Recently an Irish music student told me that they are taught that reels sound like "double decker, double decker" as opposed to a jig which is "rashers and sausages, rashers and sausages". This doesn't answer your question, but it taught me something!
Just learn by listening and Feck the "quaver" question. Stop trying to read music written by people who don't know how to write. Wiggle yer fingers until it sounds right...
Thanks for the responses, but
1) No chance of a teacher where I am and funds won't provide anyway.
2)The only reason I ask in such classical terms is because I'm trying to slow right down to get it spot on but it's impossible to listen to banjo at reel pace on a CD and then slow that down in your head. So, I don't know whether to practice slowly in a strictly straight rythm or play the reels as a hornpipe to start with. Anywhere in between seems hard to do at such a pace whereas I can find in between levels of swing at full pace, but then my triplets are cack.
Tom, The trouble with this kind of question is that it gets to subtle things that are not captured in written music, and that many of us do without thinking. And many of us lack the vocabulary to explain what we are doing in classical terminology. My advice is to listen and play along, in person if you can, and to recordings if you can't. And when you look for recorded music, cast a wide net, as not all of it is played at the breakneck speed that the top groups seem to favor these days. There are also a lot of tutorial book/CD sets that play the tunes at both slow and full speed, which can be useful to you. And don't avoid those tutorials pitched at fiddlers or whistlers, any melody player can use many of these resources--you don't need to find one specifically oriented toward banjo players (or whatever it is you play).
Good luck, and enjoy!
tom_gee,
in answer to your first question, (in my limited experience) both – and sometimes neither – ie. “cat sneeze” triplets so fast you barely hear the first two notes.
To your second, depends,
Jessicamaryhall – box = an accordion
Reading music is fine as long as you realize it’s just a road map, and does little to describe the scenery, the feel of the ups and downs and curves or the people you’ll meet along the way.
I read music fairly well, although I was never able to sight read very well. I used to use my ear a lot in school band, and just pretend to look at the music a lot of the time.
I'm still having trouble with sight reading, rhythms are my worst nightmare... especially with time signatures like cut-time and and others that make you subdivide your counts and all... does anyone know any tips that might help to improve sight reading?
There are many ways of going about learning tunes. Some people learn better with music some don't. As long as the end result sounds right, it's six of one, half a dozen of the other... As long as the end result sounds right.
miami-fiddler,
The best way to get better at sight reading is to practice sight reading. Practice looking at music you have never seen before and try to play it. Get a good book of tunes, like O'Neil's, and play one tune after another. Some may catch your ear and you can work them up. I see you are in the classical world as well. This skill is very useful in an orchestral situation. Besides, it's nice to be able to sit at your computer and learn tunes by reading them off this site.
But, at least when in the ITM world, remember what fidkid said.
"Reading music is fine as long as you realize it’s just a road map, and does little to describe the scenery, the feel of the ups and downs and curves or the people you’ll meet along the way."
One thing about sight-reading O'Neill is that you soon learn not to believe everything you see on the printed page! That work, especially the original "1001", is stuffed full of mistakes, varying from the obvious to those which need a little more background research. All good education for a musician, at any rate.
Simple Question
Simple Question
In reels, are triplets triplets, or just 2 semi-quavers then a quaver?
And perhaps a less simple question. How straight are reels to be played?
# Posted on August 15th 2006 by tom_gee
Re: Simple Question
Triplets are closer to 2 semi-quavers then a quaver than anything else. Banjo players will generally play them straighter than say a fiddle player.
Reels are a lot straighter than hornpipes, but how straight depends on who you're listening to.
I would recomend listening to solo banjo players or box players for any rhythm questions. It's usually very clear on those instruments.
# Posted on August 15th 2006 by fiddleK
Re: Simple Question
Recently an Irish music student told me that they are taught that reels sound like "double decker, double decker" as opposed to a jig which is "rashers and sausages, rashers and sausages". This doesn't answer your question, but it taught me something!
# Posted on August 16th 2006 by jinksy
Re: Simple Question
Just learn by listening and Feck the "quaver" question. Stop trying to read music written by people who don't know how to write. Wiggle yer fingers until it sounds right...
# Posted on August 16th 2006 by Farr
Re: Simple Question
I agree, who cares if its a quaver or a demi, semi, demi quaver. Get a good teacher or do a lot of listening, its the only way. Ditch the sheet music.
# Posted on August 16th 2006 by cluaintarbh
Re: Simple Question
Thanks for the responses, but
1) No chance of a teacher where I am and funds won't provide anyway.
2)The only reason I ask in such classical terms is because I'm trying to slow right down to get it spot on but it's impossible to listen to banjo at reel pace on a CD and then slow that down in your head. So, I don't know whether to practice slowly in a strictly straight rythm or play the reels as a hornpipe to start with. Anywhere in between seems hard to do at such a pace whereas I can find in between levels of swing at full pace, but then my triplets are cack.
# Posted on August 16th 2006 by tom_gee
Re: Simple Question
What is a box? Have heard people refer to it but remain clueless!
# Posted on August 16th 2006 by Jessicamaryhall
Re: Simple Question
Tom, The trouble with this kind of question is that it gets to subtle things that are not captured in written music, and that many of us do without thinking. And many of us lack the vocabulary to explain what we are doing in classical terminology. My advice is to listen and play along, in person if you can, and to recordings if you can't. And when you look for recorded music, cast a wide net, as not all of it is played at the breakneck speed that the top groups seem to favor these days. There are also a lot of tutorial book/CD sets that play the tunes at both slow and full speed, which can be useful to you. And don't avoid those tutorials pitched at fiddlers or whistlers, any melody player can use many of these resources--you don't need to find one specifically oriented toward banjo players (or whatever it is you play).
Good luck, and enjoy!
# Posted on August 16th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: Simple Question
tom_gee,
in answer to your first question, (in my limited experience) both – and sometimes neither – ie. “cat sneeze” triplets so fast you barely hear the first two notes.
To your second, depends,
Jessicamaryhall – box = an accordion
Reading music is fine as long as you realize it’s just a road map, and does little to describe the scenery, the feel of the ups and downs and curves or the people you’ll meet along the way.
# Posted on August 16th 2006 by fidkid
Re: Simple Question
ah! thanks
# Posted on August 16th 2006 by Jessicamaryhall
Re: Simple Question
By Farr, the best response!
# Posted on August 16th 2006 by copo24
Re: Simple Question
By the way, Farr et al. Do ye know how to read music and prefer the other way, or have ye just never bothered with it?
# Posted on August 16th 2006 by copo24
Re: Simple Question
Yeah I think they're two semiquavers and a quaver
# Posted on August 16th 2006 by JoeOConnor10
Re: Simple Question
I read music fairly well, although I was never able to sight read very well. I used to use my ear a lot in school band, and just pretend to look at the music a lot of the time.
# Posted on August 16th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: Simple Question
I'm still having trouble with sight reading, rhythms are my worst nightmare... especially with time signatures like cut-time and and others that make you subdivide your counts and all... does anyone know any tips that might help to improve sight reading?
# Posted on August 16th 2006 by miami_fiddler
Re: Simple Question
There are many ways of going about learning tunes. Some people learn better with music some don't. As long as the end result sounds right, it's six of one, half a dozen of the other... As long as the end result sounds right.
miami-fiddler,
The best way to get better at sight reading is to practice sight reading. Practice looking at music you have never seen before and try to play it. Get a good book of tunes, like O'Neil's, and play one tune after another. Some may catch your ear and you can work them up. I see you are in the classical world as well. This skill is very useful in an orchestral situation. Besides, it's nice to be able to sit at your computer and learn tunes by reading them off this site.
But, at least when in the ITM world, remember what fidkid said.
"Reading music is fine as long as you realize it’s just a road map, and does little to describe the scenery, the feel of the ups and downs and curves or the people you’ll meet along the way."
# Posted on August 17th 2006 by fiddleK
Re: Simple Question
One thing about sight-reading O'Neill is that you soon learn not to believe everything you see on the printed page! That work, especially the original "1001", is stuffed full of mistakes, varying from the obvious to those which need a little more background research. All good education for a musician, at any rate.
# Posted on August 18th 2006 by lazyhound
Re: Simple Question
What's a quaver?
Just kidding!
# Posted on August 22nd 2006 by ismisepol