Music
Updated Dec 12, 2024
Chord Encyclopedia for 1400 Fiddle Tunes and Country Dance Melodies
For guitar, piano, accordion, mandolin, etc
Description:
This 120 page book by Ryan Thomson contains chords for approximately 1450 tunes, including contra, square dance, old timey, Irish, French Canadian, Scottish, bluegrass, and common jam session tunes, including hoedowns, reels, jigs, waltzes, hornpipes, rags, and more. Tunes are arranged alphabetically to find easily. The format is easy to read and consists of chords specified by capital letters and arranged in the order of the parts of each tune.
I carry the smaller size version in my fiddle case so that when I jam with other musicians, they'll know what chords go best with my fiddle tunes. Guitar, banjo, mandolin, or piano players often carry one so that they can play along with fiddlers and other melody instruments. When I play piano backup for fiddlers I set a copy of my book right in front of me on the piano so that I can read the chords and play them right along with the fiddler and the the band. The larger size has larger print for easier reading. For information on the theory behind chords I recommend this book.
ISBN 978-0-931877-32-2, Compact Size,
5.5" by 8.5" $21.95 -
Secure Online Payment. Free shipping within the USA. Click here for instructions to mail payment or figure foreign shipping costs.
ISBN 978-0-931877-31-5, Large Print Size,
8.5" x 11" $27.95 -
From Happy Customers:
Thanks a lot for putting together such a great book of chords; i already have one and wanted another for a gift.
J.K.
Lowelville, Ohio
Dear Ryan,
I just wanted to let you know I received your book and have really enjoyed using it. Several of our friends play various instruments and jam regularly. I don't play by ear or read music well, so your book has allowed me to play along with most of the tunes they play. Thanks so much.
C. B.
Stewartstown, Pennsylvania
Thanks so much. I played music last night with a group in C. (9 fiddles, 2 mandolins and a couple of guitars - talk about a wall of fiddles!) and one of the players had your book. I'm one of the mando players, but your chord book is perfect to tuck in the case when we come up against a tune we don't know.
M. J.
Ryan
I'll pass on a quick story. I went to a dance camp a few summers ago in Buffalo Gap. Never did anything like it . I'm an electronic musician, had bought a 12 string acoustic a few years back and enjoy playing it. They were forming a waltz band at the camp and I was eager to learn but didn't know many of the songs. The camp had a little shop filled with all things dance, including your books, including the 1400 fiddle tunes. I bought it, and in a few days was up and performing in a waltz band filled with guitarists and fiddlers. What a great time that was. I'll never forget it. Thanks for making it easy to make music.
all the best,
B.B.
Silver Springs, Maryland