Backstep Cindy

A traditional Old Time breakdown in D major, strongly associated with the Round Peak area of Surry County, North Carolina, collected from fiddlers including Fred Cockerham, Tommy Jarrell, and Uncle Charlie Higgins of Galax, Virginia. The tune has three parts, a notable feature in Old Time repertoire, with crooked phrasing and is characteristically played in high-bass tuning with the G string raised to A (ADAE). Notable recordings include Tommy Jarrell on Sail Away Ladies (County 756, 1976) and Music of North Carolina (Brandywine, 1979); Fred Cockerham and Kyle Creed on Clawhammer Banjo (County 701, 1966); the Fuzzy Mountain String Band on Summer Oaks and Porch (Rounder 0035, 1973); and Bob Carlin on Banging and Sawing (Rounder 0197, 1985).