Bluegrass: Chubby Wise Licks

Lesson on Chubby Wise and Moore Bluegrass

Hello! In this lesson, we're going to explore Moore bluegrass through the playing of Chubby Wise.

Who is Chubby Wise?

• Chubby Wise was the fiddle player for Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys from 1942 to 1948.
• He later joined the Foggy Mountain Boys, which was the band of Earl Scruggs and Lester Flatt.
• Many of Bill Monroe's fiddle players eventually joined this group.
• Chubby Wise set the standard for all future bluegrass players and had many standard licks and approaches that fiddle players have copied for generations.

Chord Changes and Techniques

By this time, the chords used in bluegrass had developed slightly. Here are some common chord transitions:

• When moving from a G to a C, you'd often go from a G to a G7, then from a C to a C7, back to the G.
• Chubby Wise often signposted these changes with his fiddle playing.

Example Lick

• Start with G over B.
• Play an F natural, this serves as the seventh of the G7, indicating the next chord will be a C.
• Next, play a B flat under the C, which is the seventh of the C.
• This smoothly transitions back into the G chord.

Chubby Wise emphasized chord changes, often highlighting them in his play.

Bluesy Influences

Chubby Wise had a bluesy style, utilizing many flattened thirds and flattened sevenths. Here's a little phrase that incorporates both:

• Start with G.
• The second note is a flattened seventh followed by a flattened third.
• Slide up from the flattened third (the blue note) to a natural third.

Tip: When playing this lick quickly, try to incorporate some slurs to accomplish the entire movement in two bows.

Root Over Fifth Technique

Another distinctive bluegrass sound is the root over a fifth technique:

• For an F chord, play the fifth below it using the second finger.
• Move this technique to G (play the fifth below it) and to A, using the first finger on A in the third position.
• Incorporate this into solos or as part of the melody for added flair.

Hemiola Technique

Chubby Wise also enjoyed using a hemiola, a three-note phrase repeated immediately several times:

• Since it's played over 4/4 time, every repetition will land in a different part of the bar.

Double Stop Hemiola

For a double stop hemiola:

• Start with an F sharp and a C sharp below it (first finger over second finger).
• Begin this phrase 1/2 step down and count it out: 1, 2, 3, 4, 1.

This technique adds a significant depth to your playing. It may sound complex, but it's quite accessible once you get the hang of it.

Assignment

Your assignment for this lesson is to:

• Listen to Chubby Wise solos. Focus on the earliest Bill Monroe recordings with his Bluegrass Boys from 1942 and the following years.
• Try to identify some of his licks or ideas.
• Experiment with these licks in different keys, such as D or G. Mastering the ability to move licks into various keys will enhance your versatility as a bluegrass player.

Now, let's play Rolling My Sweet Baby's Arms again, this time incorporating some Chubby Wise licks in the key of A!