I'm an orchestra teacher and a bluegrass fiddle player....Improv scares the heck out of me and I've looked for resources everywhere. After playing fiddle for nearly 30 years, this is exactly what I was looking for to help change my game. Thanks for putting this out there.
Guitarists call them "Licks". Purists would say this is not improvisation. They are all musical cliches committed to muscle memory. However, they are an important part of improvisation because playing by muscle memory gives your brain a rest in between thinking about the math of chord inversions and rhythms. What I absolutely love about this video is that it gives a name to every lick. We should adopt it as a universal language.
True, this is kind of a hodgepodge of fiddle licks and theory-based patterns I’ve either stolen or discovered over the years - more of a springboard into improvisation than pure improvisation, which could never be broken down into a list of “tricks” like I’ve done here :)
@@dustinballard6057 Yes, a lot are ideas in the form of licks. Well done, a lot of these I play but hadn’t categorised or had a name for. A lot seem to be taken from country music.
hmm...can one know that jazz musicians back in the day didn't play from muscle memory? did you ask them? sorry to disappoint but very fast passages, runs, licks in jazz do actually have to be practiced, otherwise impossible. improvisation actually mainly means having no sheet music but a bundle of ideas in your head and choosing what to play when and of course some on spot melodies that you're making up on the way. but as i have said fast runs do have to be practiced as in any music genre. apperently you don't play violin but this would normally apply to all instruments.
Have watched loads of fantastic improvisation videos by outstanding violinists but I must say this one tops them all. Actually looks and sounds feasible and brings a smile to my face. Thanks a million!
This is excellent, Dustin - Thank you!! You've really assembled and demonstrated an amazing collection of bluegrass/country fiddle licks. Master these licks and a fiddle player could perform effectively with just about any country western or bluegrass band. Any plans for Volume II? I'm sure there are many more fiddlers who would love to see that!!
Brilliant! Thank You for this masterful demonstration. So much here to help me. I will be digging into this for months! Also, It's just a very cool stand alone piece. Just makes ya smile!
you finally did what no one else has thought of to do, even though it´s the most obvious thing ever. this is so helpful, no matter the level of ability. thank you dustyfiddles...
Thank you so much for this video. I've been playing music since '64 and I never have mastered any bowed instrument (Lord knows I've tried). I can play guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo, dobro etc. but when it comes to the fiddle my left hand doesn't seem to get it. (I'm right handed). You make this look so easy and have inspired this old man (71) to keep at it. I did get a NS fretted 5 string a couple of years ago and that helped tremendously. I still play on the mandolin before I practice fiddle because it's tuned the same and the fingers get used to the smaller scale length. I can go up and down the scales pretty good and a few simple tunes but now, Thanks To YOU, I am finally seeing how to really have fun with the process. This means even more to me during this time of covid isolation (and all the stupidity in the world right now) because I live alone and music is the only thing that keeps me sane. May God bless you always and all ways.
Thank you so much for the kind words Ed! Certainly never too late to try a new instrument (I started clarinet at age 30 and was quickly humbled by how hard it is to start as an adult - after 9 years of that I can only play passably, but it’s about the fun not the mastery right?) Cant wait until I can play with friends again - certainly a trying time for musicians now. Hang in there! PS - 71 is not old...my Dad’s age. I’ve even taught him a few musical tricks lately :)
I agree with all the comments (at least the one's I read!). Had intended to study one per day, but with a bit of success on #1 I went on to #2 - and got stumped. Fortunately someone asked the question and you answered. Thank you for that. On to #3 (tomorrow). Grazie.
I keep coming back to this video over the years. I play sax (improv heaver) and find a lot in here for my own playing, but now I have 13 years old kid getting in to violin and just not digging on the classical music. This set of ideas really resonate with him. I'd love to have a follow on that does these a little more slowly, with some repetition, and some time hacks so younger players could use the video to learn. Still a great resource as it.
dustyfiddles Thanks for your encouragement. I enjoy putting on a drone and just playing sounds with my fiddle. I’ve always loved improvisation which is how I found your video. But I’ve really got to work on technique if I’m to get any good at it. You have so much control over your playing.
You have excellent content right here!! Wish you could post more videos with great improvisation techniques and tutorials! you would make an amazing addition to the youtube content that actually really needs pros like you !! :) :D
Cool! I don't have any music for it(usually play by ear). In that one, I'm taking the notes of the C triad, going downward (C, G, E, C) and for each one, I play the triad note, the note below, the note above, and then the triad note again - so I believe it's: C B D C / G F# A G / E D F E / C B D C :)
now if you can go into detail on how you did each style i would be forever grateful
I'm an orchestra teacher and a bluegrass fiddle player....Improv scares the heck out of me and I've looked for resources everywhere. After playing fiddle for nearly 30 years, this is exactly what I was looking for to help change my game. Thanks for putting this out there.
Greg Marsee Thank you Greg, glad it was helpful!
Man, that was fantastic; that was a lot of great playing in such a short amount of time!
This is one of the best videos ever.
true
This is THEEE best video ever!!!!
It really is
Fr
Agreee
This is about the coolest thing I've ever seen. Great job and I can't wait to start copying it.
Guitarists call them "Licks". Purists would say this is not improvisation. They are all musical cliches committed to muscle memory. However, they are an important part of improvisation because playing by muscle memory gives your brain a rest in between thinking about the math of chord inversions and rhythms. What I absolutely love about this video is that it gives a name to every lick. We should adopt it as a universal language.
True, this is kind of a hodgepodge of fiddle licks and theory-based patterns I’ve either stolen or discovered over the years - more of a springboard into improvisation than pure improvisation, which could never be broken down into a list of “tricks” like I’ve done here :)
Of lot of them are effects/ideas in lick format. Many are actually taken from the(country)guitar.
@@dustinballard6057 Yes, a lot are ideas in the form of licks. Well done, a lot of these I play but hadn’t categorised or had a name for. A lot seem to be taken from country music.
hmm...can one know that jazz musicians back in the day didn't play from muscle memory? did you ask them? sorry to disappoint but very fast passages, runs, licks in jazz do actually have to be practiced, otherwise impossible. improvisation actually mainly means having no sheet music but a bundle of ideas in your head and choosing what to play when and of course some on spot melodies that you're making up on the way. but as i have said fast runs do have to be practiced as in any music genre. apperently you don't play violin but this would normally apply to all instruments.
I never comment- but I am for this! So good! Thank you!
I love the fact that you named these things. Especially The Inebriated Shift and the Diminished Chromatic Thingy,
🤣😂😅👏 soo funny and so good! Love all these thingys, and it’s good to finally have a name for them, too 😉
Thanks for that, man 🙏
This is exactly what I've been looking for! Snippets for Improvisation. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful, Ralph!
Have watched loads of fantastic improvisation videos by outstanding violinists but I must say this one tops them all. Actually looks and sounds feasible and brings a smile to my face. Thanks a million!
Aww, thanks Marc!
AWSOME! It is not only useful for anyone who accepts the challenge, but so fun to listen - great job. BRAVO👏👍🌹
Beautiful sounds - Put the whole video in the loop - replay for many many many times - lit up the whole day. Thank you. LOVE it
Thank you! That means a lot Nghia, glad to have brightened your day :)
50 country licks on the fiddle! 😂
Cette vidéo est une "mine d'or" ! Merci beaucoup de partager vos connaissances.
Fantastic! This is so good and I've tittered all through it lol! It's Ace!!.....and also very useful X 🎻
I'm late to the party but I hope to make up for it. Tons of ideas in there! wow thanks 🤣😂🎻🎻🎻🎻🎻🎻🎻🎻🎶🎶🎶🎶🎻🎻🎻
This is so freaking awesome and the humor is also much appreciated lol. Super well done!!!
Thanks!
This is excellent, Dustin - Thank you!! You've really assembled and demonstrated an amazing collection of bluegrass/country fiddle licks. Master these licks and a fiddle player could perform effectively with just about any country western or bluegrass band. Any plans for Volume II? I'm sure there are many more fiddlers who would love to see that!!
Omg that's awesome!!!
Thank you 🙋🏻♂️🙋🏻♂️
I'll note down everything
Brilliant! Flatifcation, Dim. Chro. thingy.... ROFL - Thank you for the humor and for manageable improv ideas!
This is great. Thanks for posting!
Brilliant! Thank You for this masterful demonstration. So much here to help me. I will be digging into this for months! Also, It's just a very cool stand alone piece. Just makes ya smile!
Awesome, glad you enjoyed it Daniel!
just love this ...wish I had the sheet music to this to help .......
you finally did what no one else has thought of to do, even though it´s the most obvious thing ever. this is so helpful, no matter the level of ability. thank you dustyfiddles...
$@$#%*ing BRILLIANT!!!!! Thanks so much. If I start workin on these tonight I’ll irritate the neighbors. Otherwise...., and Salt Peanuts, too!!!
That was freaking gorgeous ! Love my instrument 😭
Oh oh this is special demo excellent. Thank you for this video.
Great! Very helpful ideas. Thanks!
This has given me a year of practice material. Excellent. Thx.
Wow I want to do that😁 playing 2 months now and I Love it so much
Wow!!!! This is just what I've been looking for!!! You are so good, thank you so much for this "how to"!
I love the whole tones
Thank you so much for this video. I've been playing music since '64 and I never have mastered any bowed instrument (Lord knows I've tried). I can play guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo, dobro etc. but when it comes to the fiddle my left hand doesn't seem to get it. (I'm right handed). You make this look so easy and have inspired this old man (71) to keep at it.
I did get a NS fretted 5 string a couple of years ago and that helped tremendously. I still play on the mandolin before I practice fiddle because it's tuned the same and the fingers get used to the smaller scale length. I can go up and down the scales pretty good and a few simple tunes but now, Thanks To YOU, I am finally seeing how to really have fun with the process.
This means even more to me during this time of covid isolation (and all the stupidity in the world right now) because I live alone and music is the only thing that keeps me sane. May God bless you always and all ways.
Thank you so much for the kind words Ed! Certainly never too late to try a new instrument (I started clarinet at age 30 and was quickly humbled by how hard it is to start as an adult - after 9 years of that I can only play passably, but it’s about the fun not the mastery right?) Cant wait until I can play with friends again - certainly a trying time for musicians now. Hang in there! PS - 71 is not old...my Dad’s age. I’ve even taught him a few musical tricks lately :)
Absolutely marvellous. So much to learn here..!! Thank you so much.
I agree with all the comments (at least the one's I read!). Had intended to study one per day, but with a bit of success on #1 I went on to #2 - and got stumped. Fortunately someone asked the question and you answered. Thank you for that. On to #3 (tomorrow). Grazie.
Very well done! I love the technique and the musicality and the performance, thank you!
This is amusing and I can listen to this all day 🎶
Yes, thanks for posting this .. I’d bet those “licks” may work well on other instruments as well ..
Brilliant! I loved it!
Extreme useful, thank you!
So well done mister!
How can anyone give unlike to this Video?
Andrés Zúñiga by accident, of course-All thumbs
Nice "composition" - sounds really interesting / diversified and very useful - like a tutorial!
Great! And I love the names!
What an absolute treat! Thank You very much for all that hard work and those wonderful ideas.
I keep coming back to this video over the years. I play sax (improv heaver) and find a lot in here for my own playing, but now I have 13 years old kid getting in to violin and just not digging on the classical music. This set of ideas really resonate with him.
I'd love to have a follow on that does these a little more slowly, with some repetition, and some time hacks so younger players could use the video to learn. Still a great resource as it.
Thank you Adam! That means a lot.
a fun and useful fiddlingcontribution- thanks!
Congratulations, i like it because it's very fun.
Thanks for this GIFT, you’re the best for organizing and sharing. I ‘ll be practicing.
Thanks, hope it’s helpful Kathy!
Great playing.
Thank you so much and greetings from Brazil.
What a resource! Thanks.
Thank you thousand times
Thank you so much !! This is so smart !!
Jenna Colombet Thanks! I like your videos Jenna.
I love this--thank you!
The best.... Excellent Dustin. Thanks alot
You threw every ingredient in the kitchen in to the pot and you ended up with something mighty tasty!
Great idea, great performance, great concentration!
Wow, how great is this! Thank you 👍🏽👏🏽
So well done Master!
Woooowwwww Saludos desde Mexico y gracias por compartir !!
Awesome work! Love the collection of ideas, makes an interesting solo for sure!
I need so many more videos like this
que genial!!!!! sin palabras puso de manifiesto a la mentira / cada trozo se desprende de un impulso interior /// felicitaciones !!!
This is so cool, helpful and useful. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful Veronika!
Do you have a book or source to do these as exercises? This is great!
This is my best of best 👍👍👍👍👍
absolutely brilliant. THANK YOU
This is awesome!
Απίστευτο βίντεο! Τόση γνώση συμπυκνωμένη σε 4 λεπτά!
Είσαι φανταστικός φίλε!
🥰🎻🥰🎻
Epic!
Really enjoyable and fun playing. I'm a beginner and getting bored with my lessons. This is inspiring!
Awesome! I think it’s important to occasionally step away from lessons and just experiment or be silly with your instrument.
dustyfiddles Thanks for your encouragement. I enjoy putting on a drone and just playing sounds with my fiddle. I’ve always loved improvisation which is how I found your video. But I’ve really got to work on technique if I’m to get any good at it. You have so much control over your playing.
This is amazing. Is that possible to get the notes for this practice?
So nice to see and hear you again. Thought you disappeared from TH-cam. Loved your Sweet Georgia Brown. And now a ton of very cool techniques :-)
Dave March Thank you! I appreciate it.
artiste soundbox Sorry! Just playing all this by ear.
This is what I need. Thank You!
Hey man this really helped im 14 and i play a lil blues violin so this was the jackpot
Great! I didn’t start improvising until I was 16 or 17, so keep it up! You’ll be awesome.
Thx mate
Loved it, thank you sooo much!!!! :)
CoversFor2Violins Thank you! Your playing is beautiful - good luck with your new channel, great idea!
@@dustyfiddles Thank you so much, I am very happy you like it!!
I agree! Wish he'd make more!
This is brilliant
AWESOME!!
Cheers
What a great summary of improvisation! Help me a lots! Million Thanks from Hong Kong! God bless you n Happy New Year !
多謝 👍🏻
@@dustinballard6057 please play/demo more this kind of videos :)
this video is all I ever needed
Thanks Clara! (P.S. Your illustrations are amazing!)
Un-frikin believable. Thanks!
Thanx for the lesson!
That was amazing! Beautifully executed!
Thats it !!!...
I'm gonna toss my fiddle in the bin ....
Fantastic playing
NOOOOOO please don't!!! Just learn one of the licks and play it for a whole solo. I promise you will totally wow 90% of people.
Wow.....awesome.....thanks so much for breaking things down into reproducible increments.
This is enlightening
awesome!
I love it 😮❤
Simple and great! Thank you!
OMG! The best vioiin video i have ever sem. Well done!
Andrey Cunha Aw thanks!
Brilliant thank you.
Love it❤
AMAZING
You have excellent content right here!! Wish you could post more videos with great improvisation techniques and tutorials! you would make an amazing addition to the youtube content that actually really needs pros like you !! :) :D
Thank you so much David! I don’t know how well I’d do at proper tutorials (there are some great ones already) but I’ll keep that in mind!
That was fun!
Mighty fine 🙂
Nice work! I'm slowing it down and taking notes...do you have Number 2, Above and Below the Triad in written form? I'm slow. Thank you for this!
Cool! I don't have any music for it(usually play by ear). In that one, I'm taking the notes of the C triad, going downward (C, G, E, C) and for each one, I play the triad note, the note below, the note above, and then the triad note again - so I believe it's: C B D C / G F# A G / E D F E / C B D C :)
@@dustinballard6057 thanks! This is helping a lot.
Thanks great stuff. It looks sooo easy!! Lol