Easiest session tune for fiddle beginner

Subject: Easiest session tune for fiddle beginner
From: Mo the caller
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 07:07 PM

We were playing in a pub tonight and a family came in with a lad who was learning the fiddle. He was very attentive and had a big grin on his face, his father says he has a good ear, but is lacking in technique, as yet.
Knowing the joy when I play an easy tune and everyone joins in, what are the best tunes for him to learn that we will know to play together?
For my recorder I would say Salmon Tails, Winster Galop, Oh Susannah, Camptown races are tunes I can get my fingers round and people will lift them and raise the roof. Are they easy for a novice fiddler, or are there others?

Subject: RE: Easiest session tune for fiddle beginner
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 02:20 AM

Egans Polka, simple but effective if played well.

eric

Subject: RE: Easiest session tune for fiddle beginner
From: GUEST,Paul Burke
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 02:56 AM

Salmon Tails should be a good starter- nice easy rhythm, good effective tune without the need for complicated finger movements, not a big range, and plenty of capability for decoration as he gets better.

Subject: RE: Easiest session tune for fiddle beginner
From: Banjovey
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 03:45 AM

Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine, the American, not the Irish version

Subject: RE: Easiest session tune for fiddle beginner
From: open mike
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 03:46 AM

many young fiddlers start out with boil them cabbage down, and
red haired boy (little beggar man)is one that many players know.

Subject: RE: Easiest session tune for fiddle beginner
From: Jack Campin
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 03:59 AM

In Scotland most fiddlers start with Mairi's Wedding.

Subject: RE: Easiest session tune for fiddle beginner
From: davyr
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 04:11 AM

Donkey Riding.

Subject: RE: Easiest session tune for fiddle beginner
From: Mr Happy
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 04:17 AM

'Er indoors [L Plates fiddler] best initial sesh tune has been 'Sally Gardens', also 'Inisheer'

Subject: RE: Easiest session tune for fiddle beginner
From: GUEST,Ebor_fiddler
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 06:09 AM

Have a look at the "Easy Session tune Music (dots)" thread; it has a lot in common with this one.

Subject: RE: Easiest session tune for fiddle beginner
From: banjoman
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 06:37 AM

Great to see you encouraging young people to join in sessions even if they are beginners. Well done
Pete

Subject: RE: Easiest session tune for fiddle beginner
From: greg stephens
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 07:09 AM

(Copied in from the other similar thread)

I would say after many decades pondering the "easy tunes for a session" question, that the best answer is Winster Gallop and Cripple Creek. Now, these are both easy, and both very well known(and easy to join in). They may not be the tunes that experienced players necessarily choose to play at a session, but they are great for that virginity losing moment when the diffident beginner turns up, and somebody asks "What do you know? Start something up".Either of these tunes will cheer people up, show the beginner in a good light, and most important it will get everbody else at the session instantly joining in. What more could you want?

Subject: RE: Easiest session tune for fiddle beginner
From: Grab
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 07:32 AM

Can you have a "new chestnut", like an "old chestnut" but something relatively recent that everyone knows and everyone plays? :-) If so, Ashokan Farewell probably fits that category. As with Sally Gardens, a slowish air should ensure that the beginner won't find themselves overtaken by the experienced players upping the tempo, as can happen with jigs and reels.

Graham.

Subject: RE: Easiest session tune for fiddle beginner
From: GUEST,Gulliver in the sun
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 07:36 AM

A starter's book that I saw for Irish fiddle started with the Britches Full of Stitches, a polka. An easy jig is East at Glendart, the Tulla reel is easy and a good air is Inisheer, as already mentioned. I don't think that the Red-haired Boy is all that easy--I'm still trying to get it right! Don