Well if it works and you like it, there you go! :-)

Hmm I have not come across across "Colonel Fraser" yet, will have to take a listen...
In our learning jam we are starting to learn "Tommy People's" reel.

-- ok back to scheduled programming :-) --

I want to clarify my G suggestion for Flop Eared. I am not suggesting playing it lower using the same fingering, I mean starting on the pinky on the E string, playing it higher? than D. 

Here's some folks who play it in G

https://youtu.be/whAE6VqVcx8?si=l0TdxHRWNgc_5GxI

https://youtu.be/U01IFPoLg9w?si=H15uxugm0r7dRUDj

https://youtu.be/VTo5UZl-v0Y?si=qZGtcGsysPis1Ww3

https://youtu.be/hY5HF5TXEWQ?si=Cn9HTEm3SsLOrNE6

I'd say they all fall in the accepted OT canon.

Well, I know what tune I'll be playing soon.

All that old fashioned stuff might be fine, but here is the ONE MULE to rule them all: youtu.be/B4DNGqmtBrk?feature=shared
As I said, I think that's where I first learned it, but there are other versions in D, including the notation at the Traditonal Tune Archive. In some places the tune is apparently known as the D/A Schottische.
I understood what you meant about playing on the E string, that's why I said there's no high part available if you play it in D/A. I don't think I know anybody that plays this one around here, so it doesn't really matter.
BTW, Jimmy Shand and his Scottish country dance band had a hit with this in the 1950's as "The Bluebell Polka" in G/D.

You guys would be so proud of me! Learned a new tune in just a couple days...in D and G

I took a printed dots version and I was already 90% there so my teacher helped me seal the deal. When he'd play the harmony part I'd choke up and loose focus because it sounded so cool! Now what?

Well, I dumped my F. E. M. in the Sound-off dept. Such as it is.

On a more serious note, Samuel Bayard included 19 versions of this tune in "Dance to the Fiddle ..." Only two are in G - all the rest are in D/A. Maybe its a regional choice - except for the Skillet Lickers, who played a lot in G and C, all the players in Billy's examples are from a fairly small area.

quote:

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Originally posted by pete_fiddle

quote:

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Originally posted by NCnotes

Pete, Cool!!

Ironically I have been working hard to get rid of my “violinny” habits…with help of teacher, playing with what I think of as “noodle arm”, using a lot less bow, etc. When I start playing in my “old way” I think to myself, “noodle arm!” and my arm relaxes…The fiddling ways are sinking in pretty deep…before I always thought it would be easy to go back to classical if I ever want to, but now I am starting to wonder that I might not be able to go back!? Sorry for thread wandering.

Working on: Salamanca reel and lovely jig "contentment is wealth"

Latest discovery: I am one of the weird up-down-up triplet players…Most people apparently like down-up-down. (Triplet as in that fast little bow shake thing used in Irish fiddling.)

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I once had a fiddler ask me how i was doing triplets, i showed him, and told him i was doing them D,U,U.

He said "You are only doing them that way because Nobody has told you that you can't" . ....

BTW, It also saves me from wondering which bow i will end on after the triplet.

i think after looking around the internet, it is called Spiccato or Ricochet or something similar?

Thread drift....Sorry

Today i started to get a Version of "Colonel Fraser" from O'Niell's ...Ahh back on track.

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Brief life-changing newsbreak on triplets :-)

Yesterday I watched Kevin Burke's video and he actually does D-U-D, and my teacher said he does D-U-D, so I thought I would give this popular D-U-D a more serious try...I found that D-U-D makes it a LOT easier to get that "crunch" sound if you want it (I could never get a 'crunch' consistently before) and it makes the triplet sound naturally more rhythmic...so even though it feels weird and awkward for now, I'm gonna remake myself into a D-U-D tripleter! 

So in new tune (Tommy Peoples' reel), am working on Upbow Slur + D-U-D for the triplets...often have to stop, think, reverse bow direction!
My entire universe was apparently coordinated around Downbow Slur + U-D-U before...hunh.

Yes DUU triplets are a bit weak, but useful at faster tempo's

DUD'S are stronger at slower tempo's for me.

I started off like you, UDU'S, but very soon lost them

i think a lot depends on your bowing strategy, and interpretation of the tune, also the rhythm and tempo you are playing at....I am not discounting any of em...

Bowed turnarounds and cuts are also very effective....... BUT i have yet to find a convincing Scrunch.

Good luck and happy scrunching!

Edit: i think the choice of ornament has to re-enforce the Nyahh......That's my current thinking anyhoo

To get back on track. my explorations into "Colonel Fraser" have revealed it, (to me), to be a "show piece" rather than a nice fiddle tune, just fancy variations of a good motif. Don't think i will be taking it further....Maybe

Just figured out "Flop Eared Mule" in D since apparently most of the modern fiddling world plays it there.

Now if I'm called upon to play it there I'll know what to do but will continue with my G preference 

Tommy Jackson recorded it in G/D on one of his square dance records.

quote:

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Originally posted by ChickenMan

Just figured out "Flop Eared Mule" in D since apparently most of the modern fiddling world plays it there.

Now if I'm called upon to play it there I'll know what to do but will continue with my G preference 

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I think my crew mostly play it A/E. I think I built it up thus. But Bluegrass backing tracks had it in D.  I instinctively started playing along. Like I said, I can't do the pluck, in G. I'll most assuredly break a string. 

youtu.be/TBrbYQTkouc?si=xGzpg_fiLAlWwvBb
After Midnight, by J. J. Cale

Old Corn Liquor :-D

*sings “I once was lost, but now I am found, was blind, but now I see " - and does a very crazy happy dance!*

Old Corn Liquor again :-)))

I can already speed it up but I like slow practice I just can't help. And the dog ruined my faster version with her howling also!

I also finally saw how I should make sure NOT to show up in the mp3 or video list here ... I cannot believe I didn't see this before.

Old Corn Liquor ... a bit faster

The Blackbird

I picked up 2 new songs for me this weekend!

The Old Horse and Buggy &
Red Prairie Dawn

I consider I have a song when I can play the AA/BB part 2 times through with the recording.
They are coming easier to figure out on the fly for me. Well, ones that aren't too difficult. I can sound ok playing along with the recording but when I attempt it alone, it can sound pretty rough...lol. That's to be expected. I ask my wife often, "how was that??" She's pretty honest too which is helpful. My intonation is good when I'm playing along but I haven't recorded it yet because every time I listen back, I'm like "YUCK!!!" haha...meaning I'm happier not knowing how bad it sounds.

I play every morning before work because the house is empty. Plus, nothing beats a good cup of joe with a fiddle tune. So every day, I'm going to work on something in a different key. Today was C.

I like to play in the morning before work when the house is empty, too!
My only problem is that while playing, I get engrossed and when I pick up my coffee to take a sip, it's now lukewarm...urgh...I could put it in a travel mug, hmm.

I also think I sound fantastic when playing along with Martin and PJ Hayes...it's only when they stop playing, that it doesn't sound so good...hehehe.

Jenny Ran Away In The Mud In The Night :-)

Love this tune, bowing at slow speed is most of the times correct , have to work on the critical points where I tend to make mistakes on the prescribed bowing direction, then speed up and later on maybe time for a new recording.

My perspective keeps changing, there are a lot less clouds on my mind regarding old time fiddling and what first felt like an ongoing struggle is now like a nice and fun challenge. Each tune I discover new things.

I really want to learn this tapping feet thing also! It is treated in my course but haven't got to that lesson yet but damn I want this too! I will be so happy if I can tap my feet while playing.

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Originally posted by Quincy

Old Corn Liquor ... a bit faster

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NIce job!! I know what my next venture might be. I like both of these...the song and the drink

Quincy - I've never really listened to the "Jenny" tune, but I recently looked it up and was interested to learn that that odd title is apparently a "mishearing" of " Jenny ran away in the middle of the night" and that its related to an old English song.
Anyway, have you ever heard this tune by James Crase? slippery-hill.com/content/fiddler-dram They must be cousins of some sort. I play that one.

Flying Indian ...as played by Christian Ward on Come Back Boys and Feed the Horses. Great version.

Playing in G instead of F - because I don't want to re-tune the fiddle for one tune.

quote:

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Originally posted by Quincy

Jenny Ran Away In The Mud In The Night :-)

Love this tune, bowing at slow speed is most of the times correct , have to work on the critical points where I tend to make mistakes on the prescribed bowing direction, then speed up and later on maybe time for a new recording.

My perspective keeps changing, there are a lot less clouds on my mind regarding old time fiddling and what first felt like an ongoing struggle is now like a nice and fun challenge. Each tune I discover new things.

I really want to learn this tapping feet thing also! It is treated in my course but haven't got to that lesson yet but damn I want this too! I will be so happy if I can tap my feet while playing.

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Love the tune.

Right or wrong, Marcus Martin is said by most sources to have composed the tune. Played in AEae. There are words that go with it:

Jenny run away in the mud in the night,
Jenny run away in the moonshine bright;
Jenny run away, combing up her hair,
Jenny run away with the barker at the fair.

Christian Ward plays a great version of this which includes the lyrics.

A lot of good versions out there. But the version I learned from was by Erynn Marshall (Calico).