How It Works

Most of us play by ear, and we encourage new players to learn to play and pick up new tunes that way.
 

If you need music, that’s okay, but please place your stand where it won’t get in the way. Keep in mind that (a) you may not always hear the tune name before it starts, and (b) the group won’t wait for you to find the page.
 

Choosing and Starting Tunes: Each person takes a turn choosing a tune to play. To accommodate banjo players who need to retune, choose a tune in the current key. The tune list will indicate the key.
 

Whoever picks the tune starts it off by setting the tempo, which the group should then maintain. If needed, you can ask someone else to start it.
 

It’s helpful to set the tempo by starting with a few measures of “potatoes” (shuffle bowing on fiddle) or strumming to lead into the tune.
 

Stopping: The person who chose the tune always indicates when to stop.

This is usually done by raising a foot as we approach the end of the tune, preferably part-way through the last section, a few measures before stopping.
 

You can also call out “one more time” or “last time” at the start of the last round. This helps, especially if you can’t raise your foot or if others can’t easily see it.