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Strings Magazine: 

" This small volume(75 pages) contains a wealth of information for fiddlers unfamiliar with swing and western swing who are looking for sources(both recorded and written). The biographies, discographies, and bibliographies, while brief, provide and excellent starting point, and the text is filled with wonderful little quotations and advice from the likes of Johnny Gimble and Stuff Smith. 

 

Ryan Thomson himself makes many intelligent observations and suggestions....Swing fiddle is written with integrity and objectivity and may be of of great interest to those folks wanting, as the subtitle says, an introduction."

 

Description of the book:

 

by Ryan J. Thomson, 75 pages, 5.5" by 8.5", comb bound, This book includes jazz chord fingering charts for all 12 keys, circle of fifths, chord building tables and theory, techniques for developing improvization ability, discographies and biographies of 16 major jazz violinists and Texas swing fiddlers. ISBN 978-0-931877-19-3, 1990, $16.95

 

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From Happy Customers:

 

Hi Ryan,

 Thanks for the book! I have been benefiting from your helpful suggestions -- I especially took to the advice of practicing all patterns through the circle of 5ths (F# and C# -- yuck!). It's also very nice to have discography, printed material and camp resources all in one place.

thanks again!

C. B.

Minneapolis, MN

 

Dear Captain Fiddle,

I am in possession of your excellent publication, Swing Fiddle, an Introduction. I am learning a great deal from it. I am a beginner fiddler. Please send me more information regarding your other publications Ryan Thomson. Thank you for your great contributions to the world of fiddling.

sincerely, J.M.

Stuart, Florida

 

Thank you for your prompt response. I've already read the book through once and was

very pleased with it. I'm 40 and took up the fiddle two years ago( I've played guitar for

26 years). .....Your book has a lot of information that will be great to have at my finger tips, it lives up to all the reviews I read.(Swing Fiddle)

Thanks again

Hope to see you play sometime

M. B.