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[The tune at the beginning of this Quick Tip is “Arkansas Traveler”.]
Hi, I’m Vi Wickam, and this is another [my] Talent Forge Quick Tip of the Week!
Play it in a different key!
So what I just did there was I took Arkansas Traveler, which is one of my favorite fiddle tunes- and I transposed it up a half of a step.
Doing this with your fiddle tunes, or any tunes for that matter, is going to really stretch your ear, stretch your fingers, and it’s going to get you more comfortable with the instrument.
So, take a song- and start with an easy song. Say we have Row Row Row Your Boat. We’ll play it in G first.
[…]
Then we want to say well, we can do it in D!
[…]
Then we can do it in A…
[…]
And then maybe Bb!
[…]
Then pick a key, and a key, and a key, and get comfortable playing whatever song you choose to start with, in 5 or 10 different keys.
Then try a harder song. Then try an actual fiddle tune!
So maybe you start with Mary Had a Little Lamb, or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star… and you get comfortable within an A and D and G and C.
Then maybe you try E and F… Try the keys you’re more comfortable with on the instrument. But then try the keys that you’re not comfortable with on the instrument.
Try it in Bb, or Ab, or even Db. Maybe you try it in E or B, because those are a little trickier on the violin.
But try these tunes- try transposing them in a different key. And play that tune. And see how it sounds, see how it comes out, see how you become more comfortable with your instrument.
Expand your pallet, expand your comfort zone- because that’s where the magic lives!
Have a great week! I’ll see you next time.
PS. Here are some lessons that can help you play your tunes in different keys:
· Arpeggios in Closed Positions
· Modal Violin Scales (David Wallace)
· Simple Double Stop Scales
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