Category: Basic version and 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

My basic fiddlosophy on adding variation to music

Here’s my basic fiddlosophy on adding variation to music. 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 to … 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

Practice Notes – October 22, 2018

Trying out something new with this post. I’m going to share a few things I’m currently practicing. Stuff that I’m struggling with, stuff that I’m enjoying. In case you haven’t heard, this post comes in the middle of the Fall Practice Challenge 2018. Today is day 8. For fourteen days, fiddlers around the world will play every … Continued

Foxhunter’s Basic and Variation Performance

Here’s a short performance of an Irish tune called Foxhunter’s (slip jig). I play a very simple version and then play a version with some variation added. And here’s an mp3 for your listening pleasure: A bit from the A part of the second quarter keeps reminding me of the theme to the movie Chariots … Continued

Kerfunken Jig Basic and Variation – Performance

Here’s a short performance of an Irish tune called Kerfunken Jig. I play a very simple version and then play two variation versions. This first variation adds cuts, the second adds rolls. Both variations are taught in the Irish Fiddle Variation course. Click the arrow if you’d like to download and listen on your device while … Continued