Dirt Simple Fiddle

Dirt Simple Fiddle will teach you the basics of the instrument to get you playing tunes in no time! This book covers technique, reading, fiddle bowings and ornaments. Included are simple tunes such as Angline the Baker, Arkansas Traveler, Battle of New Orleans, Billy the Lowground, Boil the Cabbage Down, Cripple Creek, Devil's Dream, Liberty, Liza Jane, and more. The book comes with accompanying audio

The title says it all: "Dirt Simple." This book and accompanying online audio are designed for a rank beginner who knows nothing about the hammered dulcimer, providing them the tools to make music right away. Starting with the fundamentals of how to hold hammers and tune the instrument, it delves deeper into mastery with posture, stand height/angle, and replacing strings to set up the beginner for a lifetime of good habits. Every concept introduced is simultaneously presented with illustrations and songs that demonstrate and reinforce. Whether the student reads music or plays by ear, the result is the same - music making right from the beginning! Dr. Mark Alan Wade is an experienced teacher with an undergraduate degree in music education and years of public school teaching experience. Now teaching music theory and dulcimer at Denison University, Dr. Wade offers a unique perspective on teaching hammered dulcimer and has three students who have also won the National Hammered Dulcimer Contest as evidence of his master teaching. It's all about the music! Dirt Simple Hammered Dulcimer is written so that the carefully selected tunes are the true teacher. Hands-on learning is made easy with the accompanying audio. Each song is played slowly for students to learn by ear in addition to reading notation. This also allows for the students to hear style traits such as swing, that aren't easily conveyed in written notation. With 29 songs, this book and online audio available for download are a year's worth of private lessons in one concise package!

Although designed for newcomers to the upright bass and bluegrass music in general, this unique approach to creating basslines has something for everyone! The first half focuses on bass-playing essentials, giving the reader a solid technical footing with the instrument. Then, using his own baritone voice and the classic bluegrass song, “Going Down the Road Feeling Bad,” author Nate Sabat reveals his creative process in crafting effective basslines from the song’s melody and chord progression. The second half focuses on bass playing within the specific context of complementing bluegrass vocals. Well beyond what you might expect from an introductory method, Nate tastefully guides the reader by presenting multiple composed bassline options for each of five well-known bluegrass songs: Rabbit in the Log, Don’t this Road Look Rough and Rocky?, Long Journey Home, I Am a Pilgrim, and Angel Band. Nate’s warm, pitch-perfect vocals can be heard on virtually every track, giving this method an undeniable musicality. A lightly accompanied vocal track with no bass is also provided, so you can be the sole upright or electric bassist in the band. You’ll not only want to back Nate up—but sing harmony with him too! The impulse to sing can’t help but influence your bass playing in a natural and positive way. Nate provides notated versions of the eight major scales most commonly used in bluegrass. Once you get them under your fingers, you’ll soon be able to play along with the book’s 50 companion online recordings. With its simple harmonic palette and repetitive nature, bluegrass music offers bassists the perfect opportunity to become musically literate. If you’ve hesitated to learn to read music, this is the time and place to eliminate that drawback. Working through these 46 pages will provide the tools and confidence needed to create your own engaging and musical basslines and hopefully, you’ll be inspired to continue your bluegrass bass journey for years to come. Includes access to online audio.

In this book and accompanying audio, Autoharp hall of famer Evo Bluestein provides a beginning approach to a repertoire of songs and fiddle tunes popular in old-time and bluegrass circles. Basic rhythm, chord accompaniment, lyrics and music notation make this book useful for other lead instruments as well, including fiddle, mandolin and voice. A more advanced approach can be found in Evo Bluestein's book Autoharp in Four Easy Steps, published by Mel Bay. More books and DVDs are available at www.evobluestein.com. Bluestein is known asan expert player in the style pioneered by the late Autoharp master Kilby Snow. Bluestein has also developed two successful and popular brands of Autoharp,The Evoharp and the Sparrowharp, built by two world class Autoharp luthiers. In addition to helping many adults learn music on the Autoharp for over thirty years, children in numerous schools have learned to play and sing using the Autoharp inprograms that Bluestein has implemented. He is also an accomplished dance caller, teaching folk dance as an independent contractor throughout California schools. Bluestein is co-founder of the California Autoharp Gathering. This bookcomes with access to an online audio recording featuring Evo Bluestein. Includesaccess to online audio

This book and accompanying audio provide the most basic introduction to theukulele available. Starting with a chord that requires no left hand finger at all, the book introduces simple chords and easy rhythm strums using a number of well- known songs. Students who feel totally overwhelmed by other methods will find this approach quick and easy to understand. The music on the accompanying audio is played at a moderate tempo so that beginners can play along with ease. The book is catered to students of all ages and levels. Includes access to online audio.

This book features 21 engaging public-domain and original melodies in standard notation and guitar tablature with first-verse lyrics, suggested accompaniment chords and online audio. Tips on reading tab and diagrams for frequently used chords are also provided. The tunes are arranged progressively from easy to harder, beginning with single-note melody arrangements but soon expanding with complete flatpicking guitar accompaniment— also written in both notation and tablature. As you progress through the book, you will notice more frequent occurrences of hammer-ons and pull-offs, plus a couple of melody/chord arrangements. Program notes document the many country and bluegrass artists who have recorded these songs. These melodies have clearly stood the test of time and will make a great addition to the novice country guitarist’s repertoire. Includes access to online audio.

This book was designed for the 10-string, 3-pedal steel guitar in the versatile E9 tuning. It features 20 engaging public-domain songs in standard notation and tab with first-verse lyrics, suggested accompaniment chords and online audio. The tunes are arranged progressively from easy to harder, beginning with single-note melody arrangements and expanding to 2 and 3-note harmonies towards the end of the book. As you turn the pages you will also notice more frequent use of slides, pedals and knee levers. Program notes document the many country and bluegrass artists who have recorded these songs. These melodies have clearly stood the test of time and will make a great addition to the novice pedal steel guitarist’s repertoire.

In this book and accompanying audio, Autoharp hall of famer Evo Bluestein provides a beginning approach to a repertoire of songs and fiddle tunes popular in old-time and bluegrass circles. Basic rhythm, chord accompaniment, lyrics and music notation make this book useful for other lead instruments as well, including fiddle, mandolin and voice. A more advanced approach can be found in Evo Bluestein's book Autoharp in Four Easy Steps, published by Mel Bay. More books and DVDs are available at www.evobluestein.com. Bluestein is known asan expert player in the style pioneered by the late Autoharp master Kilby Snow. Bluestein has also developed two successful and popular brands of Autoharp,The Evoharp and the Sparrowharp, built by two world class Autoharp luthiers. In addition to helping many adults learn music on the Autoharp for over thirty years, children in numerous schools have learned to play and sing using the Autoharp inprograms that Bluestein has implemented. He is also an accomplished dance caller, teaching folk dance as an independent contractor throughout California schools. Bluestein is co-founder of the California Autoharp Gathering. This bookcomes with access to an online audio recording featuring Evo Bluestein