This is a real pain. I struggled with this for a while (and still do, I suppose). It was particularly frustrating when I would locate a chorded tune from two sources... and they would be different (chord-wise). Of course I later learned that chords are later additions to tunes that purely melodic since god-knows-when. All chords are merely suggestions (some, of course, are strong suggestions!) that leave all kinds of room for creative interpretation (which is what I find so intriguing about backing ITM).
One quick way would be to purchase 121 Favorite Irish Session Tunes (book and 4-CDs by www.homespuntapes.com). They are fully chorded and come with the benefit of CDs to strum along with (the melody is sent to one speaker, the backing to another, so you practice playing with either).
-(Incidentally, I found the indentified mode in many of the tunes in the accompanying book to be incorrect. I was also a bit frustrated at the lack of alphabetical table of contents - very hard to quickly look up a tune! Anyway, I created spreadsheet to put in the front of the book with the tune title, my feelings as to the correct mode, the CD and track # of the song, and my observations on the tune as compared to other posted versions. If anyone is interested in having a copy, I'd be glad to email it out.)
Another idea would be to put in the chords yourself. Those talented folks who post tunes at this site are usually really good at identifying the correct mode. That, along with a knowledge of common chord progressions in each mode, should give you a fighting chance at doing it yourself if you observe the notes in any given measure / half-measure and piece together the predominant chord. If you learn how this works, you’re also free to add your own twists to existing chorded tunes.
For the chord progressions, I shall paraphrase and overly-simplify a wonderfully straightforward lesson I received from DOW (Mark)...
Chords TYPICALLY follow a particular pattern for each mode. A Base will begin and will be the chord named in the mode. In theory, you can hang on this chord, pretty much forever, although people will wonder what in the hell you’re contributing to the music (and they'd be right). There is a Contraster chord and a Pivot that takes you between the two. Add to that substitute chords that are similar enough to work and will add variety (a D-chord and a Bm-chord share two notes as do G and Em, etc). I'll put the substitute chords in parenthesis.
So, for Ionic (or Major) tunes...
Base - I (VI)
Pivot - IV (II)
Contraster - V
This, I'm sure you’ve recognized, is your straight I, IV, V pattern that we're so used to.
For Aeolian (minor) tunes...
Base - I (III)
Pivot - VI (IV)
Contraster - VII (V)
For Dorian tunes...
Base - I (III)
Pivot - IV (II)
Contraster - VII (V)
For Mixolydian tunes...
Base - I
Pivot - IV (II)
Contraster - VII (V)
So... an E Dorian tune is in the Key of D (two sharps) and...
I = Em
II = F#m
III = G
IV = A
V = Bm
VII = D
(The VI or diminished chord never played in ITM - although I'm sure someone could prove me wrong.)
Check this against some tunes that you've seen chorded to see how this works out.
I'm sorry if I've made any typos to confuse the issue and I apologize to those who have a deeper knowledge of the theory and who feel I've oversimplified and elegant system to nonsense (I'm just learning all this myself). I hope I didn’t presume too much in posting this for you… I am just a beginner at this. Thanks to those from whom I've learned... If I got it wrong, I didn't learn it from you!
Most resources will only have a skeleton of a chord line for you, as the art of accompaniment includes making your own choices of chord according to your own tastes and feelings of the moment. Playing with a backer who switches things up is a lot of fun. So do keep in mind that written chords are usually taken as a starting point only, not engraved upon the stone!
I just stumbled on this discussion and recognised the contents. You simplified that really well Schy. I have to say when I look at it now I realise that I made some mistakes when I originally tried to analyse it. For example I see you've missed out chord III for the Ionian mode. I've since found many more uses for this and use it differently now. Similarly, I've been underusing and misrepresenting chord VI in the Mixolydian. When I get round to rewriting it all I promise to make it generally available if it is saving people time and effort.
I was going to go into the "Linker" chords as you defined them... but I looked back and realized that I said quite a lot already. Then I looked at the clock and wondered who I was going to bill for the time!
Chords
Chords
Hi everyone,
I'm a guitar player in a small domestic group , playing backup.
I'm looking for web resources for irish tunes - already with chords.
Thanks
# Posted on February 21st 2003 by azo
Re: Chords
If you know about the ABC notation try using ABCmus. It has a facility so that it can put chords into an ABC tune.
# Posted on February 21st 2003 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Chords
Hi Amirez,
Me too.
Life is difficult for guitars players in this area.
If you find any please let us know. I will do the same.
Greg
# Posted on February 23rd 2003 by Greg
Re: Chords
Hi Greg
For now I do know one site: http://www.blackflute.com/music/tunes.html
Amir
# Posted on February 23rd 2003 by azo
Re: Chords
This is a real pain. I struggled with this for a while (and still do, I suppose). It was particularly frustrating when I would locate a chorded tune from two sources... and they would be different (chord-wise). Of course I later learned that chords are later additions to tunes that purely melodic since god-knows-when. All chords are merely suggestions (some, of course, are strong suggestions!) that leave all kinds of room for creative interpretation (which is what I find so intriguing about backing ITM).
One quick way would be to purchase 121 Favorite Irish Session Tunes (book and 4-CDs by www.homespuntapes.com). They are fully chorded and come with the benefit of CDs to strum along with (the melody is sent to one speaker, the backing to another, so you practice playing with either).
-(Incidentally, I found the indentified mode in many of the tunes in the accompanying book to be incorrect. I was also a bit frustrated at the lack of alphabetical table of contents - very hard to quickly look up a tune! Anyway, I created spreadsheet to put in the front of the book with the tune title, my feelings as to the correct mode, the CD and track # of the song, and my observations on the tune as compared to other posted versions. If anyone is interested in having a copy, I'd be glad to email it out.)
Another idea would be to put in the chords yourself. Those talented folks who post tunes at this site are usually really good at identifying the correct mode. That, along with a knowledge of common chord progressions in each mode, should give you a fighting chance at doing it yourself if you observe the notes in any given measure / half-measure and piece together the predominant chord. If you learn how this works, you’re also free to add your own twists to existing chorded tunes.
For the chord progressions, I shall paraphrase and overly-simplify a wonderfully straightforward lesson I received from DOW (Mark)...
Chords TYPICALLY follow a particular pattern for each mode. A Base will begin and will be the chord named in the mode. In theory, you can hang on this chord, pretty much forever, although people will wonder what in the hell you’re contributing to the music (and they'd be right). There is a Contraster chord and a Pivot that takes you between the two. Add to that substitute chords that are similar enough to work and will add variety (a D-chord and a Bm-chord share two notes as do G and Em, etc). I'll put the substitute chords in parenthesis.
So, for Ionic (or Major) tunes...
Base - I (VI)
Pivot - IV (II)
Contraster - V
This, I'm sure you’ve recognized, is your straight I, IV, V pattern that we're so used to.
For Aeolian (minor) tunes...
Base - I (III)
Pivot - VI (IV)
Contraster - VII (V)
For Dorian tunes...
Base - I (III)
Pivot - IV (II)
Contraster - VII (V)
For Mixolydian tunes...
Base - I
Pivot - IV (II)
Contraster - VII (V)
So... an E Dorian tune is in the Key of D (two sharps) and...
I = Em
II = F#m
III = G
IV = A
V = Bm
VII = D
(The VI or diminished chord never played in ITM - although I'm sure someone could prove me wrong.)
Check this against some tunes that you've seen chorded to see how this works out.
I'm sorry if I've made any typos to confuse the issue and I apologize to those who have a deeper knowledge of the theory and who feel I've oversimplified and elegant system to nonsense (I'm just learning all this myself). I hope I didn’t presume too much in posting this for you… I am just a beginner at this. Thanks to those from whom I've learned... If I got it wrong, I didn't learn it from you!
(I have really got to get back to work...)
Schy
# Posted on February 25th 2003 by Schy
… ????
Apparently cutting and pasting from Word creates a bit of a problem with apostrophes...
# Posted on February 25th 2003 by Schy
Re: Chords
Most resources will only have a skeleton of a chord line for you, as the art of accompaniment includes making your own choices of chord according to your own tastes and feelings of the moment. Playing with a backer who switches things up is a lot of fun. So do keep in mind that written chords are usually taken as a starting point only, not engraved upon the stone!
Zina
# Posted on February 25th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: Chords
Thanks Schy..For the chord primer.. I was wondering about that just last night as I was reading Chris Smith's book on backing Celtic music.
Bob
# Posted on February 26th 2003 by bmcivor
Re: Chords
I just stumbled on this discussion and recognised the contents. You simplified that really well Schy. I have to say when I look at it now I realise that I made some mistakes when I originally tried to analyse it. For example I see you've missed out chord III for the Ionian mode. I've since found many more uses for this and use it differently now. Similarly, I've been underusing and misrepresenting chord VI in the Mixolydian. When I get round to rewriting it all I promise to make it generally available if it is saving people time and effort.
# Posted on February 26th 2003 by Dr. Dow
Re: Chords
I was going to go into the "Linker" chords as you defined them... but I looked back and realized that I said quite a lot already. Then I looked at the clock and wondered who I was going to bill for the time!
Schy
# Posted on February 27th 2003 by Schy