I go to the local session the other night . A few people straggle in but I notice Im the one thats going to carry all the sets. So its me with my whistle and alot of rythem. After about a half hour I realize none of the other fiddle or flute players are going to show.. Im thinking, if I went to see a session and all there was was a whistle guy and alot of guitars I would hope they would get the hint and just throw in the towel and try again next week. I just wanted to leave.......self conscious I guess....
Maybe I should learn to play the fiddle....
I always wait until there's a decent quorum before I join in. If there isn't -- I don't get out the instruments. If someone gets out their's, but I still don't see a quorum, I just stay at the bar until it developes. If it doesn't, I enjoy being at the bar chatting until I decide to go home.
I really wouldn't worry about it. I play in a small session on Friday nights, sometimes just three of us turn up. Solos on the whistle usually go down very well - if anything it must sound more "authentically Irish".
And remember, the average punter has no concept of what is difficult to play or particularly clever. Often the simplest pieces get the most applause (sometimes confusingly so...).
Which is why an organized ( ie; two guys get paid ) sesh is always better. At least a couple of folks know how to play. Don't learn the fiddle btw. Too many of us and most of us are failed classical musicians... a good whistler is a treasure.
Bearing in mind that this music was played solo and unaccompanied for eons, I say sit yourself down and give us some tunes.
I've enjoyed a "session of one" now and then--free to play whatever I want, at whatever pace. And that's taught me not to be surprised when a punter takes it as an opportunity to pull up a stool, buy me a pint, and between tunes ask questions about the music or tell stories of their Irish grandparents.
I've also had terrifically fun sessions with just a bodhran or guitar player. Amazing how often a tune will raise a step dancer from her seat, or a free pint from an appreciative listener.
The point is, it's not a one- or two-person show--it's just you sitting in a pub playing tunes. I think of it as a chance to air out some tunes that no one else in my local sesh knows, or to play my favorite tunes 6 times each.
And if playing solo feels scary or uncomfortable, the best way to get comfortable with it is to do it.
P.S. As a whistler, you can easily vary your sound by playing a set or two on low whistle between sets on high D or whatever. In small pubs, a low whistle won't blow anyone's ears out, and everyone seems to enjoy the tone of a good low F or G whistle.
lamh trom - perhaps you should enjoy the luxury of actually being able to hear what you're playing clearly rather than through a wall of white noise from other melody players
bc box player - I agree and think perhaps we on box get so absorbed with technique in hard pieces we sometimes lose the pulse which is really what the music's about and what the punters appreciate most
There's an idea, switch whistles to a different key, and it might quiet at least some of the overabundance of accompaniment that is described here.
I have an unofficial rule of thumb that I follow and advocate to other accompanists--accompanists should not outnumber melody players--in fact, no more than one accompanist for every two melodists is preferrable--otherwise, it gets too busy.
Being the only melody, and on a wind instrument to boot, seems too much like work to me............
If you read lamh from's scenario at the start of this thread, it wasn't about showing up in a quiet pub where you could play a few tunes on your own for a handful of appreciative punters. It sounded more like he was the only melody player in a group of guitar players. That's why, when I'm confronted with such a situation, I prefer to wait for other melody players to arrive before diving in. Plus, if it's a pub there's probabyl additional crowd noise that might make it hard to deal with. If it were a quiet pub with a few appreciative punters asking for more tunes and wanting to hear stories about your grandfather I suppose that might be nice, but that isn't what the thread was about.
Actually, on Sunday I went to one of the best sessions I ever attended, and there were only three people in attendance. There was me with guitar, harmonica and box, the leader with fiddle and guitar and a new young player with whistle and flute. We had no trouble at all filling the evening with tunes and a few songs, although it did make you feel a bit naked with only one or two melody instruments playing at a time. The evening ended when the leader ripped through a set of about five reels, with lots of variations, ending when he ended the last tune with a powerful double stop, and broke two strings on his fiddle. We were a small group, but mighty!
The sessions I host is with two other co-hosts: a fiddler, and a guitar/banjo player. This is what I consider to be a quarum. Anyone else who shows up is a bonus, but we can carry it off and have a good time if no one shows up too. I don't think a good session depends on how many, but more who and what they play. If it's just one back-up player that's fine, but I prefer to have at least one other melody player -- but that's just me. If it's just me and a few guitar players I wouldn't have as much fun. Perhaps we could hang out at the bar, have a pint and chat until other melody players showed up.
I'd be at the bar too Jack - sounds like too much hard work - sessions are supposed to be enjoyable...I just wouldnt find a session with just me and loads of backers enjoyable at all....apart from the fact that I cant start tunes unless they are in Bm - so it'd be a very boring session with just me playing indeed!
It can be nice to play solo when the company and atmosphere are right. But, for me, there is nothing better than having a few tunes with one or two other players. It allows for a kind of musical dialogue that is not possible in a bigger session. I often hang on at the end of a session in the hope of a few quiet tunes after most of the crowd have packed up and left.
Yes it can get quite tough whenthere is only one melody (whistle) player and an army of guitarists and drummers ...sometimes good music can come from situations like this but its very taxing for the solo tune player. Hopefully this sort of thing will not happen too much cos it does my head in. Our session has been thin on tune players recently (It does this every August) considering suspending thru August but dont think its good to stop the wheels rollin. One night we decided not to play for this reason..I was cycling home and just as I got there my mobile rang ..it was a great flute player who had turned up with her musical friend from Ireland.By this time it was too late..this just goes to show you never know who is going to show or what is gonna happen.
Peter... that why it's a good idea to just hang out at the bar and wait. Talking with people over a couple of pints can be just as fun as playing tunes while you're waiting for the possibilities to present themselves. If no one else happens to show up – it doesn’t matter. A pleasant time can be had regardless.
Throw in the towel?
Throw in the towel?
I go to the local session the other night . A few people straggle in but I notice Im the one thats going to carry all the sets. So its me with my whistle and alot of rythem. After about a half hour I realize none of the other fiddle or flute players are going to show.. Im thinking, if I went to see a session and all there was was a whistle guy and alot of guitars I would hope they would get the hint and just throw in the towel and try again next week. I just wanted to leave.......self conscious I guess....
Maybe I should learn to play the fiddle....
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by lamh trom
Re: Throw in the towel?
I always wait until there's a decent quorum before I join in. If there isn't -- I don't get out the instruments. If someone gets out their's, but I still don't see a quorum, I just stay at the bar until it developes. If it doesn't, I enjoy being at the bar chatting until I decide to go home.
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Throw in the towel?
Couldn't one of the guitarists at least do Smoke on the Water or Stairway to give you a break?
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by RichardB
Re: Throw in the towel?
I really wouldn't worry about it. I play in a small session on Friday nights, sometimes just three of us turn up. Solos on the whistle usually go down very well - if anything it must sound more "authentically Irish".
And remember, the average punter has no concept of what is difficult to play or particularly clever. Often the simplest pieces get the most applause (sometimes confusingly so...).
Eno
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by bc_box_player
Re: Throw in the towel?
Which is why an organized ( ie; two guys get paid ) sesh is always better. At least a couple of folks know how to play. Don't learn the fiddle btw. Too many of us and most of us are failed classical musicians... a good whistler is a treasure.
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by Farr
Re: Throw in the towel?
Bearing in mind that this music was played solo and unaccompanied for eons, I say sit yourself down and give us some tunes.
I've enjoyed a "session of one" now and then--free to play whatever I want, at whatever pace. And that's taught me not to be surprised when a punter takes it as an opportunity to pull up a stool, buy me a pint, and between tunes ask questions about the music or tell stories of their Irish grandparents.
I've also had terrifically fun sessions with just a bodhran or guitar player. Amazing how often a tune will raise a step dancer from her seat, or a free pint from an appreciative listener.
The point is, it's not a one- or two-person show--it's just you sitting in a pub playing tunes. I think of it as a chance to air out some tunes that no one else in my local sesh knows, or to play my favorite tunes 6 times each.
And if playing solo feels scary or uncomfortable, the best way to get comfortable with it is to do it.
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by Will Harmon
Re: Throw in the towel?
P.S. As a whistler, you can easily vary your sound by playing a set or two on low whistle between sets on high D or whatever. In small pubs, a low whistle won't blow anyone's ears out, and everyone seems to enjoy the tone of a good low F or G whistle.
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by Will Harmon
Re: Throw in the towel?
Thanks all for the suggestions. If this happens in the near future I think I might be a little more prepaired for the solo seat.
slan
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by lamh trom
Re: Throw in the towel?
lamh trom - perhaps you should enjoy the luxury of actually being able to hear what you're playing clearly rather than through a wall of white noise from other melody players
bc box player - I agree and think perhaps we on box get so absorbed with technique in hard pieces we sometimes lose the pulse which is really what the music's about and what the punters appreciate most
cheers
MYBC
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by millionyears_bc
Re: Throw in the towel?
There's an idea, switch whistles to a different key, and it might quiet at least some of the overabundance of accompaniment that is described here.
I have an unofficial rule of thumb that I follow and advocate to other accompanists--accompanists should not outnumber melody players--in fact, no more than one accompanist for every two melodists is preferrable--otherwise, it gets too busy.
Being the only melody, and on a wind instrument to boot, seems too much like work to me............
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: Throw in the towel?
Some of the guitarists ought to know some fingerstyle, which can be a nice change of pace.
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by wormdiet
Re: Throw in the towel?
If you read lamh from's scenario at the start of this thread, it wasn't about showing up in a quiet pub where you could play a few tunes on your own for a handful of appreciative punters. It sounded more like he was the only melody player in a group of guitar players. That's why, when I'm confronted with such a situation, I prefer to wait for other melody players to arrive before diving in. Plus, if it's a pub there's probabyl additional crowd noise that might make it hard to deal with. If it were a quiet pub with a few appreciative punters asking for more tunes and wanting to hear stories about your grandfather I suppose that might be nice, but that isn't what the thread was about.
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Throw in the towel?
Easy peasy. Ask the guitar players to take turns. And ask them to sing a song or two to give the whistler a rest.
If it's a noisy pub with lots of guitars, even a session with more melody players is just gonna be a brawl anyway.
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by Will Harmon
Re: Throw in the towel?
I'll be at the bar.
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Throw in the towel?
If it's a musical brawl, I'll be at the next bar down the street....
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by Will Harmon
Re: Throw in the towel?
Actually, on Sunday I went to one of the best sessions I ever attended, and there were only three people in attendance. There was me with guitar, harmonica and box, the leader with fiddle and guitar and a new young player with whistle and flute. We had no trouble at all filling the evening with tunes and a few songs, although it did make you feel a bit naked with only one or two melody instruments playing at a time. The evening ended when the leader ripped through a set of about five reels, with lots of variations, ending when he ended the last tune with a powerful double stop, and broke two strings on his fiddle. We were a small group, but mighty!
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: Throw in the towel?
The sessions I host is with two other co-hosts: a fiddler, and a guitar/banjo player. This is what I consider to be a quarum. Anyone else who shows up is a bonus, but we can carry it off and have a good time if no one shows up too. I don't think a good session depends on how many, but more who and what they play. If it's just one back-up player that's fine, but I prefer to have at least one other melody player -- but that's just me. If it's just me and a few guitar players I wouldn't have as much fun. Perhaps we could hang out at the bar, have a pint and chat until other melody players showed up.
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Throw in the towel?
Irony - last night's session attendance: - 7 fiddles + 1 box/banjo (me). Also 1 late drum.
# Posted on August 30th 2006 by millionyears_bc
Re: Throw in the towel?
I'd be at the bar too Jack - sounds like too much hard work - sessions are supposed to be enjoyable...I just wouldnt find a session with just me and loads of backers enjoyable at all....apart from the fact that I cant start tunes unless they are in Bm - so it'd be a very boring session with just me playing indeed!
# Posted on August 30th 2006 by bb
Re: Throw in the towel?
It can be nice to play solo when the company and atmosphere are right. But, for me, there is nothing better than having a few tunes with one or two other players. It allows for a kind of musical dialogue that is not possible in a bigger session. I often hang on at the end of a session in the hope of a few quiet tunes after most of the crowd have packed up and left.
# Posted on August 30th 2006 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Throw in the towel?
Yes it can get quite tough whenthere is only one melody (whistle) player and an army of guitarists and drummers ...sometimes good music can come from situations like this but its very taxing for the solo tune player. Hopefully this sort of thing will not happen too much cos it does my head in. Our session has been thin on tune players recently (It does this every August) considering suspending thru August but dont think its good to stop the wheels rollin. One night we decided not to play for this reason..I was cycling home and just as I got there my mobile rang ..it was a great flute player who had turned up with her musical friend from Ireland.By this time it was too late..this just goes to show you never know who is going to show or what is gonna happen.
# Posted on September 7th 2006 by peter wsll
Re: Throw in the towel?
Peter... that why it's a good idea to just hang out at the bar and wait. Talking with people over a couple of pints can be just as fun as playing tunes while you're waiting for the possibilities to present themselves. If no one else happens to show up – it doesn’t matter. A pleasant time can be had regardless.
# Posted on September 7th 2006 by Phantom Button