Fiddle Hangout - Sound Off! (for Fiddle Audio File Posts) Forum Feed

Shove That Pig's Foot

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sun, 5 Apr 2026 10:40:29 CST

Some sort of tribute . I am experimenting with my hand/wrist technique.
Happy holidays to all who might read.

Here we go again : Old Corn Liquor

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sun, 5 Apr 2026 07:32:02 CST

One of these songs you can play very expressive.
Dog loves drama as well.

Beware, Oh Take Care

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 1 Apr 2026 09:39:43 CST

For today, a little advice from Blind Alfred Reed.
Highwoods Stringband, Pforzheim, Germany, 1978
Sung by our bass player, Jenny Cleland, perhaps wise beyond her years.

There's a Fiddle in My Shorts!

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 1 Apr 2026 06:15:51 CST

I had accidentally delved into YT shorts previously. It's more than just aspect ratios and keeping it under 3 minutes.

Youtube Link to my fiddle shorts

Not that I'm madly hunting clicks or views, but it's disheartening to see something with 1 or zero views, after a day, when you know it's a matter of timezones, timing period. All that said, I think appreciation is a good motivator. I make some twenty recordings a day just as a sort of practice diary. No, I wouldn't be so cruel as to dump them on anyone. Play on, Peeps!

Blackberry Blossom

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 05:49:25 CST

Hey Everybody!

This week I’m playing one of the first fiddle tunes I ever learned, Blackberry Blossom!

I’m joined by my buddy Jack Dunlap on guitar.

youtu.be/CtOwuG83SbU?si=-Uur5OlB477ZvyJh

I hope you guys enjoy it!

2 versions of Leaving Louisiana

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 12:22:56 CST

I cracked open the mr8 this morning.

Leavin Louisiana

Then there's the full combo version:

Remember Mountain?

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:11:18 CST

And Traffic!

And Blind Faith!

Remember when there was somewhere on the (vinyl) record's (cardboard) album cover they suggested to turn up the volume? I was much better looking back then.

You Never Can Tell

The Irish Washerwoman

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 12:27:55 CST

OK, a bit late for St. Paddy's, but here is my 1-take rendition of this classic (some say overworked) tune, warts and all...

Out on the Ocean

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 07:25:47 CST

Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Here's an Irish session tune that everybody seems to know. :-)

If you feel like playing it yourself, I'm playing along with this YouTube backing track by Andrew North:

Out on the Ocean - backing track

PS There have been rumors of "Irish Washerwoman" showing up here? nudge nudge ;-)

Big Sciota

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 09:45:11 CST

Hey everybody!

Recently I played a few tunes with my buddy Jack Dunlap. Here is a clip of us playing “Big Sciota”

youtu.be/KQbQr1qaxao?si=UVu5m1N20lWfhDKT

I hope you guys enjoy it!

-Mason

Today's Spirit

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Thu, 5 Mar 2026 04:17:52 CST

Whatever it takes ;)

Trying to identify this fiddle tune

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 09:09:47 CST

I have a (rough) recording of a fiddle tune being played on a mountain dulcimer that I'm trying to identify the name of. Does anyone recognize this tune? It has 4-parts, and is being played in the key of D. Thanks!

Well here's a little wake-up nudge for the Soundoff

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 19:18:36 CST

I guess I haven't totally forgotten how to play fiddle yet, but I'm getting there fast. Not to mention my horrible panic at the sight of a camera staring at me...lol...but there's nothing else I can do to make music right now. I'm playing (or fumbling, really) along with a Tombigbee Waltz jam track I'd put onto YouTube a few years back...that came in handy for me earlier today when I jumped on a few minutes to scratch it out. I realize how much music is like medicine, like oxygen, at least for a fumbling groundhog like me...it just helps me to play and glad for each moment I can try. Anyway, here's Tombigbee Waltz, in G, tuned to GDGD, with an audience of Teddy bears...lol.

Ok...I did my part in waking up the Soundoff Forum...you're turn!

UPDATE...sorry guys...apparently I've offended a buncha people here with my videos. I removed the link. Sorry, I have no desire whatsoever to harm or bother people with my music.

Ancorage Folk Fest set 2019

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 15:59:49 CST

Our 37th annual Anchorage Folk Festival is happening now. Someone sent me video our set from 2019 AFF; 4 tunes. Thought I'd share.

The festival is was based on community music, mostly what folks just play for fun, with family, neighbors friends. As well as friends from around state. (last week friends from Nome played, was awesome). Goal is to encourage just regular "folk" participation, not so much about music career/industry stuff. Anyone can just sign up, no auditions; everyone gets 15 minutes to share their music (includes quick set up from one to the next). Fest also includes workshops, dances, jams; and of course excuse to get out of the cabin, fight winter and get together and visit. Free, no admission charge, tickets. Lot of fun.

The last tune, we invited young guest, he's got really good in last 7 years.

edit: I also posted it on FHO video library, not sure what difference is.

Something else but not "speed the plough"

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 10:57:47 CST

Thought i may as well post it here as well . Usual rough a**ed recording

Jackson's Victory

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 05:11:36 CST

Had the mic set up so thought of sharing; a little late, more like the Eighteenth of January. Sure is dark, cold and icy, playing fiddle is good way to counter

Galway Girl

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 23:51:07 CST

Work in progress.

Sorry, not the Irish Fiddle Tune (made you look though) . This doesn't have much fiddling itself, as this is cover of Steve Earl song. Lots of Irish folks covered it, almost always include Sharon Shannon on accordion. I found it's a good popular song at Pubs; and fits Irish instrumentation and style.

That said, Sharon's accordion riff has very cajun feel to it, so going off that, trying to work up arrangement for band.

Scrapped together in my small home office (not treated); with a cheap mic I got at GC (for like $30), might be little noisy.

No AI involved, just maybe bit of Natural Stupidity

Wild Mountain Thyme (Brandon Kennedy and the Roving Clovers)

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sat, 3 Jan 2026 08:44:58 CST

This is a recently released video of a traditional Irish tune with a modern flair. There’s a five-string Realist violin and a claw hammer banjo player as well as upright bass, guitar, and fiddle.

youtu.be/SJ1ytD91YR4?si=g2OlKQ6L27TOyWVU

Cherry River Line

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 06:21:49 CST

I learned Cherry River Line from a YouTube video of Lester McCumbers playing with Kim Johnson (banjo). I was “smitten” the first time I heard it. I learned it, but it always reminded me of other tunes. Come to find out (right or wrong) the tune actually started out as a mountain “song” from West Virginia by the same name. Listening to them both and knowing the story - I can hear it (kinda). But… like a lot of other songs/tunes - if no one told me the story, I would have never made the connection. I’m working on the song - it’s just as good.

There are a good number of folks who have recorded the mountain song version. But to me - the best one is done by Sara Grey with Kieron Means on fiddle on the CD “Down in Old Dolores”. Well done!

So, it started out as a song written for banjo accompaniment. And Lester McCumbers tell a story of how he came to play the song on fiddle. No one disputes the claim that Lester was the source for the fiddle tune version. There is no evidence to say otherwise. I want to say that it became popular because his version of Cherry River Line is that good - it can’t be ignored (I can’t).

But the mountain song is worth learning too. I want to be able to sing it while I play. We’ll see.

Used my phone “wrapped up” in a towel for recording. Fiddle is tuned to G (GDgd). And if your interested, back in 2016 I uploaded recording of me playing the fiddle and I added a track with me playing the guitar for accompaniment. It’s in my media folder. I’ll add it here if requested.

I'll say Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays right now...

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 04:50:44 CST

So...Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to all my FHO buddies. I hope you all have a nice Christmas Eve and Christmas day and whatever else you celebrate. Plus, let's hope 2026 brings some good stuff for all of us. I remember hearing that on midnight on Christmas Eve the animals talk in human language. Well apparently dogs don't, but I did stay outside that late one time and checked out the chickens but they had nothing to say. Oh well...Santa ain't real either, but it's fun to have a holiday where you're allowed to pretend. And don't forget that peace and goodwill toward men is the ultimate reason we celebrate.

Anyway here's something I twisted hubby's arm to join me in back a few years ago, before things got so difficult for us. The fiddling is pretty bad...lol...but I can't change it now...so...maybe grab some earplugs if you chose to listen.

youtu.be/L2srnVjgVwU?si=8gQCx1w14KLV3ocP

Chase the Banshee

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 13:02:19 CST

This tune was a pleasant surprise. I learned the version I play from Chirp Smith’s CD “Down In Little Egypt” - (listen to track #6 on Bandcamp here - I can’t find a YouTube video). And I thought it was probably a contemporary tune written by Chirp. But I liked it. At the time I was inspired by some of the challenging phrases (for me) that made it fun to play. And then later found out - this tune has a pretty cool history, and like a lot of old tunes - has gone through some changes.

It started out as a theme tune that centered on a “minstrel show” from over in Ireland - by the name of “The Flanagans Chase the Banshee”. The earliest recording is from 1926 by the Flanagan Brothers, and includes the “comedy routine” as well as the tune - fun to listen to:

Flanagan Brothers: The Flanagans Chase the Banshee (comic sketch and reel)

The Flanagans' Banshee – Reel (single/double) from Ireland – The Traditional Tune Archive

Campbell’s (barndance) on The Session

Recorded with my phone, Fiddle tuned the key of G (GDgd).

Last Gold Dollar

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sat, 20 Dec 2025 08:38:16 CST

“Last Gold Dollar“ is a traditional tune that was first recorded by Bill Hensley in 1940 in North Carolina.

https://www.slippery-hill.com/content/last-gold-dollar-0

...and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0SWf_vvkIM / From the Digital Library of Appalachia - “Old Time Fiddling From The State of North Carolina”

Bill Hensley (1873–1960) was a North Carolina–Tennessee mountain fiddler whose playing preserved an older, pre-commercial Appalachian style. He was born in Happy Valley near Johnson City, Tennessee, later moving to North Carolina as a child. Hensley’s father, grandfather, and uncles Mac and Rube Hensley were all fiddlers.

Blind Wiley Laws and Governor Bob Taylor of Tennessee were also major influences; Hensley even acquired his main fiddle (“Old Calico”) from Taylor.
Hensley grew up playing for log raisings, corn huskings, quilting parties, hog killings, and other community events where music was functional rather than performative. That places him squarely in the pre radio, pre festival tradition — a carrier of local repertoire rather than a commercial entertainer. But he did play festivals and other events.

While the search results don’t list specific tunes, the documentation and photos place him in the older, modal-heavy, droning Appalachian style — closer to pre 1910 regional fiddling than the later contest or radio styles. His association with Ben Shahn’s FSA photography also signals that he was considered a representative of authentic mountain fiddling.

And for those who like to have the notation: Annotation:My Last Gold Dollar - The Traditional Tune Archive

I learned the version I play from Martin Fox and Jeff Winegar on their CD “The Way it Was”

My fiddle is cross-tuned in the key of D (Adae). Recorded with my phone.

Little Gal'll Fool Me

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 05:35:06 CST

“Little Gal’ll Fool Me” (also known as “Little Gal’ll Fool Ya”) is an old-time fiddle reel from northeast Tennessee, most famously played by Joe Birchfield of the Roan Mountain Hilltoppers. It was recorded in 1982 and later released on their 2000 album Down Home. The tune is preserved in the Milliner-Koken Collection of American Fiddle Tunes and remains part of the Appalachian old-time repertoire.

Interesting side note - the recording was made on the “Cloudlands” label, owned by our friend Doug Dorschug (according to reports). I suspect that Doug may have been the sound engineer for the recording as well.

Roan Mountain Hilltoppers

Another great version: Clare Milliner & Walt Koken

I learned to play this tune listening to The Lonesome Stragglers version on their “Susquehanna Waltz” CD

Annotation:Little Gal Will Fool Me - The Traditional Tune Archive

Mu fiddle is tuned ADae

Add stories or history if you know some. And please - add your version or another that you like.

Hurlothrumbo...(Or what it has turned into)

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 8 Dec 2025 17:00:26 CST

Well you asked for it Peggy...Lol

By Samuel Maggoty Johnson (1691 – 5 May 1773)

somebody wake up the sound off forum!

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 8 Dec 2025 04:21:59 CST

I mean, you know I sure would if my life was more...ya know...normal I guess. Do it, somebody do it!

"Thank you for your attention to this matter," lol...if you know what that means.

Play Garry Harrison's Mule Team in D

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 10:10:05 CST

Welcome to Garry Harrison Tunes University. We will be turning in our textbooks to the back of the book for what I regard as one of his most challenging tunes. It's pretty crooked. First you have to get into the correct tuning. Two ways to do that. (Actually three): 1. Use a tuner. 2. Pretend you are a Cajun fiddler and are playing a "tuned down" fiddle (FCGD); then merely tune the G string up a step (G). 3. To get to GCGD, lower the A string a step to G and lower the E string to D. This is a D tuning.

<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e2FuwHDqBM>

L & N Rag restored

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 04:48:59 CST

Originally presented in 2022, but my media files were hacked and deleted.

https://www.fiddlehangout.com/topic/56986

In de stille Kempen - airy version of a 1939 tune

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 09:15:25 CST

youtu.be/6eXGXsvH358?si=UYWrRcRPYGOOtYLM

3903

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 3 Nov 2025 18:41:37 CST

Thirty-nine Oh Three

Time to upset the cover-page of my favorite forum. FHO

If you think this is to your liking, watch the latest from The Fabulous Superlatives! A sweet of tunes called 'space junk.' I didn't find them until tonight. Showing the universe is colliding during this full moon. Peace

Weird Titles for Weird Stuff

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 08:43:40 CST

Does anybody else get on a kick? Take a fork in the road and see where it goes? Well, I heard some stuff. It inspired me. I'm not gonna say any more.

Jenny Wont You Drink Some Hard Cider?

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 06:46:29 CST

fiddlehangout.com/global/img/f...s/mp3.gif

L

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 14:32:58 CST

Starting a New Format

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 21:18:28 CST

My recorder assignes a numeric title to anything recorded. There's a date/time stamp, but also an odometer/sequential number.
Titles mattered so little to Django and Steph, they started to simply number their 'stuff.' I like the idea.

A Bowing Excersize

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 20:12:44 CST

I started doing this while I was thinking. Like the description says, I can do this in my sleep. There's so much that isn't so much about the notes but the timing. The left and right work as one.

Bowing Excersize

S

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 13:51:25 CST

Campbell's Farewell to Redgap

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Sun, 12 Oct 2025 01:11:57 CST

Campbell's Farewell to Redgap

Pretty Little Girl

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 18:55:28 CST

I'm satisfied for now (I think)

Been Awhile: A Polka, plus Another

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Thu, 9 Oct 2025 15:55:47 CST

Letsa Polka!

Spell check nightmare.

The CDB

The old tried and true. Black and blue.

I was sort of tired of draggy tunes. Time for Uptempo!

Trouble In Deep Creek ( improvisation)

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Thu, 9 Oct 2025 11:40:29 CST

https://youtube.com/shorts/_K-ndEIHgWk?si=2zV9Wh3kc5SmlLJO

Played by heart

1

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 04:53:10 CST

F

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 05:13:51 CST

Red Haired Boy

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Tue, 9 Sep 2025 13:36:31 CST

Hey everybody!

Heres my arrangement of Red Haired Boy. Hope you enjoy it!

-Mason

youtu.be/oEeZ0M2rMjc

Making House of the Rising Sun

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 8 Sep 2025 14:41:20 CST

Making House of the Rising Sun

I dunno, I could just post a final 'product.' But what fun would that be?

This is Man living on the razors edge! In real time! As it happens!

What does this one mean? ? ?

O Death/Glory in the Meetinghouse [reload]

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 8 Sep 2025 05:13:29 CST

During Rockbridge, this past weekend, I had a small discussion after we played Glory in the Meetinghouse. Since all my files were deleted in a hack, I uploaded this as a request. The fiddle is in EDAE. There were 8 comments in the original upload but the Wayback Maching (archive.org) didn't save that part of the web site. There is a more detailed description in my media files.

Edit: Went way back in the Wayback Machine and found 6 comments that were saved.

6 comments on “Oh Death & Glory in the Meetinghouse”

fiddlebob Says:
Monday, February 04, 2008 @6:00:56 PM

Hey, that's a good job. I like it.

fiddlebob

carlb Says:
Monday, February 04, 2008 @7:11:43 PM

The description that I wrote got cut off and didn't name Hobart Smith's tune, which is "Last Chance".

Carl

fiddlenbanjo Says:
Monday, February 04, 2008 @11:44:01 PM
Great job carlb! Loved the singing!

Midwest_Fiddler Says:
Wednesday, February 06, 2008 @10:51:38 AM

Very nice. I like that EDAE tuning. Works well for an IL tune called Green Sleeve from Henry Hall of Cave-In-Rock, IL.

Chirps

PeachyPicker08 Says:
Monday, January 05, 2009 @10:18:57 PM
U got it down!

Fiddlechickaroo Says:
Monday, January 26, 2009 @1:51:59 PM
All I can say is WOW!! Great tune and playing and singing.

Help Me Now- 2018

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Wed, 3 Sep 2025 04:44:28 CST

Cheers, Fiddle World. I don't often visit material from the past that hurt but getting over things means facing those struggles. This was 8 years ago and this band stood out to a lot of acts that were playing bluegrass. None of us, including the violin did not play traditional but we were excepted. I miss this old band and old songs but since this has a violin in it, I thought I'd share it.

For those of you who can also appreciate classical style

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Tue, 2 Sep 2025 19:33:18 CST

This is my dearest violin teacher, the one who had the grace to explain me after a year and a couple of months she would not longer want to prevent me from searching my way to become a true fiddler.
I don't even know if I'm allowed (seen from her side that is) to post this, but I will.
During that first year she would always send me a slow and fast version of tunes we picked together.
Enjoy 'Ruby with the eyes that sparkle' and 'Amazing grace', in a modern classical edit.
My violin teacher was and still is a more than amazing violinist. She taught me 'playing on feeling'/ 'op gevoel spelen'. That I will carry with me forever whenever I pick up the fiddle.

Steel Pan Man

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Tue, 2 Sep 2025 18:53:20 CST

Steel Pan Man

Similar to Down Zydeco Way, but built/produced in a way that could be readily converted to an mp3/listening stock.

Technical note: Accordion on a keyboard needs a certain attack. Just like a steel pan needs a different approach. If you've listened to a pan band, it seems like a pan trills with a fifth, not so much the third. Now, none of it sounds exactly true. Nothing but an accordion sounds exactly like an accordion. But the part is a foundational artifact rather than the need to faithfully represent. It needs to be said, it still needs a human hand and mind and a bit of skill. This isn't Ai.

The making of Down Zydeco Way

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Tue, 2 Sep 2025 18:35:49 CST

The Making of Down Zydeco Way

This isn't something one could convert to an mp3. This is closer to how a painter paints.

The old woman tossed up in a blanket/'O' Sullivans march

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Tue, 2 Sep 2025 10:28:26 CST

Short one from O Neils
https://youtu.be/7J7z3ajo3qg?si=vRc9rilysPxXsDDa

A night at the fair

eric@fiddlehangout.com — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 14:17:16 CST

Jig from O Neils, not been playing much last few months so knocked this one out tonight
youtu.be/lml-JQjPmIA?si=nQHsyRPIsPRVFTIl
Its quite an old one this.