ISBN 9781619114883. 11.75 x 8.75 inches. Fiddle Tunes in DADGAD shows how fingerstyle guitarists can use DADGAD tuning to play traditional tunes, including twenty-four complete arrangements of common American, Irish and Scottish ballads, airs, jigs and reels. The book explores techniques and patterns for playing melodies across the strings, producing a harp-like effect that adds a distinctive and beautiful character to traditional melodies. In addition to building repertoire, the material demonstrates ways to arrange your own melodies or even write your own tunes based on the techniques provided. This is a perfect follow-up for guitarists who have studied Understanding DADGAD for Fingerstyle Guitar and are looking for tunes to learn, or for those who want to go deeper into harp-style playing. It is also an excellent introduction for those who prefer to just dive head-first into DADGAD by learning some classic tunes. Includes access to online audio.

Internationally acclaimed guitarist Ellsworth ("El") McMeen has done over 220 solo fingerstyle guitar arrangements and compositions in the last 30 years. He has numerous recordings, books,
and DVD lessons and has concertized throughout the United States.

Of his work, he has selected for this voluminous book
60 pieces with his favorite melodies. (Among them is an instrumental
he composed for his wife, called "Song for Sheila.")

The music is diverse in genre and mood, but each piece is compelling in its own way.
Included are folk tunes, a classical piece, hymns, a patriotic song,
ancient Celtic harp music, lullabies, El's favorite Christmas song
("In the Bleak Midwinter"), El's favorite Irish jig ("The Kid on the Mountain"),
laments, love songs, and Irish airs.

El is included in the Digitaldreamdoor listing of the 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists.
https://tinyurl.com/GreatestGuitarists Several of his recordings are referenced here:
https://elmcmeen.bandcamp.com/

The audio sampler contains all or part of the following selections, in the CGDGAD tuning
except as otherwise indicated. (When El has recorded some of this music, he has used a capo,
usually at fret II or IV, for tonal atmosphere.)

1. America the Beautiful
2. Be Still, My Soul
3. Be Thou My Vision
4. Carolan's Concerto
5. Carolan's No. 179
6. Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
7. Give Me Your Hand
8. Hector the Hero
9. In the Bleak Midwinter
10. Jerusalem (Drop D)
11. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
12. Kid on the Mountain
13. My Mary of the Curling Hair
14. Niel Gow's Lament for the Death of His Second Wife
15. Rose of Allendale
16. Song for Sheila

Four songs from The British Isles arranged for solo acoustic fingerstyle guitar in DADGAD tuning. Four songs include All Through The Night, The Star of The County Down, The Ash Grove, and Skye Boat Song.

Traditional Folk songs from any country take on a magical quality when playedharp style in altered tuning. These arrangements are great for students justbeginning to explore altered tunings, or for more advanced guitarists wishing toadd to their gig repertoire.

You can follow me and my arrangements/compositions at the following websites:

Evocative, harplike, fingerstyle guitar arrangement in Drop D tuning (DADGBE) by guitarist El McMeen of a Christian hymn. El is included in the Digitaldreamdoor listing of the 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists. https://tinyurl.com/GreatestGuitarists Many of El's recordings are described here: https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/ElMcMeen El's recording of this song in CGDGAD tuning is contained in his album called "Gospel Guitar Treasures" at this site: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/elmcmeen7.