Masterclass: Traditional Tune Mastermind With Jake Eddy

Last year Jake Eddy blew off the roof at the Hootenanny, and this year HE'S BACK TO DO IT AGAIN! This pre-show Masterclass will dive into one of the techniques that Eddy credits with giving him his unprecedented flat-picking speed: an endless mental archive of traditional tunes.

No, that is not a mistake or a typo. Last year during a Masterclass at the Hootenanny with Jake Eddy, Jake described how building an archive of tunes in your brain will allow your fingers to fly across the fretboard. This also unlocks the ability to breathe new life into instrumental breaks by cross-referencing licks or melodies from other tunes.

Jake will be exploring three traditional fiddle tunes during the Masterclass:

• Soldier's Joy
• Salt Creek
• Angeline the Baker

There will be two types of tickets available: a Player's Pass (guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, double bass – highly limited capacity) and a Listener's Pass. Listeners will be invited to bring notebooks or simply enjoy the show, and Players will be invited to sit close to the stage with their instruments. If you are purchasing a Player's Pass, the expectation is that you can play through the three tunes above (don't worry, you don't have to play them at Jake Eddy speeds). Yes, you heard that right: the Player's Pass comes with homework!

Below are a few samples of the songs to help you on your journey to learning these tunes. However, don't let these recordings be your only reference! The more versions you learn and play along with, the more you'll get out of this Masterclass with Jake Eddy.

Helpful links:

Soldier's Joy

Salt Creek

Angeline the Baker

If you were there last year, you know Jake's recommendation: learn the tunes by ear. It might take you longer at first, but you'll develop the best tool in your box as a traditional tune player.

Jake Eddy is the Featured Artist on January 19 at the ticketed Hoot Show. We anticipate this show to sell out, and recommend getting tickets as soon as possible. Doors will open at 6:30 pm.

About Jake Eddy (from thebluegrasssituation.com – read the full Q&A here):

"Jake Eddy's bluegrass roots run deep through his family in Parkersburg, West Virginia, where he grew up playing with local traditional music legends. While touring with the Becky Buller Band, he made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry stage, which led to Jake and his brother Carter accompanying bluegrass/jazz/klezmer mandolin legend Andy Statman on the Opry. Jake stays busy with a full teaching schedule in addition to his time on the road with Andy, his own band, or as a solo act."