Best Upcoming Concerts

This combination of melodic and rhythmic styles became the foundation for jazz, blues, rock and roll, country, bluegrass, modern folk and more. It is this unique “synthesis” quality that makes “mountain music” a perfect launchpad for those ‘modern’ styles and a perfect ‘home base’ for followers of other styles to come together.

Song Origins

Most of these songs in the public domain, though a few may not be—it can be very hard to tell sometimes. Some are traditional songs with no known author, others were originally old parlor songs that have gone out of copyright. However, they all “traditional” in the sense that they have entered the oral tradition.

The “Core Songs” Designation [core]

We picked 100 songs that represent some of the best and most commonly-played songs in ‘people music’. They're featured in our songbooks as well as a CD series; see below.
[core] indicates a "core song."

Testimony for the ToneWay Method

“I have been trying to teach myself mandolin for 7 years, and average buying one book a year. Get Started is the best book yet! It was obviously written by people who care about the reader actually learning something.”
Bill Herzog, Rogue River, OR
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“Your book was very inspiring and very well written, definitely the best music advice I've ever received. Thanks a lot!”
Mike McCormick, Meadville, PA
(read more quotes) “I tried your Method and it worked for me. After a couple of years of trying to play the fiddle this is what I’ve been looking for!”
Joseph Czeiszperger, Louisville, KY
(read more quotes) “The book [Get Started] is excellent, even for a slow learner like myself! Thank you so much for your help.”
Toni, Houston, TX
(read more quotes) “I've just spent the last few days playing fiddle nonstop out of a method book called "Get Started." I love this book. I love playing the fiddle. This is So Fun!!!”
JessicaRose on Fiddle Hangout
(read more quotes) “I spent endless hours in the past memorizing notation for picking songs. Within the first few days [of using the ToneWay Method], I can now pick some by ear. Thanks so much!”
Todd Boughan, Lima, OH
(read more quotes) “I started with the ToneWay Method yesterday and really enjoy it! It has filled in many holes and questions about how music works and how to find my way around a fretboard. Good job!”
Dave Lyons, Aspen, CO
(read more quotes) “Your method makes playing a lot of fun...if I had your book a few years ago (when I started playing), I would've had a lot more fun with my guitar, and I would have been invited to a lot more jams.”
Jack Gottlob, New Jersey
(read more quotes) “I'm having so much fun learning these old songs and playing my mandolin along with the CD. I really don't know where else I could have gotten such a resource!”
Mary Ann Eason, South GA
(read more quotes) “Just got your book and CD, which I love. It has helped me more than anything I've done the last two years to get me up to speed playing with my little bluegrass group here in Colorado.”
Anni Porter, Palmer Lake, CO