TUNE BANK

This page contains tunes with their mp3's (and in some cases sheet music or tablature or a video link to tunes that are only available for those who have the link) that we use most often at Woodbury Strings.  We are just starting to update this page in 2020 to assist folks who are in isolation due to COVID -19.  More will be added very soon.  These are intended as aids for our private students and for our slow jam participants, but anyone is free to use them if they wish.  The audio and video files are of reduced quality to help keep the pages loading at a reasonable rates, and are only for educational use to aid in learning the tunes or techniquies.  These are our versions, but there are many versions of every tune and many elaborations can be made.  For more information on learning tunes by ear, please visit our Slow Jam page. 

While this "tune bank" is focused on favorites of our Woodbury Strings student group, I'd like to point out that an excellent source (also made here in Vermont!) for tunes with sheet music and audio/video samples is the North Atlantic Tune List which I  highly recommend for browsing to get some great additions for your repertoire!

E- Easy; M- Medium; C - Challenging; V=Very challenging.  These ratings are based on beginner/intermediate experience level.  For example, what might be considered "very challenging" for an intermediate player would be easy for an advanced player. Our easy tunes are intended for our newest beginners, while medium tunes can also be played by beginners with some experience. Note that easy and medium tunes can always be made more challenging with speed and elaborations. 

FORMAT:

TUNE    /    MP3     /  Video link   /  Music Notation (NOTATION) /    Tablature (TAB)     CHORDS: (CH)

Note:  Sometimes SMN and TAB are combined

FIDDLE TUNES

BLUEBIRD (E) /  AUDIO / VIDEO  /  NOTATION  /  TAB

DEVIL EAT THE GROUNDHOG (M)  /    AUDIO  /  VIDEO  /  NOTATION  / TAB

DOLLAR POLKA (E) /  AUDIO /  VIDEO /  NOTATION /  TAB

HUNTING THE HARE (M) / AUDIO / VIDEO  /  NOTATION  /  TAB

MAIRI'S WEDDING (M) / AUDIO /  VIDEO /  NOTATION  / TAB

MARCH OF THE MEN OF DEVON (C) AUDIO / VIDEO   /  NOTATION  /  TAB 

PWT AR Y BYS (M)   /  AUDIO  /  VIDEO /  NOTATION   (CH)  /   TAB

ROAD TO LISDOONVARNA (M)  /  AUDIO  /  VIDEO  /  NOTATION /  TAB

 

FIDDLE TECHNIQUE HELPFUL VIDEOS

TUNING: Here is a good video on changing strings:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5GlmQmy_PA    She's very thorough but forgets to mention one thing and that is that when you start to wind the new string on the first wrap it goes to the non peg side of the hole and the second wrap goes to the peg side of the hole. Each wrap is consecutive toward the peg side of the hole after that which does get shown, especially later on. It's harder to see on the E string which she does first.  Watch the whole video before attempting to do this!  After you change the strings you'll need to be able to tune the violin properly.  The same person has a good video on tuning:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKTG9TjcJB8

D SCALE VIDEO

BANJO TUNES

NOTE for parents and teachers:  I use graduated sizes of banjos and tunings for my beginning banjo students which I rent to them until they are ready to invest in their own.  Banjos tuned in C are usually the small travel size banjos which can sometimes be tuned down to  A.  For A banjos I use either a larger pot short neck travel banjo such as the Dean Backwoods Mini and/or the Goldtone A scale banjo, or a full size banjo with a capo.  For teaching and in these videos I use my Gold tone that I have placed a 5th string capo on at the 2nd and 5th fret so that I can easily go from G to A to C with minimal tuning all on the same banjo.  I can also, in the C tuning, tune to Ukulele pitches by raising the 1st string one step.  This is also what I use in G tuning (Chicago Style!) to match barition ukulele chords or partial guitar chords.  In these instances I do not use the 5th string.

BANJOS TUNED IN G: gDGBD

TUNE (E)  /  AUDIO  /  VIDEO  /  NOTATION  /  TAB  (CH)

BANJOS TUNED IN A: aEAC#E

CABBAGE (M) /  AUDIO  /  VIDEO  /  NOTATION  /  TAB  (CH)

TWINKLE (M)  /  AUDIO  /  VIDEO  /  NOTATION  /  TAB  (CH)

BANJOS TUNED IN C: cGCEG

TUNING A C BANJO  / AUDIO /  VIDEO  /  PDF INSTRUCTIONS

HOT CROSS BUNS SINGLE STRUM  /  AUDIO  /  VIDEO  /  NOTATION  /  TAB  (CH)

HOLIDAY TUNES

JINGLE BELLS  /    NOTATION

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS  /   NOTATION

JOY TO THE WORLD  /   NOTATION

SILENT NIGHT  /  PLAY ALONG BACKUP VIDEO   /   NOTATION with Fingering and Chords

DECK THE HALLS  /   NOTATION

NOS GALAN (NEW YEAR'S EVE--SOLSTICE)  /   NOTATION

DREIDEL   /  NOTATION/TAB