“Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms,” Key of D, Part 1: Transposing to D in Two Octaves

from: Folk and Bluegrass Songs for Fiddle with Lauren Rioux

This lesson is part of the course Folk and Bluegrass Songs for Fiddle with Lauren Rioux.

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Learn to craft your own fiddle solos to folk and bluegrass songs by creating melodic and rhythmic interest using pickups, double stops, licks, and fills. You’ll work through each song in multiple keys so you can become comfortable with transposition on the fly, a crucial component for successful jamming.

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“Worried Man Blues” Key of D

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.

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The Folk and Bluegrass Songs for Fiddle Subscription Includes:

An in-depth method for creating solos to folk and bluegrass songs by using pickups, fills, blues notes, double stops, and more
Solos to popular folk and bluegrass songs like “Worried Man Blues,” “Bury Me Beneath the Willow,” “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” and more
All songs taught in four different keys
Detailed notation for all lessons
Slow and fast Play-Along Tracks in multiple keys for each song
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“Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms,” Key of D

“Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms,” Key of D, Part 1: Transposing to D in Two Octaves

“Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms,” Key of D, Part 2: Run Through

“Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms,” Key of D, Part 1: Transposing to D in Two Octaves

To transpose “Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms” to the key of D, remember that the melody begins on the third note of the scale, in this case, F#. You can find an F# with your middle finger on the D string. Starting your melody there will result in transposing the same hand shape you used for the key of A to the key of D. Lauren reviews a few ending licks from prior lessons in the key of D, and then moves you out of the vocalist’s sonic real estate by moving everything up an octave. This provides you with a new hand shape! Lauren also guides you through the transition of the fourth phrase into an ending lick and then continuing into pickups for the next solo.

“Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms” Key of D, Notation PDF Download (Available to subscribers)

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← “Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms,” Key of A, Part 3: Run Through

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“Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms,” Key of D, Part 2: Run Through →

Previous Lesson

← “Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms,” Key of A, Part 3: Run Through

Next Lesson

“Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms,” Key of D, Part 2: Run Through →

Previous Lesson

← “Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms,” Key of A, Part 3: Run Through

Next Lesson

“Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms,” Key of D, Part 2: Run Through →

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“Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms,” Key of D, Part 1: Transposing to D in Two Octaves

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