Deluxe Fiddling Method
Book and Online Audio/Video available at Mel Bay
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!
Advanced Fiddling
Book and Online Audio available at Mel Bay
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
Book and Online Audio available at Mel Bay
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
Book and Online Audio available at Mel Bay
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
Book and Online Audio available at Mel Bay
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 and Online Audio/Video available at Mel Bay
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.
Blues Fiddling Classics
Book and Online Audio available at Mel Bay
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
Book and Online Audio available at Mel Bay
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
Book and Online PDF available at Mel Bay
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
Book and Online Audio available at Mel Bay
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
Available at Mel Bay: Violin 1 & 2; Violin 3/Viola; 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
Available at Mel Bay: Violin 1 & 2; Violin 3/Viola; 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.