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RONA GRIT

a groove for a new year

RONA GRIT is a groove for this new year. A blues over a funk groove never felt so good. Feels like music to strut to.

Happy New Year, friends.

Eddie’s Dream

Eddie’s Dream combines many techniques for rock and groove playing. Chop (strong chop, up chop, setting), chords/double-stops, ghosting, detache, and more - just in the right hand. Left hand is using thirds, sixths, and perfect fifths, e minor pentatonic and blues scales. The A part for Eddie’s Dream is a great riff for learning chop for the first time.

How to Groove on Cello

Do you ever wish you could play more easily in a jam or improvisation? Do you want to play jazz, rock, folk music, or any other alternative style on your cello? The great jazz pianist, Thelonious Monk said, “Just because you’re not a drummer doesn’t mean you don’t have to keep time!” And he was right. If you want to play in an group that plays in a groove, you have to play groove cello. Period. In this video, you’ll find 8 distinct grooves that can be played on acoustic cello with zero effects, and that’s just scratching the surface of bowed shuffles, strum bowing, chop, melodic groove, gulpe de caja, and pizz bass.

Shady Grove

Shady Grove is a traditional American/Appalachian bluegrass and old-time tune, with suspected deeper/more ancient Celtic roots. The melody is deceptively simple, with two phrases and typically only three chords. Usually played in either E minor or D minor.

Finale from Folk Suite for Solo Cello

The Folk Suite is Americana music inspired by years spent living on the Front Range of the Colorado Rockies, and completed during my years spent living in and near Appalachia. The finale is the moment of triumphant return, the conclusion of the sojourn, the resolution. To be played with all the determination and grit one can muster.

Fritto Misto @ FAI Unlocked Showcase

Fritto Misto is cellist Daniel Delaney and fiddler Vi Wickam. It’s the product of good friends sitting in a room, sharing a moment of music. Performances are full of energy, laughter, improvisation, and traditional fiddle and folk music.

Tonight, check out one such moment presented for the Folk Alliance International: Unlocked Showcase. Streamed live from Northern Colorado.