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Some book questions.
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Dan-Hur

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June 11, 2014 - 10:14 pm
Member Since: May 16, 2014
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Just wondered if anyone here has used the Old-Time Fiddle for the Complete Ignoramus by Wayne Erbsen. I can read music a bit now(so long as it's in the D, C or G major keys), but I'm looking for something relatively easy to understand and will help me build up a bit. If anyone has used this book before or knows of any others they would recommend, I'd really appreciate hearing from you.

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Barry
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June 11, 2014 - 11:23 pm
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Yep, I used it when I first started. I really liked the book and it was easy to follow. After I out grew it I passed it on to a friend

There is no shame in playing twinkle, youre playing Mozart

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Panzón

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June 12, 2014 - 9:20 am
Member Since: May 12, 2014
Forum Posts: 28
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I'm using The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing the Fiddle. It covers the basic's of fiddle playing, and has chapters on the Scottish, Irish, Old-Time, and Bluegrass styles, followed by chapters on more advanced techniques, playing up the neck, and playing faster. The empahsis is on learning to play by ear, although the basics of reading music are covered. All the sheet music includes fingering notation, and fingerboard charts of the proper key appear with the printed music for each tune, but they are a little small for me to see while playing. The book comes with a DVD (that plays on my DVD player, but not on my laptop's DVD player) that has some basic video lessons along with audio tracks of all the tunes included in the book. I'm only just beginning, but it seems like a good, basic book on learning to play the fiddle. It's a little light on exercises, but has 80+ tunes. I like having an audio of how the tune should sound, but I would have preferred a format other than DVD. 

If you're looking for something more advanced, that covers more fiddle styles, and provides a more in-depth breakdown of the techniques used in each style, look at The Fiddle Handbook. It assumes you have the basics down pat, and focuses on the history of each style, and what makes each style unique. The book is heavy on fingering and bowing exercises, and has only a few tunes in each style. The fiddle styles covered are Irish, Scottish, English, Klezmer, Eastern European, Old-time, Cajun, Bluegrass, Western Swing, Country, Blues, Rock, and Jazz. All the exercises and tunes are included on 2 audio CDs that come with the book.

Neither of these books focus solely on the Old-Time fiddle style, though, so they may not be what you're looking for.

Mike

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coolpinkone
California, the place of my heart
June 21, 2014 - 12:34 pm
Member Since: January 11, 2012
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I keep hearing about the Idiot's Guide.  Two and a half years into my endeavor I might give it a shot.   I will be getting a copy of this book for my collection.

It can't hurt. I keep hearing good things about it.   (I don't like to buy Idiot guide books usually)  Not solely because the name, but in the past I bought some and they reading and applying them did not remove my idiot status. LOL

 

:) Thanks

Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
June 21, 2014 - 5:16 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16577

coolpinkone said
I keep hearing about the Idiot's Guide.  Two and a half years into my endeavor I might give it a shot.   I will be getting a copy of this book for my collection.

It can't hurt. I keep hearing good things about it.   (I don't like to buy Idiot guide books usually)  Not solely because the name, but in the past I bought some and they reading and applying them did not remove my idiot status. LOL

 

:) Thanks

Too funny. However, don't feel bad, the 'Idiot's Guide' is just a marketing strategy and I'm sure that you are not alone.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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DanielB
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June 23, 2014 - 9:26 am
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If Pierre's instructional videos were a bit more organized and had some written explanation of what to work on first and what to get down before moving to the next video, they'd be at least a big chunk of a "method".  Just one done with videos online, rather than a book.

Meaning like if the "Where Do I Start" section under "Learning tools" went on past "Twinkle". 

"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
June 23, 2014 - 9:14 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16577

That is a great point Daniel. I have thought about that many times. I get so many emails asking for more instructional videos. I am great at a lot of things but I admit that I am not super organized. LOL
Which gives me an idea!!!
I can start over and make a method from the VERY beginning to advanced, but with all you guys help. You'll let me know exactly what a beginner wants to know, how basic, what to show and what not to show......

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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