Recently I have been trying to expand my repertoire by learning a few more fiddle tunes in D (and G). What are your favorite fiddle tunes in D?
Some of my favorites:
Whiskey Before Breakfast
Soldier’s Joy
I probably have a zilllion of them. Off the top of my head --
Soldier's Joy
Up Jumped the Rabbit
Ashokan Farewell
If I hear a tune in the "wild," by the time I get a fiddle in my hand, it will typically come out in D. Then if I find out the tune is in another (common) key, I transpose it.
So my answer is, they're all in D.
HEY! A conversation I can partake in...
Whiskey Before Breakfast
Soldiers Joy
Ashokan's
Angeline
Tenn Waltz
Spotted Pony
Avalon Quickstep
Julie Ann Johnson (from this recording <https://www.slippery-hill.com/content/julie-ann-johnson-0>)
Lovely Jane (from this recording <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjBucUZkbk8>)
Lowry's Quadrille
My Wife Died on Saturday Night
Oklahoma Rooster
Opera Reel
Cherokee Shuffle (yes, in D - with 3 parts)
Durang's Hornpipe
Sal's Got Mud Between Her Toes
...and the list id subject to change at any moment.
Lily of the Valley
Cindy
Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss
Julianne Johnson
Charleson Gals
Over the Waterfall
Shuckin' the Brush... Porter's Reel..
Edited by - TuneWeaver on 09/22/2023 16:09:40
Boys, My Money's All Gone
Jenny, Won't You Drink Some Cider
Walking in the Parlor (I play 2 versions, Missouri, and Highwood)
Rock the Cradle Joe
Cheers! Have gobs & gobs of fun!
Here are my favorite tunes I fiddle every few days, just to keep them in my memory and to stay in shape:
Li'l Burnt Potato, Arkansas Traveler, Greg's Breakdown, Blue Violet Waltz, Saint Anne's Reel, Whiskey Before Breakfast, Galway Reel, Soldier's Joy, Raggedy Ann, Faded Love, Gardenia Waltz (G/D), Lost Indian, You Are My Sunshine, I Haven't Seen Mary In Years, Disappointed Coquette, Panhandle Rag, Beautiful Dreamer, Woodchopper's Reel, Soppin' the Gravy, Snowflake Reel, Liberty, Ashokan Farewell, Angeline the Baker, Long Bow, Cricket on the Hearth, Happy Acres Two-Step, Minstrel's Fancy, Harvest Home, Old French, Listen to the Mockingbird, Peekaboo Waltz, Midnight on the Water, Echoes of the Ozarks, Old Yeller Dog, Top of Cork Road, The Silver Spire, etc....
Earworm - I think "Boys My Money's All Gone" is usually in A (modal?). I believe its a version of "Paddy on the Turnpike." Here's the Charlie Bowman recording: youtu.be/clofkqw1lsc?feature=shared
Might as well learn the whole skit, just for context!
I heard "Boys My Money's All Gone" first in the early 90's, i played it in A mixolydian (Parent key D Major). i Like a C chord on the 2nd measure of the B part, (Taking it to A Dorian with the C natural, just for that one measure). Other than that it's just A and G chords for me.
Thanks for reminding me. Great little tune.
Rocky Road to Jordan
Snake River Reel
Twin Sisters (a great pentatonic workout)
Westfork Gals
Martha Campbell
I think D is most populous key on my long list of tunes.
I'm sure I've mentioned this a couple times on this website, but I remember watching a TV show where a famous classical violinist wittily remarks that classical violin concertos are always written in D. In any case, it makes sense that D is pretty much the key that most fiddlers gravitate to. When you are in standard tuning, practically every tune is within easy reach at first position. You have a good four notes on the scale beneath the tonic. Then you've got a full octave plus an additional five notes still further northward.
I don't think all classical violin concertos are really in D, but it is true that most of the great ones are in "violin friendly" keys.
Shuckin' the Brush, Yellow Barber.....No need to debate my choices..!! and I Never get tired of Mississippe Sawyer..
Edited by - TuneWeaver on 09/24/2023 13:15:59
Doug D.. what Is YOUR favorite D tune.?. You have been around probably even longer than me.. Musta' heard a few you'd call favorites..
I really don't have a favorite. I like the old standards - Western Country, Sugar Hill, Old Molly Hare, Sally Ann, Belles of Lexington - Arkansas Traveler is a good one too. Also tunes like "Woodchoppers Breakdown," "Little Burnt Potato" and "Gaspe Reel."
quote:
Originally posted by Lonesome FiddlerI'm sure I've mentioned this a couple times on this website, but I remember watching a TV show where a famous classical violinist wittily remarks that classical violin concertos are always written in D. In any case, it makes sense that D is pretty much the key that most fiddlers gravitate to. When you are in standard tuning, practically every tune is within easy reach at first position. You have a good four notes on the scale beneath the tonic. Then you've got a full octave plus an additional five notes still further northward.
Three of the "big five" are in D, so the joke is not so bad, although there are plenty of other great concerti in other keys. That key is often considered the most violin-friendly one because it just falls under the fingers easily.
All good lists of tunes here. Inspires me to move some of mine over to D, particularly Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss that I learned in C a long time back.
Apologies for repeating any that went before but how about Cricket on the Hearth, Lost Indian - the modern one -, Ragtime Annie, Hell Amongst the Yearlings, Chicken Reel, Saint Anne's Reel, Ricketts Hornpipe, Spotted Pony, Rabbit in the Pea Patch.
Have to admit that's the only key where I can sing Uncle Pen. Playing it in D means a few shifts now & then up to 3d pos but worth the trouble to be able to sing those fine words.
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