Fiddle Studio Book 1: Fiddling for the Complete Beginner

Updated in 2025, the second edition of Fiddle Studio Book 1 fixes errors, updates links and product info, and adds even more easy, beginner fiddle tunes.It’s never too late to start fiddling!Learn the fiddle from scratch from setting up to play and holding the instrument to playing easy tunes. In this book Megan Wobus Beller, the founder of Fiddle Studio, takes the tunes and techniques from a whole year of fiddle lessons and puts it all in one place.It’s the information you need to start with no experience, and you can reference it again and again. Meg covers the common questions and concerns and answers with her expert perspective from 25 years of teaching.Over 30 fiddle tunes are organized in an intuitive order that builds new skills one at a time. Each tune is presented first with fingerings and strings, and then in standard notation with chords.You do not need to read music to learn the tunes in this book! All tunes have a free video in one easy playlist on the Fiddle Studio YouTube channel.Book 1 topics:Fiddle, bow, accessories, tapes, rosin, tuning, bowgrip, set up, hand position, bowing, reading, high and low fingers, tension, the pinky, highway, hitting the right string, playing by ear, singing, string care, listening, playlists, the mirror, mutes, finger care, slow practice, writing in, teacher ears, breaks, playing with others, sessions per week, and planning practice.Book 1 scales and tunes:A major: Boil Them Cabbage Down, Cripple Creek in A, Britches Full of Stitches, Candy Girl, Steamboat Quickstep, Jenny's Gone to Linton, Speed the Plow, Jessica's Polka, Margaret’s WaltzA Major Modal: Old Joe Clark, Sandy Boys, June AppleD Major: Kerry Polka, Angeline the Baker, Spotted Pony, Julianne Johnson, Daniel of the Sun, John Ryan's Polka, Off She GoesA minor: The Bear Dance, Star of the County Down, Griffin Road, Hommage Led Zepplin, Frosty MorningG Major: Mari’s Wedding, Golden Slippers, Rakes of Mallow, Rebel RaidD Major Modal: Bill Harte's JigE minor: The Wren, The Dancing Bear, The Butterfly, Drowsy MaggiePlus: St. Antoine's Reel, and All the RageFor teachers: Megan brings a unique perspective from studying classical violin and music education at Eastman, Suzuki training, and growing up fiddling. If you teach violin and are looking for authentic fiddle tunes your students will love, this book has all the tunes you need for students in Suzuki Book 1 and 2. If you are a fiddle teacher looking for a classical perspective for your students, this book covers topics in depth such as bow grip, left wrist, gear, and practicing. Read more