Books by Craig Duncan
Go to Mel Bay's website and see all of Craig Duncan's books
Deluxe Fiddling Method
Book | Book & CD | CD | Book & DVD | DVD | VHS
This book presents a general survey of American fiddling. The author's intent is to teach the basics of fiddling by beginning with essential bowings and fingerings, and progressing from simple to more complex renditions of tunes. As fiddling is an aural tradition and fiddlers from different parts of the country play a given tune in many ways, tunes included in this book are offered only as renditions rather that exact statements of the tunes themselves. The author has attempted to present usable fingerings, bowings and explanations of each of the 49 tunes in this book. The end result is the most widely-used fiddle method available!
Be sure to get the video on DVD
or VHS.
Advanced Fiddling
A follow-up book on Craig Duncan's popular "Deluxe
Fiddling Method" containing 40 great fiddle solos in the
keys of F, B-flat, E major, E minor, and A minor. Also
features tunes in altered tunings,
contest-style-breakdowns, ragtime tunes, and additional
fiddling favorites. The split-track CD features full
performances of the first 36 tunes in the book, split
between fiddle solo and guitar accompaniment.
Top Fiddle Solos
If you are looking for exciting and challenging fiddle
solos by one of America's hottest fiddlers, this book is
for you. Contains Craig's outstanding fiddle arrangements
on: Dueling Fiddles; Rocky Top; Black Mountain Rag;
Tennessee Waltz; Faded Love; Cajun Fiddle; Jole Blon;
Gardenia Waltz; Draggin' the Bow; Granny Does Your Dog
Bite?; Black-Eyed Suzie; Wabash Cannonball; and many more.
Presents 60 great fiddling tunes! The CD is sparkling
stereo listening recording featuring Craig Duncan backed up
by a top Nashville country rhythm section!
Fiddling Handbook
A valuable and handy reference text for any fiddler.
Contains scales and studies, modes, chord studies, bowing,
vibrato, introductions, endings, patterns, licks, and
etudes in the keys of G, A, B, C, E, F, B-flat, E-flat,
A-flat, D-flat, and F-sharp! Companion CD is split-track.
Easiest Fiddling Book
Contains two dozen arrangements of tunes for the
beginning fiddler or violinist. This book begins with the
easiest arrangements and progresses in difficulty. Each
tune is written in music notation with chord changes
followed by a fingering chart.
You Can Teach Yourself Fiddling
Book | Book & CD | CD | Book & DVD | DVD | VHS
With You Can Teach Yourself Fiddling, veteran Mel Bay
author, Craig Duncan, has produced an excellent book for
the beginning fiddler. Its 36 lessons teach basic
techniques through specific exercises and traditional
fiddle tunes. From holding the fiddle and bow correctly to
playing moderately advanced tunes in double stops, Craig
will guide you through each progressive step. Although it
is not necessary to be able to read music at the start of
this book, the author gradually introduces principles of
effective note reading throughout. A unique feature of this
book is that the same tune may appear in more than one
lesson, increasing in difficulty with each recurrence. Each
variation builds on the previous one and assists students
in learning how to create their own arrangements. Even with
some repetitions of the same tune, you'll find more than 50
popular fiddle tunes in the book's 80 pages. "Check points"
and reviews keep you on track from cover to cover. The
companion video covers the first 17 lessons from the book.
Be sure to get the video on DVD
or VHS.
Blues Fiddling Classics
25 blues classics arranged for fiddling solo. Songs are
grouped into 12 bar blues, 16 bar blues, early blues songs,
minor blues, and more. Designed to acquaint the fiddler
with various approaches to the styles in blues fiddling.
Stereo recording, with fiddle and guitar, include all
twenty five tunes from the book. Each tune is presented
with the "bare bones" melody first, followed by blues solos
on the tune. The tape is great for learning blues fiddle
styles as well as listening enjoyment. Contains guitar
accompaniment/rhythm part.
The Cajun Fiddle
Beginning with a section of easy arrangements of popular
Cajun tunes, this book progresses to more difficult solos
based on the playing of various fiddlers including Dewey
Balfa, Michael Doucet, Doug Kershaw, and Rufus Thibodeaux.
Cajun stylings, rhythms, double stops, slides, turns and
trills, bowings, and tunings are discussed throughout the
book. Fiddle and guitar are used in demonstrating the tunes
in this book. The recorded versions are played at a slower
tempo than typical performance speed to allow the listener
to pick out details of the Cajun style. Due to the 1 hour
capacity of a CD a few of the tunes in the book had to be
omitted from the companion recording included in this
package (songs are Eunice Two-Step, J'Ai Vu Le Loup, Je Va
T'Aimer Quand-Meme, Johnny Peut Pas Danser, Le Vieux Boeuf
Et Le Vieux Charriot, Les Veuves De La Coulee, Ninety-Nine
Years Waltz, Quo Faire, Vieux Crowley).
A Fiddling Christmas
This book contains many types of Christmas and holiday
tunes from a wide variety of sources. Each tune has
suggested bowings, guitar chords, an optional harmony part
and a piano accompaniment along with information on the
origin of the tune.
The Craig Duncan Master Fiddle Solo Collection
Presents 144 of the most frequently played tunes in old
time fiddle contests as well as the most popular bluegrass,
square dance and country tunes heard throughout the United
States. The performance length arrangements of contest
tunes include standard as well as challenging variations on
hoe-downs, rags, polkas, show pieces, and waltzes complete
with suggested accompaniment chords. This encyclopedia of
fiddle tunes and variations spotlights American popular
fiddle music as played by the great fiddlers of our time.
Famous Fiddlin' Tunes QWIKGUIDE
This affordable 5 1/2" by 8" QWIKGUIDE offers 43
traditional fiddle solos in standard notation with chord
symbols. Selections include: Arkansas Traveler; Back Up and
Push; The Blarney Pilgrim; Beaumont Rag; Bill Cheatham;
Billy in the Lowground; Blackberry Blossom; Bonaparte's
Retreat; Cotton-eyed Joe; Cripple Creek; Down Yonder; Dill
Pickle Rag; Drowsy Maggie; Durham's Bull; Eighth of
January; Fisher's Hornpipe; Fire on the Mountain; Garry
Owen; Haste to the Wedding; Jolie Blond; Maidens Prayer;
and more. The attached CD contains performances of all the
tunes in the book.
Also available in Japanese from ATN, Inc.
American Fiddle Tunes for Solo and Ensemble
Violin 1 & 2 | Viola, Violin 3 & Ensemble Score | Cello & Bass
This collection contains 16 traditional fiddling tunes
from across North America. They are arranged in a theme and
variation format, typical of American fiddling. The
authentic fiddling style harmonies are written so that
various combinations from solo instrument with piano to
duets and trios to full string quartet/orchestra are
possible. Includes viola melody (solo), viola harmony,
third violin, and full score which includes violin, viola
and cello parts with piano accompaniment. American Fiddle
Tunes for Solo and Ensemble books are written as ensemble
books, so they can be played as solo books with piano
accompaniment or together as ensemble.
Celtic Fiddle Tunes for Solo and Ensemble
Violin 1 & 2 | Viola, Violin 3 & Ensemble Score | Cello & Bass
This collection contains 14 arrangements of 22 traditional tunes from Ireland and Scotland in a variety of styles including jigs, reels, hornpipes, slip jigs, strathspeys, waltzes and airs. The harmonies are written so that various combinations from solo instrument with piano, to duets and trios, to full string quartet/orchestra are possible. The cello book includes melody (solo) cello, cello harmony, bass and piano accompaniment. All of the Celtic Tunes for Solo and Ensemble books (Violin, Viola and Cello/Bass) are written as ensemble books, so they can be played as solo books or together as ensemble.