Fiddle tunes in all keys?

[SincereCorgi]

I thought we might try to put together some shorts lists of fiddle tunes and instrumentals in as many keys as possible, in the interest of expanding bluegrass/old time mandolin students' repertoire while also developing their chops. Irish and western swing is cool tool.

I haven't mentioned modes, minor keys, etc. as I didn't want to overcomplicate things. Yes, I realize that anything is transposable, but in reality most tunes are usually played in a specific key.

My lame stab at getting the ball rolling:

A maj: Bill Cheatham
Bb: New Camptown Races
B: Rebecca
C: Billy in the Low Ground
Db: ?
D: Soldier's Joy
Eb: ?
E: ?
F: Beaumont Rag (well... sometimes)
F#: ?
G: Big Sciota
Ab: ?

[AlanN]

E: Cazadero, Big Bug
Ab: Flickin' My Pick

stumped on the other 3

[farmerjones]

For Eb couldn't you take a Bb tune and move it to the next courser string, provided it fit otherwise?

Very handy tool you're trying to develop in your students SC.
Myself, I took a melody I knew pat, (Red Haired Boy) and moved in around to different keys, knowing I had a solid "mental model."
But I totally understand playing tunes in "common key" as well. Some stuff doesn't really fit anywhere else.

[AlanN]

Eb: Pour Tessa, by Barry Mandolin on the Mitterhoff

[Beanzy]

Pegramjam have a great list in most keys (with examples & chords if you register for a username and password.)

http://www.pegramjam.com/tunes_by_key.html

[Toni Schula]

Hrr's my contribution:

A: Dusty Miller, Fire On The Mountain (repeated in D, of course) , Cluck Ole Hen, Grey Eagle
Am: Jerusalem Ridge, Sapporo
C: St. Anne's Reel
D: well most fiddle tunes which are not in A
Angelina Baker, Arkansas Traveller, Whiskey Before Breakfast, John Henry
Dm: Shady Grove (except the jaybirds version)
Em: Drowsy Maggie, Swallow Tail Jig
F: Lonesome Moonlight Waltz (sounds like Dm most of the time though), Sweet Georgia Brown (also in other keys)
G: Sailors Hornpipe, Blackberry Blossom
Gm: Kentucky Mandolin
Gmixo: Little Maggie

Looking for minor? The mighty Dawg has it.

[Neoclinus]

I know you were leaving out minors, but I learned a great slip jig from a banjo player in Ireland called Farewell to Whalley Range thats in F#m. Written by Mike McGoldrick. Here's a video of himself and Donnal Lunny playing it. Easier to play on mando than you might expect, and always a bit of flair (or a jambuster) at a session...
Aaand ok, it's not old-time or bluegrass, but neither is sailors hornpipe!

[Pete Martin]

One of the best practice things one can do to get fluid in a key is play everything you know in that key. I did this for a number of months in keys of Eb Ab Db Gb to get comfortable. Didn't matter the tune or type of tune. After you do this for a while, key becomes irrelevant.

[ptritz]

For E, you could use Calliope House. It's often played in D, but Dave Richardson played it in E, and it's his tune.

[JeffD]

Ross's Reel is on e.

[JeffD]

Kenny Baker's excellent version of "Dry and Dusty" is in e.

[SincereCorgi]

Some very good stuff all, thanks.

[Jeff Budz]

+1 for Pete Martin's advise. I may be a far way from being able to play any fiddle tune in any key it is something I work on and aspire to be able to do.

[SincereCorgi]

+1 for Pete Martin's advise. I may be a far way from being able to play any fiddle tune in any key it is something I work on and aspire to be able to do.

I agree, an excellent way to improve your technique, not really the goal of the thread though.

[mandocrucian]

Mandocrucian pushups:

A major: Bill Cheatum
A minor: Bill Cheatum
Bb major: Bill Cheatum
Bb minor: Bill Cheatum
B major: Bill Cheatum
B minor: Bill Cheatum
C major: Bill Cheatum
C minor: Bill Cheatum
Db major: Bill Cheatum
C# minor: Bill Cheatum
D major: Bill Cheatum
D minor: Bill Cheatum
Eb major: Bill Cheatum
Eb minor: Bill Cheatum
E major: Bill Cheatum
E minor: Bill Cheatum
F major: Bill Cheatum
F minor: Bill Cheatum
F# major: Bill Cheatum
F# minor: Bill Cheatum
G major: Bill Cheatum
G minor: Bill Cheatum
Ab major: Bill Cheatum
G# minor: Bill Cheatum
A major: Bill Cheatum

After you have played it in 2/4 (as a reel), then go back and play it, in all keys in 6/8 (as a jig).
Followed by two forms of 7/8 (3+4 and 4+3) and then Bulgarian 9/8 (2+2+2+3).

Play tune in 1st open position in all keys (except for any unavoidable passages which require notes going up the neck. Any part of the tune than can also be played an octave lower should be played in both registers.

Play tune in every key in 2nd position. Repeat process in 3rd, 4th and 5th positions.

Try to play tune on only one or two strings by moving up and down the neck.
Play tune in every key Django style - using only the index and middle fingers - requires stretch fingering and lots of shifting.

When finally completed, flip mandolin over to the other side and repeat playing left-handed!

PS: Do you really think I'm kidding?

[ralph johansson]

Hrr's my contribution:

A: Dusty Miller, Fire On The Mountain (repeated in D, of course) , Cluck Ole Hen, Grey Eagle
Am: Jerusalem Ridge, Sapporo
C: St. Anne's Reel
D: well most fiddle tunes which are not in A
Angelina Baker, Arkansas Traveller, Whiskey Before Breakfast, John Henry
Dm: Shady Grove (except the jaybirds version)
Em: Drowsy Maggie, Swallow Tail Jig
F: Lonesome Moonlight Waltz (sounds like Dm most of the time though), Sweet Georgia Brown (also in other keys)
G: Sailors Hornpipe, Blackberry Blossom
Gm: Kentucky Mandolin
Gmixo: Little Maggie

Looking for minor? The mighty Dawg has it.

I would say tht Dusty Miller is in A dorian (or possibly A minor penta) for the coarse part and A mixolydian for the fine part (against major chords in Bluegrass). St. Anne's Reel is traditionally played in D (but I like to do it in Eb). John Henry and Maggie are songs, to be done in the singer's key. Monroe recorded John Henry in G but I've heard a live version where he does in E, as part of a medley. Jazzers usually play Sweet Georgia Brown in Ab, except, e.g., Django+Grapppelli, who did it in G. And, again, vocally it's the singer's choice. Monroe recorded Sailor's Hornpipe (with B Keith on banjo) in Bb because Kenny Baker insisted on that key - where it sits just wonderfully.

Songs to be sure, but I like playing San Antonio Rose in Ab and I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus in Db. And F# is a very nice key for the blues.

In repsonse to the TS, Beaumont rag is in F, indeed, and that key is ideal, not only on violin and mandolin, but on guitar because of the many nice closed chord forms it offers.

[JeffD]

Mandocrucian pushups:

That really is it.

If nothing else it identifies what one needs to work on. Or, in another way, shows that there will always be something on which we could be working.

Nothing in the pushups is irrelevant or a waste of time, except maybe whatever comes real easy for you.

Right now I work on three things - alternate keys for well known tunes (most relevant to the thread), playing tunes in third position, and a my own take on Django Hand, where I work on playing tunes entirely without my index finger. (Wow that will strengthen your pinky and get your brain working.)

It doesn't even have to be a tune. There are riffs and fills and double stops that I love to do. They can all be worked on in all keys.

[UsuallyPickin]

Playing tunes you know in keys you don't know is the fastest way to get into the know on your instrument.......... R/

[farmerjones]

When finally completed, flip mandolin over to the other side and repeat playing left-handed!

Y'know, I don't wanna get so good nobody'll play with me.

[Timbofood]

I remember Kenny Baker saying he preferred to play "Fishers Hornpipe" in F, he said it just fell under his fingers comfortably.
But, that's Kenny!

[ralph johansson]

I remember Kenny Baker saying he preferred to play "Fishers Hornpipe" in F, he said it just fell under his fingers comfortably.
But, that's Kenny!

F is as traditional as D. Mark O'Connor's beatiful arrangement on Appalachian Journey uses both keys.

[Timbofood]

Where do you play it, Ralph?