I often hear a breaks on fiddle in bluegrass tunes start with a walk-up three ascending notes, like - "Da Da Da Note". Where "Note" is the first note of the melody.
I would assume that works when the melody starts on a downbeat ("Note is on the downbeat), and the melody doesn't start with a pickup; so "Da Da Da" functions as a pickup. Sound right?
Curious if there a standard set of notes that are used? Does it vary based on the first "Note" of the melody, like if it's a the 1st of the Chord of the 5th of the chord?
Any tips on adding the three-note walk off to kick off a break based on melody?
Anyone have an example of a standard bluegrass tune where this works?
Good observations. I'm a big fan of bluegrass fiddlers (though not one at this time). There is no hard rule, but often the pick up notes will start on the 4th of the scale.
For ex: in Monroe's Can't You Hear me Calling in key of G... the first note is open D, followed by G then B, then the first note of high D.
Heavy Traffic Ahead does something similar in the Key of A,
and True Life Blues in Bb follows a similar pattern.
Here are the links to all three...
Can't You Hear Me Calling G 'walk up' D-G-B
https://youtu.be/dgYLbPxWZ-A?list=RDdgYLbPxWZ-A
Heavy Traffic Ahead A 'walk up' E F# G#
https://youtu.be/QkQ8s0MD1Dw?list=RDQkQ8s0MD1Dw
True Life Blues Bb 'walk up' F G Bb
https://youtu.be/c5c8Flc8Ifw?list=RDc5c8Flc8Ifw
Edited by - ShawnCraver on 05/14/2026 09:36:55
I hear it as 3-4-#4-5, with the 5 being the beginning of the melody not counting pickup notes.
Like Shawn says "Can't you Hear me Calling" is a classic example:
youtube.com/watch?v=Yub3KLnwI8...t_radio=1
Or in "On and On":
youtube.com/watch?v=yhtLF6j4pV...&index=11
If the break is going up to the root, it can be 5-5-6-1:
youtube.com/watch?v=KOVW2OdmM3...k&index=2
Or if it's walking up to the 3rd, 5-1-2-3:
youtube.com/watch?v=omy8eVMUcR...&index=29
1-1-1-1 works, too.
As long as we're throwing links out. Megan puts a short vid out about every other day. She teaches, but she touches on things like this. You may have to sort thru them, but by the time you do, you can gain a whole bunch of insite.
i should use pickup notes, but I'm usually just at a jam. I don't want to come off as flamboyant or hot-dogging taking a break in these jams. I'm already "the kid" (@65).
Edited by - farmerjones on 05/14/2026 17:43:02
quote:
Originally posted by farmerjonesAs long as we're throwing links out. Megan puts a short vid out about every other day. She teaches, but she touches on things like this. You may have to sort thru them, but by the time you do, you can gain a whole bunch of insite.
...
I've seen some of her posts on Facebook and will check out her Youtube channel. Thanks.
Maybe I missed it, but I didn't find any videos from Megan Lynch Chowning on bluegrass intros. Link?
I agree that listening should be part of learning a melody, not just playing it. Sometimes I spend days playing different versions before the melody finally settles naturally under my fingers. What's interesting is that certain melodies slowly change over time in how I hear their rhythm and playing.
I follow what you;re saying on melodies...the classic bluegrass fiddlers had a classy way of stating the melody, with variation and expression...the subject at hand...walk ups (we've detailed) to the melody were solid "cornerstones" the Monroe fiddlers were pretty darn consistent with. kind of like a call to attention that made their solos stand out. Not as loosey goosey as a lot of fiddlers I hear these days
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