I am a new player to irish music (tenor banjo and flute) and I am going to be allowed to play a few tunes with a local established irish trad group at a local pub sesion. I need to learn a few tunes of my choice to play with them. This is as much about developing my own confidence to play as anything else!
Can anyone suggest a few very well known, BUT VERY EASY tunes. I presume jigs would be the better to start with, but I would welcome any advice. I can read music as I also play tenor sax, but I am new to the banjo and flute.
VERY easy, if you don't mind polkas, are Egan's Polka and Britches Full of Stitces. They sound good on banjo too (in my opinion!). And they're very well known.
Record a couple of of the local sessions, then work out a few of the simpler tunes that you enjoyed listening to (ask for their names whilst you're there).
If you can't think of a few tunes that you want to learn, you're probably best listening for the time being.
Reading music is all well and good, it's a great way to get access to tunes that are not being played in your neighborhood at the moment, but it's not a very good substitute for having the music in your head.
If you want to learn a few tunes, you might ask your established trad group to name a handful that will be played around town, and work on getting those down.
If you don't mind suffering the groans of, "awe bloody hell, not that one", then a good idea is to ask a bunch of faceless and nameless internet nerds to point you to some sheet music.
If you want to get integrated with your local session and learn how to play. Ask them which tunes you should start with. (And leave your sax and banjo at home.)
Perhaps get a hold of one of Comhaltas Ceoltori Eireann's Foinn Seisiun CDs. They have many tunes played so that you can pick them up by ear, and you can find them on iTunes.
I think it's all been said Ade and you've got the advice you need. Jason mentioned "Up Leitrim", a sentiment I'd thoroughly agree with! It reminded me though of another good jig "Up Sligo" recorded by Matt Molloy and Tommy Peoples some years ago - I'll try and locate the dots for you when I've finished here. Also there are Foinn Seisiún music books to go with the CDs which can be ordered on-line from "Lulu" or direct from Comhaltas in Monkstown.
I've found those links. You can get the dots for Up Sligo on here at http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/537. I prefer the versions in the comments (in fact I'm going to add the one played in our session today) but it's up to you to decide the version you prefer.
Information on buying the Foinn seisiún books on-line is given at http://comhaltas.ie/shop/archive/C57/. If you don't mind the hassle of phoning, you'd probably get a better deal by contacting Monkstown (Tel: 00353 1 280 0295) direct.
It has all been said above, but I would make a composite of both Rik Payman's and Jon Kiparsky's replies.... ...and that is:
Ask the folks at your local session to not only suggest a tune for you to learn, but to also play it cleanly & slowly into a tape or digital recorder for you.
Then listen, listen, listen to that recording about a zillion times or so, then when the tune is stuck in your head, and you can lilt it in your head while you go about your day, you will be ready to start working it out on flute.
It will be kind of "trial_and_error" at first, but after you've worked out the bones of the tune, put the flute down and listen to the recording several times more -- you'll pick up on some intricacies that you had previously missed. Iterate ad nauseum until you can play along with the recording.
You will then have the tune that is played at your session, exactly as it is played at your session, and the lifelong labor of love will have begun on the right foot!
(I know this doesn't specifically answer the title of your post, "Suggested Tunes for Beginner", but that's because the short answer is: "the tunes that are played at your session".)
Oh, and I'm just assuming it goes without saying that you should meet with an Irish flute teacher from time to time, as well, so I won't say it. There is an awful lot to do when playing flute -- breath control, embouchure control, phrasing, cuts, taps, rolls, etc....
Some really great advice, thanks again. There is only one trad irish session and band in my area so I dont want to annoy these guys, I will do some homework first..
As a beginner also, I would suggest you find easy tunes that you like, and fits well with any playing ability. I have personally found that if I like a tune, I am more motivated in learning it faster, and playing it better. I would also suggest that you try, if you have a computer with a sound card, a program called NoteWorthy. I found it to be a god sent for working with ABC tunes, which are plentiful, as well as practice. It will convert ABC to standard notation on the screen, and will play the tune. One can also change the tempo, to it helps with practicing the tune.
Hi!!
You might find Tradsession.com very helpful because Micheal Eskin plays the tunes as they should be played then he plays again very much slower. You can see the finger action fully when he is playing the whistle. Also if you go to Youtube you will find this really helpful; just type in your tune request and someone will play it. Another guy for tune (and lessons in whistle playing) is Ryan Duns SJ. they are brilliant.
Good luck on you learning journey.
Suggested Tunes for Beginner
Suggested Tunes for Beginner
Hi
I am a new player to irish music (tenor banjo and flute) and I am going to be allowed to play a few tunes with a local established irish trad group at a local pub sesion. I need to learn a few tunes of my choice to play with them. This is as much about developing my own confidence to play as anything else!
Can anyone suggest a few very well known, BUT VERY EASY tunes. I presume jigs would be the better to start with, but I would welcome any advice. I can read music as I also play tenor sax, but I am new to the banjo and flute.
Any suggestions?
Ade
# Posted on December 18th 2008 by Ade
Re: Suggested Tunes for Beginner
Jim Ward's Jig is a nice one, all in the lower octave (well, up to the high d note).
# Posted on December 18th 2008 by nicholas
Re: Suggested Tunes for Beginner
VERY easy, if you don't mind polkas, are Egan's Polka and Britches Full of Stitces. They sound good on banjo too (in my opinion!). And they're very well known.
# Posted on December 18th 2008 by PatrickJWK
Re: Suggested Tunes for Beginner
Try some slides like O'Keefe's and Brosna
# Posted on December 18th 2008 by Whiddler
Re: Suggested Tunes for Beginner
Record a couple of of the local sessions, then work out a few of the simpler tunes that you enjoyed listening to (ask for their names whilst you're there).
# Posted on December 18th 2008 by Rick Payman
Re: Suggested Tunes for Beginner
If you can't think of a few tunes that you want to learn, you're probably best listening for the time being.
Reading music is all well and good, it's a great way to get access to tunes that are not being played in your neighborhood at the moment, but it's not a very good substitute for having the music in your head.
If you want to learn a few tunes, you might ask your established trad group to name a handful that will be played around town, and work on getting those down.
# Posted on December 18th 2008 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: Suggested Tunes for Beginner
123anda123anda123anda123anda123
123anda123anda123anda123anda123 (rpt)
# Posted on December 18th 2008 by mcknowall
Re: Suggested Tunes for Beginner
If you don't mind suffering the groans of, "awe bloody hell, not that one", then a good idea is to ask a bunch of faceless and nameless internet nerds to point you to some sheet music.
If you want to get integrated with your local session and learn how to play. Ask them which tunes you should start with. (And leave your sax and banjo at home.)
# Posted on December 18th 2008 by ...
Re: Suggested Tunes for Beginner
Up Leitrim is a sweet tune and not too hard either.
Maybe the Connaughtman's Rambles, Out on the Ocean, the Concertina Reel, or the Silver Spear
# Posted on December 18th 2008 by jasonb
Re: Suggested Tunes for Beginner
Perhaps get a hold of one of Comhaltas Ceoltori Eireann's Foinn Seisiun CDs. They have many tunes played so that you can pick them up by ear, and you can find them on iTunes.
# Posted on December 18th 2008 by jasonb
Re: Suggested Tunes for Beginner
Boys of Bluehill on the banjo.
# Posted on December 18th 2008 by Henk Bos
Re: Suggested Tunes for Beginner
I think it's all been said Ade and you've got the advice you need. Jason mentioned "Up Leitrim", a sentiment I'd thoroughly agree with! It reminded me though of another good jig "Up Sligo" recorded by Matt Molloy and Tommy Peoples some years ago - I'll try and locate the dots for you when I've finished here. Also there are Foinn Seisiún music books to go with the CDs which can be ordered on-line from "Lulu" or direct from Comhaltas in Monkstown.
# Posted on December 18th 2008 by Bannerman
Re: Suggested Tunes for Beginner
I've found those links. You can get the dots for Up Sligo on here at http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/537. I prefer the versions in the comments (in fact I'm going to add the one played in our session today) but it's up to you to decide the version you prefer.
Information on buying the Foinn seisiún books on-line is given at http://comhaltas.ie/shop/archive/C57/. If you don't mind the hassle of phoning, you'd probably get a better deal by contacting Monkstown (Tel: 00353 1 280 0295) direct.
# Posted on December 18th 2008 by Bannerman
Re: Suggested Tunes for Beginner
It has all been said above, but I would make a composite of both Rik Payman's and Jon Kiparsky's replies.... ...and that is:
There is an awful lot to do when playing flute -- breath control, embouchure control, phrasing, cuts, taps, rolls, etc....
Ask the folks at your local session to not only suggest a tune for you to learn, but to also play it cleanly & slowly into a tape or digital recorder for you.
Then listen, listen, listen to that recording about a zillion times or so, then when the tune is stuck in your head, and you can lilt it in your head while you go about your day, you will be ready to start working it out on flute.
It will be kind of "trial_and_error" at first, but after you've worked out the bones of the tune, put the flute down and listen to the recording several times more -- you'll pick up on some intricacies that you had previously missed. Iterate ad nauseum until you can play along with the recording.
You will then have the tune that is played at your session, exactly as it is played at your session, and the lifelong labor of love will have begun on the right foot!
(I know this doesn't specifically answer the title of your post, "Suggested Tunes for Beginner", but that's because the short answer is: "the tunes that are played at your session".)
Oh, and I'm just assuming it goes without saying that you should meet with an Irish flute teacher from time to time, as well, so I won't say it.
Most importantly, enjoy this fabulous journey!!!
# Posted on December 18th 2008 by browndog
Re: Suggested Tunes for Beginner
Thanks All.
Some really great advice, thanks again. There is only one trad irish session and band in my area so I dont want to annoy these guys, I will do some homework first..
Ade
# Posted on December 19th 2008 by Ade
Re: Suggested Tunes for Beginner
As a beginner also, I would suggest you find easy tunes that you like, and fits well with any playing ability. I have personally found that if I like a tune, I am more motivated in learning it faster, and playing it better. I would also suggest that you try, if you have a computer with a sound card, a program called NoteWorthy. I found it to be a god sent for working with ABC tunes, which are plentiful, as well as practice. It will convert ABC to standard notation on the screen, and will play the tune. One can also change the tempo, to it helps with practicing the tune.
# Posted on December 19th 2008 by ranger64
Re: Suggested Tunes for Beginner
Hi!!
You might find Tradsession.com very helpful because Micheal Eskin plays the tunes as they should be played then he plays again very much slower. You can see the finger action fully when he is playing the whistle. Also if you go to Youtube you will find this really helpful; just type in your tune request and someone will play it. Another guy for tune (and lessons in whistle playing) is Ryan Duns SJ. they are brilliant.
Good luck on you learning journey.
# Posted on December 30th 2008 by noel69