What's your new fiddle tune?

[mmuller]

Working my way through the John Hartford book. Happy birthday John!

[Jim Nollman]

Sweet Marie

This one has an interesting syncopation that made me question whether it was crooked or not. Actually, I think it depends on how you decide to play it. I'm trying it in a set along with Sweet Nell and Tipping Back the Corn.

[Mike Black]

Sweet Marie

This one has an interesting syncopation that made me question whether it was crooked or not. Actually, I think it depends on how you decide to play it. I'm trying it in a set along with Sweet Nell and Tipping Back the Corn.

This Sweet Marie?

https://youtu.be/iYOE5fDSZho

[wormpicker]

This Sweet Marie?

https://youtu.be/iYOE5fDSZho

I think Howard has straightened it out in this video. When I've played it in jams, it usually has (an annoying, IMO) extra beat (or is it two beats) at the beginning of the B part. I normally love crooked tunes, but I don't see where the extra beat(s) in this one adds anything. But I do like the tune!

[Jim Nollman]

Yes Mike Black. It’s that one. Nice version too.

I learned it with that extra beat before the B part mentioned by wormpicker. Played either way, it’s impossible to stop hearing it inside my head right now.

[yankees1]

Woodchopper's Breakdown !

[AlanN]

Crazy Creek. Popular way back, has come back around.

[JPS]

Started on The Eighth of January last night. It's only maybe the 6th or 7th song I've learned, but I'm surprised at how much more quickly each one comes.

Now if I could just learn to redline my voice like ol' Johnny Horton does.

[Scott Rucker]

I've been polishing on this one, Frank George's Dusty Miller (not to be confused with the several other tunes by the same name), for a while and am finally happy with my playing on it.
https://soundcloud.com/scott-rucker-...8/dusty-miller

[Bob Buckingham]

Nice job Scott, hope to cross paths with you soon for more tunes. My latest tunes are Pleasure House Rag and Jonah in the Windstorm, among others. They keep piling up.

[Jim Garber]

I've been polishing on this one, Frank George's Dusty Miller (not to be confused with the several other tunes by the same name), for a while and am finally happy with my playing on it.
https://soundcloud.com/scott-rucker-...8/dusty-miller

One of my favorites and I have been playing it for years. However, I think I might have strayed a bit and put my own flavors into it. I just listened to your rendition and then found Frank George video on YouTube and might revisit his version. Thanks. I love this thread. I have uncovered or re-covered a bunch of tunes here. Thanks to all.

[Scott Rucker]

Jim, I will admit that I learned it as much from the fiddling of friends Dave Bing and Danny Arthur as I did from Frank George. And, yes, this thread has several times reminded me of "orphaned" tunes that I had forgotten.

[Jim Nollman]

Is it possible to play an old time tune over any period of time and not add your own flavors to it?

[Jim Garber]

Is it possible to play an old time tune over any period of time and not add your own flavors to it?

Good question. None of us is immune to the folk process, though, and unless as players we go back to listen to the original source, there is no doubt that we will make the tune own own. Nothing wrong with that.

[Jess L.]

Is it possible to play an old time tune over any period of time and not add your own flavors to it?

No.

Good question. None of us is immune to the folk process, though, and unless as players we go back to listen to the original source, there is no doubt that we will make the tune own own. Nothing wrong with that.

Yes.

[Charles E.]

Just learned "Squirrel Hunters" and "Squirrel Heads and Gravy" to play as a medley. If your gonna kill em you gotta eat em, right?

[Scott Rucker]

As far as tunes changing, I very much agree with the comments above. I would also add that it's helpful to not be tied to a certain arrangement or phrasing of a tune when playing with others, don't stick with your "right" way when it doesn't fit in with what others around you at the time are doing. Since people play them a little differently, learning to hear and pick up those differences is a beneficial skill. The others in the jam will appreciate it and it will sound better, especially if the jam is one of those where everybody goes for the melody at once. I will admit that it can be a difficult thing and even after over twenty years of playing fiddle tunes with people I'm only successful at it sometimes. I find that trying to play along with unfamiliar tunes or versions of tunes from CDs or whatever helps develop the skill. Sorry for not sticking to the subject of this thread.

To help bring it back, below is my version of one of my favorite tunes from one of my favorite local fiddlers, JP Fraley's Steptown. Although it isn't new to me, I love to share the tune with others bc I like it so much. I think it is a great example of his style.
Me playing it: https://soundcloud.com/scott-rucker-202243268/steptown
JP Fraley fiddling it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_iJ4KX_BQ4

[Jim Garber]

Scott: JP was and still is one of my very favorite fiddlers. I met him years ago at the Brandywine Festival in Maryland in the 1980s. Sweet man and an equally sweet fiddler. I play his “Sail Away Ladies” and “Wild Rose of the Mountain” among others for years.

[Scott Rucker]

I knew him but not well. I grew up about 15 minutes from where he lived when I was a kid and didn't even know he played music. He and my grandfather once worked in the same coal mine when he was young. Yes, a great guy who had such a sweet, playful style. I play several of his tunes, too, including both of the ones you mentioned. When I tried to learn to fiddle, his Little Liza Jane was the one tune I could play that actually sounded like my source.

[Jim Nollman]

Have to mention JP Fraley's Annadean's Waltz. As playful as it gets. And a big favorite whenever we pull it out at a contra dance, turning ever so slightly dissonant as the tune goes through its fourth or fifth runaround. Also like to play the crooked tune On the Road to Maysville.

Never heard Stepdown before. I just fed it into the hopper of the Amazing Slow Downer to learn next.

[Jim Garber]

Have to mention JP Fraley's Annadean's Waltz. As playful as it gets. And a big favorite whenever we pull it out at a contra dance, turning ever so slightly dissonant as the tune goes through its fourth or fifth runaround. Also like to play the crooked tune On the Road to Maysville.

Never heard Stepdown before. I just fed it into the hopper of the Amazing Slow Downer to learn next.

Maysville is on my list, too. A great tune.

[Scott Rucker]

Here's my Maysville as of a couple of years ago, perhaps a little too fast. Another great tune, one of my faves, but a big time jam buster.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qq7Kwh-wPc

[Jack Roberts]

Excelsior Hornpipe. Ryan's p 172

[ABrown]

I've been playing Cazadero a lot lately, Reischman not Thile. I like it better at 115 bpm than 160, and I can't play it that fast anyway!

[Jim Nollman]

Grey Owl
StepTown

Step town is relatively a quick learn, and with such a gorgeous b part. Thanks for mentioning it here.

Finally getting around to learning Grey Owl after playing it with fiddler Vivian Williams who recently visited for a weekend. It’s Métis in origin, but reminds me of some of the Scottish tunes I know. It’s also crooked in the A part. I found two versions of it to feed into ASD and, wouldn’t you know it, Each of the two puts the crooked addition in a different location. After trying each, I’ve decided to focus on the Molsky rendition, but only because the melody is played straightforwardly, without the Cajun syncopation of the version by the Onlies. Learning the fingering, with its necessary pull-offs reminds me a bit of Rights of Man. I have a feeling that comparison is not a coincidence.