Hi everyone! Joel Kennedy here with Kennedy Violins, and today we’re diving into a beautiful Irish tune—Red is the Rose. If you’ve been following the channel, you know

I’ve been doing a lot of Suzuki play alongs, but I thought it would be fun to mix things up with an Irish melody, especially since we recently celebrated St. Patrick’s Day! (you can always check out our fiddle collection here BTW). Follow along with the PDF below!

DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF RED IS THE ROSE HERE

Full Performance and First Impressions

Before we break things down, I’ll play through the entire piece so you can get a feel for the melody and phrasing. This tune has a flowing, lyrical quality with a slightly melancholic character, making it a great piece for working on expressive playing.

Playing with the Metronome

After playing it through once, I’ll add a metronome to help lock in the rhythm. We’ll set the metronome at 85 BPM, with the quarter note getting one beat. Since the piece is in 4/4 time, each measure contains four quarter-note beats. However, one key detail to watch for is that we don’t start on the downbeat—we start on the upbeat. That means you’ll want to feel the pulse of the beat and come in just before the first strong beat of the measure.

Here’s how the metronome clicks:

• Downbeat: Strong pulse

• Upbeat: Lighter pulse before the next strong beat

I’ll demonstrate this by counting “up, up, up, up” before beginning, ensuring we enter on the upbeat correctly.

Understanding the Key Signature

This tune is in A major, meaning it has three sharps: F#, C#, and G#. For your left hand, this means:

• High second finger on the A string for C#

• High second finger on the E string for G#

Since the melody doesn’t use the lower strings, you don’t have to worry about adjusting your finger positions there. Remember that a high second finger is placed close to the third finger, while a low second finger sits closer to the first finger. Keeping this in mind will help maintain good intonation.

The Rhythm: Mastering the Dotted Eighth-Note Pattern

One of the most distinctive features of Red is the Rose is the dotted eighth-note followed by a sixteenth-note rhythm. This rhythm is common in Irish music and adds to the tune’s characteristic lilt.

A key tip: don’t stop your bow between the notes! Unlike a march, this piece should have a smooth, flowing motion. If you stop your bow abruptly, it can sound choppy and disrupt the musical phrasing. Instead, keep the bow moving evenly through the dotted rhythms to maintain the tune’s lyrical feel.

Adding Warmth with Position Shifts

If you’d like to give the melody a richer sound, I recommend shifting to third position at the beginning of the second line, specifically in measure six.

Instead of playing:

• All in first position, which may sound more rigid

Try shifting to third position, which allows for a warmer, more resonant tone. Here’s a suggested fingering:

• Shift to third position on the A string for a smoother transition

• Play with finger 2 instead of an open string for better control and warmth

Dynamics and Bowing for Expressiveness

The piece is marked piano (soft), meaning you should focus on playing gently and staying in the upper part of the bow.

• Use less bow pressure to keep the sound light and lyrical

• Keep your bow straight to maintain an even tone

• Stay in the middle or upper half of the bow for smooth phrasing

Additionally, if you want to make the piece more sorrowful and expressive, you can take it at a slightly slower tempo. The tempo I’m using in the video is a bit quicker for demonstration purposes, but you can adjust it to fit the mood you’d like to convey.

Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Red is the Rose is a simple yet deeply expressive tune that’s perfect for refining your sense of phrasing, rhythm, and dynamics. Remember to:

• Practice with the metronome to internalize the rhythm

• Use high second fingers to maintain good intonation

• Keep your bow moving smoothly through the dotted rhythms

• Experiment with shifting to third position for a warmer tone

If you have any questions, drop them in the comments! I also post technical videos alongside playalongs, so don’t forget to like and subscribe to the Kennedy Violins YouTube channel.

Happy practicing, and I hope you enjoy playing this beautiful Irish tune!