Classic Jazz tune from 1925 that is covered in all kinds of jazz settings from ragtime to modern jazz & lounge groups. I will especially focus on this song in the Gypsy Jazz style. Here’s the melody and chord chart to get us started. There have been many, many interpretations
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AC/DC – an educational homerun!
By fiddlejamman on March 21, 2013 in Blues Scale, By Key, By Scale, E minor, Heavy Metal, Lesson List, Rock, Style Studies, Teacher Training
Teachers! Check it out! how I got a troublesome student attentive and involved by teaching her this iconic Rock song!… Non-members: Want to learn more about this and other Fiddle Jammin’ topics? Click here for more info on our free Fiddle Jam Club membership and “ALL ACCESS PASS” full Fiddle
It Don’t Mean a Thing (if it ain’t got that swing)
By fiddlejamman on March 14, 2013 in Artist Level, Bb major, By Ear, By Feeling, By Key, By Knowledge, By Scale, Fiddler’s Tab, G minor, Gigger Level, Gypsy Jazz Violin, Harmonic Minor Scale, Jamming 102, jamming 103, Jazz, Lesson List, Major Scale, Master Class, Music Mechanics, Note Name – Finger Number, One-Room-School-House ORSH, Staff Notation, Style Studies
Famous song, written in 1931 by Duke Ellington (music) and Irving Mills (lyrics). Recorded by too many to mention here. Often played in the gypsy jazz style. Sounds fun and easy with it’s “do wop” sing-along anthem, but can actually be rather difficult to solo over. I’ll attempt, in typical
Gypsy Sound – Anatomy
By fiddlejamman on March 11, 2013 in A minor, By Ear, By Knowledge, By Sight, D minor, E minor, Fiddler’s Tab, G minor, Gigger Level, Gypsy Jazz Violin, Harmonic Minor Scale, Jammer Level, Jamming 101, Jamming 102, Jazz, Lesson List, Music History, Note Name – Finger Number, One-Room-School-House ORSH, Staff Notation, Style Studies
The anatomy of the gypsy sound is characterized by the Harmonic Minor Scale. Classically trained violinists will probably already know this scale well, but if you are a fiddler, or just used to jamming to rock and blues based music, as I myself was at one time, then this
Beethoven Minuet in G
By fiddlejamman on March 1, 2013 in Artist Level, Blues, Blues Scale, By Ear, By Key, By Scale, By Sight, Cajun-Zydeco, Cornerstone Styles, FItz-Hu-Ki, G major, Gigger Level, Jammer Level, Jamming 101, Jamming 102, jamming 103, Lesson List, Major Scale, Music History, Music Mechanics, Music Philosophy, One-Room-School-House ORSH, Rock, Staff Notation, Style Studies
One of the most BLUESY melodies Beethoven ever composed! It always sounds half drunken to me with all those 1/2 step wobbles… so, I decided it might be cool to give it a bluesy back-up, in this example, a cajun/zydeco effected accordion, played by my friend Michael Ward-Bergman and some
Amazing Grace
By fiddlejamman on February 20, 2013 in “Tater”, A major, Beginner Violin, By Ear, By Key, By Knowledge, By Scale, By Sight, Cornerstone Styles, Country, Fiddle Tunes, Folk Fiddle, G major, Gigger Level, Jammer Level, Lesson List, Major Pentatonic Scale, Major Scale, Note Name – Finger Number, One-Room-School-House ORSH, Staff Notation, Style Studies
Description: This very popular Christian spiritual tune* has crossed many style boundaries. Countless students have requested it from me over the years. I’ll include it here. I’ve included it here in two separate but popular and fiddle-friendly keys: G & A. The G version is lower and sweeter sounding, and
Shave Endings
By fiddlejamman on February 19, 2013 in A major, Beginner Violin, Bluegrass Fiddle, By Ear, By Feeling, By Knowledge, By Sight, Cornerstone Styles, Country, D major, Fiddle Tunes, Folk Fiddle, G major, Gigger Level, Ionian Mode, Jammer Level, Lesson List, Major Scale, Music History, Music Mechanics, One-Room-School-House ORSH, Staff Notation, Style Studies, Teacher Training
”Shave and a Hair Cut… Two Bits!” History & Culture: Ubiquitous traditional fiddle tune ending… and friendly hello/goodbye rhythmic gesture… at least here in America. Knock this rhythm on your friend’s door to signal it is you. Often done in a call and answer way, where the “caller” will do