This collection was chosen from tunes that I composed in 2018-2020, plus the first half of 2021. For several reasons it seemed a good time to gather them together now, rather than wait for the end of the year. As with my other recent collections of tunes, many of these newer tunes have also appeared in my So Many Tunes blog. There you can find both sheet music and home recordings of individual tunes.

In addition, many of the tunes in this collection include a basic harmony part. Using two mandolins (or other melody instruments) and a guitar (or other chordal instrument) allows three or more players to enjoy the pleasure of group music-making. I strongly encourage you to play around with the music, concoct your own arrangements, trade parts back and forth, etc.

Quite a few of these newer tunes were either commissioned by or are dedicated to people that I know or have known. The Blairs, Mike Blevins, Carol and Paul, Emma, the Orngards, Paul Johnson, Peter O. and Barbara C. (Ruby and Gold) have all been generous patrons or sources of inspiration to me. Rosie and Earl were my parents and the Hoosier Clockmaker was my Dad. Historical figures Robert Owen (his Quickstep and the Boatload of Knowledge) and George Rogers Clark (Clark's Delight) are represented, as well as the mysterious Mr. Voyles of Crandall. St. Francis of Assisi is a constant source of inspiration and is represented by three tunes also.

This new book contains 18 reels (meant to be played as fast or slow as the reader prefers), 10 jigs, 10 waltzes, 6 "walking" tunes, one march, one rag and a schottische. I hope that there are several that you will find appealing to play and share with your friends.

The Stumbling On tunebook contains 52 pages of music in standard notation, with guitar chords for each tune. While you are free to add, change, or subtract chords according to your taste the harmony parts are based on the chords included.

John Goodin, Decorah, Iowa, late August 2021

Published by Rosie and Earl Music (ASCAP)