How To Take a Simple Melody and Make it Sound Bluegrassy for Fiddle
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- Опубліковано 6 лип 2024
- Step by Step Process:
1. Learn the VOCAL melody, note for note.
Don't be tempted by flashy solos. Coming from a classical background, I approached bluegrass music by learning complicated fiddle solos. This ended up not serving me because the song might get called in a totally different key in a jam than what you learned.
Use the original recordings and play along at a reduced speed. Focus on singing, playing, and following the shape or contour of the melody along with the singer.
Use free extensions, like "Transpose" to play this melody in the common bluegrass keys
Prime your fingers for finding the right notes by playing the pentatonic scale associated with the key of the song. (Ie. if the key is G, play the G pentatonic scale)
2. Add strong pick up notes
*Important* While the number of notes and rhythm might differ, these notes always come in on the same beat (The "and" of 3)
Try counting starting on the singer's last word of the chorus "1...2...3... (pick up notes!)
Climb up to the target note starting on either:
One chord tone above/below
Two chord tones below
One octave below
3. Slide into notes on the chord changes
You can use slow, metered slides in many places, but targeting the chord changes highlights the melody best.
I use the term "Metered" to differentiate bluegrassy slides from the type of slides you hear in celtic music. In most celtic music, slides operate as embellishments of the melody in the form of quick, unmetered "grace notes". In bluegrass music, slides occur this way, but also as metered, slower slides that actually alter the melody into a darker, more bluesy version.
4. Add Double stops on the chord changes
Double stops should match the chord changes. Meaning if you're playing a G note over a C chord, the double stops should reflect the C chord (E or C), not a G chord.
5. Ask yourself the question "What out of a G chord can I harmonize with B?" Check out my Essential Bluegrass Double Stops PDF for a list of all possible double stops in each key
Don't forget that you can also use unisons as double stops
6. When sustaining long vocal notes, use this bowing/rhythm
Listen to this: 27 minutes
Using this rhythm allows you to play with more volume, control, and groove. You will hear it all over bluegrass fiddle solos.
7. Try Making Variations on the Melody
Take small musical phrases and challenge yourself to play that snip it in 4-5 different ways, while keeping the melody basically intact. Many call this "Micro-improvisation"
Play along with a metronome or drum beat to make sure your ideas are in time and are the same length as the original musical idea.
8. Add a "tag lick"
You'll want to fill in the space between the end of the melody and when the singer comes back in. This space existed because in early bluegrass, bands played around one mic. It took time for the lead singer to get back to the mic, so soloists would often trail off with some extra notes to fill in the space
Even with more microphones available, bluegrass musicians still kept this tradition and expanded on it by putting their signature licks or fancy improvisations in this space
There is typically 8 total beats in this space, meaning the length of about two licks / musical phrases
These can be completely improvised ideas OR stock/learned licks.
9. Leave the melody
Some bluegrass musicians stuck to the melody the whole time. Some played very little melody, and some mixed and matched the two to their preference.
Of note, the most often place that bluegrass musicians leave the melody would be on the last quarter of the solo form. Sometimes, it will start as early as the second half of the solo.
It's easy to lose your place when improvising outside of the melody. The key here is to practice phrasing. This is the ability to play a series of improvised notes within a clear start and finish. The most common phrase lengths in bluegrass are 4 beats and 8 beats.
Try these ideas on simple, common melodies, in each of the common bluegrass keys along with a metronome or drum beat that you set to the point where you are challenged, but not overwhelmed. This sort of practice might take getting used to, but you will find it as a much more helpful process in preparing you to have a blast at the next jam!
Other Helpful Resources:
Train Beat for practice
How to Practice Creatively
Bluegrass Jam Resources
my left ear loved this video
Absolutely superior. This guy is really good at explaining and not trying to play too fast. Pentatonic scale is a true weapon, and he uses it. Also emphasizes learning the crucial basic melody. Many thanks.
Thank you very much for this. I got an idea how to play the violin with the chords. Always watching your video 😍☺️❤
so glad I stumbled down the rabbit hole and found this video. You've explained things that things I've been working on for a long time so clearly that they now make sense. So many folks just do "licks" but I love how you incorporate them into a song and show so many techniques for that one tune. Great Job!! Thanks so much!
I'm so pleased you found it helpful!
Great lesson, calm and well explained. I especially enjoy the feeling of "tinkering" with the melody you convey.
Another wonderful lesson from Austin! Nobody teachy like you do!
I love your style of teaching, you really take your time, and you explain very well!
SOOOOOO, much great stuff to digest here…..probably keep me busy for weeks! Thanks Austin!
Fantastic! I'm glad you found it helpful!
Thanks for this great lesson, Austin, ideas are unlimited, there are so many possibilities!
A truly gifted teacher!!
Excellent lesson. Austin explains the big picture and fills in the details in a clear understandable way.😊
Great video, Austin. Packed with great approaches to fiddling bluegrass. I've only been playing fiddle for 1 year, and this is a big help. A lot to incorporate into my playing. Thanks.
Loving your videos man…can’t wait to get started learning..my Aunt has a hand made fiddle she is going to give me…I’d like to see a lesson on “I wish my baby was born” from cold mountain soundtrack
Love this lesson, thanks.
You are a great teacher!!!!!!
Thanks very helpful
Especially pentatonic scales
Damn. Your curls are getting really good.
Hahaha thank you bro 🙏
I'm so broke I can't afford to pay attention.