Dry and dusty (fiddle tutorial)

Dry and Dusty is a classic old time fiddle tune from the Ozark Mountains. In this fiddle tutorial I demonstrate three versions of the tune. Firstly a smooth and mellow take based on the playing of Brittany Haas; secondly a bright, up-tempo bluegrass version from Kenny Baker, and finally an old time version in DDAD tuning from Brad Leftwich.
Below are details of further fiddle resources from Chris Haigh
1. Patreon
2. Books
3. Subscription video courses
4. Website
5. Email to request pdf’s.
1. PATREON
This is a platform where anyone can help support creative artists and get closer access to their work. You can join me on Patreon at three levels, for £4, £10 or £40 per month.

At the lowest level you get access to all my pdf’s and tune collections, plus many exclusive tuition videos not available to the public.
At level 2 you can join also me once a month for a group Zoom chat, and can request a backing track once a month.
Level 3 gives you all the above plus a free lesson once a month, and access to all my backing tracks.
You can find me on Patreon at
/ thefiddlechannel
2. BOOKS
I have seven fiddle tuition books published by Schott, all widely available from the publisher, from Amazon, and many other outlets. All come with audio tracks illustrating the tunes and exercises.
Exploring Jazz Violin
Beginning Jazz Violin
Discovering Rock Violin
Exploring Folk Fiddle
Exploring Klezmer Fiddle
Hungarian Fiddle Tunes
French Fiddle Tunes
Exploring Country and Bluegrass Fiddle
You can order from
bit.ly/31ZWmgm
3. VIDEO SUBSCRIPTION COURSES
I have three video subscription courses
MUSIC GURUS- Exploring Jazz Violin. Based on my Schott book
Parts 1 and 2 are each £26 for 26 lessons, covering the first and second halves of the book
Part 1; tinyurl.com/49tfk5ef
Part 2 tinyurl.com/23atebfc
-MUSIC GURUS Discovering Rock Violin. . Based on my Schott book
£35 for 46 lessons
tinyurl.com/2ua2kuxh
ACADEMY OF FOLK
Includes a folk fiddle primer course, with introductions to basic techniques and concepts plus an Irish Fiddle Course. A monthly sub of $9.99 gives access to all lessons
academyoffolk.com/
4. WEBSITE
My website is probably the most extensive and detailed summary of fiddle styles on the web, as evidenced by the range of top hits on Google for many fiddle styles.
www.fiddlingaround.co.uk
________________________________________________________________________
TO REQUEST PDF’S, or ask any questions, CONTACT ME AT
[e-mail]

[@user-os6dq3fh9e]

❤❤❤

[@sophiew8589]

From australia I'm keen to raise this one in future fiddle sessions :) the brittany haag version is beautiful thanks chris!

[@TheFiddleChannel]

You're welcome Sophie!

[@Redeyefiddler]

Whoop for Benny!

[@gusgarelick852]

Nice contrast of styles. I think the earliest recorded version was by the Morrison Brothers, from Mountain View, Arkansas, recorded sometime in the 1920s. Their version is in D cross tuned, and people still play some of the Morrison Brothers tunes back in the Ozarks (the Ozark Folk Center in Mt View has a closely guarded collection of those tunes). Kenny Baker moved it up to a more strident key of E, with a bit more syncopation. I heard Brittany Haas play the tune at a contest in Cloverdale, CA, many years ago, when she was still a teenager.

[@TheFiddleChannel]

Thanks Gus!

[@btryba]

Hi Chris! Another great video! As for the tuning going up. I've noticed, as a beginner with the fiddle, as I tune up my DAE strings the G string goes flat and if I relax the DAE strings the G goes sharp. I'm guessing the tailpiece slants ever so slightly. Maybe the other strings are relaxing over night causing something similar.
I do have a quick question. You always are so well researched on everything. Have you ever, or do you know why a lot of Celtic fiddle players choke up their bow hold 3 or 4 inches on the stick? Does it provide better balance or something?
After watching some documentaries, including yours, I think that folk and baroque music has similarities in the use of ornamentation, and maybe the bow hold is a carry over from the way to hold a baroque style bow, but I am curious what your thoughts on this bow hold are.

[@TheFiddleChannel]

Hi Benjamin. Interesting question about the short bow hold. I have always assumed that this was because the players were self taught, and playing that style of music they never felt the need for full length bows. I know that some of the very best players use this hold, but I've never heard one of them justifying or explaining it. I suspect if they could easily trade for a conventional hold, they would do so! You're right about the links with baroque music- you can hear this clearly in Swedish folk music. But I doubt that there's any connection with bowing.