Volume III Fiddle Tunes

[Dan Forney]

Dan,
When you figure out a fiddle tune by ear do you write it down as you go or just try to remember it? In the few instances when I've taken the time to figure one out I have written the transcription down so I don't forget what I just worked through.

Thanks,
Dan

[Rodney O'Dell]

I think it's well worth the time to tab it out or transcribe. It's just a special way of taking notes, so that you can refer back to them later.

I have been attending Old Time String Band jam classes while trying to learn clawhammer banjo. We learn one tune by ear each week. I have been able to "learn" the tune during the class, but I record it anyway and then go home and tab it out. I usually need the recording to finish the tab. I could go back later and relearn it from the recording, but the tab saves time.

Even when I played rhythm guitar at those classes, it was still helpful to tab out the chord changes. Weeks or months later it provides a quick visual cue about the tune's chord pattern.

Ear learning is fun, but unless you're able to repeat it the same way, you either loose it or it morphs into something similar but different.

[Dan Miller]

Dan,

I will usually write it down to remember it as I am working on each phrase off of the recording, but then I try to get away from the written version as quickly as I can.

I agree with what Rodney said he does. The written version can always act as a reference later if you haven't played the tune for a while.

Dan