“Beyond the Book” series lesson #4
THE RAREST ROSE
It’s philosophical, but true, we must take the time to smell this most delicate aroma.
Video Part 1:Intro
Video Part 2: Chaos Technique
Video Part 3: Call & Answer
Video Part 4: Tips & Tricks
Video Part 5: Review
From the Book:
Jam Stuff: audio explanation and preparation from the Fiddle Jam Book CD:
Jam Example: Audio Jam with Geoff and accompaniment from the Fiddle Jam Book CD:
“Go it alone!” Fiddle Jam Book CD audio, accompaniment only:
Aromatherapy: the beauty of the Ballad.
Scale/Key: G Major
Notes: any, G, A, B, C, D, E, or, F#’s
EZ Zone: 0, 1, h2, 3, on the G and D strings
Preparation: Run the EZ-Zone to warm your ears up to it, breathe deep, loosen up, and get your mind ready to listen.
Instructions:
Simple: Start and end on a G. Stay within the EZ-Zone and you can’t go wrong! Remember, it’s your creation, so play whatever YOU feel sounds good as you respond to the cut.
Advanced: See/hear “Jam Stuff” on the CD for an idea or two. Try to hear what you’d like to play further ahead of time (at least a measure). There’s plenty of time in the ballad style – take it. Developing this internal listening ability is “THE” skill to have and a measure of true greatness (*see page 58).
Listening Lesson: Listen to the chord progression. Can you hear where it is headed? Can you tell when it starts again? There is a middle “B” section in this example, can you find/hear it?
Troubleshooting: Don’t trick yourself into thinking that what you play has to be the most amazingly beautiful thing you’ve ever heard. Playing anything to a beautiful background such as this will make you sound great! Relax, keep it simple, use lots of bow, but lightly, to help your tone be big and fat yet a bit airy too, always concentrating within to find your best ideas.
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P.J. (Post Jam): Tell yourself (or have someone else tell you – and they really might mean it you know!) that what you just improvised was so beautiful that even the angels were smiling!
Rarest Rose backing track No Violin:
Rarest Rose book track, jam with Geoff:
I feel like I’m in the minority but I would like to see the music with the chords over so I know what note is being voiced over what chords. I’m a beginner fiddler but I’ve played music (bass) 38 years. I can still only read at the most imbecilic rate but I always had a decent grasp of theory.