Cotton-Eyed Joe, Part 1: Bowing Patterns

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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COTTON-EYED JOE

Cotton-Eyed Joe, Part 1: Bowing Patterns

Cotton-Eyed Joe, Part 2: Melody

Cotton-Eyed Joe, Part 3: Double Stops and Pulses

Cotton-Eyed Joe, Part 4: Play-Along Track

Cotton-Eyed Joe, Part 1: Bowing Patterns

As one of the most popular of old-time fiddle tunes, “Cotton-Eyed Joe” has probably been played by every old-time fiddler, so there are lots of versions. The version you’ll learn here is Bruce’s own, developed from hearing many great versions over the years, including some by Tommy Jarrell, Fred Cockerham, and other Round Peak fiddlers. You’ll learn the basic tune in AEAE tuning as well as a few different bowing patterns you can use to play “Cotton-Eyed Joe.” Unlike most of his lessons, Bruce starts not with the melody but by showing you a characteristic syncopated Round Peak bowing pattern and a couple variations.

"Cotton-Eyed Joe" (Available to subscribers)

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