Yankee Doodle Lessons The historic American “Yankee Doodle.” Perennial favorite of young students. Key of D major. Knowledge of the lowered 2nd finger G natural on the E string needed. Want to learn how to play this tune? Click here for more info on our free Fiddle Jam Club membership
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Cotton Eyed Joe
Just to get things rolling with this lesson, here’s a half-crazy rockin’ cajun version of this tune I did for kicks with my good friend Michael Ward Bergman. Michael has played all over the world with YoYo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble and others, and we played together quite a bit
Ms. McLeod’s Reel
Description: Here’s a good one that quickly became one of my personal favorites. Pronounced: Miss Mic-Cloud’s Reel I’m told. Completely D major… nothing but. This one’s a little more challenging, as it requires some speed to start sounding fun and more “dance-able” (a “reel” is an Irish dance, by
Bile Them Cabbage Down
Learn the melody to this simple fiddle tune, by ear, one note at a time. It is from the early 1800’s, in about every beginner book, and played at nearly every “pot luck picking’ party jam session.” “Ubiquitous” is a good word for it! If you’ve been playing only
Old Joe Clark
Description: Fun fiddle tune with crazy lyrics that are the epitome of the early 1800’s era, simple back-ups, E-Z melody uses a lowered 2nd finger on the E string. Slow version helps with reminders of low 2’s and high 2’s. Medium speed version is simple with a little guitar
Clinch Mountain Back-Step
Clinch Mountain Back-Step Description: Pure old time blues scale stuff! The melody is nothing but A Blues scale. Hope you enjoy. It’s one of my personal favorites! Note: “PLPP” = “Pot Luck Pickin’ Party” a full band version with jamming. Check the possibilities out! Jam-along: A blues scale
Cripple Creek
Description: This tune is a “standard” in the pickin’ community. There are many different versions of it. This one is purposefully simple to get you started. Its roots most likely go back to the early 1800’s. Key of D major. Note: some folks like to play this tune