Does anyone know about ornamentation on guitar, are rolls or cuts used in guitar playing?
If so do you know of any sites on the web or books where one could study up on how to do them.Thanks in advance for any help.
As a fairly new instrument to Irish Trad, particularly as a melody instrument, I don't think there is really any established system of ornamentation for guitar. There is the full range of ornaments available to the tenor banjo/mandolin player (allowing for differences in tuning), if you are using a flatpick. For fingerpicking, it would be slightly different. Of course, the additional sustain of the guitar allows such things as hammer-ons, pull-offs and string-bending, which tend to get lost on banjo and mandolin. In theory, there is no reason why, on a good responsive guitar, one couldn't exectute fiddle-type rolls, using a combination of hammer-ons and pull-offs, although, to make it wotrthwhile, you'd have to get everyone to shut up and listen.
Rolls can be done, but string-bending should be used very, very judiciously. Much as a fiddler rarely uses vibrato or a flute rarely uses trills/mordents. While common in other genres these effects are used with great caution in ITM.
If you're going to use string bends, try to bend all the way up to the next note as opposed to using "blue notes," which are pretty much foreign to ITM. And as Brad says, use them sparingly! (My favorite way to use them is at the end of a phrase - if the final note happens to fall on an open string, I'll bend the adjacent string up to match it. The resulting "double" is very effective.)
A good starting point for developing a style on a 'new' instrument is to look to the playing styles of other, better established instruments. But it is wonderful if one can put to good use all the techniques available on that instrument. As far as string bending goes, one can listen, for inspiration, to the way pipers slide up to F#, or the untempered intonation of some fiddlers.
-- I like to remember that my part in the music is primarily to provide accompaniment -- the "wind beneath the wings" for the session players and the dancers, using the proper time signature and proper rhythm patterns.
-- If I am even a little familiar with the tune, I like to try to picture a dancer in my mind while I am playing and the "visualizations" help me with my accompaniment.
An example of excellent ITM melody playing on guitar is a 1977 instrumental album by Dick Gaughan: Coppers & Brass, Scots and Irish Dance Music on Guitar. The CD is available from Green Linnet Records.
Guitar Ornamentation
Guitar Ornamentation
Does anyone know about ornamentation on guitar, are rolls or cuts used in guitar playing?
If so do you know of any sites on the web or books where one could study up on how to do them.Thanks in advance for any help.
# Posted on April 28th 2002 by Tom
Re: Guitar Ornamentation
This site will answer your questions
http://www.greenmanhumming.com/html/zoukornaments/
It's mainly dedicated to 'zouki, but it can be done on a guitar.
IMO triplets seem to be the best ornament for guitars, grace notes are just a matter of hammer-on's/off's. Good luck!
# Posted on April 28th 2002 by B Rad
Re: Guitar Ornamentation
As a fairly new instrument to Irish Trad, particularly as a melody instrument, I don't think there is really any established system of ornamentation for guitar. There is the full range of ornaments available to the tenor banjo/mandolin player (allowing for differences in tuning), if you are using a flatpick. For fingerpicking, it would be slightly different. Of course, the additional sustain of the guitar allows such things as hammer-ons, pull-offs and string-bending, which tend to get lost on banjo and mandolin. In theory, there is no reason why, on a good responsive guitar, one couldn't exectute fiddle-type rolls, using a combination of hammer-ons and pull-offs, although, to make it wotrthwhile, you'd have to get everyone to shut up and listen.
# Posted on April 29th 2002 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Guitar Ornamentation
Rolls can be done, but string-bending should be used very, very judiciously. Much as a fiddler rarely uses vibrato or a flute rarely uses trills/mordents. While common in other genres these effects are used with great caution in ITM.
# Posted on April 29th 2002 by B Rad
Re: Guitar Ornamentation
If you're going to use string bends, try to bend all the way up to the next note as opposed to using "blue notes," which are pretty much foreign to ITM. And as Brad says, use them sparingly! (My favorite way to use them is at the end of a phrase - if the final note happens to fall on an open string, I'll bend the adjacent string up to match it. The resulting "double" is very effective.)
# Posted on April 29th 2002 by JeffK627
Guitar Ornamentation
A good starting point for developing a style on a 'new' instrument is to look to the playing styles of other, better established instruments. But it is wonderful if one can put to good use all the techniques available on that instrument. As far as string bending goes, one can listen, for inspiration, to the way pipers slide up to F#, or the untempered intonation of some fiddlers.
# Posted on May 3rd 2002 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Guitar Ornamentation
Hello,
I am a guitarist, also and I love my TRAD.
-- I like to remember that my part in the music is primarily to provide accompaniment -- the "wind beneath the wings" for the session players and the dancers, using the proper time signature and proper rhythm patterns.
-- If I am even a little familiar with the tune, I like to try to picture a dancer in my mind while I am playing and the "visualizations" help me with my accompaniment.
-- An experienced TRAD guitarist will
# Posted on May 5th 2002 by Greg
Re: Guitar Ornamentation
An example of excellent ITM melody playing on guitar is a 1977 instrumental album by Dick Gaughan: Coppers & Brass, Scots and Irish Dance Music on Guitar. The CD is available from Green Linnet Records.
# Posted on May 6th 2002 by dfost