Fiddle Lesson

Most oldtime fiddlers will tell you that the real stuff is in the bowing. It can easily take a lifetime to work through the intricacies of all that happens in oldtime fiddle bowing. But...

Here at Oldtime Central we are very excited to have the accomplished and versatile Craig Judelman teaching some oldtime fiddle tunes. In this first lesson, Craig teaches the classic "Handsome Molly" showing a basic...

In this video Craig Judelman ventures into the seemingly muddy waters of how to hold the fiddle in oldtime and what to pay attention to in the left hand. Craig has given a lot...

In this lesson Craig Judelman teaches the classic Midwest tune "Kansas City Rag". This tune was well known in the repertoires of Missouri fiddlers Pete McMahan, Jimmy Gilmore, Lyman Enloe, and Ray "Pick" Johnson....

In this lesson Craig Judelman teaches the classic "Rocky Pallet" based on a source version from The Skillet Lickers (1929). This three part tune is a favorite in many local oldtime communities. The fiddle is...

In this lesson Craig Judelman teaches a great modern oldtime tune: Old Cumberland. It's just a little crooked and thoroughly addictive, plus not everyone plays it (yet). Earl White's version has been quite well...

Here Craig Judelman teaches the great Possum on a Rail from the Mississippi Possum Hunters with lots of slides, hammer-ons, fingering choices and bowing options. The tune is in the key of G, standard...

In this video, Craig Judelman teaches a rockin' tune from the The Georgia Mudcats. It's a fun C tune with some quick A minors in there too, so it sounds a little different than...

This next video in the series on oldtime fiddle technique dives into circle bowing - a key component of what makes oldtime fiddling so unique and driving. By continuously playing one string and catching...

The wonderful Dakota Karper of Capon Bridge, West Virginia teaches the classic "Spotted Pony" in her usual clear, methodical way. Great for relative beginners, but also just a fun tune to break out in...