Call-and-response Central

In this library of the call-and-response exercises, you’ll hear something, and then there will be a space for you to play the same thing. This will help you in the following ways:

• Play better in tune
• Remember melodies more easily
• Develop the ability to hear yourself and other instruments
• Hear music in your head (audiation)
  • This allows you to move from thinking to playing
  • You’ll be a more creative musician

At the bottom of the page there’s a brief lesson on how you can improve your tuning and practice creatively with these exercises.

Call-and-response games

In these progressive call-and-response exercises, I’ll play something and then leave a space for you to play it back. I’ll play bits of songs that you learn in the modules (so they roughly go from easier to harder). Try to get in the mindset of a kid playing a game of Simon Says and having fun.

• Call-and-response Exercises 1.1
• Call-and-response Exercises 1.2
• Call-and-response Exercises 1.3
• Call-and-response Exercises 1.4
• Call-and-response Exercises 1.5
• Call-and-response Exercises 1.6
• Call-and-response Exercises 1.7
• Call-and-response Exercises 1.8
• Call-and-response Exercises 1.9
• Call-and-response Exercises 1.10
• Call-and-response Exercises 2.1
• Call-and-response Exercises 2.2
• Call-and-response Exercises 2.3
• Call-and-response Exercises 2.4
• Call-and-response Exercises 2.5
• Call-and-response Exercises 2.6
• Call-and-response Exercises 2.7
• Call-and-response Exercises 2.8
• Call-and-response Exercises 2.9

Call-and-response Tune Lessons

In these lessons, you’ll learn an entire tune with call-and-response. There’s sheet music, tabs and audio to help out if you get stuck. There’s also a more traditional video tutorial for each tune.

• Cripple Creek
• Fire on the Mountain
• Game of Thrones
• Ode To Joy
• Swallowtail Jig
• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Call-and-response Workshops

Here are replays of call-and-response workshops in which you’ll learn a tune by ear. These are hour-long journeys that also teach practice strategy.

• Learning Tunes By Ear Workshop: Old Grey Cat
• Learning Tunes By Ear Workshop: Dawning Of The Day
• Learning Tunes By Ear Workshop: Last Of The Mohicans Theme

Mystery Tune Lessons!

In these lessons, I challenge you to learn a tune by ear without even knowing the title. If you’re new to learning with call-and-response, then start with the “Learning Tunes By Ear” lessons above.

• Mystery Tune Workshop 1
• Mystery Tune Workshop 2
• Mystery Tune Workshop 3
• Mystery Tune Workshop 4
• Mystery Tune Workshop 5
• Mystery Tune Workshop 6

Tuning exercises

These exercises are shorter and more repetitive than the ones above. They are more focused on helping you to play specific notes in tune.

D string

• D1 (E) tuning exercises
• D2 (F#) tuning exercises
• D3 (G) tuning exercises
• DL2 (F) tuning exercises

A string

• A1(B) tuning exercises
• A2(C#) tuning exercises
• A3(D) tuning exercises
• AL2(C natural) tuning exercises

E string

• E1(F#) tuning exercises
• E2(G) tuning exercises
• E3(A) tuning exercises
• EL2 (G) tuning exercises

G string

• G1(A) tuning exercises
• G2(B) tuning exercises
• G3(C) tuning exercises
• GL2(B flat) tuning exercises
• GH3(C#) tuning exercises

Practice variations

• Play throughout the exercise. Listen to the recorded fiddle when you hear that, listen to just yourself in the space.
• Add rhythmic variations to the exercise.
• Alternate between listening and singing.
• Alternate between listening and audiating.
• Alternate between playing and audiating.
  • “Audiation” is the practice of hearing music in your head.
• Alternate between singing and audiating.

Here’s a brief lesson on how to practice with the tuning exercises:

Further learning

These lessons explore other ways to use the call-and-response process.

• Musical Conversation
• Drone tuning the notes on the D string
• Interval Practice
• Audiation
• Singing and playing practice

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