Comments

Jigs or Reels

Jigs or Reels

I've played in many sessions, I play the whistle and am learning the flute.

I was wondering is there a ratio between jigs and reels that should be played at a session. now I don't mean is there a rule.

I have found that if there are a lot of strings at a session there tends to be more jigs, more wind instruments more reels, I myself prefer to play more reels. I am just asking has anyone noticed this or is it just me?

# Posted on October 11th 2009 by Fournes

Re: Jigs or Reels

Stringed instruments = less reels? Only when they can't play them.

# Posted on October 11th 2009 by ethical blend

Re: Jigs or Reels

Never noticed any difference because of instruments. It's simply down to the player for me, same as tuning and timing.

# Posted on October 11th 2009 by bogman

Re: Jigs or Reels

Reels are more popular than anything else at every session I've attended.
For beginning fiddle players, jigs are the easy option.

# Posted on October 12th 2009 by Hup

Re: Jigs or Reels

A quote that might give you a clue: ''This book echos the format of a typical Irish session. Lots of reels, some jigs and a few hornpipes.' from Dave Mallinson, 100 Evergreen Irish Session Tunes.

FWIW.

# Posted on October 12th 2009 by Henk Bos

Re: Jigs or Reels

if Jig = j and Reel = r then

j = 2(r^2)/c

where c is a constant based on the aggregated experience of the players at the session

as you will observe, the greated the experience, the higher the proportion of reels to jigs

boll*cks of course, but perhaps a grain of truth?

# Posted on October 12th 2009 by millionyears_bc

Re: Jigs or Reels

sorry, should be j = 2(r^2) x c

# Posted on October 12th 2009 by millionyears_bc

=

I ❤ ∞ j & ∞ r

# Posted on October 12th 2009 by Ben Steen

Re: Jigs or Reels

Where I play it is 50% reels, 30% jigs, 10% other tunes and 10% songs. Other sessions I have been to tend to play more reels, and often no songs at all.
Millionyears, I will leave it to GaryMartin, our resident mathematician, to parse out your formula! ;-)

# Posted on October 13th 2009 by AlBrown

Re: Jigs or Reels

I regularly play seisiúns that are going on for 50% polkas and slides. And two of the most memorable seisiúns over the years both had long stretches of slow airs and sean-nós singing.

# Posted on October 13th 2009 by Sweeney Astray

Re: Jigs or Reels

ok mybc

maybe * c exponential?

# Posted on October 15th 2009 by zippydw

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