Appalachian Autoharp

Book excerpt: The book, musician, entertainer, teacher, and recording artist Carol Stober provides melody lines, lyrics, chord symbols, and melody tablature for 35 tunes she learned in Appalachia. the stories woven through the music portray a mixture of life situations that were ever-present in the difficult struggle for survival of our ancestors. the lyrics of many of these songs, although sometimes harsh, give insight into the values of the Appalachian people. the autoharp tablature provides detailed indications for different types of thumb and finger strokes, plucking, and string pinching.