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Fiddle Lessons
with Darol Anger
Beginner Fiddle
Introduction to Basic Fiddle
Tuning the Fiddle
The Names of Notes and Where They Are
Principles and Gear
Practicing for Pitch
Standing Stance
Sitting Stance
Right Hand Bow Hold
The Bow Hold
Left Hand Position
"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" (Beginner)
"Rubber Dolly"
"Little Liza Jane" - Key of A
Rosining the Bow
Up-Bows, Down-Bows, Upper Half and Lower Half
Bowing: Speed Vs. Pressure
Exercise 1: Smooth
Exercise 2: Dot, Dot, Dot
"Way Downtown"
Wrist On Counter Exercise
Fourth Finger Exercises
"Why D'ya Wander"
Grooving Single Bowstrokes
Beginning Shuffles
The Classic Shuffle
"Old Joe Clark"
Introduction to String Crossings
Crossing Strings
String Crossing Exercises
"Picket Fence Waltz"
"Little Liza Jane" - Key of G
"Ragtime Annie" (Beginner)
The Fingerboard
A Scale is a Story
The G Scale
"The Crawdad Song" - Key of G
"You Are My Sunshine"
"Red Wing" - Key of G
"The Dead March" - Key of A
"This Little Light of Mine" (Beginner)
"Golden Slippers"
The D Scale
"Angeline the Baker" - Key of D
"Chinquapin Hunting"
The Major Scale in A
SlowSkand: A Scale and Bow Rhythm Study
"Cluck Old Hen" - Key of A
"Cluck Old Hen" - Key of D
Double Stops
The Natural Minor Scale
"Liberty"
"Kitchen Girl"
The Mixolydian Mode
"Old Joe Clark" Mixolydian Mode
"Sugarfoot Rag"
The Dorian Mode
"Shady Grove" - Key of E minor
Major Arpeggio
Minor Arpeggios
"Sally Goodin"
"Ginseng From Mr. Blake"
"Fire on the Mountain"
Bowing: “Sally Anne”
Bowing: “Soldiers Joy”
More Thoughts on Bowing
"Cotton-Eye Joe"
The C Scale: "Wabash Cannonball"
The F Scale: "Faded Love"
"Rabbit in the Log" - Key of F
"Cripple Creek" (Beginner)
The E Scale: "I'll Fly Away"
"The 8th of January" (Beginner)
Introduction to Simple Tags
Simple Tags
"Lazy John"
"Little Rabbit"
Practice Plan
Bow Circle Stomp
"Bonaparte's Retreat" - Version 1
"Sitting on Top of the World"
"Little Maggie" - Key of G
"Little Maggie" - Key of B
"Wayfaring Stranger" - Key of G Minor
Other Student Submitted Tunes
Submit a Placement Video
Intermediate Fiddle
Introduction to Intermediate Fiddle
Mastery Means that it Feels Easy!
Shuffles
The Georgia Shuffle
The 3-3-2 Shuffle
Cakewalk Shuffle
Transcending Shuffles
Bow Circles
"Bow Circle Blues"
"This Little Light of Mine" (Intermediate)
A Great Left Hand Exercise
Developing Speed Means Playing Slow First!
The Blues Form
The Blues Scale
"Blues on Gravel"
"Carrol County Blues"
Numbering the Notes
Intervals
Pentatonic Scale
The Amazing Fiddle Scale
"Sally Johnson" in G
"Billy in the Lowground"
"Billy in the Lowground" - Exploring Variations
Minors
“The Greek Medley”
Rhythmic Bowing
"Brushy Fork of John's Creek"
"Salt Creek #1"
"Salt Creek #2"
"Pity the Poor Pinky"
Major Arpeggios
Minor Arpeggios
Fiddle Arpeggios: 1-4-5 in A
Fiddle Arpeggios: “This n' That”
Fiddle Arpeggios: “Dixie Breakdown”
Fiddle Arpeggios: “Big Sandy River”
Fiddle Arpeggios: Crazy Arpeggio Etude
First, Second, Third, Half and Fourth
One Tune to All Keys: "Blues On Gravel" in E
Closed Keys: Using that Pinky!
Only Four Keys
"Dark Hollow"
Practicing Shifting Positions
Trouble Keys: F# Db Bb
Transposing Tunes Around Keys
Getting to and from Third Position
Sequence Tunes
"Bill Cheatham"
"Blackberry Blossom"
"Big Sciota"
Sequence Tunes: Summary
Vibrato
Double Stops: 5ths
Double Stops: 4ths
Double Stops: 6ths
Double Stops: Climbing in 6ths Exercise
Double Stops: More Working the 6ths
Double Stops: 3rds
Double Stops: Climbing in 3rds Exercise
Double Stops: Unisons, 2nds, and 7ths
Double Stops: "Dark Hollow" and "Whistlin' Rufus"
"Florida Blues"
"Farewell Blues"
Modal and Older Movement: "Reuben's Train"
Numbering Chords
7ths Chords
"Salty Dog Blues"
Solo: Phrases and Form
Solo: "Why D'ya Wander"
Solo: Bluegrass Kickoffs
"Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms"
Bluesy Bluegrass Phrasing
Solo: Constructing Melodies
Solo: Double Stops
Solo: Rhyming Phrases
Solo: Mandolin Chop Position
Iconic Bluegrass Fiddle Kickoffs - “Muleskinner Blues” Kickoff #1
Iconic Bluegrass Fiddle Kickoffs - “Muleskinner Blues” Kickoff #2
Iconic Bluegrass Fiddle Kickoffs - “Uncle Pen”
Iconic Bluegrass Fiddle Kickoffs - “Can't You Hear Me Calling”
Iconic Bluegrass Fiddle Kickoffs - “Footprints in the Snow”
Iconic Bluegrass Fiddle Kickoffs - “My Cabin in Caroline”
Iconic Bluegrass Fiddle Kickoffs - “Someone Took My Place with You”
Iconic Bluegrass Fiddle Breaks - “Foggy Mountain Special”
Iconic Bluegrass Fiddle Breaks - “Blue Night”
Iconic Bluegrass Fiddle Breaks - “Gonna Settle Down”
Iconic Bluegrass Fiddle Breaks - “On My Way Back to the Old Home”
Iconic Bluegrass Fiddle Breaks - “Ginseng Sullivan”
Iconic Bluegrass Fiddle Breaks - “When Joy Kills Sorrow”
Iconic Bluegrass Fiddle Breaks - “Border Ride”
Iconic Bluegrass Fiddle Breaks - “Flint Hill Special”
Loud and Soft Playing
Playing Back Up
Backing Up the Singer
Backing Up a Singer "New River Train" with Scott Law
Two Tactics, One Song: "Way Downtown"
Fourth Finger Workout: "Sally Goodin"
Fourth Finger Workout: "Back Up and Push"
The Mystery Note: "Salty Dog Blues"
Phrasing
"Tennessee Waltz"
Vowels and Consonants
The Infamous Chop
Chop Rhythms
Chop Pattern Variations - “Sugarfoot Rag”
“Sugarfoot Rag” Advanced Variations
Crossing the Bar Line
“Evening Prayer Blues” Key of E
“Fisher's Hornpipe” - Key of E
“Fisher's Hornpipe” - Key of F
"In Love With Another Woman"
Muleskinner Licks in Chop Position
Pentatonics
Swingy Styles
"Cripple Creek" (Intermediate)
“Ragtime Annie” (Intermediate)
“The 8th of January” Variation (Intermediate)
"Bonaparte's Retreat" - Version 2
"Bonaparte's Retreat" - Version 3
Approach Licks
Micro Variations
"The 3 Skooches"
“Riding Mower Cuts the Bluegrass”
Practice Plan
Other Student Submitted Tunes
Advanced Fiddle
Introduction to Advanced Fiddle
Practice Plan
All Purpose Fiddle Licks
Fiddle-Core
"This Little Light of Mine" (Advanced)
"Man of Constant Sorrow"
"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" (Advanced)
"Ride the Wild Turkey"
"Grey Eagle"
"Midnight on the Water"
"Golden Eagle Hornpipe"
"Whiskey Before Breakfast"
"Scotch and Swing"
"Hangman's Reel"
"Banks of the Ohio"
"California Blues"
"Sally Johnson"
"Tonal Gravity"
Tricks and Ideas - "Dark Hollow"
"Beaumont Rag"
Banjo Tunes to Fiddle
Basics of Improvising - The Worked Out Solo
Basics of Improvising - Phrasing
Basics of Improvising - Five Paths
Basics of Improvising - Building a Solo
Basics of Improvising - Long Soloing
Diatonic Arpeggios
Forcing Chord Changes
Playing in B
Sequences
The Diminished Chord
Toggling on 1-4
Turnaround Kickoffs
"Nine Pound Hammer" - 5 Minor Sub for 1-7
"Cherokee Shuffle"
"Jeremy Reel"
"John Hardy" Substitutions
"Ragtime Annie" (Advanced)
"Bury me Beneath the Willow"
"Richmond"
"Farewell Trion" - Key of C
"The Crooked Road to Buffalo" - Key of A
Other Student Submitted Tunes
Jazz & Blues Fiddle
Introduction to Jazz & Blues Fiddle
Tags
Diatonic Arpeggios
Modes
The Five Chord Qualities
Scales You'll Use: Major Scale
Scales You'll Use: Minor 7 Scale
Scales You'll Use: Minor 7 Flats
Scales You'll Use: Diminished Arpeggio & Scale
Scales You'll Use: Minor Major Scale
Scales You'll Use: Bebop Scale
The Blues Matrix
Three Blueses for Matrix
"Blues in the Garage"
"Bebop Blues"
"A Blues With Malice"
"Bow Circle Blues"
"Alabama Jubilee"
"Fly Me Toonward"
"House Atomic Pants"
Classic 2-5 Licks
Darol's Rhythm Changes
Spelling Chords with 2 Notes
Minor Blues (in C Minor)
Minor Swing Chords and D.A. Solo
Gypsy Jazz - “Minor Swing”
Gypsy Jazz - “Swing 42”
Gypsy Jazz - “Djangology”
"The 3 Skooches"
"The Old Jumpin' Fish" - Using the Minor Major Scale - Key of Em
Other Student Submitted Tunes
30 Day Challenge
30 Day Challenge - 2017 (Archive)
30 Day Challenge - 2018 (Archive)
5-String Fiddle
5-String Fiddle - Intro
5-String Fiddle - C String
5-String Fiddle - "Breaker's Bakedown"
5-String Fiddle - "Soldiers Joy"
5-String Fiddle - Gimble's 5th
5-String Fiddle - "Farewell Trion"
Waltzes
Introduction to Waltzes
"Cry Cry Darlin'" - Key of E
"Midnight on the Water" - Key of D
"Ook Pik Waltz" - Key of G
