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How to Play Wildwood Flower on the Fiddle

"Wildwood Flower" was recorded by the Carter Family soon after they signed with Victor Records in 1928. It appears in National Public Radio's list of the 100 "most important American musical works of the twentieth century." It has always been a popular song covered by bluegrass ensembles, but when the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band featured Maybelle Carter performing it on their 1972 album, its popularity crossed over with the rock generation. Though the instrumental introduction and interludes were originally played on the autoharp and the guitar, it is also a favorite among bluegrass fiddlers.

Instructions

    • 1

      Familiarize yourself with the fingering for the G major scale. (The notes are G, A, B, C, D, E, F# and G.) Play the G major scale for two octaves in first position, starting on the open "G" string and ending with the high "G" played with your middle finger on the "E" string. Alternate up-bow and down-bow for each note.

    • 2

      Play the first phrase of the song, starting with B3 and C4, which are played with your middle and ring fingers on the open "G" string. Alternate up-bow and down-bow for each note. The greater than (">") symbol indicates holding a note longer, so you will need to pull the bow more slowly when you see many ">" symbols in a row.

      B3 C4 | D4 > E4 G4 B3 > C4 B3 | A3 > B3 A3 G3 > > > | > > > > > >

    • 3

      Play the second phrase of the song. It is the exact replicate of the first phrase.

    • 4

      Play the third phrase of the song, starting with the open "D" string.

      D4 A4 | B4 > B4 A4 G4 > G4 F#4 | E4 > G4 E4 D4 > > > | > > > > > >

    • 5

      Play the last phrase of the song, starting with the open "G" string.

      G3 > | B3 > B3 A3 B3 D4 > B3 | A3 > B3 A3 G3 > > > | > > > > > >

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