Kennedy Rag, Part 1: Melody

This lesson is part of the course Old-Time Fiddle with Bruce Molsky.

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Get deep into the roots of Southern Appalachian old-time fiddling. Bruce breaks down the melody, bowing patterns, rhythms, and embellishments of each tune he teaches so you can really learn to play like Bruce and the old masters he learned from.

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GREASY COAT

West Virginia fiddler Edden Hammons was recorded in 1947 by a collector named Louis Chappell. Hammons’s playing has a Scottish influence, with strongly detailed phrases and an old-fashioned style of intonation. You’ll learn his version of “Greasy Coat” in this lesson. “Greasy Coat” is in A E A E tuning, and Bruce starts by playing the tune through a couple of times, before breaking the melody down for you phrase by phrase. He also shows you how Hammons often played thirds and sevenths slightly flat, and trilled the third. You’ll learn the melody of both the A and B parts in this video.

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KENNEDY RAG

Kennedy Rag, Part 1: Melody

Kennedy Rag, Part 2: Bowing and Double Stops

Kennedy Rag, Part 3: Play-Along Track

Kennedy Rag, Part 1: Melody

“Kennedy Rag” is in the key of F and was recorded in the 1920s by the Stripling Brothers, Charlie and Ira, who were from Alabama. Much of their music has a ragtime influence and reflects the popular music of the time, and “Kennedy Rag” is no exception, with syncopated phrases and a song-like melody in the B part. In this video, Bruce plays the whole thing through and then walks you through the melody of both parts, phrase by phrase.

"Kennedy Rag" (Available to subscribers)

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Kennedy Rag, Part 2: Bowing and Double Stops →

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Kennedy Rag, Part 2: Bowing and Double Stops →

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