Cotton-eyed Joe – Round Peak

Here’s an intermediate/advanced lesson on how to play Cotton-eyed Joe in the Round Peak fiddle style of Tommy Jarrell.

I’ll teach it to you without double stops. And then in a follow-up video I’ll show you how to add fourth finger double stops, extract the rhythm (to help you learn the tricky rhythms in this tune) and play backup chords.

I suggest you review these lessons first: 

This tune is recommended for students in Module 2.2 or higher. It’s a good way to practice the A Major scale, fourth finger double stops and syncopation. It’s also a way to practice adding variation to tunes.

 

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Video loops 🔁

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A Part, 1st Half

Learning chunks 

I’ve made some “Learning Chunks” to help you learn more easily. These focused exercises contain sheet music, tabs and mp3 snippets to guide you on your fiddle journey.

Preparation

Play an A note with an A drone. Allow your breath, body, and mind to relax. Listen to the blend of your fiddle with the drone, and enjoy the sound.

A drone


Next, warm up with the A Major scale and phrases from the tune (once you’ve learned it) using the drone above.

A Major scale: A0-1-2-3-E0-1-2-3 | G1-2-H3-D0-1-2-H3-A0 

A part, first half

First half: (A2)-3-4-4-E0-0-1-0-A2-1-2 

A part, second half

This Learning Chunk™ (tab, sheet music and mp3 snippets) is available to All-access users. Subscribe here. And thanks for your support. 🙏

B part, first half

This Learning Chunk™ (tab, sheet music and mp3 snippets) is available to All-access users. Subscribe here. And thanks for your support. 🙏

B part, second half

This Learning Chunk™ (tab, sheet music and mp3 snippets) is available to All-access users. Subscribe here. And thanks for your support. 🙏

 

Supplemental lesson - adding double stops, practicing tricky rhythms

Further learning

I’m slowly developing the Appalachian Fiddle Journeys course which explores old-time, Appalachian music in a a creative way.

If you like this tune you may also like Old Joe Clarke – Round Peak.

If you want to get better at playing syncopated rhythms, then take these lessons: Fiddling With Rhythm Loops & Syncopated Riffs

 

Other versions

Tommy Jarrell himself playing this tune!

You can see Alan Lomax in the background 🤓. Volume is a bit low on the video, so you might want to crank it…

Full Content 

Full tabs, audio and sheet music downloads are available to All-access users. Subscribe here. And thanks for your support. 🙏

Variation version

This version adds in double stops. I also include some exercises for you to practice the double stops.

Give thanks

Take a moment to reflect with gratitude that you have music in your life. No matter where you are on your fiddle journey, you get to learn, play, and listen to music. What a wonderful gift!

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