Kentucky Waltz

Premier Sponsors

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue, we will assume that you agree to our privacy policy which includes details of cookie usage. Hide this notice

Waltz Central

Join This Group

Don't waltz lovers deserve a special group? It's as easy as 1...2,3 1...2,3

68 Members, Created 2/2/2011 -

Administrators: Andah1andah2 (owner)

< Back to Home

From Andah1andah2 on 2/2/2011 10:21:30 AM

As a first entry, I wanted to ask about this waltz which I'm about to learn. Is there a more common key to play this in? I have heard it in D, A and C.

6 Comments
	OTJunky says: 2/2/2011 4:12:48 PM Good question. I play it in D. But that's just because I learned it from a recording by Kenny Jackson where he plays it in D. Kentucky Waltz - like many waltzes - has lyrics so it's in that gray area between a "tune" and a "song". Bill Monroe wrote it in 1946 and Eddy Arnold recorded in in 1951. It's hard to imagine the two sang it in the same key. The rule about songs in Monroe's band was that you played it in whatever key best complemented his voice and that could change from one performance to the next. So, probably, even finding out what key Monroe sang it in is not an indication that it ought to be played key. I think he wrote in C but I'm not certain. More likely he just figured it out on the Mandolin that let somebody transcribe it into sheet music and the transcriber picked the key of C to use in rendering the sheet music since that's the easiest key to write down and read. Some waltzes - like Westphalia - might have lyrics but nobody knows them so they get stuck in keys. I think Westphalia always gets played in G. And there are waltzes invented by fiddlers that don't have lyrics so they get stuck in keys too. FWIW, I think I've heard The Kentucky Waltz played most commonly played in D and because the double stops work well there and you have some open strings you can use. But I think you can play it in whatever key suits you. --OTJ
	Andah1andah2 says: 2/2/2011 6:38:48 PM Thanks Paul. I just spend the evening learning it in C. Mostly because I found this gentleman playing an easy and good sounding version for me to learn. youtube.com/watch?v=tcm-PFQvft...e=related Also, this would be the first tune I know in C and I figured it was about time. I've been practicing my C scales for over a year. It was time to put it to use :)
	TimK says: 2/6/2011 4:48:53 AM I also play it in D. This is a very popular waltz. I'm sure you'll enjoy having it in your repatory .
	albert52 says: 2/6/2011 10:19:10 AM I have played it in 4 different keys. C-Bb-E-D. If I get the chance to "lead" the tune I will do it in D. Most singers I have come across will do it in Bb or C, although I had a lady sing it in E. I think Bb and C are easier on the ears for some folks. Have fun.
	Andah1andah2 says: 2/6/2011 10:50:50 AM Sounds pretty good in C. I know so many tunes in D and A. It was about time to learn a C tune. The "high register" part is proving to be tricky. Especially if I'm trying to use the pinky instead of the open strings.
	paulinefiddle says: 7/2/2016 10:04:36 PM I like to play it in D because there are so many good resonances.
Post a Comment
You must be logged in and a member of this group to post a comment.

	Fiddler Magazine Back Issues (30 issues) Linked by charlie.walden 7 years ago
Blog Entry: Draggin' The Bow CD with Charlie Walden & John Stewart Linked by charlie.walden 9 years ago
	Taylor McBaine - Bethel 1990 Linked by charlie.walden 9 years ago
	Red Fox Waltz - Group Play Along by Charlie Walden & Patt Plunkett Linked by charlie.walden 9 years ago
Blog Entry: Prairie Hill Contra Dance with Patt & Possum - March 3, 2016 Linked by charlie.walden 9 years ago
Blog Entry: KDHX Folk School Fiddle Workshop - April 2016 with Patt & Possum Linked by charlie.walden 9 years ago
Blog Entry: Vesta Johnson - Missouri Fiddler Linked by charlie.walden 9 years ago
	Shamus O'Brien Waltz - Group Play Along with Patt & Possum Linked by charlie.walden 9 years ago
Blog Entry: Gryphon Strings - Palo Alto Fiddle Workshop 2015 with Patt & Possum Linked by charlie.walden 9 years ago
	Take Me Out to the Ballgame Waltz by Patt & Possum Linked by charlie.walden 9 years ago