if you do some searching on this site for "metronome", "tempos", and other key words, you will find lots of advice (and bickering) about this kind of stuff.
Suffice it to say, there are no "rules" with regards to this kind of stuff, especially when it comes to sessions. In the case of playing for dancers, they will want specific tempos, but they will vary, depending on the level of the dancers. For instance, a championship hornpipe is usually played much slower than a novice one, because the champion dancer is doing much more difficult, fancy steps, and needs the space.
Certainly no rules, and lots of bickering.
I would say; lock the thing in a cupboard; learn the tunes, play them with other people.
If you are still in doubt, go back and check the tempo ONCE with that thing, and lock it up again. It has no part in traditional music. If you are working with dancers on a regular basis they should be able to tell you when you are, and are not, playing at the correct speed. Otherwise when working/playing with other musicians, it is an oligarchial collective.
I sure wish more people I played with used metronomes - not for every note, but a few clicks a measure - if it would get them out of the terrible habit of speeding up. I think there's a place for that use of a metronome.
practice at a pace that's good for you. then stretch yourself a bit. but dont push it too much - it depends on your playing and taste when a tune sounds right.
you can also practice with the metronome offbeat... help to grove and give flexibility when you play with others in small band. (that's an opinion.. you may not agree)
I use metronome not to get the "right" tempo - that's depens so much of the mood, the dancer... we sometimes play a tune fast in one session, and much slower in the next. Use it, like some said just above, to learn to keep the tempo you've started with, and not speed up whilst playing. If you want a good tip ; start by having your metronome giving 4 beats a bar (if you're parctising with a polka, reel or hornpipe), then slow it down to get the 1rst and 3rd beat. After a while "inverse" it : try playing with the metronome giving you 2nd and 4rth beat. A bit tricky at the beginning, but it it gives you a very good and steady tempo. always play at the speed you can play everything. Better slow, steady and good than quick, and rash (not to say trash...)
At feisianna, hornpipes are played at either traditional speed for non-championship level dancers, or at non-traditional speed for championship level dancers. Traditional speed is in the range of 138-142 bpm, non-trad speed is always 113 bpm.
I can only think of two situations where polkas would be played at feisianna for dancers: ceilis or 8-hand figures (groups of eight dancers) will sometimes request a specific dance associated with a specific tune which might be a polka, ie., The High Cauled Cap, or The Rakes of Mallow. The other situation might involve playing for very young beginners where the musician might substitute a polka for a reel. In either case, the tempo range would be 113-118.
BPM Metronome
BPM Metronome
If practising with a metronome what is the BPM for a polka and a hornpipe
Please if this is a silly question I am a beginner
thanks
# Posted on January 5th 2009 by glengarslasher
Re: BPM Metronome
For a beginner not too high, let's say 120 for polkas and 144 for hornpipes.
Good to know that polkas can go up to approx. 160 and hornpipes to let's say 184.
Other opinions possible, just my 2 cts.
# Posted on January 5th 2009 by Henk Bos
Re: BPM Metronome
Ask a dancer ?
# Posted on January 5th 2009 by bazouki dave
Re: BPM Metronome
if you do some searching on this site for "metronome", "tempos", and other key words, you will find lots of advice (and bickering) about this kind of stuff.
Suffice it to say, there are no "rules" with regards to this kind of stuff, especially when it comes to sessions. In the case of playing for dancers, they will want specific tempos, but they will vary, depending on the level of the dancers. For instance, a championship hornpipe is usually played much slower than a novice one, because the champion dancer is doing much more difficult, fancy steps, and needs the space.
# Posted on January 5th 2009 by Reverend
Re: BPM Metronome
Certainly no rules, and lots of bickering.
I would say; lock the thing in a cupboard; learn the tunes, play them with other people.
If you are still in doubt, go back and check the tempo ONCE with that thing, and lock it up again. It has no part in traditional music. If you are working with dancers on a regular basis they should be able to tell you when you are, and are not, playing at the correct speed. Otherwise when working/playing with other musicians, it is an oligarchial collective.
# Posted on January 5th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: BPM Metronome
Pete,
I sure wish more people I played with used metronomes - not for every note, but a few clicks a measure - if it would get them out of the terrible habit of speeding up. I think there's a place for that use of a metronome.
# Posted on January 5th 2009 by reenactor
Re: BPM Metronome
practice at a pace that's good for you. then stretch yourself a bit. but dont push it too much - it depends on your playing and taste when a tune sounds right.
# Posted on January 6th 2009 by saltybrian
Re: BPM Metronome
you can also practice with the metronome offbeat... help to grove and give flexibility when you play with others in small band. (that's an opinion.. you may not agree)
# Posted on January 6th 2009 by pfsty
Re: BPM Metronome
I use metronome not to get the "right" tempo - that's depens so much of the mood, the dancer... we sometimes play a tune fast in one session, and much slower in the next. Use it, like some said just above, to learn to keep the tempo you've started with, and not speed up whilst playing. If you want a good tip ; start by having your metronome giving 4 beats a bar (if you're parctising with a polka, reel or hornpipe), then slow it down to get the 1rst and 3rd beat. After a while "inverse" it : try playing with the metronome giving you 2nd and 4rth beat. A bit tricky at the beginning, but it it gives you a very good and steady tempo. always play at the speed you can play everything. Better slow, steady and good than quick, and rash (not to say trash...)
# Posted on January 6th 2009 by Nikita Pfister
Re: BPM Metronome
At feisianna, hornpipes are played at either traditional speed for non-championship level dancers, or at non-traditional speed for championship level dancers. Traditional speed is in the range of 138-142 bpm, non-trad speed is always 113 bpm.
I can only think of two situations where polkas would be played at feisianna for dancers: ceilis or 8-hand figures (groups of eight dancers) will sometimes request a specific dance associated with a specific tune which might be a polka, ie., The High Cauled Cap, or The Rakes of Mallow. The other situation might involve playing for very young beginners where the musician might substitute a polka for a reel. In either case, the tempo range would be 113-118.
# Posted on January 8th 2009 by pbassnote