Big-eyed Rabbit
Here’s an old-time tune called “Big-eyed Rabbit.” It’s in the Round Peak tradition of Tommy Jarrell. It was filmed by a pond in Kenneth Hahn Park in Los Angeles. The only thing missing was the smell of duck poop 🦆 💩
Basic version and variation
Fiddling with life and learning with the occasional dad joke thrown in...
Lucy Farr’s – Performance
Here’s a fiddle raga version of Lucy Farr’s. I made some brief liner notes about what I did in each section of the performance. Fiddle raga is my term for an improvisational interpretation of a fiddle tune. It explores variations which go beyond traditional Irish embellishments (though it can include those too). The fiddle raga … Continued
The Jenny Lynn demo
Here’s a bluegrass tune by Bill Monroe called “Jenny Lynn.” I just made a lesson for this along with the Round Peak variation.
Bile ’em Down The Orange Blossom Special
Taking a practice break to mess around with adding the Orange Blossom special to an old-time tune called Bile ‘em Cabbage Down (translation: Please boil the cabbage 🥬 ). Here’s a lesson on the basic OBS pattern. You can be endlessly creative with simple melodies. Keep returning to them to learn and practice new things. They … Continued
The Chromatic Scale Will Help You Slide
A student named Abee was taking my recent lesson on Sliding The Left-hand Fingers. In the video, I mention how the chromatic scale can help with sliding. More on that in a minute. First, this scale contains all 12 tones of western harmony. There is only one chromatic scale. However, I find it’s useful break it … Continued
How do you add variation to fiddle tunes?
Here’s my basic fiddlosophy on adding variation to fiddle tunes. The principles can be used by beginners as well as advanced players. Lower on the page, I’ll detail what types of variations can be added by students of different skill levels. Variation Fiddlosophy Start by adding variation to a single note. This is a way … Continued
Can you do too many double stops?
A FiddleHed named John wrote to me asking, “Can you do too many double stops?” I would answer with another question. Do you like the way it sounds with lots of double stops? If you love it, then keep it! Keep in mind that the melody is not quite as clear when you add double stops. … Continued
Tam Lin – Basic and Variation – Performance
Hey folks, Here’s a short performance of an Irish tune called Tam Lin. I play a very simple version and then play a version with some variation added. In this version, I added: In the A part I’m mainly adding double stops. A simple way to practice the bowing for this is to play G0-{G0D0} … Continued
Banshee – Basic And Variation – Performance
Hey folks, Here’s a short performance of an Irish tune called the Banshee. I play a very simple version and then play a version with some variation added. In this version, I added: A part, bar 1: Roll added to D3 (G) in bar 1 of the A part A part, bar 4: D3 (G) … Continued
Hector The Hero – basic and variation performance
Hey folks, Here’s a short performance of a Scottish tune called Hector The Hero. I play a very simple version and then play a version with some variation added. Here is an mp3 that you can stream or download for your listening pleasure: Both versions are taught in step-by-step lessons in the Irish Fiddle Variation … Continued