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One of the ways you can start embellishing melodies is by varying the pickups to lines of the melody. In “Worried Man Blues” the vocal pickup is just one word/note: “it.” In this video, Lauren shows you how you can start varying the pickup rhythmically and melodically.
Lauren talks about what she's going to teach in Folk and Bluegrass Songs for Fiddle.
Folk and Bluegrass Songs for Fiddle starts by working extensively on one song in four different keys. “Worried Man Blues” was recorded by the Carter Family in 1930 and has since become a popular standard and jam-session favorite in old-time, bluegrass, and folk music. You’ll learn the melody and get introduced to pickups, endings, fills, ornamentation, double stops, and more in the keys of D, A, G, and C
Lauren starts by showing you “Worried Man Blues” in the key of D. In addition to the melody, you’ll learn how to add pickups, endings, fills, blues notes, and double stops to the melody in two octaves.
Lauren shows you how to apply your previous work on “Worried Man Blues” to a new key: A. You’ll learn how to transpose the melody and chords, as well as add pickups, endings, fills, blues notes, and double stops to create your own solo in the key of A.
Lauren shows you how to move everything you’ve learned on “Worried Man Blues” to the key of G. You’ll learn how to transpose the melody and chords, as well as add pickups, endings, fills, blues notes, and double stops to create your own solo in the key of G. You’ll also learn a new handshape that you’ll use to play in the upper octave.
As with previous lessons, Lauren shows you how to apply your previous knowledge of “Worried Man Blues” to a new key. In this lesson, you’ll transpose what you’ve learned about creating your own solos to the key of C, where you can play the melody in two different octaves. You’ll be surprised how quickly you move through this key, since you’ve learned both hand shapes in previous keys.
The folk and bluegrass favorite “Long Journey Home” was recorded by the Monroe Brothers (Charlie and Bill) in 1936, and it has become a popular song in jam circles. As with “Worried Man Blues,” Lauren leads you through “Long Journey Home” in four different keys. The first and third phrases of “Long Journey Home” are the same as the first and third phrases of ““Worried Man Blues,” so you’ll be surprised how quickly you learn this new song.
Lauren starts by showing you “Long Journey Home” in the key of D. In addition to the melody, you’ll learn how to add pickups, endings, fills, blues notes, and double stops to the melody in two octaves.
In this lesson, you’ll continue on your transposition journey of moving the melody, chord progression, and soloing ideas to the key of A. Remember, being able to transpose on the fly is a crucial skill when a vocalist’s range determines the key.
Lauren shows you how to apply your previous knowledge of “Long Journey Home” to the key of G in this lesson. Using transposition, you’ll be able create your own solos in two different octaves for the key of G, and you’ll be surprised how quickly you move through this lesson, since one handshape will be in your muscle memory and the new handshape will be familiar from your previous work on “Worried Man Blues.”
Lauren explains the “closed handshape” and how to use it in second position (II) for soloing in the key of C on “Long Journey Home.” This new skill will begin to unlock other more challenging keys in the future, so it’s well worth your time!
