Midnight on the Water, Part 1

This lesson is part of the course Old-Time Fiddle with Bruce Molsky.

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Get deep into the roots of Southern Appalachian old-time fiddling. Bruce breaks down the melody, bowing patterns, rhythms, and embellishments of each tune he teaches so you can really learn to play like Bruce and the old masters he learned from.

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GREASY COAT

West Virginia fiddler Edden Hammons was recorded in 1947 by a collector named Louis Chappell. Hammons’s playing has a Scottish influence, with strongly detailed phrases and an old-fashioned style of intonation. You’ll learn his version of “Greasy Coat” in this lesson. “Greasy Coat” is in A E A E tuning, and Bruce starts by playing the tune through a couple of times, before breaking the melody down for you phrase by phrase. He also shows you how Hammons often played thirds and sevenths slightly flat, and trilled the third. You’ll learn the melody of both the A and B parts in this video.

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MIDNIGHT ON THE WATER

Midnight on the Water, Part 1

Midnight on the Water, Part 2

Midnight on the Water, Part 3: Bowing and Drones

Midnight on the Water, Part 4: Play-Along Track

Midnight on the Water, Part 1

The Texas fiddle waltz “Midnight on the Water” has become popular with all sorts of roots musicians. The version you’ll learn here comes from Texas fiddle icon Benny Thomasson, whose father, Luke, wrote “Midnight on the Water.” It’s in an unusual tuning, DDAD, and, before teaching you the melody, Bruce gives you advice on getting into this tuning. Then he shows you the melody, phrase by phrase, and gives you an exercise to practice the pulsing you’ll use on the first phrase of the A part.

"Midnight on the Water" (Available to subscribers)

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← Peeler’s Creek Waltz, Part 3: Play-Along Track

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Midnight on the Water, Part 2 →

Previous Lesson

← Peeler’s Creek Waltz, Part 3: Play-Along Track

Next Lesson

Midnight on the Water, Part 2 →

Previous Lesson

← Peeler’s Creek Waltz, Part 3: Play-Along Track

Next Lesson

Midnight on the Water, Part 2 →

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Midnight on the Water, Part 1

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