Do you know any good low reels? I'm not a very experienced player and want to get more use out of the lower two strings on the fiddle(especially the G). I also really like the sound of the ones I've heard (but their names escape me.) Cheers!
Hayley, try 'Man of the House', in the tunes section of this site, but play it in A minor instead of E minor. It's got a lot of the melody on the fiddle G and D strings.
Try Tuttles, the great Dminor reel, Farewell to Erin, Jug of PunLads of Laois,Paddy Ryan's Dream, Marin Wynne's #2 and Eddie Kelly's, for starters....I love playing down on the G string as well!!--aoife
Some reels in G that have a lot of tune on the low strings are McFadden's Favorite, Maudabawn Chapel and this beauty which is less common than the other two:
I posted a tune under the title Finbar Dwyer's a month or so back, but on Angelina Carberry's sleeve notes it's just referred to as an old fiddle tune. If anyone knows of another name, twould be great. But it's a lovely low reel, the A-music grumbling sweetly in the bottom octave especially. Shortcut:
You can also learn many tunes in G an octave down. It's a nice variation. It gives a big sound to a session & can breath new life into tunes like The Kesh Jig & the like. You'll need to learn "low note flute fudgery" to work around the notes that are too low & out of range. All in all I think it's something that's fun & helps you learn to transpose on the fly.
The Dawn is a great reel for using the low strings. Also someone mentioned playing tunes in a different key and Miss Monaghan played in "G", as on the Noel Hill/Tony Linnane recording, is a good example of this. Some Kerry music such as Cronin's Hornpipe or O'Keefe's Polka also sound good when played in the lower octave and I understand that this was a common feature of the playing of Sliabh Luachra veterans such as Denis Murphy and Julia Cliffird.
Try The Grumbling Old Man And Woman http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/1006
The first part is entirely on the two lower strings, and the second part, presumably describing the Woman, is entirely in the top register, which makes a nice contrast.
Trevor
When I engage in low note octave-folding flute fudging (whereby all the notes below the range of the flute get folded over into the next octave up), I find that yes, a lot of the "personality" of the tune is lost, so to speak. It doesn't feel like the same tune.
But only if I'm playing on my own.
In a session, it mixes in just fine, and the overall sound/tune personality is not adversely affected, imho.
Try fudging The Cottage In The Grove like that. I love the original low Down notes. But jumping octaves on the flute makes for a wonderful new tune, which magically blends into the real tune - once they figure out what it is you're playing!
"Hey, don't I know this tune?'
Err, scrape, scrape...
Bloody Hell, It's Cottage In The Grove!
(The second part gives it away)
Low note fudgery on fiddle usually means finding a 3rd or 5th that blends well with what everyone else is doing. Sometimes it works to just hang on a note for two or three notes, sometimes it sounds better to arpeggio up. Often, it's just a matter of "rocking" back and forth on notes that fit the same chord noise as the notes you can't reach. B,G,B, etc. Or a short run up to the D string to grab a note or two.
If you can get your hands on Anthem - De Danann, there's a lovely reel called Ríl an Spideál played by Frankie Gavin. Alternatively, try playing the Foxhunter's in D. Sounds lovely.
Will, you summed it up well. I more often use 3rds, 5ths or an ornament to make up for a low note. Sometimes I'll go up the octave but it's not always what works to my ears. The biggest oddity to my ears is when someone jumps up an octave for a C# in a D tune than goes back to the low D. To my ears an E note, a cran or playing the C# to the high D sounds much better.
I haven't turned a piece of wood for a little while. I'm back at construction, apprenticing as an electrician. So I'm up at 4:30, then have school 2 nights a week & one session a week.
I did a short-lived electrical apprenticeship about 20 years ago...sometimes wish I hadn't jumped so quickly to field work with the Forest Service. Like when I rewired my kitchen last year. Engaging work. But I hope you don't give up on the flute-making--that sounded intriguing and good fun. Hope you've still got a minute or two for some tunes.
Finally got back to the session! Thanks for the fudgery tips everyone. Some different approaches there to try out.
And here's my own small contribution in return which I recently found on the net, which might help some beginners / others with the more awkward changeovers on whistles, flutes, pipes. I certainly found it an immediate lift to the playing. It's a pity the whistle textbooks don't teach this at the beginning isn't it. Certainly would save a few years off the process! Probably standard fare for most readers, but hey:
Low reels
Low reels
Do you know any good low reels? I'm not a very experienced player and want to get more use out of the lower two strings on the fiddle(especially the G). I also really like the sound of the ones I've heard (but their names escape me.) Cheers!
# Posted on September 11th 2004 by haylien
Re: Low reels
Hayley, try 'Man of the House', in the tunes section of this site, but play it in A minor instead of E minor. It's got a lot of the melody on the fiddle G and D strings.
Jim
# Posted on September 11th 2004 by Worldfiddler
Re: Low reels
Try Tuttles, the great Dminor reel, Farewell to Erin, Jug of PunLads of Laois,Paddy Ryan's Dream, Marin Wynne's #2 and Eddie Kelly's, for starters....I love playing down on the G string as well!!--aoife
# Posted on September 11th 2004 by aoife
Re: Low reels
Try Lexie McAskill's an octave lower.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/1093
# Posted on September 11th 2004 by jdave
Re: Low reels
Some reels in G that have a lot of tune on the low strings are McFadden's Favorite, Maudabawn Chapel and this beauty which is less common than the other two:
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/3011
# Posted on September 12th 2004 by edl
Re: Low reels
The Chigago reel?
I think also known as the Low Reel!
I have heard that it was composed by Davey Authur from the "Fureys and Davey Arthur" Era
I stand corrected if my info is wrong
# Posted on September 12th 2004 by Eoino
Re: Low reels
I posted a tune under the title Finbar Dwyer's a month or so back, but on Angelina Carberry's sleeve notes it's just referred to as an old fiddle tune. If anyone knows of another name, twould be great. But it's a lovely low reel, the A-music grumbling sweetly in the bottom octave especially. Shortcut:
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/3330
# Posted on September 12th 2004 by petemay
Re: Low reels
Try Liz Carrol's lost in the loop
# Posted on September 12th 2004 by ...
Re: Low reels
'The Chicago Reel' played in Chicago is not particularly low. It's an A dorian/quasi C major tune with the lowest note being E on the D string.
# Posted on September 12th 2004 by Tusong200
Re: Low reels
Thanks for the help - these are beautiful tunes and will keep me busy for a while!
# Posted on September 12th 2004 by haylien
Re: Low reels
You can also learn many tunes in G an octave down. It's a nice variation. It gives a big sound to a session & can breath new life into tunes like The Kesh Jig & the like. You'll need to learn "low note flute fudgery" to work around the notes that are too low & out of range. All in all I think it's something that's fun & helps you learn to transpose on the fly.
# Posted on September 12th 2004 by B Rad
Re: Low reels
The King's Reel is a really good one, although I think only the first part is mostly G stringin' and some of D.. stringin'.
Ashley MacIsaac plays an awesome version of this along with the Chorus Jig on his latest album~~~~~~~`
# Posted on September 12th 2004 by armandale
Re: Low reels
The Dawn is a great reel for using the low strings. Also someone mentioned playing tunes in a different key and Miss Monaghan played in "G", as on the Noel Hill/Tony Linnane recording, is a good example of this. Some Kerry music such as Cronin's Hornpipe or O'Keefe's Polka also sound good when played in the lower octave and I understand that this was a common feature of the playing of Sliabh Luachra veterans such as Denis Murphy and Julia Cliffird.
# Posted on September 12th 2004 by Bannerman
Re: Low reels
A lot of Scott Skinner tunes (Bonnie Lass of Bon Accord, Spey in Spate etc) use the low strings (and the high strings).
# Posted on September 12th 2004 by Bren
Re: Low reels
another beautiful liz carroll tune- sevens
listen to it on her website www.lizcarroll.com
so much fun to play- enjoy!
# Posted on September 13th 2004 by FiddleMama
Re: Low reels
Try The Grumbling Old Man And Woman
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/1006
The first part is entirely on the two lower strings, and the second part, presumably describing the Woman, is entirely in the top register, which makes a nice contrast.
Trevor
# Posted on September 13th 2004 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Low reels
Cloch na Ceithre Mhile
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/989
very fiddley
# Posted on September 13th 2004 by patrick cavanagh
Re: Low reels
What are your recommendations, Mad Baloney, for 'low note flute fudgery'?
Do you think these keep the personality of the tune?
# Posted on September 13th 2004 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Low reels
That's a good question.
When I engage in low note octave-folding flute fudging (whereby all the notes below the range of the flute get folded over into the next octave up), I find that yes, a lot of the "personality" of the tune is lost, so to speak. It doesn't feel like the same tune.
But only if I'm playing on my own.
In a session, it mixes in just fine, and the overall sound/tune personality is not adversely affected, imho.
# Posted on September 13th 2004 by Q
Re: Low reels
Try fudging The Cottage In The Grove like that. I love the original low Down notes. But jumping octaves on the flute makes for a wonderful new tune, which magically blends into the real tune - once they figure out what it is you're playing!
"Hey, don't I know this tune?'
Err, scrape, scrape...
Bloody Hell, It's Cottage In The Grove!
(The second part gives it away)
# Posted on September 14th 2004 by Ottery
Re: Low reels
Low note fudgery on fiddle usually means finding a 3rd or 5th that blends well with what everyone else is doing. Sometimes it works to just hang on a note for two or three notes, sometimes it sounds better to arpeggio up. Often, it's just a matter of "rocking" back and forth on notes that fit the same chord noise as the notes you can't reach. B,G,B, etc. Or a short run up to the D string to grab a note or two.
# Posted on September 14th 2004 by Will Harmon
Re: Low reels
A beautiful tune for Low Whistle ( play the bottom notes in octave, the sound is wonderful)
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/1111
# Posted on September 14th 2004 by Mandolman
Re: Low reels
If you can get your hands on Anthem - De Danann, there's a lovely reel called Ríl an Spideál played by Frankie Gavin. Alternatively, try playing the Foxhunter's in D. Sounds lovely.
# Posted on September 14th 2004 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Low reels
Will, you summed it up well. I more often use 3rds, 5ths or an ornament to make up for a low note. Sometimes I'll go up the octave but it's not always what works to my ears. The biggest oddity to my ears is when someone jumps up an octave for a C# in a D tune than goes back to the low D. To my ears an E note, a cran or playing the C# to the high D sounds much better.
# Posted on September 18th 2004 by B Rad
Re: Low reels
Hey Brad, good to see you're still alive and kicking the world before you!
Agreed on the big octave jumps--they're usually jarring and better off replaced by a closer harmonic note.
# Posted on September 18th 2004 by Will Harmon
Re: Low reels
I've been very busy lately, I try to stop in when I get a chance.
# Posted on September 18th 2004 by B Rad
Re: Low reels
Lol, family and flute making will do that to you....
# Posted on September 18th 2004 by Will Harmon
Re: Low reels
I haven't turned a piece of wood for a little while. I'm back at construction, apprenticing as an electrician. So I'm up at 4:30, then have school 2 nights a week & one session a week.
# Posted on September 18th 2004 by B Rad
Re: Low reels
I did a short-lived electrical apprenticeship about 20 years ago...sometimes wish I hadn't jumped so quickly to field work with the Forest Service. Like when I rewired my kitchen last year. Engaging work. But I hope you don't give up on the flute-making--that sounded intriguing and good fun. Hope you've still got a minute or two for some tunes.
# Posted on September 18th 2004 by Will Harmon
Re: Low reels
Finally got back to the session! Thanks for the fudgery tips everyone. Some different approaches there to try out.
And here's my own small contribution in return which I recently found on the net, which might help some beginners / others with the more awkward changeovers on whistles, flutes, pipes. I certainly found it an immediate lift to the playing. It's a pity the whistle textbooks don't teach this at the beginning isn't it. Certainly would save a few years off the process! Probably standard fare for most readers, but hey:
http://www.rogermillington.com/siamsa/brosteve/notlifting.html
Any other recommended shortcuts most welcome!
Cheers.
# Posted on September 21st 2004 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Low reels
Fly Fishing reel in A not D, Ed Reavy's Never Was Piping So Gay and its cousin the Paddy Fahy's reel in G.
# Posted on September 21st 2004 by Dr. Dow