LESSON: Fills & Ornaments [Beginning-Intermediate]

This project is made possible with funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

FILL, FRILLS & ORNAMENTATION LESSON OVERVIEW

  1. Welcome

  2. Intro & Watch

  3. Kesh Jig

  4. Hot Spots

  5. Rhythmic Fills

  6. Drones

  7. Melodic Fills

  8. Slides

  9. Cuts

  10. Rolls

  11. Beyond the Hot Spots

  12. Field Research

1.WELCOME

Traditional Fiddler Gretchen Koehler

Welcome to your self-guided tour of fills & ornamentation!

This series of lessons is designed for self-motivated fiddlers. In the following mini-masterclasses, I will guide you through “fills” and “ornamentation” using a popular jig as our base tune. The basic to intermediate (and some advanced) techniques can be transferred to other tunes.

Each lesson provides an explanation and introduces a core skill that will serve as a building block for the next. I’m offering ideas… how much you practice, explore, drill, and shape your musical choices is up to you. Lastly, Since fiddling is an aural tradition, I’ve chosen to present the lessons in audio form, while also providing sheet music examples to support note readers.

Have fun!


~Gretchen

2. INTRO & WATCH

This section contains:

  • AUDIO: Gretchen explains how to use her lessons most effectively.

  • VIDEO: Gather ideas before you begin.

Kesh Jig

From Gretchen Koehler’s Tune Bank #thefiddlerspov

Kesh Jig

3. Kesh Jig

This section contains:

  • AUDIO: Kesh Jig (basic) played at dance tempo for listening, w/ learning tips

  • AUDIO: Kesh Jig (basic) played at a learning tempo, w/ bowing suggestions

4. HOT SPOTS

This section contains:

  • AUDIO: Hot spots explained as a starting point for embellishments

  • AUDIO: Hot spot demonstration

5. RHYTHMIC FILLS

This section contains:

  • AUDIO: Rhythmic fills explained

  • AUDIO: “Even” fill demonstration

  • AUDIO: “Dotted” fill demonstration

  • AUDIO: Play-Along featuring rhythmic fills

If the melody note is played on the A string, a drone on the E string is considered treble, right, or upper, a drone on the D string is bass, left or lower.

6. DRONES

This section contains:

  1. AUDIO: Drones explained

  2. AUDIO: Drone exercise

  3. AUDIO: “Punch” drones demonstrated

  4. AUDIO: Drones w/fills demonstrated

  5. AUDIO: Play-Along featuring drones

7. MELODIC FILLS

In this section:

  1. AUDIO: Melodic fills explained (upper note)

  2. AUDIO: Two guided play-alongs featuring even/dotted fills.

  3. AUDIO: Fill options explained (upper vs. lower)

  4. AUDIO: Fills demonstrated featuring upper & lower options

8. SLIDES

In this section:

  • AUDIO: Basic slides explained

  • AUDIO: Intermediate slides explained

  • AUDIO: Play-along featuring fills, drones, and slides.

9. CUTS

For Gretchen’s video tune bank, click #thefiddlerpov

In this section:

  • AUDIO: Cuts & Rolls explained

  • AUDIO: Cut Drill #1

  • AUDIO: Cut Drill #2

  • AUDIO: Cut Drill #3

  • AUDIO: Cut placement

  • AUDIO: Cut Drill #4 (alternate fingering)

  • AUDIO: Cut demonstration

10. ROLLS

In this section:

  • AUDIO: Rolls explained

  • AUDIO: Roll Drill #1

  • AUDIO: Alternate fingering explained

  • AUDIO: Roll Drill #2

  • AUDIO: Roll demonstration

11. BEYOND THE HOT SPOTS

In this section:

  • AUDIO: Identifying patterns

  • AUDIO: Kesh Jig featuring “the works,”plus additional ideas.

12. FIELD RESEARCH

Fiddler friends!

I hope this series has given you some ideas!! I was lucky enough to gather at rural fiddle contest/festivals in the Northeaster US and jam in the fields behind the stage. Today, the internet brings you to every corner of the fiddling planet! Wow! I am glad technology was able to bring you here. I encourage you to listen, listen, listen, watch, watch, watch, play, play, play!!

Enjoy!

~Gretchen

Gretchen Koehler jamming at the Berkshire Bluegrass Festival. [Shirley Koehler photo]

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