Irish Washerwoman
Here’s a jolly tune. If you like triads, than you’re going to have fun with this one.
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. The idea is to start with small musical bits, get good at those, and then put them together into bigger pieces until you have the whole tune. I call it Micro-practice.
For those of you who read (or want to read), all snippets use this key and time signature:
Preparation
Warm up with G major scale using G drone.
This is a pretty jolly tune loaded with triads for you to try.
G major: A1-D3-0, D3-A1-3, E4-L2-A3
D major: E3-1-A3
Warm-up Exercises
Intervals
A1-D3
EL2-4
A3-EL2
A2-EL2
G Major scale and triads
A1-D3-0-3
A1-D3-A1-3-L2-1
E4-L2-A3-L2
E3-1-A3-E1
A part, first quarter
First quarter: (A3-L2)-A1-D3-3-0-3-3-A1-D3-A1-3-L2-1
A part, second quarter
Second quarter: AL2-0-0-D0-A0-0-L2-0-L2-E0-A3-L2
A part, third quarter
Third quarter: A1-D3-3-0-3-3-A1-D3-A1-3-L2-1
A part, fourth quarter
Fourth quarter: AL2-1-L2-0-3-L2-1-D3-3-3-A3-L2
Interlude
Creativity, Fun and Adventure ?
Always try to find creative ways to make practicing fun. How can you practice the same thing in different ways? Can you learn to enjoy the sound? Can you even learn to enjoy the struggle?
If you explore different options for playing the same thing, then you will be able to enjoy practicing that for a longer time. Remember, the brain gets bored easily, but the hands need lots and lots of time to learn things.
B part, first quarter
First quarter: (EL2-3)-4-L2-L2-A3-EL2-L2-4-L2-4-4-3-L2
B part, second quarter
Second quarter: E3-1-1-A3-E1-1-3-1-3-3-L2-1
B part, third quarter
Third quarter: E0-L2-L2-A3-EL2-L2-AL2-EL2-L2-A1-EL2-L2
B part, fourth quarter
Fourth quarter: AL2-1-L2-0-3-L2-1-D3-3-3
Further Practice
Practice the song at your own pace with this drone track.
Drone in G – No Beat
Full Tabs, Audio & Sheet Music
A part
First quarter: (A3-L2)-A1-D3-3-0-3-3-A1-D3-A1-3-L2-1
Second quarter: AL2-0-0-D0-A0-0-L2-0-L2-E0-A3-L2
Third quarter: A1-D3-3-0-3-3-A1-D3-A1-3-L2-1
Fourth quarter: AL2-1-L2-0-3-L2-1-D3-3-3-A3-L2
B part
First quarter: (EL2-3)-4-L2-L2-A3-EL2-L2-4-L2-4-4-3-L2
Second quarter: E3-1-1-A3-E1-1-3-1-3-3-L2-1
Third quarter: E0-L2-L2-A3-EL2-L2-AL2-EL2-L2-A1-EL2-L2
Fourth quarter: AL2-1-L2-0-3-L2-1-D3-3-3
Continue on to F Major And B Flat Major Scale Variations >>
Return to top of Module 2.5 >>
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In some of your tabs you refer to L as E can I ask why and I understand the pickups for Irish washer woman what do you refer to when you have EL2 AL2 just a little confused
Hi @shanni, thanks for asking 🙂
EL2 refers to E string, Low finger position, and the second finger.
If a tab does not show the string name, it meants it is the same string as the last tab that does identify what string it is (ex: D1-L2-3-4, These are all on the D string)
Here’s a good post explaining how to read tabs: https://fiddlehed.com/courses/beginner-fiddle-lessons/1-2-getting-plucky/how-to-read-tabs/
Have a great time with it and reach out anytime 🎶