Fiddle From Scratch: An Un-Shuffled Guide for the Bowless!

$23.00

This book and accompanying audio are an excellent introduction to the fiddle and old-time music. The lessons are designed to help the reader develop a solid foundation on the instrument.

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Southern Appalachian native Dan Levenson and Mel Bay Publications present Fiddle from Scratch – An Un-shuffled Guide for the Bow-less!

This book teaches old time fiddle the way we play, not the way others say. It really begins as though you really have NO knowledge of how to play the fiddle in the old time style.

This book and accompanying audio are an excellent introduction to the fiddle and old-time music. The lessons are designed to help the reader develop a solid foundation on the instrument. The book employs a practical teaching style, rather than traditional methods and conventions. A brief history of the fiddle is presented first, followed by a visual overview of the instrument, basic technique and playing style. Twelve jam session tunes are included, along with a commentary on jam session etiquette and an extensive discography of suggested recordings. The audio includes slow and up-to-speed versions of all the exercises and tunes. Includes access to extensive online audio.

Like Dan’s innovative Clawhammer Banjo From Scratch, this book assumes no prior experience. Beginning at the beginning, Dan presents a brief history of the fiddle then goes over the parts of the fiddle and bow, holding the fiddle and bow, right and left hand positions and basic playing style.

You are first guided through the D scale and then the individual notes of each of 12 jam session favorite tunes from scratch. The book concludes by presenting several other keys (G, C, A and A Cross) and a tunes in each of those keys, a discussion of jam etiquette and a discography of 50 important old time fiddle recordings. Download audio with all exercises, tunes (slow and up to speed), and a fiddle version of each tune.

15 Tunes Taught

  1. Angelina Baker
  2. Arkansas Traveler
  3. Forked Deer
  4. Fortune
  5. Mississippi Sawyer
  6. Old Molly Hare
  7. Over the Waterfall
  8. Rock the Cradle, Joe
  9. Soldier’s Joy
  10. Spotted Pony
  11. West Fork Gals
  12. The Year of Jubilo (Lincoln’s Gunboats)
  13. Whistling Rufus (G)
  14. Monkey on a Dogcart (C)
  15. Salty River Reel (A and A cross)