FOG Tune Lyrics: Whiskey Before Breakfast
A widely known tune, often mistaken for a traditional old‑time tune.
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Celtic Influences on American Fiddle Style
Celtic music has strongly influenced American fiddle traditions for just about as long as the violin has been part of new world culture.
FOG Tune Lyrics: Soldier’s Joy
Soldier’s Joy is touted as “an American classic” but traces its origin to Scottish and Irish fiddle traditions.
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App Review: Tempo Slow
Use an app that can slow down your music sufficiently for you to play by ear.
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Circle of Fifths
It just so happens that if you start at any note, and go down a fifth (or up a fourth) to the next note, and continue to move down a fifth or up a fourth, eventually you get right back to where you started from!
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Cracker Barrel “Old Time Barn Dance” Music CD Review
On each visit to a Cracker Barrel store, anywhere, I also always take time to peruse the country music kiosk near the front entrance. There, I have found a number of music CDs which feature collections of old-time fiddle music played in the FOG style.
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What is Old-Time Music Anyway?
“Old-time” usually refers to music that evolved in isolated regions of the Southern Appalachians and other places in the southern U.S., based partly on tunes from the British Isles and on the rhythm of the banjo, which was developed from a West African instrument. Old-time music predates bluegrass.
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Build Your Own Cigar Box Fiddle
I discovered cigar box fiddles (or CB fiddles) for the first time when cruising YouTube for tips on playing some of the tunes in the FOG repertoire. I was captivated by the primitive construction that seemed to complement so well the “ol’ time” music played on them since the mid 1800s.
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Winter a Hazard for Instruments
I recently attended a workshop on caring for musical instruments during Rochester area winters. While much of the information may be common sense to some people, I found it really helpful for protecting instruments.