I have to disagree about midi files being pointless. They are slightly better than nothing at all, especially if you’re aurally-oriented and no good at reading the dots. If you can’t afford to buy a CD just for one tune that you really want to learn, it’s a cheap way to go. But you do get what you pay for.
For a beginner/learner I'm not sure what would be worse, less-beneficial to "learn" from ....dots or midi. Equally terrible especially when all it takes is a little homework to suss out probably some decent version of a 'learner' tune either on youtube of the sessions posted above which post their tunes.
The point being, if amhran lives in Ireland and can't get decent versions of tunes either from living human beings or some from sites like Groton or Riley...then there's something seriously wrong. Many good beginner tunes are even available free through the cce website.
So...why would you waste your time with midis or sight reading from abc's? which can't even come close to a real version played by living people? You're simply deluding yourself if you think abcs are traditional music.
since you live in Dublin try buying the Brid Crantich/Sheila Garry cds...and the notation books that go with if you need it. I'd suggest the Blue Book and the Orange Book. Excellent playing at moderate pace and tunes arranged in sets...these are mostly the old favourites and not obscure, one-offs...so learning any of them would stand you in good stead at most sessions.
that's all you need. many years of learning and playing enjoyment are there.
Another alternative to buying lots of CDs to get tunes is to try a site like www.lala.com
Using lala, you can play any track in their database (as extensive as iTunes') all the way through once, and then after that you can play 30 second samples of that track, which is often enough to get the tune. For 10 cents (and they give you 50 of them for free), you can add the song as a web tune, and play it from any computer for free (you just can't download it). A good way to try out several different versions of a tune.
But your best bet for single instrument learner tunes is one of the sites or book/CD combos listed above.
Randal Bays has been posting tunes for learning on his website. He doesn't leave them up very long but there are usually a few good ones there, played at moderate and slow tempos. http://www.randalbays.com
I find the low-cost 'various artists' ceili band CDs useful. Straightforward versions of common tunes, more in unison than most 'group' CDs, understandable twiddly bits, emphasis on the downbeat and phrased for dancing. Fast but easier to slow down in my head than clever arrangements.
I know this is somewhat controversial here but if you're really stuck, download slowdown software like Amazing Slow Downer or Transcribe. It's not brilliant but it's 100% better than dots or midis. Just don't become too reliant on it and use it to train yourself to learn tunes at faster speeds, rather than always having to slow them down to something ridiculous.
I like to hear downlods from the Session so I can then use the dots or Abc more readily. You can also easily transport tunes to concertina net's tune-o-tron to hear what Abc files from various sources sound like on midi
I think what people are saying here, and revealing above, is that abc's and midis are now pretty much passe given all the decent resources for accessing reasonable versions of common tunes played by living human beings, whether it be thru places like randal bays' site, slow session or medium session sites like the Riley School and Groton, or simply thru many good players posting tunes on youtube.
Yes, always check for a recording by Jim when learning a tune. Sort of an internet equivalent of the helpful guy down the pub who will show you his way with a tune.
Hello. My name is Random. When I thought there was no other way I turned to MIDI. I listened to it repeatedly. Slowing it down, speeding it up, changing instrument patches. Fortunately, I put it behind me after discovering what everyone meant by *Tunebook*. But not before going on a bit of a binge.
If you must listen to a tunebook I recommend 1st you find the pause button. Once you hit the play button there's no telling what can happen. I only hope you have some good mates to play some tunes with you. Hopefully that will snap you out of the Midi Catatonia. wooohuhu shudder!
It still shakes me up whenever I hear that little piano.
When SoundLantern starts up again that will be grand!
Here are some clips you might enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-xRR0pNnDg&feature
Séamus Creagh (who hails originally from Co. Westmeath) and Rob Murphy of Cavan on flute.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VGwMnppEOQ&feature
Matt Cranitch (Fiddle),Dónal Murphy (Box) & Steve Cooney (Guitar).
Matt & Donal are members of the group Sliabh Notes.
The name of the first polka is "Many a Wild Night."
Thanks for the many helpful suggestions. This is what makes the mustard board so worthwhile. I'll follow up on them all.
Just to clarify for mtodd: I wasn't referring to midi or dots. I would much prefer to learn from 'living human beings' or from CDs. It's just that on many of the CDs featuring groups it's hard to make out the finer points of the tunes, even when you slow them down. Solo performances are so much clearer.
As to playing with others, I'm afraid I'm a bit of a slow learner (musically speaking!) and any other player would have to have the patience of a saint. I tried it here in south Dublin a few years ago but the person involved obviously saw my 'potential' and gracefully decided to end the arrangement.
I would like to try again, though, if anyone was interested but I'm not sure that I'd venture out to sessions just yet.
Your listening skills improve with listening and will help you sort out or block out that which you don't want to hear as well as that which you do.
Don't forget matt crantich's fiddle book and cd to go with. You can't go wrong with that and it's only him...solo fiddle. Ditto with Brid Crantich's stuff--it's piano and fiddle but the piano is tasteful and not obtrustive. good luck.
Music sound files
Music sound files
Anyone know a good online site for sound files of learner tunes? I'd prefer a single instrument sound rather than a group.
# Posted on September 30th 2009 by amhrán
Re: Music sound files
pointless
# Posted on September 30th 2009 by skin&bow
Re: Music sound files
! explain
# Posted on September 30th 2009 by David50
Re: Music sound files
FolkTuneFinder.com has midi files and dots for a few hundred thousand tunes.
# Posted on September 30th 2009 by Joe Wass
Re: Music sound files
your best bet for solo players is probably YouTube
there's also this site that whistle players have posted MP3s of whistle tunes
http://www.tinwhistletunes.com/clipssnip/index.htm
# Posted on September 30th 2009 by Nate Ryan
Re: Music sound files
http://www.slowplayers.org/SCTLS/playlist.html
# Posted on September 30th 2009 by ∅
Re: Music sound files
Shannon Heaton has her 'Tune of the Month' on flute;
http://www.mattandshannonheaton.com/totm.html
# Posted on September 30th 2009 by Ben Steen
Re: Music sound files
http://www.rogermillington.com/tunetoc/index.html
# Posted on September 30th 2009 by ∅
Re: Music sound files
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/22728
# Posted on September 30th 2009 by David50
Re: Music sound files
http://www.tradlessons.com/
# Posted on September 30th 2009 by fuzzygreen
Re: Music sound files
Here's a nice collection. Not all single instrument, but good tunes:
http://www.rileyirishmusic.com/modules/content/index.php?id=14
# Posted on September 30th 2009 by fidkid
Re: Music sound files
what i meant was, to try and glean them from midi files was pointless. Riley site is a good one, and so is this one...the Groton Sessions:
http://www.thegrotonsession.com/tunes.html#Workshop%2022
if this is the kind of thing you're after.
# Posted on September 30th 2009 by skin&bow
Damnably faint praise
I have to disagree about midi files being pointless. They are slightly better than nothing at all, especially if you’re aurally-oriented and no good at reading the dots. If you can’t afford to buy a CD just for one tune that you really want to learn, it’s a cheap way to go. But you do get what you pay for.
# Posted on September 30th 2009 by fidkid
Re: Music sound files
Michael Clarkson has a podcast of irish flute tunes (and a website).
http://irishflute.podbean.com/
I think it's an excellent resource.
# Posted on September 30th 2009 by a sheamuis
Re: Music sound files
For a beginner/learner I'm not sure what would be worse, less-beneficial to "learn" from ....dots or midi. Equally terrible especially when all it takes is a little homework to suss out probably some decent version of a 'learner' tune either on youtube of the sessions posted above which post their tunes.
The point being, if amhran lives in Ireland and can't get decent versions of tunes either from living human beings or some from sites like Groton or Riley...then there's something seriously wrong. Many good beginner tunes are even available free through the cce website.
So...why would you waste your time with midis or sight reading from abc's? which can't even come close to a real version played by living people? You're simply deluding yourself if you think abcs are traditional music.
# Posted on September 30th 2009 by skin&bow
Re: Music sound files
amhran
since you live in Dublin try buying the Brid Crantich/Sheila Garry cds...and the notation books that go with if you need it. I'd suggest the Blue Book and the Orange Book. Excellent playing at moderate pace and tunes arranged in sets...these are mostly the old favourites and not obscure, one-offs...so learning any of them would stand you in good stead at most sessions.
that's all you need. many years of learning and playing enjoyment are there.
forget any discussion of midis. useless.
# Posted on September 30th 2009 by skin&bow
Re: Music sound files
My site has podcasts of tunes played on guitar:
www.irishguitarpod.com
And I concur with mtodd's reccomendation and advice.
# Posted on October 1st 2009 by Tony O'Rourke
Re: Music sound files
Another alternative to buying lots of CDs to get tunes is to try a site like www.lala.com
Using lala, you can play any track in their database (as extensive as iTunes') all the way through once, and then after that you can play 30 second samples of that track, which is often enough to get the tune. For 10 cents (and they give you 50 of them for free), you can add the song as a web tune, and play it from any computer for free (you just can't download it). A good way to try out several different versions of a tune.
But your best bet for single instrument learner tunes is one of the sites or book/CD combos listed above.
# Posted on October 1st 2009 by fuzzygreen
Re: Music sound files
Randal Bays has been posting tunes for learning on his website. He doesn't leave them up very long but there are usually a few good ones there, played at moderate and slow tempos. http://www.randalbays.com
# Posted on October 1st 2009 by gwyguy
Re: Music sound files
I find the low-cost 'various artists' ceili band CDs useful. Straightforward versions of common tunes, more in unison than most 'group' CDs, understandable twiddly bits, emphasis on the downbeat and phrased for dancing. Fast but easier to slow down in my head than clever arrangements.
# Posted on October 1st 2009 by David50
Re: Music sound files
For Scottish stuff you could try
http://www.riddellfiddles.co.uk .
# Posted on October 1st 2009 by DonaldK
Re: Music sound files
I know this is somewhat controversial here but if you're really stuck, download slowdown software like Amazing Slow Downer or Transcribe. It's not brilliant but it's 100% better than dots or midis. Just don't become too reliant on it and use it to train yourself to learn tunes at faster speeds, rather than always having to slow them down to something ridiculous.
# Posted on October 1st 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Music sound files
I like to hear downlods from the Session so I can then use the dots or Abc more readily. You can also easily transport tunes to concertina net's tune-o-tron to hear what Abc files from various sources sound like on midi
# Posted on October 1st 2009 by Michael Sam Wild
Re: Music sound files
I think what people are saying here, and revealing above, is that abc's and midis are now pretty much passe given all the decent resources for accessing reasonable versions of common tunes played by living human beings, whether it be thru places like randal bays' site, slow session or medium session sites like the Riley School and Groton, or simply thru many good players posting tunes on youtube.
Jim has lots of good intermediate tunes here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/fiddle4u
let's not forget a member too who has posted many good tunes on youtube....Fiddle4U.
# Posted on October 1st 2009 by skin&bow
Re: Music sound files
Yes, always check for a recording by Jim when learning a tune. Sort of an internet equivalent of the helpful guy down the pub who will show you his way with a tune.
# Posted on October 1st 2009 by David50
Re: Music sound files
Oh yeah - Jim! He's grand and I suspect, if you were to ask nicely, he might even do requests.
# Posted on October 1st 2009 by fidkid
Re: Music sound files
http://www.youtube.com/user/comhaltas?recommended=1
# Posted on October 1st 2009 by Earl Cameron
Re: Music sound files
Hello. My name is Random. When I thought there was no other way I turned to MIDI. I listened to it repeatedly. Slowing it down, speeding it up, changing instrument patches. Fortunately, I put it behind me after discovering what everyone meant by *Tunebook*. But not before going on a bit of a binge.
If you must listen to a tunebook I recommend 1st you find the pause button. Once you hit the play button there's no telling what can happen. I only hope you have some good mates to play some tunes with you. Hopefully that will snap you out of the Midi Catatonia. wooohuhu shudder!
It still shakes me up whenever I hear that little piano.
cheers!
# Posted on October 1st 2009 by Ben Steen
Music sound thingies
When SoundLantern starts up again that will be grand!
Here are some clips you might enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-xRR0pNnDg&feature
Séamus Creagh (who hails originally from Co. Westmeath) and Rob Murphy of Cavan on flute.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VGwMnppEOQ&feature
Matt Cranitch (Fiddle),Dónal Murphy (Box) & Steve Cooney (Guitar).
Matt & Donal are members of the group Sliabh Notes.
The name of the first polka is "Many a Wild Night."
# Posted on October 1st 2009 by Ben Steen
Re: Music sound files
some mp3s here ~ http://irishtraditionalmusic.ning.com/
# Posted on October 1st 2009 by Ben Steen
Re: Music sound files
4545
# Posted on October 1st 2009 by amhrán
Re: Music sound files
Oops! That wasn't meant to appear.
# Posted on October 1st 2009 by amhrán
Re: Music sound files
Thanks for the many helpful suggestions. This is what makes the mustard board so worthwhile. I'll follow up on them all.
Just to clarify for mtodd: I wasn't referring to midi or dots. I would much prefer to learn from 'living human beings' or from CDs. It's just that on many of the CDs featuring groups it's hard to make out the finer points of the tunes, even when you slow them down. Solo performances are so much clearer.
As to playing with others, I'm afraid I'm a bit of a slow learner (musically speaking!) and any other player would have to have the patience of a saint. I tried it here in south Dublin a few years ago but the person involved obviously saw my 'potential' and gracefully decided to end the arrangement.
I would like to try again, though, if anyone was interested but I'm not sure that I'd venture out to sessions just yet.
# Posted on October 1st 2009 by amhrán
Re: Music sound files
Amhran...slow and steady wins the race.
Your listening skills improve with listening and will help you sort out or block out that which you don't want to hear as well as that which you do.
Don't forget matt crantich's fiddle book and cd to go with. You can't go wrong with that and it's only him...solo fiddle. Ditto with Brid Crantich's stuff--it's piano and fiddle but the piano is tasteful and not obtrustive. good luck.
# Posted on October 2nd 2009 by skin&bow