Funny how tunes become married at some sessions, then it becomes "we always play it with...."
Don't fall into that trap! Tunes are not monogamous creatures. They love to sleep around and hook up with other tunes. Sometimes complete strangers. I suggest you find a reel that you like, learn it, then play it with MBHtB. When you get tired of that combo, move onto something else.
There are reasons why some tunes tend to get hooked up to others in local situations. Often because there was some original overlap in shared tunes or co-incidentally two players liked two tunes togther.
This doesn't mean it is set in stone and playing the same never changing sets all night makes for a poor session.
But it is a freindly thing to do to start a couple of tunes that you know certain people can play together. It helps kmake people feel involved in a session. Particularly if not everone knows each other or some individuals have rarely been able to join in and are too shy to start a set and you remember that you have heard them play tunes A&B together.
but in case it wasn't clear: I more agree with yout han disagree with you jusa, but I disagree with what you say taken as a hard and fast rule.
I usually nevre post in the "what tune goes with" thread for the reasons very you gave. And noticefell short of actually suggesting "the teetotaller", merely obseverved the lcoal practice. I frequently start them in the regular session. they are both fine tunes, but neither is a real personal favourite. I start them 'cos I like to play along with other people and get people involved.
I usually play them either right at the start of the night. Or near the end if castinga round for something to involve as many poepl as possible. Or midway through if there has been a spate of tunes that have left people excluded from playing (although lsitening and not playing is a big part of any good session for me, I don't want to play all night).
"Single White Tune. Looking for other tunes in same or complementary key for friendship, possibly more. Not into drama or headgames. Serious inquiries only, please."
Side note: is it just me, or is there a big surge of banjo-related threads. Last week it was fiddler, this week it's banjos. What's next week I wonder?
or Stylophones, glockenspiels, Indian harmoniums, bugles, 'hospital property' spoons, wig glue, hot water bottles, ortlan preparation & cooking, Val Doonican, holidays in Heligoland, stationery catalogues, Pims No 1, shouting, using your Oyster on real trains, UK Subs, ink wells, oil wells, bottomless wells, Streatham, waiting at Hollyhead for well over an hour at just gone midnight beacause the ferry arrives from Dublin at 12.15 am and the first Virgin train out of there is at about 2 am, gout, spilling beer at sessions, farting at sessions mid tune and denying it...
Chris - Rambling pitchfork, I knew what you meant, I was only taking some artistic license with the comment.
However, I do know folks who play the same sets year after year - and it does seem to me like a stale marriage. I can almost imagine in the middle of the Tarbolton set, poor old Longford Collector secretly fantasizing about hooking up with somebody else for a change, maybe Ships are Sailing or that naughty Lads of Laoise. I admit I certainly have several "comfort sets" of my own that I play quite a bit, but I try not allow myself to expect to the same "next" tune - or worse, demand it as some folks do...
Mike Floorstand - the potential for sexual innuendo with tune combinations is endless.
However, back to the original question, if ever there was a bog common, slut of a tune willing and able to hook up with anybody, it's your Maid behind the Bar. As I suggested before Glengarslaher, learn any new reel you wish and your Maid will eagerly hook up with it, tramp that she is.
I find that Silver Spear and Maid Behind The Bar are similar enough to confuse me (it doesn't take much) so I separate them with Miss McLeod. The key change snaps me out of it.
Reel for Banjo
Reel for Banjo
Now I Know all the long time players are probably turning their eyes up to heaven at the moment but please give a newcomer a break
I am trying to learn Irish Tenor Banjo and have a couple of Jigs and Polkas Learned I also learned the Reel Maid behind the Bar
I was hoping someone would suggest another reel to go with the Maid I would like a happy reel not too hard as I am only learning
Thanks
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by glengarslasher
Re: Reel for Banjo
Silver Spear
Mountain Road
Lady Anne Montgomery?
If you're lookin for something in the same key with more or less the same fingering...
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by Kelloggs
Re: Reel for Banjo
Yeh definitely try the Silver Spear. Nice tune anyway...
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by camwebby
Re: Reel for Banjo
I follow Maid behind the bar with The Banshee (aka McMahon's). This is definitely a "happy" reel and the two work well together.
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by Geoff Pollitt
Re: Reel for Banjo
"Merry Blacksmith" sits well with "Maid Behind the Bar", and suits tenor banjo very well.
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Reel for Banjo
... and if anything, MB is probably a litter easier than MBTB ...
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Reel for Banjo
... and merry blacksmiths in folklore are known to be quite partial to maids ....
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Reel for Banjo
Hi try the Sally Gardens, nice change.
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by london lass
Re: Reel for Banjo
Wind that Shakes the Barley
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by shanty
Re: Reel for Banjo
I follow Maid Behind the Bar with the Teatotaler and then The Otter's Holt.
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by Steve L
Re: Reel for Banjo
I'd try the Czar of Munster, classic banjo reel: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/7588
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by Joe CSS
Re: Reel for Banjo
around here the maid behind the bar is almost always followed by the teetotaller, but I'm not sure that the latter tune is particularly "happy".
- chris
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: Reel for Banjo
Funny how tunes become married at some sessions, then it becomes "we always play it with...."
Don't fall into that trap! Tunes are not monogamous creatures. They love to sleep around and hook up with other tunes. Sometimes complete strangers. I suggest you find a reel that you like, learn it, then play it with MBHtB. When you get tired of that combo, move onto something else.
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: Reel for Banjo
Sorry, play it with MBtB - you knew what I meant right?
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: Reel for Banjo
There are reasons why some tunes tend to get hooked up to others in local situations. Often because there was some original overlap in shared tunes or co-incidentally two players liked two tunes togther.
This doesn't mean it is set in stone and playing the same never changing sets all night makes for a poor session.
But it is a freindly thing to do to start a couple of tunes that you know certain people can play together. It helps kmake people feel involved in a session. Particularly if not everone knows each other or some individuals have rarely been able to join in and are too shy to start a set and you remember that you have heard them play tunes A&B together.
- Chris
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: Reel for Banjo
but in case it wasn't clear: I more agree with yout han disagree with you jusa, but I disagree with what you say taken as a hard and fast rule.
I usually nevre post in the "what tune goes with" thread for the reasons very you gave. And noticefell short of actually suggesting "the teetotaller", merely obseverved the lcoal practice. I frequently start them in the regular session. they are both fine tunes, but neither is a real personal favourite. I start them 'cos I like to play along with other people and get people involved.
I usually play them either right at the start of the night. Or near the end if castinga round for something to involve as many poepl as possible. Or midway through if there has been a spate of tunes that have left people excluded from playing (although lsitening and not playing is a big part of any good session for me, I don't want to play all night).
- chris
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: Reel for Banjo
"Tunes are not monogamous creatures." This makes me think of lonely tunes placing ads in the personals.
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by Ben Steen
Re: Reel for Banjo
Nice:
"Single White Tune. Looking for other tunes in same or complementary key for friendship, possibly more. Not into drama or headgames. Serious inquiries only, please."
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by Jimmy B
Re: Reel for Banjo
Side note: is it just me, or is there a big surge of banjo-related threads. Last week it was fiddler, this week it's banjos. What's next week I wonder?
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by Jimmy B
Re: Reel for Banjo
Wall Flower Hornpipe, willing to swing. Likes ~ reels & jigs. Dislikes ~ barndances.
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by Ben Steen
Re: Reel for Banjo
Shakey eggs, perhaps Jimmy ...
.. although it's likely to be a short discussion, as you can say all there is to know about them on one side of a postage stamp ...
... and not all polite, either ...
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Reel for Banjo
or Stylophones, glockenspiels, Indian harmoniums, bugles, 'hospital property' spoons, wig glue, hot water bottles, ortlan preparation & cooking, Val Doonican, holidays in Heligoland, stationery catalogues, Pims No 1, shouting, using your Oyster on real trains, UK Subs, ink wells, oil wells, bottomless wells, Streatham, waiting at Hollyhead for well over an hour at just gone midnight beacause the ferry arrives from Dublin at 12.15 am and the first Virgin train out of there is at about 2 am, gout, spilling beer at sessions, farting at sessions mid tune and denying it...
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by yhaalhouse
Re: Reel for Banjo
Or the uncomfortable fingering position of the Vulcan Arse Flute...
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by banjoburger
Re: Reel for Banjo
Chris - Rambling pitchfork, I knew what you meant, I was only taking some artistic license with the comment.
However, I do know folks who play the same sets year after year - and it does seem to me like a stale marriage. I can almost imagine in the middle of the Tarbolton set, poor old Longford Collector secretly fantasizing about hooking up with somebody else for a change, maybe Ships are Sailing or that naughty Lads of Laoise. I admit I certainly have several "comfort sets" of my own that I play quite a bit, but I try not allow myself to expect to the same "next" tune - or worse, demand it as some folks do...
Just trying to keep it fresh and unexpected.
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: Reel for Banjo
Call me kinky, but I like to make a sandwich with the Maid Behind the Bar inbetween the Wise Maid and the Merry Blacksmith.
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by Mike Floorstand
Re: Reel for Banjo
Mike Floorstand - the potential for sexual innuendo with tune combinations is endless.
However, back to the original question, if ever there was a bog common, slut of a tune willing and able to hook up with anybody, it's your Maid behind the Bar. As I suggested before Glengarslaher, learn any new reel you wish and your Maid will eagerly hook up with it, tramp that she is.
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: Reel for Banjo
Methinks that maid be missing her maidenhead some time.
# Posted on November 24th 2009 by Jimmy B
Re: Reel for Banjo
I tend to change my sets if only because I can't decide which is best.
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by Earl Cameron
Re: Reel for Banjo
I find that Silver Spear and Maid Behind The Bar are similar enough to confuse me (it doesn't take much) so I separate them with Miss McLeod. The key change snaps me out of it.
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by oldstrings
Re: Reel for Banjo
All of my tunes are whores. I pair them up with whoever they meet coming out the door. It's like a huge swinger's party in my head.
I like hooking up D reels (i.e. Maid Behind the Bar) with G reels, or hooking up major ones with minor ones.
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by DrSilverSpear