The Institute of American Music’s Basic Training series includes 5 books for Fiddle, Guitar, Mandolin, Bass, and Banjo. Each book is a companion to the 50 Tunes series published by Mel Bay Publications. To order all 5 Basic Training books, scroll down to the bottom of this page.
Fiddle Basics is a basic fiddle technique book that includes technique and theory basics such as: bowing exercises, bow plane, bow orientation, fingering patterns, major scales, triads/chords as diagrams and in notation format, and a graduation section. This book is designed to be a companion to the Mel Bay Publications book titled, 50 Tunes for Fiddle which is one book in a 5-book series for Fiddle, Guitar, Mandolin, Bass, and Banjo. 50 Tunes for Fiddle is a tune book with very little method or technique included, thus, the need for a companion book, especially for beginners. Fiddle Basics is also a good book for those former musicians who are returning to their fiddle/violin and wish to refresh with basic technique. Look inside Fiddle Basics. Fiddle Basics $17.99
Guitar Basics is a basic guitar method book that contains left and right hand technique including: picking patterns, fingering, major scales, the chromatic scale, how to read tablature, finger placement, basic fingerstyle guitar, flatpicking, and a graduation section. Guitar Basics is a companion book to the Mel Bay Publications book 50 Tunes for Guitar which is a guitar tune book. Guitar Basics serves as a guide through the 50 Tunes for Guitar book, providing valuable theory and technique. Even though it is oriented more toward acoustic Folk/Bluegrass guitar style, the theory and technique presented in Guitar Basics is valid for people who wish to play various styles of music. Look inside the Guitar Basics book. Guitar Basics $17.99
Mandolin Basics is a basic mandolin method book that contains left and right hand technique including: picking patterns, fingering, major scales, the chromatic scale, how to read tablature, finger placement, down/up picking with a flat pick, and a graduation section. Like the other basic training books, Mandolin Basics is a companion book to the Mel Bay Publications book 50 Tunes for Mandolin which is a mandolin tune book. Mandolin Basics serves as a guide through the 50 Tunes for Mandolin book, providing valuable theory and technique. Mandolin Basics takes the beginning mandolin player on a learning course through the most basic tunes presented in the 50 Tunes for Mandolin book. Look inside the Mandolin Basics book. Mandolin Basics $17.99
Bass Basics is a basic bass method book for both acoustic (upright) and electric bass. It contains left and right hand technique including: right-hand plucking, left-hand finger placement, fingering exercises, basic accompaniment, active accompaniment, and soloing. It also includes a “how to read tablature” section for electric bass. Bass Basics also presents fingering, bowing, and plucking concepts with photo graphics to help the student visually. And finally, it includes a graduation section that moves through all of the tunes in the 50 Tunes for Bass book published by Mel Bay Publications. Look inside the Bass Basics book. Bass Basics $14.99
Banjo Basics is a companion book to the Mel Bay Publications book 50 Tunes for Banjo which is a banjo tune book. In addition, 50 Tunes for Banjo is more of a melodic banjo book than a Bluegrass banjo book. Melodic banjo is more difficult to play. Banjo Basics not only serves as a guide through the more basic tunes found in 50 Tunes for Banjo book, but it prepares the student to play Bluegrass banjo style using some well-known Bluegrass tunes. It contains Bluegrass rolling patterns, fingering maneuvers, chord diagrams and photos, accompaniment technique, and a graduation section. Banjo Basics comes with a companion CD. Look inside the Banjo Basics book. Banjo Basics $21.99
All 5 Basics Books
All 5 Basics Books Package $75.95