Granger's Companion CD Set for the Guitar

[Stu Mitchell]

I'm thinking about buying Granger's CD set to augment his great fiddle tune book. There are so many tunes, that it's kind of hard to tell what to learn next. So I thought it would make sense to buy the CDs, listen to the tunes and pick the next target for my attention. But... $100 seems like a lot.

Anybody have an experience with the CDs?

Thanks.

[Bruce Bushaw]

Stu, I have had them for about a year. They are basically an exact one time though of the tab given in the book with Adam playing on one track and some rather mushy backup on the other track. Like the tab they are 'simplest' arrangements to let you know what the tunes sound like. I listened to almost all 508 tunes when I got the CD's and ticked off ~ 50 that I'd like to learn 'someday'. Haven't used them much since. I think I need to develop more skill in embellishing the simple arrangements before I'll get too much use out of them. On the other hand, if you ever wanted to know what the "Newfoundland Breakdown" sounds like - this is the place to find it.

Overall, I find the book a nice reference, and the CD a nice addition. Whether it is worth $100 - well, still less than $0.20 per tune, but questionable - depend on how much $100 means to you.

-Bruce

(A year ago they were only $80)

[Stu Mitchell]

Thanks for the info. That's my plan, too. I hope to play them all while I commute to work and then find the ones that strike a chord with me. ;) Then, learn them... sounds like we have/had the same intention.

FGM has been a great resource to help me learn licks, etc. I especially like how Brad Davis and Orrin Star arrange their tunes. Sometimes, those runs just pop out of nowhere when I'm fiddling around with a tune. (OK - enough bad puns!)

Thanks again.

[Bruce Bushaw]

Hey Stu, sounds like we are coming from the same direction - most of the favorites on my play list come either from Brad Davis' Flatpick Jam DVDs (Temperance Reel, Forked Deer, Angeline the Baker, Cattle in Cane, St Anne's Reel . . .) and Orrin Star's columns in the FGM archives (Lonesome Moonlight Waltz, Shady Grove, . . .). I especially like OS when he is trying to be 'Blake-like' and does pieces that are really full sounding for solo guitar without any backup.

In retrospect the $100 for Granger's CDs is not all that bad - kind of like an Oxford Unabridged Dictionary - expensive and you don't use it that often, but when you do - nothing quite like it. A great addition to the reference shelf (if you can afford it).

[Gary Foster]

As soon as I get back to work, I am gonna buy the cd's too. I have no idea how good they are but all I need it to hear the song played as the tab is written. How hard is that? I am sure they are just fine.