Red Rocking Chair, Part 1: Vocal 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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SINGING AND FIDDLING: “RED ROCKING CHAIR”

Red Rocking Chair, Part 1: Vocal Melody

Red Rocking Chair, Part 2: Accompanying the Vocal Melody

Red Rocking Chair, Part 3: Fiddle Melody

Red Rocking Chair, Part 4: Play-Along Track

Red Rocking Chair, Part 1: Vocal Melody

The traditional favorite “Red Rocking Chair” has been recorded by many people and has some alternate titles (“Honey Babe,” “Ain’t Got no Honey Baby Now,” etc.) Bruce’s version, which you’ll learn here, is a combination of a fiddle version by Norman Edmonds and lyrics culled from different sources. You’ll learn to play the fiddle version and sing the song with your fiddle providing accompaniment in Bruce’s inimitable style. Bruce plays and sings the whole song through and then gives you an exercise in which you sing and play the notes of the G major scale. You’ll also learn to play the G major scale on the fiddle in harmony with your voice. Then Bruce walks you through a verse of “Red Rocking Chair,” singing and playing the simple melody on the fiddle.

"Red Rocking Chair" (Available to subscribers)

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← Casey’s Reel, Part 3: Play-Along Track

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Red Rocking Chair, Part 2: Accompanying the Vocal Melody →

Previous Lesson

← Casey’s Reel, Part 3: Play-Along Track

Next Lesson

Red Rocking Chair, Part 2: Accompanying the Vocal Melody →

Previous Lesson

← Casey’s Reel, Part 3: Play-Along Track

Next Lesson

Red Rocking Chair, Part 2: Accompanying the Vocal Melody →

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Red Rocking Chair, Part 1: Vocal Melody

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