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@grannyfiddler
Active 6 months, 2 weeks ago-
jason kleinberg wrote a new post 1 year, 11 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 […]
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jason kleinberg wrote a new post 1 year, 12 months 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 […]
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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
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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.
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Also, here’s a page that supports learning tunes from recordings:
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jason kleinberg replied to the topic Tetris Theme with Dubstep Remix in the forum Student Videos 1 year, 12 months 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 1 year, 12 months ago
This is good!
This would be a good lesson for FiddleHed.
What source did you use to learn it? -
Owen started the topic Rolling Hills in the forum Student Videos 2 years ago
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jason kleinberg wrote a new post 2 years 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 2 years 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 […]
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I do feel my brain growing! So fun, thanks!
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Yes 🙂 🧠 🎶 💗
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jason kleinberg wrote a new post 2 years 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 […]
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jason kleinberg wrote a new post 2 years 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 […]
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jason kleinberg wrote a new post 2 years 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 […]
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jason kleinberg wrote a new post 2 years 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 […]
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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.
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Very cool. I’m also working on wagon wheel singing + backup.
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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.
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Nice! You’re making such good progress with playing out.
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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…
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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.
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Yes, it did, and I subscribed to MuseScore. Thank you!
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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)!
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Nice! I know a few older country gospel songs, but that’s pretty unexplored.
That praise band sounds awesome.
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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
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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?
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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.
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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. 🤓🎻
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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!
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So glad you are able to keep playing. Please post videos when you can!
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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!
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Owen replied to the topic Pretty Little Dog in the forum Student Videos 2 years ago
The switching of octaves in “Pretty Little Dog” can make it difficult to get creative in the song; but not for Debbie! You made it fun.
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jason kleinberg wrote a new post 2 years, 1 month 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 […]
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I have written many poems over the years and wonder what they would be like when married to music. Have you ever written words and made the notes up later? I’d be interested in learning how, even though I don’t see myself as a singer.
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jason kleinberg wrote a new post 2 years, 1 month 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 […]
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jason kleinberg wrote a new post 2 years, 1 month 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 […]
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Owen replied to the topic Innisheer in the forum Student Videos 2 years, 1 month ago
Thank you all for listening and your kind comments.🙂
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jason kleinberg wrote a new post 2 years, 1 month 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 […]
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Owen started the topic Innisheer in the forum Student Videos 2 years, 1 month ago
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Owen replied to the topic Josefins Dopval in the forum Student Videos 2 years, 1 month ago
That is so challenging, Steve; a newly composed tune! How did you learn it, by ear or sheet music, or both. The viola sounded really cool. For some reason, I find learning by ear (a section at a time) helps me to remember a tune. I know Jason said that to play and remember a tune one has to listen to it, over and over, till you can sing, hum, or…[Read more]
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jason kleinberg wrote a new post 2 years, 1 month 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 […]
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