Haigh Beginning Folk Fiddle

Introduction
1: Getting Started
The Instrument and Its Parts
Strings
Changing Strings
The Bow
Posture
General Bowing Technique
Reading Music
Notes, Scales and Fingering
2: Polkas
Mussels in the Corner
Mussels in the Corner v2
Mussels in the Corner v3
Bakerswell Polka
Bakerswell Polka v2
Bakerswell Polka v3
Blackwater Polka
Britches full of Stitches
Patrick O’Connor’s
Astley’s Ride
Seven Step Polka
3: Jigs
The Connaughtman’s Rambles
Tenpenny Bit
The Kesh
The Lilting Banshee
Ornamentation – The Cut
The Lilting Banshee (with cuts)
The Strayaway Child
Ornamentation – The Roll
The Banks of Lough Gowna
Ornamentation – The Double Cut
Donnybrook Fair
Ladies’ Pleasure
1. Miss Bennet’s Jig
2. Balcomie House
Abbot’s Bromley Horn Dance
4: Waltzes
Rose Connolly (Down in the Willow Garden)
Orange in Bloom
Planxty Irwin
Skye Boat Song
Star of the County Down
Unst Bridal March
Michael Turner’s Waltz
Hewlett
A Starry Night in Shetland
Believe me, if all those endearing young charms
Westphalia Waltz
5: Reels
St Anne’s Reel
Man of the House
Red Haired Boy
The Maid behind the Bar
String Crossing
Drowsy Maggie
The Mountain Road
Leather Britches
Cumberland Gap
Chilly Winds
Lonesome John
6: Hornpipes
Jacob
Plains of Boyle
Harvest Home
Off to California
Liverpool Hornpipe
Derry Hornpipe
King of the Fairies
Fisher’s Hornpipe (Original)
Fisher’s Hornpipe (American)
7: Miscellaneous Tunes
Coleman’s Slip Jig
Kid on the Mountain
The Foggy Dew
Coleman’s March
Scott Skinner’s Compliments to Doctor MacDonald
John McAlpine’s Strathspey
Devil in the Kitchen
Lahna-Villes Schottis
Lahna-Villes Schottis (with mordents)
Sherele
Arkan (Hutsul Dance)
A Barca Vira
Bonaparte’s Retreat
8: Versions and Variations
The Golden Eagle (standard version)
The Golden Eagle (simplified)
The Golden Eagle (Contest style)
Shepherd’s Hey
Shepherd’s Hey (Skeleton)
Shepherd’s Hey (v3)
Shepherd’s Hey (v4)
Shortnin’ Bread
Shortnin’ Bread (4)
Winster Gallop
Winster Gallop (v2)
Winster Gallop (v3)
Bee’s Wing
Bee’s Wing (simplified)
9: What’s next?
What style do you want to learn?
The Session
Expand your repertoire!
Learning sets
Playing for dancing
Folk clubs, open mics, and festivals
MP3 Tracks

This book, created for beginners at the fiddle, gives a clear introduction to the foundational aspects of learning and playing folk fiddle, using a variety of tune types such as polkas, jigs, reels, hornpipes and waltzes.

Common ornaments and techniques are covered throughout the book, as well as some general principles of bowing in folk music. The tunes used in the book are mostly from the Irish folk tradition, but also included are tunes from Scotland, England, America, Canada and Europe.

Highly regarded fiddle player and bestseller author Chris Haigh guides you through the book, beginning with the simplest folk tunes, and progressing to the more challenging tunes towards the end. More and more bowing detail and ornamentation is included as you work through the book. Every tune is available as an audio download on the accompanying mp3-pack, played at a slow to medium tempo.