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Learning by ear

Beethoven Minuet in G

By 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

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I – IV – V Chord Number System

By on February 24, 2013 in By Ear, By Feeling, By Knowledge, Gigger Level, Jamming 101, Jamming 102, Lesson List, Major Scale, Music Mechanics, One-Room-School-House ORSH

The three strongest and most important chords within a key, sometimes called “tonic” sub-dominant” & “dominant” (in Classical Music).  These chords within a key are the basis for 90% of ALL music, from Classical to Heavy metal and beyond! Want to learn more about this? Click here for more info

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Note Number System

By on February 22, 2013 in By Ear, By Feeling, By Knowledge, By Sight, Gigger Level, Ionian Mode, Jamming 102, Lesson List, Major Scale, Music Mechanics, One-Room-School-House ORSH

Sometimes called the “interval” system, the Note Number System is way of explaining how music notes relate to each other within a key or scale and is quite universal in the “gigging” world.  <<:Want to learn about this? Click here for more info on our free Fiddle Jam Club membership

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Amazing Grace

By 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

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Shave Endings

By 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

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Potato Fiddle intros

By on February 19, 2013 in “Tater”, A major, By Ear, By Feeling, By Knowledge, By Sight, D major, G major, Gigger Level, Ionian Mode, Jammer Level, Lesson List, Major Scale, One-Room-School-House ORSH, Staff Notation

”Po-tato, Po-tato, Po-tato, Po-tato”… Common count in for fiddle tunes.  Usually done by the “lead” musician in an ensemble (most often the fiddler… you?).  This is the fiddling equivalent of a rock drummer clicking his/her sticks while counting the band in: “one – two – three – four!…”

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Acadian Two-Step

By on February 18, 2013 in A major, Artist Level, Bluegrass Fiddle, Blues, By Ear, By Feeling, By Key, By Knowledge, By Scale, By Sight, Cajun-Zydeco, Cornerstone Styles, Country, Fiddle Tunes, Fiddler’s Tab, Folk Fiddle, Gigger Level, Jam-Along Tracks, Jammer Level, Jamming 101, Jamming 102, jamming 103, Lesson List, Mandolin for the violinist, Mixolydian Mode, Music Mechanics, Note Name – Finger Number, One-Room-School-House ORSH, Staff Notation, Style Studies, Wit & Wisdom

Description: This one’s a bit more challenging, but well worth the effort.  I personally love the whole Cajun “thang” (see Side Notes below).  I honestly do NOT hear this tune much at Pickin’ Parties and jams, but it is pretty cool, and the chords are easy enough to teach others

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