Blucy
-
jason kleinberg wrote a new post 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Anyone Can Learn Music | Fiddlosophy Episode #4
Anyone Can Learn Music. Period. Realize that if you really want it, then you can do it. A lot of people tell themselves, “I don’t have talent. I’m too […] -
jason kleinberg wrote a new post 1 month, 3 weeks ago
Slow And Fast Learning
It’s hard at first At first learning something new is slow and challenging. You’re building a network of neural connections. Like going to the gym, it […]-
Jason, it’s good to know that the frustration and sometimes setbacks are part of the continued process. It has beaten me in the past but then there are those breakthrough moments. Your reminders if it’s supposed to be fun definitely help as one of the incentives to not give in to the frustration.
Cheers!
Henry
-
-
jason kleinberg wrote a new post 3 months ago
Mini-Scale Fiddle Warmups
Overview Scales don’t have to be torture. In fact, a lot of my students devote whole practice sessions to scales because they know how to have fun with […]
-
jason kleinberg wrote a new post 3 months, 1 week ago
Fiddling With Transposition
Overview Do you wonder, “What can I do to prepare for jam sessions?” The ability to transpose songs from one key to another is a superpower for playing […]
-
This was really interesting and helpful. Once I identify what note to start on, things fall together much more easily, especially on known songs. Could you comment sometime on clues to identifying what key a song is when sheet music is not available – in other words, just from listening to the song? Thanks
-
Hi Lisa, yes, what great depth shared with transposing in various ways. 🙂 Thanks for sharing how this sits with you.
That is a great point leading from this subject. We’ll take note of this for a future post/lesson.For now, I’ll share my process for identifying the key of a song from listening to it.
-I’ll utilize my instrument, and work on identifying what notes are in the song (even just in the first section or so), and I write down all the different notes I locate (ex: Let’s stay together by Al Green: A, B flat, C, E, F, D, G).
-Once I have a decent range of notes written, I go to my ‘Circle of Fifths’ chart and see what key, in relation to those notes (specifically the sharp/flat notes within those notes I wrote) and narrow down the potential key signatures (ex: F major or D minor).
-From there, I would try to guess the feeling of the song, whether major or minor (also recognizing the key could change throughout song) (Ex: mostly major).
-One thing to note when identifying the notes in a song, there could be some notes added which are not related to the key that the song is in, so I’d also try to keep that in mind and if i think that has happened, I will write that note down outside of the main range of notes I am writing from the song (ex: D flat)
-I’ll also try playing the associated scale with what I have narrowed down and see if the scale ‘matches’ the sound of the tune.This is a great topic to go further into. Thanks for mentioning it.
-
Also, here’s a page that supports learning tunes from recordings:
-
-
-
-
jason kleinberg replied to the topic Tetris Theme with Dubstep Remix in the forum Student Videos 3 months, 1 week ago
Fun!!
My band Diego’s Umbrella used to play this tune at gigs… -
jason kleinberg replied to the topic Billy In The Lowground in the forum Student Videos 3 months, 1 week ago
This is good!
This would be a good lesson for FiddleHed.
What source did you use to learn it? -
jason kleinberg wrote a new post 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Games and Routines for Group Practice
Are you struggling to practice every day? Do you feel like emotional challenges of doubt or frustration are getting in the way of a productive […] -
jason kleinberg wrote a new post 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Transforming Major Melodies Into Minor Keys
Overview You can reinvent major key songs like “Oh Susanna” by playing them in a minor key. This is a fun way to improve your mental map of scales, mel […]
-
I do feel my brain growing! So fun, thanks!
-
Yes 🙂 🧠 🎶 💗
-
-
-
jason kleinberg wrote a new post 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Improvising With Melodic ChunksDid you know that you can deconstruct existing melodies to improvise and compose new tunes? Further learning Learning Steps Listen to this […]
-
jason kleinberg wrote a new post 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Practice Kentucky Waltz With Alternation Games
Did you know that you can have a musical conversation by playing the same thing two different ways? Further learning Learning […]
-
jason kleinberg wrote a new post 3 months, 4 weeks ago
Improvising Melodies On Violin
You can have hours of fun by improvising with pentatonic scales and drone notes. Learning Steps Play an E Minor Pentatonic scale with an E drone: E […]
-
jason kleinberg wrote a new post 3 months, 4 weeks ago
What are you practicing these days?
I’m currently practicing singing and playing backup on songs like Wildflowers (Tom Petty), Don’t Think Twice (Dylan) and others. I started voice lessons […]
-
Continuing to work on technique based on “Soldier’s Joy”. Went back to working on “Wagon Wheel” fiddle breaks and vocals. Plan to start on “”Move It On Over”. Basic and then hopefully get more advanced giving it a blue sound similar to George Thorogood’s influence.
-
Very cool. I’m also working on wagon wheel singing + backup.
-
-
I went to my first jam session a few weeks ago. Now I’m reviewing tunes to see if there are any I might be brave enough to lead and practicing backup and chords.
-
Nice! You’re making such good progress with playing out.
-
-
Do you have fiddle music for Don’t Think Twice? My partner sings this and plays guitar, I would love to be able to join in…
-
Hey Lindsey,
I don’t but I recommend Musescore for this. You can transpose things there. I pay for the app…
Let me know if that works.
-
Yes, it did, and I subscribed to MuseScore. Thank you!
-
-
-
I’ve been practicing some jazz tunes like “Fly Me To the Moon,” and “All of Me.” I’ve also been working on playing back up on some contemporary Christian songs. I play the keyboard in a Praise band, so I’m trying to include the violin. I got a mandolin for Christmas so that’s another project (moving a little slower with that; not enough hours in the day)!
-
Nice! I know a few older country gospel songs, but that’s pretty unexplored.
That praise band sounds awesome.
-
-
That was great yesterday with the Wellerman. Playing in a different key made it hard for play and respond. But that’s on me. I’m still working on cleaning up Josefins, dopval, Halsa dem Darhemma and Ganglat fran Appelbo and will be adding Visa Vid Vindens Angar and Dansen Ungdom once I can get them transcribed to Alto.
Cheers
-
Nice, sounds like Scandinavian fiddle. I learned a bunch of that last year.
Did you learn how to transpose to alto with a notation program like Muse?
-
I do use Muse, but also just try to keep it note for note. Playing with a group I’m trying to keep it in the same key and I don’t know how otherwise. Muse can bounce the key around. The group leader has been tossing me a few scores that she arranged for the viola which I love.
-
-
-
This w/e practicing for private jam I go to on Mondays. An older guy there has introduced Maple Sugar, Snow Deer, Down Yonder and Under the Double Eagle. I’m pretty strong on learning tunes, but I still need to work on faster tempos…And I learn melodies, but I feel I need to better learn the tune chords. 🤓🎻
-
Definitely a wicked twist; heart attack on Christmas Eve with bypass operation April 26. But, about 10 days later, I was able to play my fiddle while I recoup. I have been working on playing pentatonic scales as backup to Angeline, changing the key as the chord changes. A little “clanking” but I’m getting there. Also, working on “Rolling Waves Variation.” Can we still post student videos?
The new format will leave me a bit disadvantaged, as there is no solid high speed in my neighborhood. However, I will use archived lessons, jams and Strum to keep me going!
-
So glad you are able to keep playing. Please post videos when you can!
-
Thank you for sharing this Owen. Yes, please still use the student video page for posting! And if/when you have a setup for the new platform, please do check it out. Agree with Debbie, great you can play fiddle moving forward 🙂 Happy music making to you all!
-
-
-
jason kleinberg wrote a new post 4 months, 1 week ago
Fiddlosophy #2 – Taylor Swift, Finding Your Vocal Range, Project-based Learning
In this episode of the Fiddlosophy podcast I’ll talk about my current learning project: arranging songs for fiddle and voice with the goal of making a […]
-
jason kleinberg wrote a new post 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Accelerate Your Fiddle Progress: Why You Need an Audio Practice Journal
Overview Did you know that you can use audio recording to get immediate feedback on your performance? Not only that, but you can use it as a practice […]
-
jason kleinberg wrote a new post 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Fiddlosophy Episode #1: Musical Road-tripping, Creating Solos, Baloney Sandwiches
Overview Welcome to the first episode of the Fiddlosophy podcast. I’ll tell stories and dad jokes as we explore fiddling, learning music and […]
-
jason kleinberg wrote a new post 4 months, 4 weeks ago
Leave Her Johnny Leave Her – Sing What You Play
Overview If you sing what you play you’ll become a better musician every day. We’ll use this powerful (and fun) strategy to practice Leave Her Johnny, L […]
-
jason kleinberg wrote a new post 5 months ago
Fire On The Mountain With Tresillo Rhythm
Overview In this micro-lesson you’ll learn how to add the Tresillo Rhythm (3+3+2) to Fire On The Mountain. Learning Steps Start by clapping or cha […]
-
jason kleinberg wrote a new post 5 months ago
Leave Her Johnny Leave Her – Microlesson
Overview Learn this great song in a super short lesson 🤓 Verse 1st line: (D0-0)-G0-2-D0-0-3-2 | D1-0-G2-G0 2nd line: G1 […]
-
jason kleinberg replied to the topic How Do You Practice Scales?? in the forum Share Your Practice 5 months, 1 week ago
As for myself, I practice scales for tunes I’m working on.
I still practice the pentatonic a lot, adding different types of variation.
-
jason kleinberg started the topic How Do You Practice Scales?? in the forum Share Your Practice 5 months, 1 week ago
Do you practice scales?
If so, how?
What’s your relationship with scales?
Are they fun, horrible or neutral.Do you use scale books?
How about the scale lessons in the FiddleHed course?
Or Scale Central? https://fiddlehed.com/practice-tools/scale-central/
Let me know!!
- Load More
I’m seriously considering taking up my fiddle journey that I abandoned 2 years ago. I totally get the practice method you laid out. My question is how does everyone deal with your practice when you go on vacation? I’ve tried takin my instrument(s) with me but find it hard to make the wanted/needed practice time away from home. Any thoughts?
Jim, glad you shared and inquired. This is a great question.
I find when I bring my instrument while travelling, I often play less often – though the times I do play, I feel really glad I brought it. When bringing the instrument with me to a different environment and lifestyle, my playing experience is fresh and rich in a different way… my perspective and approach to playing can really transform in a new space and state. I especially like this somewhere in nature, with no service or resources on hand and see what comes up.
Be great to hear how this works for folks.
Good morning–I just started to take fiddle lessons from y’all; for what it’s worth, I’m going to have to travel to visit family and friends in September. I’m a recent widow and I have been neglectful and must go and do this–but enough about me. I do plan to bring my violin. I was actually thinking about this. I plan to “pluck.” It’s not the same, but it’s better than stopping the momentum that I have right now. I haven’t done this yet, but I’ll report back. When I was playing (well, I still do) the tin whistle–it was next to impossible to keep people from jumping out of their skin when I started up. All the best, Rosalie (werbose)
One thing I forgot to mention was that you could probably use a mute if you are going to take your instrument on “vacation” with you. It will significantly reduce the volume.
Ah, that’s right. I am renting a fiddle right now and will be buying one next week and a mute is on my list of stuff I want to go with it. The “practice” mute is a big plastic or rubber thing–impressive! I do live in an apartment building, and I have asked around if I’m driving people nuts, but they seem to have been okay so far (well, I don’t play in the middle of the night…). Best, Rosalie W.