FOG Tune Lyrics: Whiskey Before Breakfast
A widely known tune, often mistaken for a traditional old‑time tune. Read more FOG Tune Lyrics: Whiskey Before Breakfast...
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. Read more Celtic Influences on American Fiddle Style...
About Hornpipes
The hornpipe is one of the most ambiguous types of fiddle tune. Read more About Hornpipes...
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. Read more FOG Tune Lyrics: Soldier’s Joy...
App Review: Tempo Slow
Use an app that can slow down your music sufficiently for you to play by ear. Read more App Review: Tempo Slow...
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!Read more Circle of Fifths...
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. Read more Cracker Barrel “Old Time Barn Dance” Music CD Review...
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.Read more What is Old-Time Music Anyway? ...
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. Read more Build Your Own Cigar Box Fiddle...
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.Read more Winter a Hazard for Instruments...
What is Bluegrass Music?
Opinions vary some, but here is one. It is produced by musical instruments that are stringed and acoustic, and singing. To have an authentic bluegrass sound you must have a five-stringed banjo, played “Scruggs” style. Read more What is Bluegrass Music?...
The Cakewalk
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the “Cakewalk” was a dance sensation that swept the country. It was a couples’ dance that very often took the form of a contest. Read more The Cakewalk...