Susananna Gal, Part 1

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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SUSANANNA GAL

Susananna Gal, Part 1

Susananna Gal, Part 2

Susananna Gal, Part 3: Play-Along Track

Susananna Gal, Part 1

The old-time favorite “Susananna Gal” is known by a few other names, including “Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss” and “Western Country.” The version Bruce teaches you here, which is in A D A E tuning, is from the Round Peak area of North Carolina, home to great fiddlers like Tommy Jarrell, Kyle Creed, and others. Bruce plays the basic melody through and then takes it apart, phrase by phrase. You’ll also learn the bowing to the first part of “Susananna Gal” in this video.

"Susannana Gal" (Available to subscribers)

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Susananna Gal, Part 2 →

Previous Lesson

← Glory in the Meeting House, Part 3: Play-Along Track

Next Lesson

Susananna Gal, Part 2 →

Previous Lesson

← Glory in the Meeting House, Part 3: Play-Along Track

Next Lesson

Susananna Gal, Part 2 →

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Susananna Gal, Part 1

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