Here is a lesson on how to play the song “Shallow” from the film “A Star Is Born”. It was great to learn it because now I love it even more (and hope you will too). This tune is for advanced beginners and beyond; you just need to know low second finger and the G major scale.
Here’s a violin cover for your listening and learning pleasure:
Same melody with small variations. She also starts an octave higher. I’ll show how to do this in the supplemental lesson below.
Tell me something boy
Aren’t you tired tryin’ to fill that void
Or do you need more?
Ain’t it hard keepin’ it so hardcore
Chorus
I’m off the deep end, watch as I dive in
AL2-L2-L2-L2-1 0-0-1-0-D3
I’ll never leave the ground
A1-1-1-3-D3-3-A0-1
Crash through the surface, where they can’t hurt us
AL2-L2-L2-L2-1 0-0-1-0-D3
We’re far from the shallow now
D0-A1-1-1-3-2-3-A0-1
Post-chorus
In the sha-ha-sha-la-low
AL2-L2-L2-L2 0-0-1-0
In the sha-sha-la-la-la-low
A1-1-1 0-0-0-0-D3-3
In the sha-ha-sha-la-low
AL2-L2-L2-L2 0-0-1-0
We’re far from the shallow now
D3-A1-1-1-1-0-D3
Full Content
Full play-along track with fiddle low volume (so you hear yourself more), tabs without lyrics, sheet music, higher octave tabs, drone track and supplemental lesson.
This cool stuff is available with a free trial subscription.
It takes only a minute and will change your life for the better ?
Other versions on Youtube:
Practice Toolkit
Here is a quick way for you to access the essential practice tools you need. Under each tab you'll find play-along tracks, tabs and condensed teachings to help you as you practice. This is an evolving idea, so let me know in a comment below if it could be better.
Here's a newer version of the Notefinder which is based on sheet music. If you're interested in learning to read, this will be an invaluable reference. I'll be posting lessons on this in 2020.
Note: the brackets indicate notes that are the same pitch but spelled differently. For example, AH3 (D#) sounds the same as AL4 (Eb). Without going into too much teory detail here, this will be determined by the key of the tune or piece you are playing.
Notefinder table
Here's he original table version of the Notefinder. Sometimes people learn in different ways...
Sawmill tuning Notefinder
This is used to find notes in Sawmill tuning (when the G string is tuned up to A and the D string is tuned up to E). If you're a beginner...best to ignore this! Learn more about sawmill tuning in the Appalachian Fiddle course.
Here are some common scales used in fiddle tunes. Each runs through a series of variations: two bows legato, two bows staccato, four bows, tucka (4 shorts, two longs), hoedown (1 long, two shorts), throwaway bow, triplets, tremolo.
D Major
G Major, starting on D3
A Major
D Dorian
A Dorian
Practice a tune with its scale (Kerry Polka is in G major, so practice a G major scale). Practice scales before, during and after practicing tunes.
Always return to a good sound, even if it means playing quarter notes on the D string. You can do this! You just have to remember to pause on practicing the challenging thing and just get a good sound on single notes.
Why do this? Because it will bring you deep joy. And it will build your confidence which will inspire further practice.
Here are a few technical reminders to remember as you practice.
Posture reminders
Curve left-hand and right-hand fingers.
Bend right thumb.
Bend right arm and wrist.
Use minimal energy.
Left-hand fingers land on tips, not pads. This makes for more precise playing.
Bowing tips
Take time to focus on bowing during each practice session.
Get the best possible sound on single notes using long bows, throwaway bow, rhythms. Even just a few minutes of this will drastically improve your sound.
Use less bow.
This is a rule of thumb for fiddle tunes, especially for when things are difficult.
Continue to practice long bows. This will improve your overall sound.
Play in the middle of the bow. This is the sweet spot.
Use no extra energy or force for double stops.
It's more a matter of getting the bow perfectly balanced between the two strings.
Again, playing with less bow will help with this.
Left-hand fingering tips
Keep fingers down when possible.
For example, if you are rapidly playing D1-2, it is easier if you keep D1 down while fingering D2.
Practice this on scales.
Practice Little Lift
Don't lift left-hand fingers too high. Let them just hover above the string.
This allows you to play faster, better in tune and with more ease.
If you notice you are tense and not breathing evenly, simply pause on what you're currently practicing and play a single note. Make it sound nice. See if your body is more relaxed now.
If you can play a single note with a relaxed body, then try more complex things: 2-note intervals, scales, simple tune phrases, whole tunes.
Keep returning to single notes as a way to center yourself, relax and enjoy the process.
Little pauses
If you find that sound is sloppy, try adding a little pause in between the notes. This gives your fingers time to find the next note. This is especially helpful with string crossing.
It sure is great to play something that I’ve been hearing on the radio, thank you! Would you be willing to share the tabs for the part in the song where the “oh-oh-ohs ” are? I hear it in your cover of the song and will try to pick it out on my own, that could take me a while though. Thanks again.
Love this. I know it’s intermediate and I’m a beginner, but I’ve had good luck learning a few songs now with your learning chunks. I really wish this had recorded learning chunks along with the tabs.
where is the link for the play along track ???
I couldn’t find that one either? hmmm?
Thank you !!! This is way cool ??
It sure is great to play something that I’ve been hearing on the radio, thank you! Would you be willing to share the tabs for the part in the song where the “oh-oh-ohs ” are? I hear it in your cover of the song and will try to pick it out on my own, that could take me a while though. Thanks again.
Alright – here’s what I think the tabs for the “oh – oh- ohs” are, in case this helps anyone else is eager to try playing along with the cover
D2-2-3-2-1
D2-2-A1-D3-3-1-A1
D2-2-3-2-3-A1-A1
oops – for the second line :
D2-2-A1-D3-2-1-A1
I LOVE that you did this! It reinvigorated my fiddle practice and motivation! Thank you!
Love this. I know it’s intermediate and I’m a beginner, but I’ve had good luck learning a few songs now with your learning chunks. I really wish this had recorded learning chunks along with the tabs.