This month’s song is an old traditional Irish fiddle tune that is also a popular bluegrass favorite: Red Haired Boy, also known as the Jolly Beggar Man.

This tune has the typical swinging dotted 8th note rhythm of the hornpipe. In this rhythm, the eighth notes follow a pattern in which the first eighth note is slightly longer than the second eighth note.

Some violin players find the notation of dotted eighth notes and sixteenth notes quite overwhelming to read. Sometimes it is simpler to see the song in plain eighth notes and add your own “swing” to the eighth notes. I’ve included two version of the fiddle warm-up and song in this month’s song of the month so you can pick which one you like!

Click here to download The Red Haired Boy free violin sheet music!

Watch the video lesson and play-along tracks for Red Haired Boy below.

If you enjoy the song of the month violin lesson and you would like to donate to Meadowlark Violin, you can “Buy Me a Coffee.” No, I don’t buy fancy coffees, but your contribution helps me to continue to provide free violin resources. Thank you!