Old-time music

Old-time music (or old-timey music) is a form of North American folk music, with roots in the folk music of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Africa. This musical form developed along with various North American folk dances, such as square dance. The genre also encompasses ballads and other types of folk song, and is played on acoustic instruments.

Instrumentation

Old-time music is played using a wide variety of stringed instruments. The instrumentation of an old-time group is often determined solely by what instruments are available, as well as by tradition. The most common instruments are acoustic string instruments. Historically, the fiddle was nearly always the leading melodic instrument, and in many instances (if no other instruments were available) dances were accompanied only by a single fiddler, who often also acted as dance caller.

Related Topics:
String instrument - Fiddle - Dance caller

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By the early 19th century, the banjo (originally an instrument played exclusively by persons of African descent, both enslaved and free) had become an essential partner to the fiddle, particularly in the southern United States. The banjo, originally a fretless instrument, played the same melody as the fiddle (though in a lower register), while simultaneously providing a rhythmic accompaniment incorporating a high drone provided by the instrument's "drone string."

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During the 19th and early 20th centuries, other stringed instruments began to be added to the fiddle-banjo duo; these included the guitar, mandolin, and double bass (or washtub bass), which provided chordal and bass line accompaniment (or occasionally melody also). Such an assemblage, of whatever instrumentation, became known simply as a "string band." Occasionally the cello, piano, hammered dulcimer, Appalachian dulcimer, tenor banjo, tenor guitar, mouth bow, or other instruments were used, as well as such non-string instruments as the jug, harmonica, jew's harp, concertina, accordion, washboard, or spoons.

Related Topics:
Guitar - Mandolin - Double bass - Washtub bass - Cello - Piano - Hammered dulcimer - Appalachian dulcimer - Tenor banjo - Tenor guitar - Mouth bow - Jug - Harmonica - Jew's harp - Concertina - Accordion - Washboard - Spoons

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The fiddle is sometimes played by two people at the same time, with one player using the bow and fingers, while another player stands to the side and taps out a rhythm on the fiddle strings using small sticks called fiddlesticks.

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