by Mickey Cochran

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This is the perfect traditional fiddle tune for the fingerpicking approach. There are some crossovers in the B Part that especially lend well to fingerstyle technique. This is one fiddle tune that should have been written for fingerstyle mandolin. That's why we're starting with this piece before going into other flatpicking standards. This piece is in the Key of A...if you're unfamiliar with A scale patterns, be sure to go back to our Mandolin Lessons for orientation.

Notes: Pay special attention to the letters above the tablature. These designate which fingers to use as you fingerpick. The numbers below the tablature no longer indicate the meter. If you've gotten this far, you should now know how to count out each measure...so you should no longer have a problem with meter. We're now going to place the numbers under the tablature to indicate finger placement. Be extra careful to keep an even tempo as you go through this study. In this first study our focus will be on playing with just the thumb and index finger.

Goals: 1. To keep an even tempo. 2. To hit only the strings designated in the sheet music. 3. To gain facility with alternating between the thumb and index fingers. 4. To learn how to switch over to other strings without faltering or accidentally hitting other strings. 5. To gain the coordination between the left and right hands. 6. To learn our first melody using nothing but alternating thumb index patterns.

Picking Hand: T = Thumb • I = Index Finger • M = Middle Finger
Fretting Hand: 1 = Index • 2 = Middle Finger • 3 = Ring Finger • 4 = Little Finger

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