does anyone have experience of fiddle books from  sheetmusicplus

Country Hits

Country favorites

Cajun fiddle by Craig Duncan

The Craig Duncan book is OK. It requires pretty advanced note-reading skills, and still needs a lot of messing around to sound like the real thing. Can't notate the inflections w/o making the note-reading reidiculously complex, and thus, imo, sounding stilted. Generally, Cajun music doesn't lend itself well to be written out. Players change the tunes up person-by-person and as they repeat. Folks with moderate by-ear skills can find the "core tune" w/o sheet music. I sometimes write out someone's version as an exercise & to "see" how what I'm playing looks. I always note who and when, since the next time I hear the same recording or hear that person live again, they'll play something different, or I'll hear something different.

I'm familiar with the Craig Duncan book.  I've learned a number of tunes from it and had a lot of fun.  I don't think it made me any kind of Cajun fiddler because the usual problem comes up.  I have to listen to lots and lots of Cajun to pull it together.  The book helps with some of the phrasing.  It does not come with a CD but it gives a  website that lets you download most of the tunes.  The trick is to get a sense of the tune and close the book.  It also is helpful with the chord changes.  Cajun tunes like to hold a chord a little longer before changing than you might expect.  If your guitarist gets it right the tune really carries energy well.

they keep acclaiming its(cajun book) with a CD today ? I do understand that the Cajun stuff is almost impossible to write down, it requires so much else, the best way is to travel to Lafayette,Lousiana.

I´m working on it. I will get there and receive an authentic lesson (or two) of the Masters

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sue B.

 still needs a lot of messing around to sound like the real thing.

---

 I have found that is the case with just about any music book out there...

You just hit the point ! fiddle and banjo player, its not in the books, its never been there. Books gets you started, until you find better ways.FHO is a better way....