where I'm putting up close shot videos of my playing common tunes at speed, then slowly.
Right now its mostly on whistle, but eventually, I'll add Drop-D guitar backup, Uilleann pipes and anglo concertina. Other local players and teachers from San Diego may also be contributing to the site.
If you like me to do a video for a specific tune, please drop me an email at:
michael@tradlessons.com
with your requests for tunes.
I hope some of players here will find the site useful.
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
Congratulations Michael, I'm sure that will be of great help to many fledgling whistlers. Very reassuring to see how you often you change your shirt as well!
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
It looks very promising, though I've only had the time for a quick glance. I'm especially looking forward to the Drop -D videos.
Generous contributors like you is what make the web such a great place!
lars
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
Michael, fair play to you for setting up this website. I think it's great that you want to share your music and knowledge. By posting this thread, I'm not sure if you're simply informing us of its existence or whether you're inviting comments. So sorry if you're not inviting comments b/c I'm going to comment anyway. There's one particular thing you're doing with your guitar backing that's driving me crazy, and that is that you're following the tune with the chords but not with the rhythm. Be careful not to fall into the trap that many backers do, which is playing every tune with the same rhythmic emphasis, like this (where "X" = empahsized downstroke and "/" = light downstroke):
|: X / / X | / / X / :|
The way to get out of this habit is to remember it's more about the rhythm than the chord changes, i.e. it's more about your right hand than your left. Listen for what notes are emphasized in the actual tune and respond to that. Don't simply plug in a generic rhythmic formula.
There ya go, my 2 cents, and meant in the nicest possible way.
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
Thanks for the suggestions, always helpful. Guitar is not my primary instrument (uilleann pipes and whistle), so I'm very open to any ideas. Not quite sure how to adapt my playing based on your suggestion as I've always tended towards a more rhythmic pulse with melody following based on what I've heard of other Drop-D players. Anyone in particular you would suggest that I should listen to that would best show what you are describing? Seems that backup guitar styles are all over the board.
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
Ok what I mean is, ok take your Tarbolton recording as an example. Pretty much the whole way through you're going
|: X / / X | / / X / :|
instead of paying regard to what the tune's doing.
Like, when you come in with that 1st phrase |Eeed e2BA|GBAF GFEF|... That Eeed e2 bit is pretty much the most important part of the tune. It's the tune's recognisable "hook". It's your job as backer to showcase that with your right hand as well as your left. You could, for example, go
| X X X / | / X / / |
or
| X X X / | X / / / |
or something similar, but just floating around on an Em chord for 1 bar does nothing to showcase the tune. Also, you could maybe think about how your bassline's moving. You have no A chords in there, and the tune has good potential for harmonising with them. My ear wants to hear some passing chords like in the 1st 2 bars, it'd be nice to hear you go to your D chord via an A7, just to smooth the harmony out a bit, so instead of
|Em / / / | D / / / |
you could go
|Em / / A7| D / / Bm |
Just little things like that.
What about the other "hook" in the Tarbolton? For me, it's that catchy bit in the B-part where it goes |G2BG F2AF|Eeef gfed|...
This isn't coming out in your playing. If you want to bring out the rhythm of the tune, instead of hanging on a C chord for all that time, you really need to be making chord changes and putting your downstroke emphasis in appropriate places. There are lots of possibilities for chords, but the most obvious would be something like e.g. |Em / D / |C / / / | or |G / D / | C / / / | or sth similar.
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
Just to be clear, this was meant to be some very simple patterns for new players to use, not a demonstration of my full playing skills... I do a lot more in actual practice...
However, I very much appreciate the suggestions and will consider them in the spirit they are offered!
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
Ignoring Dow's attempt to indoctrinate the world in his questionable taste in chord-choice, I cannot agree with him more about rhythm. I think for beginner guitarist it is FAR more valuable to learn the mastery of your right hand before getting to concerned with passing chords, subs etc.
I'm a big advocate of the no-accent drone for working on this. pick a nice D tune that goes nowhere harmonically and try and strum the quavers with NO emphasis anywhere... bloody hard to do well. Once you have that it's a matter of 'hanging' the accents on this framework so as not to interupt the flow of the tune... the flow is the key!!
(just my thoughts, not to take away from all your good work, fair play to ya!)
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
I think a video of Dow doing it right would be appropriate. Then there would be no question or debate on it ever again... I mean with the master's work there for all to see. He should also submit a rebutal English concertina video for when you have the stuff about Anglos posted.
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
slight technical issue... would not the sheer brillant genius of dow's playing be too much for our current technology to handle? I played with him once and to this day i still can't see clearly out of my right eye...
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
Good point... I hadn't considered the safety issues. Also, it might have the same effect as what happens to young boys and how their heads get all twisted with warped expectations when they accidentally stumble onto monster c**k websites.
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
Michael, as for recommendations of good players, you could try listening to some of SirNose's recordings, as long as you ignore his chord choices Then there's the likes of star player Richard Mandel. Listen to how ingeniously he uses his guitar skills to keep his flute player in rhythm. Awesome stuff.
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
New whistle tunes up, should be fully available by Saturday morning (2/24):
The Sporting Pitchfork
The Flax in Bloom (requested by Zoe)
The New Mown Meadows (requested by Zoe)
Also, if you subscribe to the tradlessons channel on YouTube, there is one additional video not linked to from the lesson site of a few good friends and I playing for the folks waiting in line to buy tickets at the San Diego Museum of Man "Tower After Hours" Ceili last night.
My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
Hi y'all,
I've just launched a new site:
http://www.tradlessons.com
where I'm putting up close shot videos of my playing common tunes at speed, then slowly.
Right now its mostly on whistle, but eventually, I'll add Drop-D guitar backup, Uilleann pipes and anglo concertina. Other local players and teachers from San Diego may also be contributing to the site.
If you like me to do a video for a specific tune, please drop me an email at:
michael@tradlessons.com
with your requests for tunes.
I hope some of players here will find the site useful.
Cheers and thanks,
Michael
# Posted on February 17th 2007 by Michael Eskin
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
Congratulations Michael, I'm sure that will be of great help to many fledgling whistlers. Very reassuring to see how you often you change your shirt as well!
# Posted on February 17th 2007 by sergeant fox
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
It looks very promising, though I've only had the time for a quick glance. I'm especially looking forward to the Drop -D videos.
Generous contributors like you is what make the web such a great place!
lars
# Posted on February 17th 2007 by lars
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
thanks Michael - good bit of work in that!
# Posted on February 17th 2007 by the wounded hussar
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
great stuff - clear playing, well filmed. Looking forwards to more.
# Posted on February 17th 2007 by bodatcha
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
Nice steady playing. Good camera angle too.
# Posted on February 18th 2007 by Murph
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
A bit tooty for my taste
# Posted on February 18th 2007 by llig leahcim
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
Drop D Guitar backup for reels in D Major, G Major, A Dorian, and E Dorian up by tonight (Sunday, 2/18).
# Posted on February 19th 2007 by Michael Eskin
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
A wonderful site Michael.Many thanks for all the work, and sharing your knowledge with us. I will visit regularly
BB
# Posted on February 19th 2007 by bouzoukiboy
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
Excellent, hope you find the site useful. Please let me know if you have any requests for specific tunes or techniques.
# Posted on February 20th 2007 by Michael Eskin
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
Michael, fair play to you for setting up this website. I think it's great that you want to share your music and knowledge. By posting this thread, I'm not sure if you're simply informing us of its existence or whether you're inviting comments. So sorry if you're not inviting comments b/c I'm going to comment anyway. There's one particular thing you're doing with your guitar backing that's driving me crazy, and that is that you're following the tune with the chords but not with the rhythm. Be careful not to fall into the trap that many backers do, which is playing every tune with the same rhythmic emphasis, like this (where "X" = empahsized downstroke and "/" = light downstroke):
|: X / / X | / / X / :|
The way to get out of this habit is to remember it's more about the rhythm than the chord changes, i.e. it's more about your right hand than your left. Listen for what notes are emphasized in the actual tune and respond to that. Don't simply plug in a generic rhythmic formula.
There ya go, my 2 cents, and meant in the nicest possible way.
# Posted on February 20th 2007 by Dr. Dow
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
I was talking about reel rhythm there btw.
# Posted on February 20th 2007 by Dr. Dow
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
Thanks for the suggestions, always helpful. Guitar is not my primary instrument (uilleann pipes and whistle), so I'm very open to any ideas. Not quite sure how to adapt my playing based on your suggestion as I've always tended towards a more rhythmic pulse with melody following based on what I've heard of other Drop-D players. Anyone in particular you would suggest that I should listen to that would best show what you are describing? Seems that backup guitar styles are all over the board.
# Posted on February 20th 2007 by Michael Eskin
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
Ok what I mean is, ok take your Tarbolton recording as an example. Pretty much the whole way through you're going
|: X / / X | / / X / :|
instead of paying regard to what the tune's doing.
Like, when you come in with that 1st phrase |Eeed e2BA|GBAF GFEF|... That Eeed e2 bit is pretty much the most important part of the tune. It's the tune's recognisable "hook". It's your job as backer to showcase that with your right hand as well as your left. You could, for example, go
| X X X / | / X / / |
or
| X X X / | X / / / |
or something similar, but just floating around on an Em chord for 1 bar does nothing to showcase the tune. Also, you could maybe think about how your bassline's moving. You have no A chords in there, and the tune has good potential for harmonising with them. My ear wants to hear some passing chords like in the 1st 2 bars, it'd be nice to hear you go to your D chord via an A7, just to smooth the harmony out a bit, so instead of
|Em / / / | D / / / |
you could go
|Em / / A7| D / / Bm |
Just little things like that.
What about the other "hook" in the Tarbolton? For me, it's that catchy bit in the B-part where it goes |G2BG F2AF|Eeef gfed|...
This isn't coming out in your playing. If you want to bring out the rhythm of the tune, instead of hanging on a C chord for all that time, you really need to be making chord changes and putting your downstroke emphasis in appropriate places. There are lots of possibilities for chords, but the most obvious would be something like e.g. |Em / D / |C / / / | or |G / D / | C / / / | or sth similar.
# Posted on February 20th 2007 by Dr. Dow
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
Just to be clear, this was meant to be some very simple patterns for new players to use, not a demonstration of my full playing skills... I do a lot more in actual practice...
However, I very much appreciate the suggestions and will consider them in the spirit they are offered!
# Posted on February 20th 2007 by Michael Eskin
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
Ignoring Dow's attempt to indoctrinate the world in his questionable taste in chord-choice, I cannot agree with him more about rhythm. I think for beginner guitarist it is FAR more valuable to learn the mastery of your right hand before getting to concerned with passing chords, subs etc.
I'm a big advocate of the no-accent drone for working on this. pick a nice D tune that goes nowhere harmonically and try and strum the quavers with NO emphasis anywhere... bloody hard to do well. Once you have that it's a matter of 'hanging' the accents on this framework so as not to interupt the flow of the tune... the flow is the key!!
(just my thoughts, not to take away from all your good work, fair play to ya!)
# Posted on February 20th 2007 by SirNose
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
Wonderful discussion, anyone want to contribute a video for the site, please let me know...
# Posted on February 20th 2007 by Michael Eskin
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
I think a video of Dow doing it right would be appropriate. Then there would be no question or debate on it ever again... I mean with the master's work there for all to see. He should also submit a rebutal English concertina video for when you have the stuff about Anglos posted.
# Posted on February 20th 2007 by Phantom Button
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
slight technical issue... would not the sheer brillant genius of dow's playing be too much for our current technology to handle? I played with him once and to this day i still can't see clearly out of my right eye...
# Posted on February 20th 2007 by SirNose
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
Good point... I hadn't considered the safety issues. Also, it might have the same effect as what happens to young boys and how their heads get all twisted with warped expectations when they accidentally stumble onto monster c**k websites.
# Posted on February 20th 2007 by Phantom Button
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
Michael, as for recommendations of good players, you could try listening to some of SirNose's recordings, as long as you ignore his chord choices
Then there's the likes of star player Richard Mandel. Listen to how ingeniously he uses his guitar skills to keep his flute player in rhythm. Awesome stuff.
# Posted on February 20th 2007 by Dr. Dow
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
Oh, behave, all of you!
Thanks for the suggestions!
Cheers,
Michael
# Posted on February 20th 2007 by Michael Eskin
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
New whistle tunes up, should be fully available by Saturday morning (2/24):
The Sporting Pitchfork
The Flax in Bloom (requested by Zoe)
The New Mown Meadows (requested by Zoe)
Also, if you subscribe to the tradlessons channel on YouTube, there is one additional video not linked to from the lesson site of a few good friends and I playing for the folks waiting in line to buy tickets at the San Diego Museum of Man "Tower After Hours" Ceili last night.
Cheers,
Michael
http://www.tradlessons.com
# Posted on February 24th 2007 by Michael Eskin
Re: My new tune teaching video site: www.tradlessons.com
New tunes up today, Sunday Feb 25, should be available after 2 PM PST:
Maid at the Spinning Wheel
Sean Reid's
Cheers,
Michael
http://www.tradlessons.com
# Posted on February 25th 2007 by Michael Eskin