One of the best ways to grow as a bluegrass guitarist is to live with a single tune for a while. Not to master it. Just to get it into your hands, ears, and body. So let’s try something simple and consistent. Each Friday, we’ll put one fiddle tune in the center of the circle. The goal is not speed or flash. It’s familiarity. Knowing the melody well enough that your hands stop panicking and your timing starts to settle. Here’s how to use this thread in whatever way fits your life this week: • Share a tune you’re working on or want to work on • Ask a question about a tune that’s been giving you trouble • Post a recording, even a rough one • Or just say “I’m listening this week” and soak it in If you’re newer to fiddle tunes, don’t overthink it. A clean melody at a comfortable tempo is real progress. If you’ve been playing a long time, this is a chance to revisit fundamentals and feel. I’ll jump in with thoughts on melody, timing, and how I practice these tunes when time is limited. What fiddle tune has your attention right now? I've been hooked on Angeline the Baker.

This video will eventually live inside the Nine Pound Hammer course I’m building for the Classroom, but I wanted to share it with you all right away. In this session, we work through the tune in a very practical way: - A quick look at the song and why it shows up at almost every bluegrass jam - A full-speed performance so you can hear how it’s meant to feel - Then three play-along passes at increasing tempos, giving you space to practice timing, rhythm, and taking your own breaks The goal here isn’t perfection or speed. It’s learning how to stay in time, feel the form of the tune, and build confidence playing along with a steady groove. If you’re working on timing, flatpicking stamina, or just getting comfortable jumping into common jam tunes, this one’s for you. Try playing along at whatever tempo feels right, and feel free to share what stood out or where things started to feel shaky. That’s useful information.

Let's talk about Nine Pound Hammer. Played at almost every pick you'll ever attend, this one is a must-learn. I'll share resources here to help everyone get started on their own and then we can dive deep and do some jamming together. Stand by for more!