THREE FORKS OF CHEAT-A Hammons Fiddle Tune with Bowing

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Posted by davidbragger on Tuesday, January 3, 2012

1 person likes this

THREE FORKS OF CHEAT

AN OLD-TIME FIDDLE LESSON

By David Bragger

I love Edden Hammons. But I love Burl too! I’ve decided to close out a very eventful year with a Burl Hammons fiddle tune. Three Forks of Cheat is played out of Black Mountain tuning, aka Calico tuning, which from low to high is tuned AEAC#. I’ve detuned the fiddle for this lesson to GDGB. Like many of my favorite Hammons Family tunes, it has a beautifully eccentric melody that sounds wonderful played as a solo fiddle piece, a banjo/fiddle duet, or an old-time jam ensemble! It takes on new character with every tempo and makes delightful use out of the drone strings, especially the occasional high string drone. Let’s fiddle in the New Year with a tune by one of the greatest old-time dynasties ever! Click on the link for the entire fiddle lesson!

http://folkworks.org/columns/old-time-oracle-david-bragger/40383-three-forks-of-cheat

5 comments on “THREE FORKS OF CHEAT-A Hammons Fiddle Tune with Bowing”

Cyndy Says:
Wednesday, January 4, 2012 @5:27:10 AM

I love the Hammons, too. Thank you!

And, Happy New Year!

davidbragger Says:
Wednesday, January 4, 2012 @9:32:49 AM

Thank you and Happy New Year to you too!! Enjoy!

rosinhead Says:
Thursday, January 5, 2012 @12:40:42 PM

Man, oh man. David, you do such a great job with Hammons Family tunes. I can't say I know of any other contemporary fiddler that can touch your grasp of their tone and emotional qualities. Thanks for posting this and all of the others. Cheers buddy.

davidbragger Says:
Thursday, January 5, 2012 @2:41:06 PM

Thank you so much. That really means a lot to me!. West Virginia tunes sucked me into this instrument, especially the Hammons family tunes! I'm glad to share some of their music and bowing mysteries with you. Cheers!