Just goofin’ but I’d like to compile a list of rhythmic mnemonics for the different dance rhythms. Here’s what I’ve gleaned from a quick search:
Reels:
"alligator alligator"
"watermelon, watermelon
“Rangers Celtic Rangers Celtic Rangers Celtic”
"This is a rhythm that the Irish call a reel
and you can tell it from a jig because it has a different feel..."
Jigs:
"Lydia Lydia"
“diddly diddly”
“Liverpool Everton Liverpool Everton Liverpool Everton” etc
Slides:
?
Single Jigs:
?
Slip-jigs
“Jesus and Mary and Joseph, and Jesus and Mary and Joseph”
“buy the band a beer”
“angela lansbury's hernia”
Polka:
“polka polka”
Hornpipes:
“HUMPty DUMPty”
Mazurkas:
?
Scottisches:
?
Highlands:
?
I’m sure I’ve missed more than a few. And I’m aware this discussion has cropped up before. My apologies for interrupting the august ruminations of the Council. I’m trying to compile THE definitive collection
I like rackety tackety for jigs. Other tunes, I do in dance counts: polkas are one-and-two, one-and-two, scottisches: one-and-two three-and-four, one-and two-and three-and four-and
Hmm...I use "logarithm logarithm" for reels, "calculus calculus" for jigs, and "cosine tangent secant tangent" for hornpipes when somebody asks me, which is rarely. And I am a math geek.
Rhythmic mnemonics
Rhythmic mnemonics
Just goofin’ but I’d like to compile a list of rhythmic mnemonics for the different dance rhythms. Here’s what I’ve gleaned from a quick search:

Reels:
"alligator alligator"
"watermelon, watermelon
“Rangers Celtic Rangers Celtic Rangers Celtic”
"This is a rhythm that the Irish call a reel
and you can tell it from a jig because it has a different feel..."
Jigs:
"Lydia Lydia"
“diddly diddly”
“Liverpool Everton Liverpool Everton Liverpool Everton” etc
Slides:
?
Single Jigs:
?
Slip-jigs
“Jesus and Mary and Joseph, and Jesus and Mary and Joseph”
“buy the band a beer”
“angela lansbury's hernia”
Polka:
“polka polka”
Hornpipes:
“HUMPty DUMPty”
Mazurkas:
?
Scottisches:
?
Highlands:
?
I’m sure I’ve missed more than a few. And I’m aware this discussion has cropped up before. My apologies for interrupting the august ruminations of the Council. I’m trying to compile THE definitive collection
# Posted on January 25th 2006 by fidkid
Re: Rhythmic mnemonics
What about "rashers and sausages" for jigs or "black and decker" for reels - only two I know I'm afraid.
# Posted on January 25th 2006 by Bannerman
Re: Rhythmic mnemonics
reels....black and decker, black and decker
# Posted on January 25th 2006 by noneedforthebongo
Re: Rhythmic mnemonics
whoops, you got in there before me mr banner!
# Posted on January 25th 2006 by noneedforthebongo
Re: Rhythmic mnemonics
Oh, good ones. Forgot about those. Thanks.
# Posted on January 25th 2006 by fidkid
Re: Rhythmic mnemonics
Single jigs is easy: just sing Pop Goes the Weasel.
# Posted on January 25th 2006 by Zina Lee
Re: Rhythmic mnemonics
Thanks, Zina! I should have remembered Anorak Jack’s single jig gan ainm on the Mighty Craic.
# Posted on January 25th 2006 by fidkid
Re: Rhythmic mnemonics
What about rheinlanders?
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by showaddydadito
Re: Rhythmic mnemonics
Slip-jigs slightly wrong there, comma in the wrong place ..
“Jesus and Mary and Joseph and, Jesus and Mary and Joseph”
And don't forget the all encomplassing master of them all ...
"diddley de"
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by llig leahcim
Re: Rhythmic mnemonics
I like rackety tackety for jigs. Other tunes, I do in dance counts: polkas are one-and-two, one-and-two, scottisches: one-and-two three-and-four, one-and two-and three-and four-and
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by Tirno
Re: Rhythmic mnemonics
Here's some background music for this thread.
http://ubu.wfmu.org/sound/ethno/celtic/mp3/Celtic-Mouth-Music_06.mp3
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by ʎɹoʇısuɐɹʇ
Re: Rhythmic mnemonics
lovely that. thanks
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by llig leahcim
Re: Rhythmic mnemonics
I always preferred "logarithm" as a mnemonic for jigs.
After all, it's got "rithm."
And no, I'm _not_ a math geek.
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by sts
Re: Rhythmic mnemonics
Laitch, I think I've heard this track before, eons ago--who's the lilter and what's the source?
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by Will Harmon
Re: Rhythmic mnemonics
Ah, I see...Josie McDermott. But when was this recorded?
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by Will Harmon
Re: Rhythmic mnemonics
Will, I think it's part of Track 8 on McDermott's recording "Darby's Farewell."
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by ʎɹoʇısuɐɹʇ
Re: Rhythmic mnemonics
I'm still trying to fit "logarithm" into jig time.
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by Bob himself
Re: Rhythmic mnemonics
Thanks!
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by Will Harmon
Re: Rhythmic mnemonics from childhood
Reels, from the Three Stooges:
Why I oughta...
Slip jigs, from the candy store clerk:
Pay me the dime and get outta here...
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by Bob himself
Re: Rhythmic mnemonics
Edible elephant for jigs--got that from a step dance teacher from Boston, Kieran Jordan.
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: Rhythmic mnemonics
Hmm...I use "logarithm logarithm" for reels, "calculus calculus" for jigs, and "cosine tangent secant tangent" for hornpipes when somebody asks me, which is rarely. And I am a math geek.
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by GaryAMartin
Re: Rhythmic mnemonics
Does it matter if the logarithm is base 10 or base e?
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by Bob himself
Re: Rhythmic mnemonics
(I'm a reformed math geek.)
# Posted on January 26th 2006 by Bob himself
Re: Rhythmic mnemonics
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/11900
# Posted on December 2nd 2006 by Rudall the time