Cross-tuning The Fiddle: Sawmill (AEAE) - Fiddle Lesson

Here is a lesson on how to play with the fiddle in cross tuning. Also known as “sawmill tuning”.
I’ll show you how to play scales and some familiar tunes with Sawmill tuning. This is an easy entry point for learning cross-tuning.
I made some “Learning Chunks” on the FiddleHed site to help you do this. These focused exercises contain sheet music, tabs and mp3 snippets to guide you on each step of your fiddle journey.
Check it out here: fiddlehed.com
And after you sign up, I’ll also send you a mini-course of lessons specially designed for your skill level.
Alrighty. Play every day, have fun 😀 and thanks for making music 🙏
Now, go fiddle with it...
Jason 🎻

[@piedpeter1]

Thanks!!! You are a very cool teacher, in touch with your students and thanks for playing and talking as other teachers unfortunately ramble on excessively. Thanks again! - P

[@fiddl3hed]

piedpeter1 Glad I can accommodate. Happy fiddling!

[@rebeccamouse9294]

I love that you are a professional and refuse to yield to snobbish attitudes about advanced players having more than one fine tuner. I see this more and more often and hope it becomes common.

[@fiddl3hed]

I appreciate this kind thought. I think music is for everyone. We all have to find our own way with it.

[@soumen793]

I am an Indian. We used cross tuning in our traditional classical music. 😍😍

[@user-ow7tz5cc6o]

Neat

[@Motif_YT]

EAEA and DADA are common tuning systems in Persian classical music too.

[@jimmycurtis8621]

Love it! Sounds great. I had never heard of cross tuning

[@fiddl3hed]

jimmy curtis Glad we could introduce you to it!

[@PhilipCatley]

I’m a long term guitar player and prefer the “slack tunings” such as open G and Open D. Less stress on the instrument and a nicer tone. Personal preference is to detune the fiddle to GDGD. That’s also better for playing along with a banjo which is usually tuned to open G.

[@bigtoelittlefinger1536]

I love to lean fingering the tunes are getttin better every time sir booosh

[@fiddl3hed]

big toe little finger It’s important to live your practice! Keep it up!

[@bigtoelittlefinger1536]

@@fiddl3hed I'm coming on leaps and bounds you're a great teacher i might add cross tuning opens up a hole new word woohoo magic

[@fiddl3hed]

big toe little finger If you are ready for it then dive in! So happy you’re taking flight with your practice!

[@bigtoelittlefinger1536]

@@fiddl3hed jammin and i know u like jammin too heehe

[@richjakowski1056]

It might be good to point out that in all the common cross tunings like AEAE, GDGD (sawmill tuning); ADAE (high base tuning); or even AEAC# (Calico tuning) fingers are in the exact SAME location on the fingerboard as when playing in standard tuning. When I began fooling with the fiddle I avoided cross tuning for fear it would spoil my intonation. I now wonder if it actually might be helpful since in most cross tunings there's always an adjacent string to make a nice drone when fingering is correct.

[@lunyxappocalypse7071]

Actually, its rather like learning many languages. Exept in this case with more tunings, or keys. Same with guitar I would imagine. The only difference is with violin one must be more careful with stringing it. There are also some classical tunnings that sound quite neat with each string. Though, I suppose there are only a certain amount of variations. What with the internal pillars that support both its resonance and strength.

[@gingercat6128]

Love that old-time fiddle sound. Any chance you can do a tutorial on Candy Girl please?

[@fiddl3hed]

gingercat6128 We’ll put it on the list! Thanks for the suggestion.

[@gaetanobevilacqua1515]

Same thing by tuning the fiddle GDGD....sawmill tuning....from GDAE rather than AEAE....

[@tylerdow904]

I really like the bit of ida red you played in the beginning! I was wondering if you had a video on or any resources for learning that one? I really like how you were playing it! my favorite version!

[@fiddl3hed]

Glad you liked it Tyler. Here's 2 lesson in Ida Red. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5TOf4aPl6mgeck kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5TOf4aPl6mgeck

[@tylerdow904]

@@fiddl3hed Hey there! thanks for the reply! I clicked the link but it says its set to private.

[@AmandaViolinGirl]

If you tune the G string to A you are likely to break the string.

[@jimmycurtis8621]

Yu want to snap a string; try tuning yur E up a half-step