This month Joe teaches “The Troll in the Knitting Machine” (Trollet i skäkten), an old polska—a traditional Swedish couple-dance tune in 3/4 time—written by Johan von Schwartz (1680–1708). Joe learned it from fiddler Jenna Moynihan, who plays a fine rendition with guitarist Owen Marshall in this video. As Joe notes, this lesson is as much about using the tune as a vehicle for learning more about accompaniment and playing in brisk 3/4 time as it is about playing the melody itself. To demonstrate the many possibilities of backup octave mandolin, Joe enlists the aid of multi-instrumentalist Noah Fishman to play the melody on the mandolin.In this video, Joe walks you through both parts of the melody for “Troll in the Knitting Machine.” Along the way, he discusses some of the finer points of phrasing and pick direction to bring out the best in the tune.
