Cottonpatch Rag is a contest standard with about a zillion and one different sections. The origins aren't precisely known, but it is generally considered a Texas style tune that originated with the style. A tune by the same name was supposedly composed during the ragtime era of the early 1900's, so it's possible that this same tune made it's way to Texas and was embraced by fiddlers there. I've included pretty much all of the variations played by bluegrass and Texas style fiddlers in my Gold member lesson, but there are more to explore which is why I've put several YouTube videos of fiddlers playing Cottonpatch Rag below.

Listen to these performances of Cottonpatch Rag!

First up are Luke and Jenny Ann Bulla. Luke went on to win the National Fiddle Championship and is now one of the top bluegrass and country fiddlers in the world.

Louis Franklin is one of the great early Texas style fiddlers. Unlike many of the other Texas players, who are considered primarily breakdown fiddlers, Franklin was well known for his Rags and he popularized many of the "tunes of choice" that you are likely to hear in fiddle contests. Follow the URL below to hear a recording of him on Cottonpatch Rag.

I'm sure that Alison Krauss needs no introduction! Here's a more bluegrassy version of Cottonpatch.

And now for some hardcore Texas style with Bubba Hopkins!

More Texas style with Wes Westmoreland at the Fiddler's Frolic in Halletsville, Texas.

And finally, the great Daniel Carwile!