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HOME > WORKSHOPS > PETE MARTIN
An Introduction This column will focus on how to play Texas-style fiddle tunes on the mandolin. This great fiddle style, pioneered by Benny Thomasson, Major Franklin, Orville Burns and many others, features tunes with multiple parts, ornate variations, triplets, and many other musical tricks to "dress up" tunes. Mandolinists will often use these tunes for competitions as well as showcase tunes in a bluegrass band. We will learn and arrange tunes, back up, study improvising and find recorded sources in this style, along with much more. Many great mandolinists (Sam Bush is an example) have learned tunes in this style and used this knowledge to influence how they play other types of music. Sam's long, flowing improvisations are typical of the melodic phrases found in Texan fiddling. In his early years, Sam was a National Junior Fiddle champion. His early playing can be heard on "Poor Richard's Almanac", Ridge Runner Records RRR000-2. He fiddles many Texas-style standards, such as Sally Goodin, Billy in the Lowground, Cotton Patch Rag and Dusty Miller. Some of his best mandolin playing of these kind of tunes is on the Dan Crary "Lady's Fancy" disk, issued by Rounder. Our first tune will be another of these standards, Tom and Jerry. The A part starts off with a triplet. You can play the 4th and 6th frets as hammer-ons or hammer-on the 4th fret and play the 6th fret as an up stroke. In the B part, play the notes as indicated in the tablature. This is the way fiddlers play this section, crossing the strings for the A and D chords. In measure 7 of part B, I use the pinkie on the 7th fret, ring finger on the 6th fret and middle finger on the fifth fret. In future articles we will discuss how to back up some of these tunes. Joe Carr discusses some of these in his column, so check that out. Have fun! |
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