How to Play Ashokan Farewell (part 1)

Learn how to play the beautiful fiddle tune Ashokan Farewell, by Jay Ungar. He and Molly Mason have graciously given permission to feature their song. Please visit www.jayandmolly.com. This is part of a 3-video series.
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[@schooder]

This is exactly what I was looking for including the white strips all in HD ..and cute too.

[@RedDesertFiddle]

Thank you for the kind comment, Laura. Thanks for watching!

[@RedDesertFiddle]

Yes, the white strips are a MUST! Glad you liked it!

[@sealand000]

Thanks for sharing this. I don't even play, but I already feel like I can play.

[@laurameyer6197]

Thank you so very much for your help. You do a great job of explaining and showing what you are doing. I finally understand. I will definitely use your site. Thanks again!

[@olivergaag]

Wow. You are amazing! Thank you for your videos.

[@RedDesertFiddle]

Hi Rose! Wow, you advanced quickly! Yes, Book 4 is a HUGE leap from book 3...it seems like there should have been book 3 and a half! But you will want to supplement book 4 with positions and shifting exercises. I do have plans to do a whole CLASS on Book 4, but it will be 2 years before I even BEGIN!

[@RoseCarmelStella]

Thank you for the clear instructions. I am on the final 2 songs on Suzuki 3 after learning violin for a year. Book 4 looks extremely challenging and learning to shift properly is essential. I hope you can do some tutorials for Suzuki Book 4. You have helped so much !!!

[@RaghnaidAnnaNicGaraidh]

A relative over Christmas put in a request that I learn Ashokan Farewell (me being the only fiddler he knows) and this tute is perfect! Thank-you! (Unfortunately, leaving my fiddle for a week over Christmas and New Years put the strings so out that I lost the E, and nowhere is open to replace it, so... actually, I've got a fair bit, but who knew it was so tricky to learn a tune when you can't hear the top notes?)

[@RedDesertFiddle]

Hi barbarajaneward. Thanks for the kind words! I'm so glad you found the video useful. Stay tuned for part 3, which is coming soon. I'm not sure what you mean by "embedded verbal commercials." Is it the part at the beginning where I suggest visiting Jay Ungar's web site? That will stay in because it was generous of him to allow me to feature his tune. I hope everyone visits his site :)

[@TwistedReality76]

This is fabulous! Thanks so much!

[@RedDesertFiddle]

Good! I'm glad it's clear for you. Keep it up!

[@7BDani]

Your too awesome for words as a teacher. I have been to many fiddle teachers and I have never understood one as well I as understand your teaching. It takes a gift. Going to your site now to sign up.

[@RedDesertViolin]

+Danielle HL Thank you, Danielle! See you in the lessons soon! :-)

[@taliagrierson7894]

Can you make a tutorial for Elk River Blues and the violin from Am I Born To Die?

[@rjsmith2469]

Excellent video tutorial Lora. You are one of BEST teachers I've seen on KZbin and I've watched a Lot. I often come on here for ideas for lessons for my own students. I haven't got brave enough yet to sit in front of a camera to do lessons, but hoping to convince myself to do so in the New Year. I've been a traveling music teacher for over 20 yrs, and worn out 3 vehicles so far. NOT cheap to replace vehicles. Video's make much more sense. Looking forward to viewing all your other video's. You ROCK Lora!

[@RedDesertFiddle]

Man, thanks so much RJ. SOrry to be slow to respond. Being a music teacher is not easy, but it's gratifying. Nice to meet you!

[@RedDesertFiddle]

Good! Glad to hear it helped. Good luck.

[@RedDesertFiddle]

So glad you liked it, TwistedReality! There is plenty more instruction where this came from. Check out Red Desert Fiddle dot com for more!

[@tribulationcoming]

Once the melody is learned it continues to play, but not on my guitar, if you know what I mean. I have a fiddle also but don't play much. Thanks you very much for this instruction. Have written gospel songs and try to sing, put several up on my channel. This song does reach deep into one's conciseness. Thanks very much.

[@mohamadbarca7225]

شكرن استادتي الجميلة على الدرس المفيد تحياتي لكي

[@francis_sanzaro]

hey does anyone know where the link is for this version's sheet music? to buy it

[@coolpinkone]

Very nice tutorial! Thanks!

[@RedDesertFiddle]

Thanks Toni, and thanks for watching!

[@paigeblevins1468]

Can you please write the letter notes i can read sheet music just not fast enough

[@bjwmorgan]

so cool, thank you so much :)

[@HailAnts]

It still amazes me that a contemporary 20th century Jewish band camp instructor created such a 19th century-sounding, incredibly emotional sounding piece... 😢

[@RedDesertFiddle]

LOL...true true! And you should check out Lovers Waltz....it's just as nice!

[@RedDesertFiddle]

Hi Joe. I use pin-striping tape from an auto parts store. It lasts a long time! You could try loosening your bow for that shake, and also, try LOWERING YOUR ELBOW. That helps a lot of people. Most of all, make sure your fingers are relaxed, and squishy, not rigid. Good luck!

[@BanjoPicker]

Or cut medical tape small strips...Works great..comes off easily. :)

[@jimmyfatchur4650]

thank you

[@RedDesertFiddle]

Nice tune, huh? Thanks for watching!

[@gordonquinlan6596]

What do you use for fret markers?

[@RedDesertFiddle]

In this video, the tape is "Graphic Chart" tape. YOu can get it on Amazon. (it's really hard to find in stores). But when I couldn't find this type of tape, AUTOMOBILE pinstriping tape works great, and it's cheap and comes in funky colors. BUT.....whatever you choose, get the 1/8", and NOT the quarter inch....that is too wide.

[@mattvrabel2072]

How can I learn to play the Ashokan Farewell on viola?

[@RedDesertFiddle]

Hey Matt, for viola, you have 3 choices: 1) Play the SAME notes as violin....but go up on crazy high positions 2) Play an octave LOWER than violin 3) Play the same FINGERING PLACEMENTS as violin, but since it's viola, the key will be a 5th lower, so instead of DMajor, you'd be playing it in G Major. The advantages of #1, well, there aren't any. It's hard, and it would sound pretty strained to play the highest notes on your A string. The advantages of #2: This is the best option.....because if you play in jams, or with random other people, they will not have to change their accompaniment key for you, AND EVERYONE LOVES THAT LOWER OCTAVE. It is gorgeous. The disadvantage is that you have to learn the fingerings all by your lonesome, unless you can find sheet music, or someone can help you. The advantages of #3: You can copy every fiddler out there, and see their fingers, and learn it, but the disadvantage is that your accompaniment/buddies will have to change their chords to G Major. But if you are preparing it for a performance, there is nothing wrong with that. Good luck!

[@marcelacabral9829]

Thandara you Excelent

[@RedDesertFiddle]

You are welcome! It's such a beloved tune!

[@chriskelly9653]

I am learning this song and have seen several postings of the sheet music for this but a few have had small variations of some notes in the song . Could you be so kind to post the sheet music for the basic song with proper notation of the music please , thankyou .

[@RedDesertFiddle]

Hey Chris, the music is under copyright. And it's such a popular song, there are lots of spontaeous changes, extra notes, ornaments, from people taking liberties with the tune. But you can purchase it in lots of ways. Jay Ungar has his own waltz book collection. Its called "Catskill Mountain Waltzes and Airs". Or, you can purchase "The Waltz Book" volume 1 (I recommend this one) It's tunes collected by Bill Matthiesen.

[@RedDesertFiddle]

I did this video with permission from Jay.

[@chriskelly9653]

Red Desert Fiddle I have since learned the song and do a pretty good job of it if I do say so myself ,lol, just haven’t learned to do vibrato properly , can do it a little using the arm instead of the wrist but hopefully will get that . Here is a link to me playing three tunes tied together with the tune Asoka Farewell the last of the three if you wanted to listen to it .facebook.com/783205000/posts/10163979587785001/

[@Teatalktea]

May I suggest you rent a fiddle , usually 20 bucks a month, and get a different one each month for a few months till your ear and fingers begin to show you the path to a good fiddle in your price range

[@RedDesertFiddle]

Ted Schinbein great suggestion, Ted! Of course, you can go to any violin shop and play them in the shop, but yes, taking them home for awhile is even better. SOME violin shops will allow you to take a few violins home for a week or so....for free. I know Peter Prier's used to do that for me all the time!

[@BigVikingBoy]

a couple of coments: I tried to follow her but the fiddle is filmed upside down, and the fingering is hard to transpsoe for me. It should have been shot from over her shoulder. Also it is very hard to see which string she is playing. Even in the key of D, review. If I played by ear it was easier, in that case a CD would do the job! I have watched other learning videos, and they do the over the should shots, so things do not apear opposite. Just a thought.

[@RedDesertFiddle]

Good thoughts, Ole. Yes, from now on, I'll do over the shoulder.

[@youngbloodbear9662]

Red Desert Fiddle personally it doesn't give me any trouble but the other way wouldn't hurt so go for it :)

[@BanjoPicker]

Dominants??

[@loralynstaples5483]

Sorry, are you asking what strings I use?

[@Bohonk212]

Am I the only one who hears The Streets of Laredo when I hear this tune?