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doryman - Posted - 09/28/2021: 08:59:59
I woke up this early morning, made myself a cup of coffee, grabbed my fiddle and played the tune, Quail is a Pretty Bird, better than I've ever played it before (admittedly that's a low bar). It was sweet with good intonation and I nailed the B part too, which typically gives me trouble. Other days, I'll wake up, get my coffee, grab my fiddle and, after a few minutes, I come to the only logical conclusion, which is that I must have had a stroke in the middle of the night. I can't get a song or a note right to save my life.
That's all. Just an observation.
Flat_the_3rd_n7th - Posted - 09/28/2021: 09:51:41
Amen.
I've always held that violin is the "golf" of the musical world. Just sadistic, and you have to be a freak to do it well. You can look at most pros at their peak, and just a year later, they'll be hacks.
Same with violin. One day I have total command of every part of the bow, and look like Paganini (in my view, LOL). Two hours later, I can't play 'Happy Birthday' without bouncy bow.
BTW, is 'Quail is a Pretty Bird' the same tune as 'The Cuckoo'? (is a pretty bird, she warbles when she flies...)
doryman - Posted - 09/28/2021: 10:28:13
quote:
Originally posted by Flat_the_3rd_n7th
BTW, is 'Quail is a Pretty Bird' the same tune as 'The Cuckoo'? (is a pretty bird, she warbles when she flies...)
I don't think so. Quail is Pretty Bird is John Hartford song, but I'm not sure if he wrote it, or is just known for it.
youtube.com/watch?v=EnwCMV60fd4
Some folks think it's the same song as the fiddle tune, Sandy Boys, but I think that there is a difference between the two.
Mobob - Posted - 09/28/2021: 12:56:42
John Hartford got Quail is a Pretty Bird from Gene Goforth.
Old Scratch - Posted - 09/28/2021: 13:06:51
Sometimes everything'll be just clicking great - until I realize it, and say to myself, "Gee, everything's just clicking great!" - and then - well, you know .......
UsuallyPickin - Posted - 09/28/2021: 13:17:31
Well peeps... there are days when I feel like a musician and there are days when my instruments act like I am a total stranger. For some reason my fiddles are more prone to this than my plectrum / fretted instruments. I have asked several fiddlers over the years and they have all more or less said " there are just those days where my fiddle just won't talk to me" . So I quit worrying about it and on those days when I have to play and my instrument friends treat me like a stranger I stick to simple , well known tunes and techniques and hope for the best. Sometimes things come together other times I crash and burn. C'est la Vie. R/
Edited by - UsuallyPickin on 09/28/2021 13:18:52
stumpkicker - Posted - 09/28/2021: 15:20:46
As Darol Anger says in his online fiddle course. “Sometimes the fiddle just says “No!” 
farmerjones - Posted - 09/28/2021: 19:37:48
Have y'all ever heard of 'fake it, until you make it?'
James Taylor said, suppose a guy wanted to play and sing, and what if he could?
Y'know, I don't beat myself up. What I do fiddle-wise for public consumption, is disgustingly rudimentary. 3 levels less than plant life.
If I can't play Woodchoppers, it's no big deal. I only play that kinda stuff in the basement.
Or, if the fiddle says no, back the truck up until it says yes.
Edited by - farmerjones on 09/28/2021 19:53:10
farmerjones - Posted - 09/28/2021: 20:11:35
I don't approach my fiddle as an adversary. It's just wood. Some are better than others, but it's 97.657% operator. Oh yeah, the bow is more important than most think. The difference between playing for a half hour and being exhausted, and playing five hours and ready for six hours, is the bow.
'Bartlett Fiddle Mic' 8 hrs
'Falls of Richmond' 10 hrs
'What is this tune? Help.' 2 days
