My self and my good friend Mick the miller (both flautists), were asked what I thought was a bit of an awkward question by a young fella who had been lingering on the fringes of the session, instrumentless I might add. Turns out he had recently received the calling and was now smitten with Irish music (God bless im). "Now" he says "I can play the guitar a bit but the bouzouki in the session sounds great, is the bouzouki better suited to Irish music than the guitar?"
I was deliberating on this when Mick jumps in with both hob nail boots firmly laced to the knees and says, the guitar,s your man for backing the music. Tone, range, depth and versatility were all mentioned in Micks accolade. I must admit I was at a loose end with this one. I have since been wondering what the general consenus of opinion might be on Guitar Vs. Bouzouki.
I think that if there is a guitar already at a session, then a bazooki's best, and vice versa of course. Then again, two bazookis is better than two guitars. But, on its own, I'd probably say guitar. But if you look at the odds, the chances of being on your own as a strummer are pretty slim, so I'd have to say to the young fella, bakooki.
I agree with Michael. If there are guitars there - you wanna a bouzouki but overall I think guitars have more "all round" attributes. The zouk has a lovely. authentic, stringy tone but when you are looking for something different is isn't there the way a good old 6 string looks after you. The ideal session - great players and YOU the only guitarist - Nirvana!
To be serious again, the guitar is probably best if there is only one in the session so I agree with the others. However, a bouzouki or octave mandola etc is a good substitute and you can always play melody/the tune (Although some would not approve )if there are too many backers already.
Yeah, if the player wants to learn to play melody, nothing wrong with picking up the bouzouki, and it'd be reasonably easy to then also pick up the banjo or fiddle from there, too. And I don't see what's wrong with learning both, if you want to give yourslf headaches trying to remember which instrument you're playing at the time.
Interesting timing for this post - As a guitarist looking for an alternative instrument with "tone, range, depth and versitility" I debated trying a bouzouki. Instead I recently opted for a baritone guitar - six strings, tuned like a guitar only a fourth lower. It's like capoing down five frets. It has the tonal color of a guitar, but with bass notes/drones that can't be produced on a standard guitar or bouzouki.
Presenty I have it tuned to a drop-A (A E A D F# B, low to high). So it's particulary friendly to play in D, A, Am, Bm, and Em - both backing and melody. A capo could be used for other keys.
Anyway, I figured it was better for me to transfer my existing guitar knowledge to a similar instrument, rather than try to master a "new" instrument (i.e. bouzouki). This is all very new for me but I think there a place for a well played a baritone guitar at sessions, even with another guitar present. I know chord voicings and rhythm will need to be sparce at times in the lower registers, but that's what I find interesting. I think it can work. Ask me in few months...
Bouzouki anyday....and for a good reason. The modal chords played on the bouzouki do not define major and minor quite as strongly as a guitar does. Therefore, this leave the melody players more room in which to define the mood. I read somewhere that fiddlers prefer a bouzouki for this reason. Also it doesnt drown out their wonderful diddles. C'mon Alan McGregor stand you ground!!! What do you think? Throw the guitars in the trash can along with the banjos and accordians )))
bouzyboy -I thought you wanted me to leave my D18 to you in my will?I'll need to re-think this one out.Also you play your bouzouki just like a guitar so what would you know!! I'll stick to guitar and cittern just to drown you out -the flute and fiddles can sort themselves out
Alan
I'd tend to vote for the bouzouki over the guitar if only because there are too many guitar players in the world, and far too many at sessions (and. yes, I'm a guitar player too). The bouzouki's timbre provides a nice break from the monotony, and since it's usually set up in an open tuning, you can get nice drones from it. A well-played guitar in DADGAD tuning is the next best thing to my ear... but then the Dennis Cahills of the world come along... he's a standard tuning guy.
Ultimately the player is more significant that the instrument.
Most of the major points I'd offer have been made already (i.e., better to have two bouzoukis than two guitars at a session; bouzoukis rather more versatile as melody-or-accompaniment, et al). But I usually take along both instruments to a session, and even if I'm the only guitarist there I still like to switch to 'zouk every so often so I can play melody.
While this is great fun, it does mean I need to wear a "Caution: Wide Load" sticker when I lug everything into the room, especially if it's crowded. And I need to either clear out enough space so I can put one of the instruments down when I'm not using it, or else place it between my legs (stop snickering). It gets me thinking about those rock-n-rollers who have double-necked guitars, one with six strings and the other with 12. And The Corries had those "combolins," odd things that were like guitar, sitar, mandolin, bass and what-all-else put together.
If there is another guitarist at the session, I usually play the guitar only to accompany my singing. But this can be a pain: I have to get the guitar out, make sure it's in tune, etc., in a reasonable amount of time or else I lose my chance. So for that reason I find I'm doing more unaccompanied stuff, or adapting songs specifically for bouzouki.
I did use to think that two guitarists at a session might not be a bad thing if they used markedly different approaches -- one a restrained, conventional backing in standard tuning, perhaps, the other a more up-the-neck, frenetic-rhythm DADGAD style. But from what little of this I've seen, I have my doubts. Anyone have another impression?
other than bending strings and playing blues licks, I find the bouzouki fine for rock, folk songs, trad tunes etc.. Who needs a guitar? Better still get one of those wee teeny bouzouki's that are a couple of octaves higher!
Guitar can be used to good effect in IT tunes, so can bouzouki or mandola, but it's harder to do well on guitar, especially in standard tuning. A pretty good IT guitarist said to me recently that the best way to learn IT guitar (in standard tuning) was to forget *every single chord* you ever learned, listen to the music, and start building your own chords. Easier said than done, but good advice - especially to the 3-chorders who inadvertantly spoil tunes with over-rich accompaniment! Sorry, but it had to be said.
Good backing can be learned, though - no need to throw the guitars in the trash can, Bouzyboy!!
the biggest difference between the strummers at a session is not the instrument - its those that know the tunes and those that don't but figure if you identify the key you'll be OK. I think you can get away with multi-strummers if they are all familiar with the tune rather than just laying down noise
ooohhh - I know the answer to this one......how about - they are both gorgeous if played well! What a silly question. Ive got a much better question than that. Which is nicer - Fiddle or flute?? Hmmm.....hows that for another silly question
>Guitar can be used to good effect in IT tunes, so can bouzouki >or mandola, but it's harder to do well on guitar, especially in >standard tuning.
That's not true, if a guitarist knows the tuning inside & out it doesn't matter what they use.
>A pretty good IT guitarist said to me recently that the best way >to learn IT guitar (in standard tuning) was to forget *every single >chord* you ever learned, listen to the music, and start building >your own chords. Easier said than done, but good advice -
A chord is a chord, pretending they don't exist won't make them go away. Sounds like what he really ment was forget all the standard chord shapes (barre chords, open chords) & come up with the lesser used voicings of those chords. Even if you come up with some less than common chord, it has a name in theory.
>especially to the 3-chorders who inadvertantly spoil tunes with >over-rich accompaniment! Sorry, but it had to be said.
I've heard something as bad as three-chord-johnny - the droney indiscernable ramblings of dadgad-danny. Both tunings can be used in less than tastey ways. Again it's the player not the instrument or the tuning.
>Good backing can be learned, though - no need to throw the >guitars in the trash can, Bouzyboy!!
Yes, good backing can be done on guitars, zouks, citterns & even a piano. Again it all matters whether the musician behind it has what it takes to make it tastey.
I love both. Providing the player has an understanding of the tunes and is a boring bollox playing the three chord wonder!
My favourite musician at the minute is a wonderful bouzouki player who cruises around the tunes with effortless ease and makes me sound ten times better. The tasteful use of diminished and augmented chords lifts the music onto an altogether different plane of existence. Jonathon Livingstone Seagull eat yer heart out!
Mind you, I also know a couple of absolutely amazing guitar players that have the same feel and understanding.
mmmmmmmmm
In any event give me good accompaniment in a session anytime and away with the oul farts who say that they are not 'traditional' instruments.
hahhahaha! Yeah - as long as you devote your time to being good at what you do and what your passionate about then its all good We are lucky here in oz - there are some *fine* backers around - really tasty!
I wouldnt be quite so aggressive tanya!! But I wouldnt tolerate it either, its not on cause its so hard to get this music to the level that I want to play.....it sometimes just makes me want to scream!
Now then ladies,
I wonder how far either of you would have gotten in the music if people had told you to fek off when you were a novice or playing an instrument that they did not like or you were just not up to their standards so you should give it up and just burn your instrument
You both make it sound as if you own the tradition rather than being proud to be a part of a wonderful culture-warts and all.
Try and show a bit of tolerance now and then - it does wonders for the complexion
For my money it is not which instrument is better-it is the idiot behind it that makes all the difference.
I have been told in the past lots that - and I quote ' you sound like a strangled cat and will never be as good as *insert name here*' etc etc. And I'm thankful - Ive learnt alot more from being told I'm not good that all the compliments Ive ever received put together. Plus - its not about beginers - beginers are *fine* as long as they respect the music - what I **cant** stand are people who have been playing for 20years who still insist on playing the 3 chords they learnt in the 70's and still insist on playing in the wrong key. Just my two cents - I think you know I'm supportive of new players!
make a joyful noise in the name of the lord bb... some people are not as talented as others. If I wanted to sit in a public house and toy with the three chords I know on the guitar whilst someone sitting beside me strangles a cat or two I would like to think I could stand the noise...I might drink a lot more throughout the night though
I totally agree with all the above comments but have to admit that after several years playing guitar at sessions, I have decided to lock myself in a room with a fiddle and not emerge until I can get through a tune. This is due to the fact that I personally believe that any more than one guitar in a session sounds horrible no matter how well they are played - this belief sees me sat at the bar feeling grumpy all too often as I don't want to contribute to the sound [noise] of 3 different chord sequences & rythms being played together. So I'll be one of those beginners at sessions again on a new instrument - hope no one asks me to leave.
I wonder how many fiddle 'session' fanatics are Dervish fans. They must hate it that the poor wee single fiddle has to compete with a guitar, mandola and bouzouki. Awww shame. Hey Lars. No I didnt mean a mandolin I meant 'a wee teeny bouzouki tuned a coupe of octaves above'. Call it what you like. I'll stick to playing my wee bouzouki and big huge mandolin.
Hi bouzyboy
I'm seriously interested in the instrument that you're talking about. Is it a joura or may be a baglama - both greek instruments of the zook family? And "a couple of octaves above" sounds almost impossible, but I know the baglama sounds very "high". Any info on names, size and tuning would be appreciated.
And Brad - thanks for the links!
And McMahon - please excuse me for getting away from the original topic..
Because he mentioned Dervish I reckon bouzyboy might be talking about a mandola, specifically one that is tuned DAea, a fifth above the zouk, like how Brian McDonagh out of Dervish tunes his mandola (haven't some people started calling them tenor zouks or zoukinis or something these days? I think there is a name for them anyway). Was the 2 octaves an exaggeration? God I love that tuning to bits. I can get DAeae' if I capo my cittern at the 7th fret - good for playing in D, Em, F#m, Bm and A especially. You can get some really nice punchy chords like that, and it's nice to use if there's 2 of you backing and the other person's on a nice bassy DADGAD guitar or uncapoed bouzouki. Does anyone else here ever capo their zouk up high like that?
Sounds interesting Dow. I'm not keen on having the capo on the bouzouki since I love its open sound so much. 5 is as far as I go!
At the last Dervish gig in Glasgow when Cathy was introducing the band she asked Brian what he was playing - even he wasn't sure but agreed that Mandola was as good a description as any. Hence my big mandolin, wee bouzouki quip. They both sound great.
I really like the sound of bouzouki accompaniment because you can really play smaller and simpler harmonies and play lots of counter melody and broken chords that help outline and support the tune. (GOOD EXAMPLE: CONNIE O'CONNEL-Ceol Cill Na Martra). It is a nice change to the constant, full chords of the guitar. However, you can achieve a bouzouki-like sound on the guitar (especially DADGAD). I have been working on that alot. I think its nice to start simple with just a melody based accompaniment and then progress to fuller, more modal, and rhythmic chords as the set builds intensity.
Overall, I love the sound of both the guitar and bouzouki, and it all depends on how the individual player harnesses the different nuances of the instrument.
Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
My self and my good friend Mick the miller (both flautists), were asked what I thought was a bit of an awkward question by a young fella who had been lingering on the fringes of the session, instrumentless I might add. Turns out he had recently received the calling and was now smitten with Irish music (God bless im). "Now" he says "I can play the guitar a bit but the bouzouki in the session sounds great, is the bouzouki better suited to Irish music than the guitar?"
I was deliberating on this when Mick jumps in with both hob nail boots firmly laced to the knees and says, the guitar,s your man for backing the music. Tone, range, depth and versatility were all mentioned in Micks accolade. I must admit I was at a loose end with this one. I have since been wondering what the general consenus of opinion might be on Guitar Vs. Bouzouki.
Regards
McMahon
# Posted on August 10th 2003 by McMahon
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
I think that if there is a guitar already at a session, then a bazooki's best, and vice versa of course. Then again, two bazookis is better than two guitars. But, on its own, I'd probably say guitar. But if you look at the odds, the chances of being on your own as a strummer are pretty slim, so I'd have to say to the young fella, bakooki.
# Posted on August 10th 2003 by ...
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
I agree with Michael. If there are guitars there - you wanna a bouzouki but overall I think guitars have more "all round" attributes. The zouk has a lovely. authentic, stringy tone but when you are looking for something different is isn't there the way a good old 6 string looks after you. The ideal session - great players and YOU the only guitarist - Nirvana!
# Posted on August 10th 2003 by geoffmc
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
Either will do. Also, both are fine should you wish to accompany a twenty verse ballad and annoy them even more.
John
# Posted on August 11th 2003 by Johnny Jay
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
To be serious again, the guitar is probably best if there is only one in the session so I agree with the others. However, a bouzouki or octave mandola etc is a good substitute and you can always play melody/the tune (Although some would not approve )if there are too many backers already.
John
# Posted on August 11th 2003 by Johnny Jay
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
Yeah, if the player wants to learn to play melody, nothing wrong with picking up the bouzouki, and it'd be reasonably easy to then also pick up the banjo or fiddle from there, too. And I don't see what's wrong with learning both, if you want to give yourslf headaches trying to remember which instrument you're playing at the time.
Zina
# Posted on August 11th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
Interesting timing for this post - As a guitarist looking for an alternative instrument with "tone, range, depth and versitility" I debated trying a bouzouki. Instead I recently opted for a baritone guitar - six strings, tuned like a guitar only a fourth lower. It's like capoing down five frets. It has the tonal color of a guitar, but with bass notes/drones that can't be produced on a standard guitar or bouzouki.
Presenty I have it tuned to a drop-A (A E A D F# B, low to high). So it's particulary friendly to play in D, A, Am, Bm, and Em - both backing and melody. A capo could be used for other keys.
Anyway, I figured it was better for me to transfer my existing guitar knowledge to a similar instrument, rather than try to master a "new" instrument (i.e. bouzouki). This is all very new for me but I think there a place for a well played a baritone guitar at sessions, even with another guitar present. I know chord voicings and rhythm will need to be sparce at times in the lower registers, but that's what I find interesting. I think it can work. Ask me in few months...
# Posted on August 11th 2003 by SteveM
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
Oh it has to be the Buz since the Guitar
is so limited
# Posted on August 11th 2003 by sorefingers
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
Bouzouki anyday....and for a good reason. The modal chords played on the bouzouki do not define major and minor quite as strongly as a guitar does. Therefore, this leave the melody players more room in which to define the mood. I read somewhere that fiddlers prefer a bouzouki for this reason. Also it doesnt drown out their wonderful diddles. C'mon Alan McGregor stand you ground!!! What do you think? Throw the guitars in the trash can along with the banjos and accordians
)))
# Posted on August 11th 2003 by bouzyboy
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
bouzyboy -I thought you wanted me to leave my D18 to you in my will?I'll need to re-think this one out.Also you play your bouzouki just like a guitar so what would you know!! I'll stick to guitar and cittern just to drown you out -the flute and fiddles can sort themselves out
Alan
# Posted on August 11th 2003 by Alanmmcgregor
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
I'd tend to vote for the bouzouki over the guitar if only because there are too many guitar players in the world, and far too many at sessions (and. yes, I'm a guitar player too). The bouzouki's timbre provides a nice break from the monotony, and since it's usually set up in an open tuning, you can get nice drones from it. A well-played guitar in DADGAD tuning is the next best thing to my ear... but then the Dennis Cahills of the world come along... he's a standard tuning guy.
Ultimately the player is more significant that the instrument.
---Michael B.
# Posted on August 13th 2003 by MichaelBolton
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
Most of the major points I'd offer have been made already (i.e., better to have two bouzoukis than two guitars at a session; bouzoukis rather more versatile as melody-or-accompaniment, et al). But I usually take along both instruments to a session, and even if I'm the only guitarist there I still like to switch to 'zouk every so often so I can play melody.
While this is great fun, it does mean I need to wear a "Caution: Wide Load" sticker when I lug everything into the room, especially if it's crowded. And I need to either clear out enough space so I can put one of the instruments down when I'm not using it, or else place it between my legs (stop snickering). It gets me thinking about those rock-n-rollers who have double-necked guitars, one with six strings and the other with 12. And The Corries had those "combolins," odd things that were like guitar, sitar, mandolin, bass and what-all-else put together.
If there is another guitarist at the session, I usually play the guitar only to accompany my singing. But this can be a pain: I have to get the guitar out, make sure it's in tune, etc., in a reasonable amount of time or else I lose my chance. So for that reason I find I'm doing more unaccompanied stuff, or adapting songs specifically for bouzouki.
I did use to think that two guitarists at a session might not be a bad thing if they used markedly different approaches -- one a restrained, conventional backing in standard tuning, perhaps, the other a more up-the-neck, frenetic-rhythm DADGAD style. But from what little of this I've seen, I have my doubts. Anyone have another impression?
# Posted on August 13th 2003 by sts
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
"IF IT'S PLAYED WELL IT DOESN'T MATTER"
The kid should play whatever s/he's more comfy & in love with.
# Posted on August 13th 2003 by B Rad
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
other than bending strings and playing blues licks, I find the bouzouki fine for rock, folk songs, trad tunes etc.. Who needs a guitar? Better still get one of those wee teeny bouzouki's that are a couple of octaves higher!
# Posted on August 13th 2003 by bouzyboy
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
Guitar can be used to good effect in IT tunes, so can bouzouki or mandola, but it's harder to do well on guitar, especially in standard tuning. A pretty good IT guitarist said to me recently that the best way to learn IT guitar (in standard tuning) was to forget *every single chord* you ever learned, listen to the music, and start building your own chords. Easier said than done, but good advice - especially to the 3-chorders who inadvertantly spoil tunes with over-rich accompaniment! Sorry, but it had to be said.
Good backing can be learned, though - no need to throw the guitars in the trash can, Bouzyboy!!
Jim
# Posted on August 13th 2003 by Worldfiddler
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
the biggest difference between the strummers at a session is not the instrument - its those that know the tunes and those that don't but figure if you identify the key you'll be OK. I think you can get away with multi-strummers if they are all familiar with the tune rather than just laying down noise
# Posted on August 13th 2003 by geoffmc
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
ooohhh - I know the answer to this one......how about - they are both gorgeous if played well! What a silly question. Ive got a much better question than that. Which is nicer - Fiddle or flute?? Hmmm.....hows that for another silly question
# Posted on August 13th 2003 by bb
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
>Guitar can be used to good effect in IT tunes, so can bouzouki >or mandola, but it's harder to do well on guitar, especially in >standard tuning.
That's not true, if a guitarist knows the tuning inside & out it doesn't matter what they use.
>A pretty good IT guitarist said to me recently that the best way >to learn IT guitar (in standard tuning) was to forget *every single >chord* you ever learned, listen to the music, and start building >your own chords. Easier said than done, but good advice -
A chord is a chord, pretending they don't exist won't make them go away. Sounds like what he really ment was forget all the standard chord shapes (barre chords, open chords) & come up with the lesser used voicings of those chords. Even if you come up with some less than common chord, it has a name in theory.
>especially to the 3-chorders who inadvertantly spoil tunes with >over-rich accompaniment! Sorry, but it had to be said.
I've heard something as bad as three-chord-johnny - the droney indiscernable ramblings of dadgad-danny. Both tunings can be used in less than tastey ways. Again it's the player not the instrument or the tuning.
>Good backing can be learned, though - no need to throw the >guitars in the trash can, Bouzyboy!!
Yes, good backing can be done on guitars, zouks, citterns & even a piano. Again it all matters whether the musician behind it has what it takes to make it tastey.
# Posted on August 13th 2003 by B Rad
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
I love both. Providing the player has an understanding of the tunes and is a boring bollox playing the three chord wonder!
My favourite musician at the minute is a wonderful bouzouki player who cruises around the tunes with effortless ease and makes me sound ten times better. The tasteful use of diminished and augmented chords lifts the music onto an altogether different plane of existence. Jonathon Livingstone Seagull eat yer heart out!
Mind you, I also know a couple of absolutely amazing guitar players that have the same feel and understanding.
mmmmmmmmm
In any event give me good accompaniment in a session anytime and away with the oul farts who say that they are not 'traditional' instruments.
# Posted on August 13th 2003 by breandan
Just realised I should have said 'isn't' a boring ...... grin*
# Posted on August 13th 2003 by breandan
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
bouzyboy wrote: "Better still get one of those wee teeny bouzouki's that are a couple of octaves higher!"
What? A mandolin?
# Posted on August 13th 2003 by lars
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
I vote definitely for the baritone (along with modal chord voicings, altered tunings, and partial capoes for standard guitars
# Posted on August 14th 2003 by SteveM
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
hahhahaha! Yeah - as long as you devote your time to being good at what you do and what your passionate about then its all good
We are lucky here in oz - there are some *fine* backers around - really tasty!
# Posted on August 14th 2003 by bb
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
I wouldnt be quite so aggressive tanya!! But I wouldnt tolerate it either, its not on cause its so hard to get this music to the level that I want to play.....it sometimes just makes me want to scream!
# Posted on August 14th 2003 by bb
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
Now then ladies,
I wonder how far either of you would have gotten in the music if people had told you to fek off when you were a novice or playing an instrument that they did not like or you were just not up to their standards so you should give it up and just burn your instrument
You both make it sound as if you own the tradition rather than being proud to be a part of a wonderful culture-warts and all.
Try and show a bit of tolerance now and then - it does wonders for the complexion
For my money it is not which instrument is better-it is the idiot behind it that makes all the difference.
# Posted on August 14th 2003 by Greenwiggle
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
I have been told in the past lots that - and I quote ' you sound like a strangled cat and will never be as good as *insert name here*' etc etc. And I'm thankful - Ive learnt alot more from being told I'm not good that all the compliments Ive ever received put together. Plus - its not about beginers - beginers are *fine* as long as they respect the music - what I **cant** stand are people who have been playing for 20years who still insist on playing the 3 chords they learnt in the 70's and still insist on playing in the wrong key. Just my two cents - I think you know I'm supportive of new players!
# Posted on August 14th 2003 by bb
make a joyful noise in the name of the lord bb... some people are not as talented as others. If I wanted to sit in a public house and toy with the three chords I know on the guitar whilst someone sitting beside me strangles a cat or two I would like to think I could stand the noise...I might drink a lot more throughout the night though
# Posted on August 14th 2003 by Greenwiggle
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
I totally agree with all the above comments but have to admit that after several years playing guitar at sessions, I have decided to lock myself in a room with a fiddle and not emerge until I can get through a tune. This is due to the fact that I personally believe that any more than one guitar in a session sounds horrible no matter how well they are played - this belief sees me sat at the bar feeling grumpy all too often as I don't want to contribute to the sound [noise] of 3 different chord sequences & rythms being played together. So I'll be one of those beginners at sessions again on a new instrument - hope no one asks me to leave.
# Posted on August 14th 2003 by skippy
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
I wonder how many fiddle 'session' fanatics are Dervish fans. They must hate it that the poor wee single fiddle has to compete with a guitar, mandola and bouzouki. Awww shame. Hey Lars. No I didnt mean a mandolin I meant 'a wee teeny bouzouki tuned a coupe of octaves above'. Call it what you like. I'll stick to playing my wee bouzouki and big huge mandolin.
# Posted on August 14th 2003 by bouzyboy
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
http://www.larkinam.com/MenComNet/Business/Retail/Larknet/GifFiles/0015/bou016b.gif
Hope the above link works, I think whaty bouzyboy was talking about was a joura not a mandolin. Same basic idea though...
# Posted on August 14th 2003 by B Rad
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
http://www.larkinam.com/MenComNet/Business/Retail/Larknet/GifFiles/0015/bou016f.gif
Here's the front-side
# Posted on August 14th 2003 by B Rad
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
Hi bouzyboy
I'm seriously interested in the instrument that you're talking about. Is it a joura or may be a baglama - both greek instruments of the zook family? And "a couple of octaves above" sounds almost impossible, but I know the baglama sounds very "high". Any info on names, size and tuning would be appreciated.
And Brad - thanks for the links!
And McMahon - please excuse me for getting away from the original topic..
# Posted on August 15th 2003 by lars
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
This site seems interesting
http://www.users.bigpond.com/samgard/baglama.html
Don't worry Mr. Keith, I already posted it in the Links section.
# Posted on August 15th 2003 by B Rad
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
Because he mentioned Dervish I reckon bouzyboy might be talking about a mandola, specifically one that is tuned DAea, a fifth above the zouk, like how Brian McDonagh out of Dervish tunes his mandola (haven't some people started calling them tenor zouks or zoukinis
or something these days? I think there is a name for them anyway). Was the 2 octaves an exaggeration? 
God I love that tuning to bits. I can get DAeae' if I capo my cittern at the 7th fret - good for playing in D, Em, F#m, Bm and A especially. You can get some really nice punchy chords like that, and it's nice to use if there's 2 of you backing and the other person's on a nice bassy DADGAD guitar or uncapoed bouzouki. Does anyone else here ever capo their zouk up high like that?
# Posted on August 15th 2003 by Dr. Dow
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
Sounds interesting Dow. I'm not keen on having the capo on the bouzouki since I love its open sound so much. 5 is as far as I go!
At the last Dervish gig in Glasgow when Cathy was introducing the band she asked Brian what he was playing - even he wasn't sure but agreed that Mandola was as good a description as any. Hence my big mandolin, wee bouzouki quip. They both sound great.
# Posted on August 17th 2003 by bouzyboy
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
You can hear different sound on my website http://cbom.free.fr
on my opinions
# Posted on August 24th 2004 by Mandolman
Re: Guitar Vs. Bouzouki
I really like the sound of bouzouki accompaniment because you can really play smaller and simpler harmonies and play lots of counter melody and broken chords that help outline and support the tune. (GOOD EXAMPLE: CONNIE O'CONNEL-Ceol Cill Na Martra). It is a nice change to the constant, full chords of the guitar. However, you can achieve a bouzouki-like sound on the guitar (especially DADGAD). I have been working on that alot. I think its nice to start simple with just a melody based accompaniment and then progress to fuller, more modal, and rhythmic chords as the set builds intensity.
Overall, I love the sound of both the guitar and bouzouki, and it all depends on how the individual player harnesses the different nuances of the instrument.
~good luck to all!
gebbytoo
# Posted on July 21st 2007 by gebbytoo