Can anyone recommend a good beginner Fiddle Book

[Whistler from Oz]

I've just bought myself a starter level fiddle I'm after a book that can help me with the basic set-up and technique that can help me learn enough on the fiddle to get me to a slow session.

Any experiences with good Beginner to intermediate books would be great

Best wishes

[fiddlerwill]

http://cgi.ebay.ie/Matt-Cranitch-Irish- ... Storage_SM

[Whistler from Oz]

http://cgi.ebay.ie/Matt-Cranitch-Irish- ... Storage_SM

Thanks for the suggestion - this book looks good

[s1m0n]

It is frequently said by better experts than I that fiddle is not an instrument that is easily self-taught.

[Rob Sharer]

Cranitch book is great. And Simon's right.


Rob

[Whistler from Oz]

It is frequently said by better experts than I that fiddle is not an instrument that is easily self-taught.

Cranitch book is great. And Simon's right.


Rob

I go to a session weekly where the teacher is going to help get me started and where I can watch other players (while I play my whistle). Other than that, I have a strong resolve to learn this instrument. I may need it!

[kgallagher]

Not Irish - but very good beginner/early intermediate books are Brian Wicklund's American Fiddle Method Vol 1 and 2.

They have play along CD's - and Vol 1 comes as a Book/CD/DVD combo that is helpful with bow and fiddle grip, etc.

Make sure your fiddle has been set up properly - you want every bit of help you can get when tackling this one!

Cheers!

KG

[nancymae]

I am learning to play the fiddle as well, I got my father's fiddle refurbished and it sounds great! (at least when a professional plays it...I sound like a alley cat!) I purchased the Idiot's Guide for Fiddle Playing. I looked at the book at Barnes & Nobel and it has alot of nice background reading about fiddles and fiddle music. It also comes with a DVD/CD for you to watch how the author plays as well as listen to many of the tunes in the book. The best thing about this, is that the author is a former member of the group, Gaelic Storm..so she really knows how to play! It takes you from the very basics and into the various genres--Irish, Scottish, Bluegrass, Old time. I am using this book first and also have the other book mentioned in the above posts.

Good luck with your fiddling...are you past the alley cat sounding stage yet? I've only been at it for a week...so my dog begs to be let out when I get out the fiddle!

Please keep us posted!

Nancy

[Whistler from Oz]

I am learning to play the fiddle as well, I got my father's fiddle refurbished and it sounds great! (at least when a professional plays it...I sound like a alley cat!) I purchased the Idiot's Guide for Fiddle Playing. I looked at the book at Barnes & Nobel and it has alot of nice background reading about fiddles and fiddle music. It also comes with a DVD/CD for you to watch how the author plays as well as listen to many of the tunes in the book. The best thing about this, is that the author is a former member of the group, Gaelic Storm..so she really knows how to play! It takes you from the very basics and into the various genres--Irish, Scottish, Bluegrass, Old time. I am using this book first and also have the other book mentioned in the above posts.

Good luck with your fiddling...are you past the alley cat sounding stage yet? I've only been at it for a week...so my dog begs to be let out when I get out the fiddle!

Please keep us posted!

Nancy

I've found myself a starter book from the local second hand store. It is a violin starter book for high school students and is enough to get me started with a few basic songs and scales.

After 4 practice sessions so far, I'm loving the instrument - I scratch a bit, but not nearly as bad as I had expected. It is exciting, as now I can play a full scale and a couple of basic tunes, I feel like I am a fiddler already. (an actual fiddler may beg to differ, but it will be good to keep that feeling going)

Good luck with your journey on the fiddle too Nancy!