schlange - Posted - 08/04/2015:  10:57:59

Bob Wills

 

This week's tune is a hugely popular Western Swing fiddle tune. From Wikipedia: "Faded Love" is a Western swing song written by Bob Wills, his father John Wills, and his brother, Billy Jack Wills. The tune is considered to be an exemplar of the Western swing fiddle component of American fiddle. The melody came from an 1856 ballad, Darling Nelly Gray, which John Wills knew as a fiddle tune.

This song later became a big (but posthumous) hit for Patsy Cline, although I've always found her version to be too slow for my taste.

In the video I've attached below, Wills played the instrumental sections in D, then moved up to the key of A for the singing. Often just played as an instrumental in D now, although I've included the lyrics below.​

Lyrics

As I look at the letters that you wrote to me

It's you that I am thinking of 

As I read the lines that to me were so sweet

I remember our faded love             

I miss you darling more and more every day

As Heaven would miss the stars above

With every heartbeat I still think of you

And remember our faded love          

As I think of the past and all the pleasures we had

As I watched the mating of the dove

It was in the springtime that you said goodbye

I remember our faded love         

I miss you darling more and more every day

As Heaven would miss the stars above

With every heartbeat I still think of you

And remember our faded love 

(From Bob Wills' version)

Learn the Tune:

• We have a lesson video from Casey Henry two breaks of teaching her arrangement of this tune. Only $6 thru 6/16! Get it here >


• Backing Tracks: I've including backing tracks at various speeds with the banjo removed from the mix.


• Tabs: here's one from Jack Baker

Share!

I (and others) would love to hear (and see!) you play your version of this tune--post it in a reply below!

Faded Love Backing Track (D) - 70BPM	Faded Love Backing Track (D) - 90BPM	Faded Love Backing Track (D) - 110BPM	Faded Love chords
VIDEO: Bluegrass Album Band - Faded Love (click to view)	VIDEO: Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys "Faded Love" (click to view)

Jack Baker - Posted - 08/04/2015:  11:32:43

Eric,

I tabbed out and modified this great Bob Wills song originally arranged by Lee Marcus years ago. Here's the midi.. p.s. if you want the tab please email me and I'll send it to you...Jack

Faded Love

---

Originally posted by schlange

Edited by - Jack Baker on 08/04/2015 11:38:22

Jack Baker - Posted - 08/04/2015:  18:06:22

Hi Eric,

Got your email and the tab is on its way to you...one of my favorite songs to play...Jack

bobskart - Posted - 08/04/2015:  18:22:56

Is there a problem with Casey's demo? I keep trying to watch but it has no controls to play it. Thanks and awesome choice of song to do. Would be an awesome one for fiddle hangout also.

schlange - Posted - 08/05/2015:  11:23:50

Just added Jack's tab--thanks, Jack!

bobskart--what demo are you talking about? Do you mean you purchased the video and it's not working? It seems to work properly on my side.

KidfromDeliverance - Posted - 08/05/2015:  14:21:54

I think he means the little preview Casey usually has for her custom lessons - this seems to be one of the few where a preview isn't available.

Patrick

Andy Campbell - Posted - 08/06/2015:  01:26:01

If you follow the link to Cassie's video lessons, she hasn't yet got a preview available.

I must admit to liking to hear her play it through before I decide if I buy.

seanray - Posted - 08/06/2015:  07:13:11

Great tune,

Here’s a couple versions of JD Crowe playing it.

Studio cut with Tony Rice

Banjo Break

Live with The New South

Banjo Break

flatthead - Posted - 08/15/2015:  11:30:23

I really enjoy playing tunes like Faded Love.  Here's my  version:

Faded Love

BanjerKen - Posted - 08/20/2015:  20:23:16

Anyone other than me find that 110BPM backing track provided with this lesson a little fast. I tried it just for the heck of it and no way i could keep up. I did enjoy playing along with the Bluegrass Album Band though.