Practice Fiddle Chord Rhythms With Ashokan Farewell

🎻 Overview

In this lesson, you’ll explore waltz rhythms on a simple chord progression using a tasty little chunk from Ashokan Farewell. We’ll go back and forth between melody and chords, helping you understand how they work together to create beautiful music.

🎯 Learning Goals

• Learn and play basic waltz rhythms
• Practice switching between chords and melody
• Build groove and flow through repetition

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🪜 Learning Steps

Step 1: Chord Shapes

We’ll start by reviewing two simple chords:

• D Major → G1D0
• G Major → G0D0

Step 2: Waltz Rhythms

Try these rhythmic variations with the chords:

• Dotted half notes
• Long-short
• Quarter notes
• Quarter Notes – Single/Double
• Alternate long-short with quarter notes – Single/Double
• Add rhythmic variation (ex: 2 quarters + 2 eighths)

Remember…

• Waltz rhythm = 3 beats per measure
• Long-short adds a nice feel
• Alternating rhythms helps you create new textures

Practicing in small chunks helps you learn anything — tunes, techniques, even composing.

Step 3: Melody Time

Now let’s play the melody super slow:
A0-2 | A3-2-1-0 | D2-1-2 | D3-2-1-0 | G2-D0

🔁 Full Song Practice – Play-Along Loop

Loop through the chord progression with all the rhythms you’ve learned:

• Dotted half notes
• Melody phrase: A0-2 | A3-2-1-0 | D2-1-2 | D3-2-1-0-G2-D0
• Long-short rhythm
• Quarter notes (Simple and Single/Double)
• Alternate rhythms with melodic insert
• Rhythmic variations (like 2 quarters + 2 eighths)

Creative practice conversations!

• Alternate between chords and melody with me
• Play chords when I play melody, then improvise over only-chord sections

Once you’ve mastered this chunk, apply it to the full tune…

🧠 Summary

• You learned several ways to play rhythm on chords in 3/4 time
• You practiced switching between chords and melody
• You looped the section to build groove and confidence

🥳 Now you can take this practice of Chord <> Melody Alternation and apply it to other tunes!

📚 Further Learning

• Learn the full Ashokan Farewell melody
• Practice waltz rhythms on Simple Gifts, Southwind, or The Lovers’ Waltz
• Try alternating between chords and melody on any tune you’re learning
• Create your own rhythm variations for fun and flow

Return to Chord Backup Central  >>