Simple Rhythms And Bowings

Here is a page of common rhythms. Use this as a reference for adding variation to scales and tunes.

Tucka

Short-short-short-short-LONG-LONG

D0-0-0-0-0-0

Reverse tucka

Transform the pattern to LONG-LONG-short-short-short-short

Split tucka D to A 

Split the tucka pattern across two notes.

D0-0-0-0-A0-0

Hoedown

LONG-short-short

D0-0-0-0-0-0

Reverse hoedown

Short-short-LONG. Here’s reverse hoedown on a D major scale.

D0-0-0-1-1-1 | 2-2-2-3-3-3 | A0-0-0-1-1-1 | 2-2-2-3-3-3

Split hoedown

Split the hoedown pattern across two notes. Here it is for D major:

D0-1-1-2-3-3 | A0-1-1-2-3-3 | 3-2-2-1-0-0 | D3-2-2-1-0-0

Triplets D to A

D0-0-0-A0-0-0

Swing doubles

The swing feel transforms two eighth notes of equal length into a LONG-short. It’s easiest to start with swing doubles.

{need mp3, snippets}

Tremolo bow G to D

Fast, light strokes near the tip of the bow. These help to loosen the wrist. Do it in a relaxed manner. Here’s a lesson on how to do Tremolo.

Peri-diddle D to A 

D0-0-A0-0-D0-A0-0-D0-A0

Skedaddle A to D