Orange Blossom Special

Orange Blossom Special has been referred to as been "The Fiddlers' National Anthem," and that may not be far from right. Ask most folks who are beginning to play fiddle what they want to play and you'll definitely find Orange Blossom Special in the top five.

If you're a fiddler, or if you're a bluegrass band, or if you sing Country Music chances are good that you've recorded Orange Blossom Special, or at least considered it.

If you call yourself a bluegrass fan and don't want to hear it again, you might want to reconsider using that appellation. (I guess after hearing it 10 or 12 times in a row with 4 or 5 different versions you may want to take a little break, but short of that . . .)

Ervin Rouse and Robert Russel "Chubby" Wise saw the train during its maiden run and were inspired to write the song. It was written as a fiddle tune right from the start, and it has become what may be the most well-known fiddle tune of the Twentieth Century.

Orange Blossom Special was first recorded by Ervin and Gordon Rouse the very next year. A breakthrough in popularity occurred in 1942 when Bill Monroe recorded the tune. But it was not until Johnny Cash made Orange Blossom Special the title track of his 1965 album that the song really skyrocketed in popularity among the general population.

Advanced Fiddling By Craig Duncan. For fiddle. Solos. Bluegrass & Country. Includes Orange Blossom Special, Sally Goodin, Whiskey Before Breakfast (Not On CD), Jack Of Diamonds, Under The Double Eagle (Not On CD), Wild Fiddler's Rag and 33 more! Level: Intermediate-Advanced. Book/CD Set. 120 pages. Published by Mel Bay Publications, Inc. See more info...




Hot Licks For Bluegrass Fiddle Edited by Stacy Phillips. Instructional book and examples CD for fiddle. Music Theory For Hot Licks; Music Notation; Some Thoughts On Bluegrass Fiddle Technique; Scale Snippets, Arpeggios, And The Blues;Double Stops; Connecting Licks; Kickoffs, Tags, End-of-Line Fills; Licks Using Upper Positions; Orange Blossom Special. 128 pages. Published by Oak Publications. See more info...

1. Well look a-yonder comin'
Comin' on down the track
Well look a-yonder comin'
Comin' on down the track
It's the Orange Blossom Special
Bringin' my baby back

2. Well talk about her ramblin'
She's the fastest train on the line
Well talk about her travellin'
She's the fastest train on the line
She's the Orange Blossom Special
Rollin' down the seaboard line

3. Well, I'm going down to Florida
Get some sand in my shoes
Or maybe California
Get some sand in my shoes
I'll ride the Orange Blossom Special
And lose those New York blues

So, you want to teach yourself to play fiddle? Some folks have done it very successfully all by themselves. Some folks need to go to a teacher. Some folks use video and CD instruction like these. Put in the time and you just might turn into a first-rate fiddler! You couldn't ask for a better hobby!




The American Fiddle Method, Volume 1 - Fiddle Beginning Fiddle Tunes and Techniques. By Brian Wicklund. By Brian Wicklund. For Fiddle. Methods. American Fiddle Method. Bluegrass & Country. Level: Beginning. Book+CD+DVD. 64 pages. Published by Mel Bay Publications, Inc. See more info...






The American Fiddle Method, Volume 2 - Fiddle Intermediate Fiddle Tunes and Techniques. By Brian Wicklund. By Brian Wicklund. For Fiddle. Methods. American Fiddle Method. Bluegrass & Country. Level: Intermediate. Book/CD Set. 64 pages. Published by Mel Bay Publications, Inc. See more info...




Learning Bluegrass Fiddle - Video One By Kenny Kosek. This edition: VDKOSBF01. Homespun Tapes (Instructional). Video cassette. Published by Homespun Video. See more info...






Fiddle for Kids - 2-Video Set Video Two. By Jenny Anne Bulla, Luke Bulla. This edition: VDBULFI02. Homespun Tapes (Instructional). Video cassette. Published by Homespun Video.
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Learn to Play Old-Time Fiddle - Video One By Brad Leftwich. This edition: VDLEFFI01. Homespun Tapes (Instructional). Video cassette. Published by Homespun Video.
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Learn to Play Old-Time Fiddle - Video Two: Intermediate Level By Brad Leftwich. This edition: VDLEFFI02. Homespun Tapes (Instructional). Video cassette. Published by Homespun Video. See more info...