Soldier's Joy

Tune Links: A-1 A-2 A-3 A-4 Entire A Part
B-1 B-2 B-3 B-4 Entire B Part Play Along Tracks

Tablature, Soldier's Joy, Part A, Phrase 4

Bowing:

The first two notes are short (8th notes), so start just below the middle of your bow.
The third note has the value of two 8th notes, and so does the slur that follows it.
- So start the third note just below the mid-point, and use medium bow speed. You should end up somewhere about half way between the mid-point and the bow tip.
- When you finish the up-bow slur, you should be back just below the mid-point and ready for the two short strokes that follow.
The last two slurs each take up the value of three 8th notes; so use long, fast bows on the down bows before the two slurs. Then bow the slurs with long, slow up bows.

Fingering:

The 2rd finger on the A string plays alone at the start of this phrase, so that's the only finger you need to put down.
Once the 1st finger plays on the E string, you should leave it down while the 3rd finger plays.
- That way you know your 1st finger will be in tune to play it's next note.
The 2nd finger's correct position on the E string is different from its correct position on the D and A strings. Instead of playing just under, or behind the 3rd finger, it's correct position on the E string is right next to (or just above) the 1st finger. That's why the "2" in the tablature has an "L" next to it. The "L" stands for "lower than usual."
You get correct placement for the 2nd finger in the "2L" position by squeezing it up against the 1st finger, which is already in place. If these concepts are new to you, check out the lesson on fingering, and especially the fingering exercises.
To end the phrase with the notes on the D string, start by lowering both the 1st and 2nd fingers all the way down and in correct position. Play the 2nd finger note and then squeeze the 3rd finger up against the 2nd for the 3rd finger note.
Again, you don't really need to have the 1st finger down and in position for this last few notes on the D string; but it's good training for the 1st finger.