions at first, but I think I’ve figured it out and wanted to clear it up for anyone else who’s curious. First, it appears using 2 separate banjos is recommended (hence Banjo A and Banjo B). Banjo A should be tuned down 3 halfsteps from G standard to eBEG#B, as a few of the songs are in the key of E. That is why when you need to play in open G tuning (gDGBD), it says Capo 3. This tuning works better on a long neck banjo, but you can get by on a regular scale 5 string. Heavy gauge strings would be helpful to make up for the lack of string tension in this lower tuning if you don’t have a long neck, which is probably what I’m going to do. Banjo B is reserved for Double C tuning (gCGCD) and is often played with the capo on the 2nd fret to sound in the key of D. Hope this clears up some of the confusion! ### 1/5 — Doesn’t match book or recording *2020-01-20* Some of the songs are helpful, but most are missing important info, like which part of the song is featured. The instructions for capo are wrong half the time, and once you’ve learned a tune on the app, you go to the book, and it’s notated without the capo. REALLY frustrating. Great music. Crap app. And messy book. ### 5/5 — Update? *2019-11-19* Would it possible to get some sort of update? It seems to have gotten a little buggy, and I’m not sure all the timings are correct? It just doesn’t sound right when I use the capo for certain songs. I want to learn them all with all my heart, but I don’t think I’m getting the proper lesson from it 😞 ### 1/5 — What a disappointment *2019-08-21* I’ve played tons of shows for pro, regional and community theater as classically trained guitarist who reads what they write on the page. I can play rhythm slashes just fine too. Admittedly, I’m a bit out of my element on banjo. Thanks to a Deering vid, I got the essentials of clawhammer. My MD was told by another MD that the app is essential to an authentic sound. And granted, it’s certainly better that pages of slashes. BUT...Don’t think it’ll be your savior. It’s rife with omissions, wrong info, incorrect tab compared to the Notes. Written. On. The. Page. It’s hard to trust what they actually want you to play. Example: #1 says capo 3, then you listen to the recording and it’s not! The vids help a bit but when he drifts out of frame that’s just insulting. The app was a rush job for a book not appropriate for a pit. If you know clawhammer and 2-3 finger rolls and down with the style, you can have a laugh. If you’re a pit player like me, you’ve been warned. It’s a great show, but the banjo book blows. ### 5/5 — Bennett Sullivan, you rock! *2017-01-21* It's really a shame this show didn't last a long time on Broadway. Thank you to Bennett Sullivan, the original banjo player for the show, for making these tabs available. I'm already brushing up on my clawhammer thanks to it! ### 5/5 — Love it *2016-09-06* Easy to use and a great way to play ### 5/5 — Very tasteful banjo *2016-06-11* Steve Martin writes such tasteful banjo parts. I enjoy hearing the banjo parts at any speed with tab. Also the videos of Bennett are as good as the ones he does for his own web site. ### 5/5 — GREAT!!! *2016-05-21* This is awesome. I was hoping for a tab book, but this is even better. And free? Thanks!! ## Frequently asked questions about Bright Star ### What banjo styles does Bright Star teach? Bright Star teaches both 3-finger and clawhammer banjo styles. This allows learners to explore different techniques relevant to the musical's sound. ### Does Bright Star have ads? No, Bright Star does not contain advertisements. The app is completely ad-free, providing an uninterrupted learning experience. ### How many songs are included in Bright Star? Bright Star includes 15 songs from the musical, all written by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. This offers a comprehensive selection for learning. ### What devices is Bright Star available on? Bright Star is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It is designed for iOS devices. ### What is the age rating for Bright Star? Bright Star has an age rating of 4+. This indicates it is suitable for a wide range of users. ### When was Bright Star last updated? Bright Star was last updated on May 18, 2016, with version 1.0. The app was also released on this date. ### Can I play the tabs along with the music in Bright Star? Yes, the interactive tabs in Bright Star play along with you as you learn. This feature helps with timing and accuracy. ## Version history (last 1 release) ### 1.0 — 2016-05-18 This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon. ## Apps similar to Bright Star | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Banjo Chords Compass Lite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/banjo-chords-compass-lite/id1121685348) | 4.0 (89) | Free | Music | | [TEFpad](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tefpad/id517830471) | 4.2 (46) | $5.99 | Music | | [Tunefox](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tunefox/id1128824483) | 4.6 (834) | Free | Music | | [Start Jamming with Grass](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start-jamming-with-grass/id6741807679) | 4.8 (11) | Free | Music | | [Bluegrass Guru](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bluegrass-guru/id915585580) | 5.0 (4) | Free | Music | | [Banjo Lessons Academy](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/banjo-lessons-academy/id6448484647) | 1.0 (1) | Free | Music | ## More apps by Jiri Markalous - [Banjo Rolls Trainer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/banjo-rolls-trainer/id588384861) All apps by Jiri Markalous: https://appshunter.io/developer/569624502 ## Related topics [roscoe evans](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/roscoe-evans) · [tabs banjo](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/tabs-banjo) · [bright star](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/bright-star) · [banjo mountain](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/banjo-mountain) · [banjo obayomi](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/banjo-obayomi) · [banjo radio](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/banjo-radio) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-08.*