Elk River Blues – fiddle lesson with Dakota Karper
In this video, West Virginia fiddle teacher Dakota Karper shows how she plays Ernie Carpenter's classic Elk River Blues. A common tune at many jam sessions, it's fun to break out something slow and...
Spotted Pony – fiddle lesson with Dakota Karper
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...
Ask Craig: FAQ for oldtime fiddle
Here Craig Judelman gives answers to some of the most common questions oldtime fiddlers have. Of course, in oldtime there are no "right" answers, but Craig's combination of experience and technical knowledge is surely...
Oldtime Rhythm Guitar: North Carolina Breakdown (lesson + TAB)
North Carolina Breakdown is thought to have been written by Fiddlin’ Arthur Smith, one of Tennessee's greatest fiddlers (1898-1971). While Arthur's heyday was primarily from the 1920s-1950, he returned to the studio in 1962...
Shortnin’ Bread: Fiddle lesson with Craig Judelman
In this lesson Craig Judelman teaches the classic American folk song "Shortnin' Bread". In some versions of the song, shortnin' bread is fed to sick children on the plantation in an effort to provide...
Cripple Creek: fiddle lesson with Craig Judelman
It's hard to get any more standard than Cripple Creek! Many people avoid chestnuts like these once they've gotten a few more tunes under their belt, but that's a shame. Here Craig Judelman (with...
Why Do A Preacher Like Chicken So: fiddle lesson with Craig Judelman
In this video Craig Judelman teaches an original Garry Harrison tune "Why Do A Preacher Like Chicken So." It's a fun, if demanding, three-part tune in C (standard tuning). Unlike most oldtime tunes, it...
Oldtime Bow Technique: lesson with Craig Judelman
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...
Sheeps and Hogs Going To The Pasture: Fiddle Lesson with Craig Judelman
"Sheeps and Hogs Going to the Pasture" is a fun tune that was played and recorded by Kentucky fiddler Buddy Thomas (1934-1974). It's played in the key of G out of standard tuning: GDAE....
Lonesome John – fiddle lesson with George Jackson
George Jackson is a wonderful New Zealand-born, Nashville-based oldtime fiddler and a great, methodical teacher to boot. In this video he teaches a classic modal cross tune by John Salyer: Lonesome John. If you're...