Nashville Shuffle (fiddle lesson)

The Nashville Shuffle is one of the most important basic techniques in Old Time fiddle playing. In this video I show the basic bowing pattern of long and short bows, and demonstrate how you can supercharge it by placing accent on the 2 and 4, rather than 1 and 3. I use the fiddle tunes Old Joe Clark and Bile em Cabbage Down to illustrate the shuffle. I elaborate the basic pattern with drones, slides and separate lower notes. Finally I discuss the origin of the name, its relationship to the Nashville recording industry, and its importance in the accompaniment of country songs.
Below are details of further fiddle resources from Chris Haigh
1. Patreon
2. Books
3. Subscription video courses
4. Website
5. Email to request pdf’s.
1. PATREON
This is a platform where anyone can help support creative artists and get closer access to their work. You can join me on Patreon at three levels, for £4, £10 or £40 per month.

At the lowest level you get access to all my pdf’s and tune collections, plus many exclusive tuition videos not available to the public.
At level 2 you can join also me once a month for a group Zoom chat, and can request a backing rack once a month.
Level 3 gives you all the above plus a free lesson once a month, and access to all my backing tracks.
You can find me on Patreon at
/ thefiddlechannel
2. BOOKS
I have seven fiddle tuition books published by Schott, all widely available from the publisher, from Amazon, and many other outlets. All come with audio tracks illustrating the tunes and exercises.
Exploring Jazz Violin
Beginning Jazz Violin
Discovering Rock Violin
Exploring Folk Fiddle
Exploring Klezmer Fiddle
Hungarian Fiddle Tunes
French Fiddle Tunes
Exploring Country and Bluegrass Fiddle (due out October 2021)
You can order from
bit.ly/31ZWmgm
3. VIDEO SUBSCRIPTION COURSES
I have three video subscription courses
MUSIC GURUS- Exploring Jazz Violin. Based on my Schott book
Parts 1 and 2 are each £26 for 26 lessons, covering the first and second halves of the book
Part 1; tinyurl.com/49...
Part 2 tinyurl.com/23...
-MUSIC GURUS Discovering Rock Violin. . Based on my Schott book
£35 for 46 lessons
tinyurl.com/2u...
ACADEMY OF FOLK
Includes a folk fiddle primer course, with introductions to basic techniques and concepts plus an Irish Fiddle Course and Scottish fiddle course. A monthly sub of $9.99 gives access to all lessons
academyoffolk....
4. WEBSITE
My website is probably the most extensive and detailed summary of fiddle styles on the web, as evidenced by the range of top hits on Google for many fiddle styles.
www.fiddlingaround.co.uk
___________________________________________________________________________________
TO REQUEST PDF’S, or ask any questions, CONTACT ME AT
[e-mail]

[@geniemiller9800]

You gave the best info of how to play with the shuffle bowing. Thank you.

[@TheFiddleChannel]

Thanks Genie!

[@kmellphotos]

I known what im working on this weekend! Thx for the video

[@songsabai3794]

Mark O'Connor version of Boil'em Cabbage Down with Wynton Marsalis is choked full of interesting variations. In some places it sounds like two fiddle; a melodic variation floating over the shuffle...don't know how he does that.
Thanks for the introduction to the 'Nashville'..appreciated as all-ways!

[@TheFiddleChannel]

Thanks. Yes, that's a great version. First time I've seen Mark O'Connor reading music!

[@michaelhutchens4243]

Excellent video as usual Chris! Sounds like the Nasville Shuffle and the sliding of notes lend to the OldTime/Bluegrass sound

[@bobpowell161]

Great lesson. Thank you

[@TheFiddleChannel]

Thanks Bob!

[@FrontPorchAllstars]

Excellent tutorial!

[@TheFiddleChannel]

thanks!

[@margiegardner9248]

Hi there, Does your Intro to Country and Bluegrass book come with a CD or videos? THANKS

[@TheFiddleChannel]

Hi Margie. It comes with lots of audio available with a download code.

[@scoobydooofroblox2240]

For Bile em Cabbage Down, are you using an Open A?

[@TheFiddleChannel]

No, I'm fingering on the A string, and using an open E drone.

[@scoobydooofroblox2240]

@@TheFiddleChannelso your just fingering on the A string and leaving the E string open?

[@TheFiddleChannel]

@@scoobydooofroblox2240 No. Actually on the second chord (D), I'm playing a first finger F sharp on the E string over the D note on the A string. Check out my video on "Drones on the fiddle".

[@gmwillis2000]

It seems to me that the back beat went to the long stroke in this one as opposed to Old Joe Clark. I might be misunderstanding.

[@TheFiddleChannel]

It's a bit complicated! On Old Joe Clark, the length of the notes in the melody (long- short-short) naturally lends itself to the Nashville shuffle, and to an emphasis on the long notes. However, with downward pressure you can also play OJC with emphasis not on the long, but on the backbeat (first of the short beats).

[@mandofrog]

All this time I thought that was the "Georgia Shuffle". Same or different?

[@TheFiddleChannel]

Hi Randy. Similar but not the same! The Georgia Shuffle has one note separate and three slurred, and all of the accented, separate notes go in the same direction (usually a downbow). With the Nashville shuffle the accents alternate up and down. Hope that explains it!

[@mandofrog]

@@TheFiddleChannel Thanks Chris. I guess now I have to learn the real Georgia Shuffle (LOL!).