Looking for fingerstyle compilations
 

I'm looking for some more fingerstyle compilation CDs for my collection. I currently have "Masters of Acoustic Guitar" from 1987, "Guitar Fingerstyle" from 1996, and "Touch: Windham Hill" from (2001).

My favorites on those CDs are by Edward Gerhard (Crow), Pat Kirtley (Daisy Goes a Dancing), Benjamin Woolman (Soul Discovery), If I Only Had Wings (D.R. Auten), Bill Mize (The Road Scholar), Muir Woods (Andrew York), Alex De Grassi (Turning: Turning Back) . . . and of course everything by Michael Hedges and Billy McLaughlin.

I dislike the songs by Don Ross, Muriel Anderson, and Doyle Dukes on those albums, though it could just be those songs.

Any recommendations are appreciated!

(I should mention that for full albums, I already have all of Hedges and McLaughlin's stuff, as well as Bruce Cockburn, Al Petteway, Pierre Bensusan, Leo Kottke, John Fahey, and several others)

I really kind of depends on what you are into. I agree that many of those books might have cool artists while not showcasing their best work.

One of my very favorites is from lesser known Brian Gore. He has an excellent book out that is an great read even if you don't like the transcriptions (and IMO those are great too). It's called Fingerstyle Guitar/ Lessons in Technique and Creativity. You can look up the music on it by visiting YouTube. This book isn't for you if you are not looking for an interesting read from the founder of International Guitar Night or if you want a ton of well known songs.

BTW, I like your forum handle; obviously you are a fan of Hedges. His son sent out a survey of what fans would like to see best on a website he was developing but it has been probably 2 years since I filled that survey out and then I never heard another word about it. A new Hedges site would be fantastic!

Thanks for the book recommendation, I'll look into it. Any other fingerstyle CD compilations you recommend?

Yes, I'm a Hedges devotee. He's unparalleled, in my opinion, in creativity, tone, musicality, and passion. I had actually heard that a different guy, Jake White, was developing a new website and writing a biography or something along those lines, but I'm not sure of the progress there.

Solid Air, AcousticMusicResource.com has a bunch of samplers and collections.

There's a couple of Mel Bay books that are massive collections. Can't remember the titles right now. They used to come with CDs, probably downloads now.

If you have spotify or pandora, just put in the name of a player you like, it it will play a "radio" program based on that artist, bringing in others who they at least think are related. Kind of a "make your own random compilation" approach.

You might also check out Doug Adam's radio show, which is archived at Mixcloud:

https://www.mixcloud.com/dougadamz/

Over 100 episodes, and he starts each show with a half hour of fingerstyle guitar from all kinds of players, making for a nice sampler.

Thanks, Doug, I appreciate the recommendations. I'm interested in the radio show for sure!

The original release of Mel Bay's Master Anthology of Fingerstyle Solos III actually came with a CD & the tab/notation book. Now of course it's available as an ebook and online audio.

My composition, Crossing Crystal Lake, is included in it. Somewhere I'll bet I have an unopened copy of it. I don't read or write tab so I was not able to proof read the tab for Stephen Rekas, the editor.

It must be fairly accurate because I've seen about 6-7 covers of my composition on Youtube, and most of them are close.

https://www.melbay.com/Products/2024...-volume-3.aspx

Regards,
Howard Emerson

That's one the books I was thinking of, apparently in 3 volumes. I also have a book "2000 Fingerpicking", which seems to have been renamed to Master Anthology Volume 1, out of print?

There's also a new book out from Hal Leonard called "Flying Fingers"

https://www.halleonard.com/product/3...flying-fingers

Fingerstyle Guitar- New Dimensions and Explorations Volume 1,2 & 3 from Stefan Grossmans Guitar workshop. All dvds come with tab and there was a book put out as well. I found the set very enjoyable and inspirational.

This three DVD set features new and archival footage of performances by the preeminent names in steel-string fingerstyle guitar.

John Fahey, Bert Jansch, Jorma Kaukonen, Will Ackerman, Adrian Legg, Buster B. Jones, Preston Reed and Woody Mann, John Renbourn, Stefan Grossman, Pat Donohue, Dave Evans, John Knowles, Duck Baker, Marcel Dadi, El McMeen, Chris Proctor and Joe Miller, Martin Taylor, Martin Simpson, Bob Brozman, Larry Coryell, Steve Howe, Martin Carthy, Peppino D'Agostino, Tim Sparks and Gordon Giltrap

This is the best fingerstyle compilation album I've ever heard...

Guitar Sampler Volume I

Was going to recommend this next but you beat me to it. This is quite a book covering everything from Elizabeth Cotton to Mike Dawes. Pretty cool compilation really.

Ex-Windham Hill founder Will Ackerman won a Grammy in 2005 for his album 'Returning' on which he re-recorded tracks from his earlier albums.

In the liner notes he mentions he uses a microphone in his home studio that is worth more than the total production costs of his first two albums!

The AGF put out, I think, three CD compilations of music from AGF members in the past. I don't know if those CDs are available anymore. I thought those CDs were quite good.

- Glenn