Fiddle Lesson 2

Soldier's Joy. Key of D. Two parts. Play each part twice. Part 1 has a lead in note on the 4th beat and it can be played with an up bow.

Chords (substitute A7 for some of the A)

Part 1: D D D D / D D A A

D D D D / D A D D

Part 2: D D G G / D D A A

D D G G / D A D D

Lyrics (sung on part 1):

There's a grasshopper sitting on the sweet potato vine.

There's a grasshopper sitting on the vine.

There's a grasshopper sitting on the sweet potato vine.

Along comes a chicken and says he's mine!

Fingering per string, showing 3 high strings.

Part 1:

A: 1 / 0 - - - / 0 1 3 1 / 0 - - - / - - -

D: - / - 2 0 2 / - - - - / - 2 0 2 / 1 1 1

A: 1 / 0 - - - / 0 1 3 3 / 1 1 0 0 / - - -

D: - / - 2 0 2 / - - - - / - - - - / 3 3 3

Part 1 of Soldier's Joy in D. I play it 3 times with long bows.

Part 2:

E: / - 1 3 3 / 0 1 2 2 / - 1 3 3 / 0 - - -

A: / 3 - - - / - - - - / 3 - - - / - 2 0 0

E: / - 1 3 3 / 0 1 2 2 / 1 1 0 0 / - - - -

A: / 3 - - - / - - - - / 0 - - - / 3 3 3 -

In the videos, I consistently play one note different from the notation above. Can you identify it? Both versions are valid.

Be careful with placement of the 2nd finger in key of D. On the D string, 2nd finger goes close to 3rd finger to play F#. On the A string, 2nd finger goes close to 3rd finger to play C#. But on the E string, 2nd finger goes close to 1st finger to play G natural. To test whether you hit G natural, play the open G string (deepest string).

Part 1 of Soldier's Joy in D. I play it 3 times with saw stroke.

Part 1 of Soldier's Joy in D. I play 3 times with shuffle bow.

Part 2 of Soldier's Joy in D. Starting with long bow, then saw, then shuffle, and adding notes and runs and double stops as we go.