Posted by mudbug on Sunday, July 19, 2009
Well, for the past two weeks, morning and evening, I've been jamming with better musicians. Some are alive and some have passed on, but they are all trying hard to impart their wisdom through their recorded work.
When I started, I would pick the easy keys, and write them down, so I knew what key to be in when I hit play. Then after a week, I stared playing the whole CD and playing in oddball ( to me) keys, still writing them down. Now, for the past few days, I've just been throwing CD's on and taking them as they come, figuring out the keys on the fly. Also, figuring out by the licks, what position the fiddler is in. Sometimes, I'll try to copy the fiddler's licks, other times, come up with my own, sometimes playing melody, and sometimes harmony, and sometimes comping chords.
I've been putting on Country, Bluegrass, Americana / singer-songwriter, Celtic ( some of you have conditioned me to cringe when I use this term, but not enough to make me stop using it, as I haven't found a better broad-based term) and Blues.
I'm finding that the work that I put in on my fourth finger is starting to pay off as I play in closed positions, although I must admit that I have a fondness for the keys of D and A, where you can just roll off to an open string on licks.
I've noticed since starting this, that my ear is getting better, and my playing smoother, slightly faster and my bowing lighter ( to be able to go faster).
I'm not ready to gig out yet, but I'm getting closer to where I want to be, and almost ready to let other people see me play (other than my dear wife, who's always supportive but honest with me when it comes to music).
And to get ready for when I do start taking my fiddle out of the house, I've just ordered a nice case. The one that I have, that is protective in the house, is probably from the 1930's. It looks like something they would have come up with in the Depression Era. Bare bones and not trustworthy for traveling.
FiddleJammer Says:
Sunday, July 19, 2009 @8:53:45 AM
Steve, come on down to the Lake Genero festival over Labor Day weekend. :-) Very newbie friendly!
mudbug Says:
Sunday, July 19, 2009 @2:59:10 PM
Thanks, Terri. I appreciate the invites.
FiddleJammer Says:
Sunday, July 19, 2009 @10:14:32 PM
I'll keep trying until we play some tunes together. Preferably tunes that neither of us know well, but one of us could kinda sorta start. At least the A part. :-)
Humbled by this instrument Says:
Sunday, July 19, 2009 @10:45:57 PM
Thanks for the update. I'd like to hear how things go when you do decide to draw your bow 'cross the strings for the masses.
mudbug Says:
Monday, July 20, 2009 @5:04:40 PM
Hopefully they won't run for the hills pictured in your avatar. By the way, what mountain is that? It makes me want to go climbing and skiing!
David M. Says:
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 @7:02:55 AM
Steve: If you like A fiddle tunes, try cross-tuning the fiddle (G and D up to A and E). It's alot of fun and even helps develop the fiddle-ear better. Some tunes you can bow on the fine strings, then play the same way on the course pair. I'd rather play backup fiddle in standard tuning, though.
Your progress sounds great.
mudbug Says:
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 @1:38:47 PM
Thanks David. I'll haveta try that eventually. Right now, with only one fiddle, I kinda hate to mess with it and possibly break a string. I did a lot of alternate tunings on guitar, and it is very addicting, but if I didn't keep one instrument in straight tuning, I was constantly tuning ( : ( .
You must sign into your myHangout account before you can post comments.
