Our Products

Scroll down for a list of products we currently offer. Our products are all delivered by third parties now: books are sold through Amazon, while CDs are available exclusively as MP3 downloads through Gumroad (physical CDs are no longer available). The "Buy" links will take you to the third party's page.

Songbooks

All of our songbooks feature chords in “1-4-5” notation. This key-independent system makes it easy to play any song in any key you like. In this system, the “1” chord is equal to the key you’re in, and you simply count up to find out what the other chords are. Full instructions are included with every book.

Note that sheet music is not included with any of our books. However, you can hear a sample verse and chorus of each and every song on this website in the “Songs” section.

Family Tradition Songbook

It all started with a book like this—lyrics to traditional (public domain) songs in the bluegrass/old-time/folk vein, with chords in 1-4-5 notation. Over the past decade, the list of songs has grown to a whopping 371. Printed with 12-point text.

Buy paperback ($7.95)

Family Tradition Big Print Songbook

This is the big-print edition of the Family Tradition Songbook above. Warning: At 390 pages, this is a thick, heavy book!

Buy paperback ($11.95)

Big Print Songs

This book has “only” 222 songs, but while the Family Tradition songbooks above include every public-domain song we could find, these 222 songs were carefully chosen, based on popularity and other factors. Also, this book includes historical information when available. Set in 20-point type. Includes all 100 core songs.

Buy paperback ($12.95)

Family Tradition Big Print Gospel Songbook

This book offers 168 gospel songs, a lifetime supply of commonly-played, traditional 'people music'. Each song is annotated with key-independent chord changes (a.k.a. Nashville number system), ‘jammability’, and tonal information useful for playing by ear and for singing lead and harmony.

Buy paperback ($9.95)

Instruction & Instrument Reference Books

The ToneWay Music Method

Eighth edition of our complete playing-by-ear reference manual for guitar, banjo, Dobro, fiddle, mandolin, bass, singing, and now ukulele. The instructional material here is somewhat less linear than Get Started Plus (below), but it goes deeper. Includes medium-print lyrics/chords for 36 songs.

Buy paperback ($7.95)

The ToneWay Music Method for Ukulele and Guitalele

If you're learning ukulele or guitalele, this book includes everything you'd want from the ToneWay Music Method book above, in a smaller package for a cheaper price.

Buy paperback ($6.95)

Combo Song/Instruction Books

Get Started Plus! Core Songs Edition

A beginner's introduction to the ToneWay Music Method, covering guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, Dobro, and bass (but not ukulele). Includes 100 full-page (big print) Core Songs with song histories. Chords are in key-independent ‘1-4-5’ notation 150 pages. Goes great with the Get Started Companion CD. Look inside the book for more!

Buy paperback ($12.95)

Family Tradition ToneWay Music Method and Song Reference

Eighth edition of our complete playing-by-ear reference manual for guitar, banjo, Dobro, fiddle, mandolin, bass, singing, and now ukulele. The instructional material here is somewhat less linear than Get Started Plus, but it goes somewhat deeper. Includes small-print lyrics/chords for 371 songs. At 276 pages, it's a thick book.

Buy paperback ($12.95)

The ToneWay Music Method Ukulele and Guitalele Songbook

This new book takes the parts of the ToneWay Music Method book that apply to the ukulele and guitalele, and pairs that with 100 songs in big-print (20-point) type, as in Get Started.

Buy paperback ($9.95)

CDs for Learning

Core Songs CD Series

Full band recordings of one hundred classic songs, on your choice of five CDs or one disc of MP3s. The 100 songs match the ones in Get Started Plus. Listen to the samples inside!