In creative endeavors, technique is helpful, but not at all necessary. Raw creative expression is as simple as playing or doing something simple, completely on purpose, with complete inner authority. This is something that someone who has never played a note before can do in their first day, if they
Archive | Learning Methods
Different ways to learn
How NOT to Scratch & Squeak on the Violin
By fiddlejamman on December 22, 2013 in Beginner Violin, BowTek, By Knowledge, By Sight, FingerTek, Lesson List, Music Essentials, VioTek
This one was first produced for a direct Facebook ad campaign. I think it is good info (even if it is a bit long-winded). I cut out the FJI commercial in this version for you, but you may still hear me reference “as you will see on the site” in
Tennessee Waltz – classic hit from 1950
By fiddlejamman on December 16, 2013 in By Ear, By Knowledge, By Sight, Cornerstone Styles, Country, Country & Western, Fiddle Tunes, Fiddler’s Tab, Folk Fiddle, G major, Jamming 102, Lesson List, Major Scale, Music Mechanics, Note Name – Finger Number, One-Room-School-House ORSH, Staff Notation, Style Studies
This tune has been recorded 1000’s of times by countless artists. I arranged it in the fiddle friendly key of G here. Patti Page’s 1950 hit was in the key of F. Here’s the chart & audio play-along tracks… This tune has been recorded 1000’s of times by countless artists.
No Exit Strategy – Conflation CD Lesson
By fiddlejamman on December 11, 2013 in Artist Level, Blues Scale, By Ear, By Feeling, By Knowledge, Dorian Mode, G minor, Jamming 102, Lesson List, Music Mechanics, One-Room-School-House ORSH, Pop
Fun stuff! Opening cut off my “Conflation” Translucent Records CD. Standard A440 tuning. All G minor… G Dorian to be exact, though I threw in a few G blues scale notes here and there too. Simple melody (see Chart below) is loosely improvised throughout the song. Ad lib as you
Rockin Around the Christmas Tree
By fiddlejamman on December 7, 2013 in Ab major, Blues Scale, By Key, By Scale, Fiddler’s Tab, G major, Holiday Songs, Learning Methods, Lesson List, Major Scale, Note Name – Finger Number, Pop, Staff Notation
A perennial holiday favorite in the US and UK. Covered by countless other artists, this version is adapted to violin with a more fiddle-friendly key (G), but is based on Brenda Lee’s original 1960 hit version (Ab). Transcription of Boots Randolph’s sax solo included! Join as an All Access Pass member
Feliz Navidad
By fiddlejamman on December 7, 2013 in By Key, By Scale, D major, Fiddler’s Tab, Holiday Songs, Latin, Major Scale, Note Name – Finger Number, Pop, Staff Notation
A 1970 bi-lingual hit by Jose Feliciano! To view all the lesson materials on this song, join us as an All Access Pass member now! A 1970 bi-lingual hit by Jose Feliciano! Jose was nice enough to perform this song in the string-friendly key of D major! Here’s
Frosty The Snowman
By fiddlejamman on November 28, 2013 in By Key, D major, Holiday Songs, Learning Methods, Major Scale, Note Name – Finger Number, Staff Notation
Description: The perennial “politically correct” holiday favorite (not one mention of religion!). Easy key of D. Knowledge of numbered repeat endings and italian ending signs: “Da Capo al Coda” or D.C. al Coda needed. Da = to, Capo = cap/top/beginning, al = until, Coda = ending section (in this case,