A little aside to Noxious' post of "Too many tunes". Have people on here started, or have, lists of tunes that you play or are in the process of learning. Certainly it would simplify having to actually remember all those tunes you know or want to know.
Maybe you'd then bring that list to a friend's house and sit for hours playing a bar or two, or maybe once through and then create a new list.
Maybe some of your friends would have a beer and look at the session. org in between this list creations. The joys of a relatively sober sunday night Any thoughts?
It's easier to list when you're not quite so sober (in fact, hard not to).
As you may have seen in that other thread, my tunebook here now is a list of most of the tunes I know. (Made when sober.) I go through this exercise from time to time partly to track my progress in learning tunes, partly to remind myself of tunes I'd learned but which I haven't brushed up on in some time, and partly to share with others in the hopes of building shared repertoire.
Ciansdad is trying to be funny and being very unsuccessful. Beebs and I just played through some tunes tonight and we're trying to find all the tunes we have in common. So far we're up to 136 reels after the first couple of hours. We're up to G in the alphabet and will let you know when we make it to Z. Very funny. Just reels tonight. Jigs? Meh, who needs 'em? Hehe.
Many of the tune sets played at our mid week sessions at the Cultúrlann in Monkstown are shown at http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1227 (Foinn Seisiún CD1). We also play sets from CD2 shown at http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1587. It definitely helps in having sets as otherwise with the tens of thousands of tunes that are out there it could become a bit like a lottery in learning the ones other musicians play!
I contributed a list to that thread, because I happened to have one handy. We are starting a new session, and I thought it might be nice to provide the list to someone who emailed us about the session, so they wouldn't show up expecting to play something else (bluegrass, rock, Old Timey, whatever).
But I would not go to a "session" where the leader says, "Everybody pull out your tune books, and turn to page 12."
For me, part of the fun is seeing how many tunes I know, and picking up some good ones for my own (very long) "must learn" list. Yes, it is a bit like a lottery, but it's a win/win situation.
Totally agree Mick - those Foinn Seisiun books are really scary. The thing I personally like about lists is that they can remind you of tunes you haven't played in years. And it can help you keep track of some of the best tunes that your mates know, like some of the tunes Bridie and I were playing tonight I didn't even know she played but now I know if I start it she'll join in.
I used to keep a list only because it seemed like learning each tune was so much work. Then as time went on the list became unmanageable. Now I keep a list with my favorite medley ideas. I have fun going back and trying them again to see how they work. This list is always changing, but it will contain tunes that I haven't thought of in a while. But it would be far to daunting at this point to maintain an up-to-date list of either tunes or medley ideas, but I keep contributing to the medley idea list regardless of how up-to-date it is or isn't.
I've not had a list until now - for a start I know next to no tune names, I have no idea how to read music or ABCs either so I cant look them up on a search engine. But Dow had this list and was like - 'do you know this one or this one"? And it ended up being quite funny that we played soooo many tunes together (dont forget we are only up to G) that neither of us realised the other played - and we have been playing together for about 6 years. There were loads of tunes that Dow reminded me about that I just havent even thought of in 5 or 10 years. So even though usually I dont have lists - this is almost like the biggest practise session Ive ever had!
Yea... lists are pretty much a non-starter if you don't have names for your tunes. Because I like to make medley idea lists I have to come up with some name to use. It doesn't matter so much if it's correct or not, but more that I just need something to attach. I make an effort to find the common or original title for the tune, but every now and then I'm forced to make one up. When I do, I make it obvious that it’s a made up name so that I'll keep hunting for a more accurate title.
Of course you could brainstorm your list of tune sets and come up with the kind of snappy names for them that feature on the outside covers of contemporary TM CD's, to the bewilderment of any would-be buyer who'd actually like to know what tunes are being played. Something like (and I'm hardly exaggerating) -
1. Nokia v. Orange
2. Ferret
3. The Rasta Set
4. Slides Into Chaos
5. Pick Up Your Legs And Go
6. 4 a.m.
7. The Ryanair Reels
8. The Crocodile / Road Rage In Enniscorthy
9. Numpties
10. Oz
...Well, that's hardly an exaggeration. Just a thought!
Bridie, I am curious as to how you went through the tunes alphabetically. You don't know tune names and don't read music, so did Dow/NB just do it all from his head or did he use a reference book. What actually acted as the prompt for each tune.
Maybe you should record the next time (G to O) and sell the recordings - could be very entertaining!
Dow brought over a list of all the tunes he knows and then played each one and said 'do you know this'? and if I did he'd ask if I liked it or not and then put a or a :( depending.
Well, it was something to do while we sat getting drunk on bottles of Cooper's from Bridie's fridge and having a good old chinwag. We took each tune and played it through 2 or 3 times until we were happy we had it down, which was pretty intense given that it was all reels and we were playing a few hours, but it was great practice. I've never done that before with so many different tunes. Usually you spend half your time thinking what to play next, which is fine for a session, but this was different. It was like going to a party in a room full of old friends you haven't spoken to in ages and going round the room really quickly catching up with as many people in the room as possible. V funny! Brides we'll have to do that next week but do what you said and make it in the afternoon so we're not still up at 3am. I was knackered this morning, and it's difficult to sleep when you've got tunes going through your head like a non-stop jukebox you can't turn off I think we should take the resulting list to the sessions so we never forget tunes. People will think we're weird but at least we won't have to think anymore - we can just play. I'm sick of sitting there going "I can't think of anything to play - go on, you start something".
Lists
Lists
A little aside to Noxious' post of "Too many tunes". Have people on here started, or have, lists of tunes that you play or are in the process of learning. Certainly it would simplify having to actually remember all those tunes you know or want to know.
Any thoughts?
Maybe you'd then bring that list to a friend's house and sit for hours playing a bar or two, or maybe once through and then create a new list.
Maybe some of your friends would have a beer and look at the session. org in between this list creations. The joys of a relatively sober sunday night
# Posted on December 3rd 2006 by codger
Re: Lists
lists are for collectors
# Posted on December 3rd 2006 by ...
Re: Lists
you would have to say that
# Posted on December 3rd 2006 by BE
Re: Lists
Now lads, it's not a "hit list" I'm talking about. Or maybe it is??
# Posted on December 3rd 2006 by codger
Re: Lists
It's easier to list when you're not quite so sober (in fact, hard not to).
As you may have seen in that other thread, my tunebook here now is a list of most of the tunes I know. (Made when sober.) I go through this exercise from time to time partly to track my progress in learning tunes, partly to remind myself of tunes I'd learned but which I haven't brushed up on in some time, and partly to share with others in the hopes of building shared repertoire.
# Posted on December 3rd 2006 by GaryAMartin
Re: Lists
Ciansdad is trying to be funny and being very unsuccessful. Beebs and I just played through some tunes tonight and we're trying to find all the tunes we have in common. So far we're up to 136 reels after the first couple of hours. We're up to G in the alphabet and will let you know when we make it to Z. Very funny. Just reels tonight. Jigs? Meh, who needs 'em? Hehe.
# Posted on December 3rd 2006 by Dr. Dow
Re: Lists
I've posted a list of most of the chunes we play at sessions on my site http://adamsweet.com/seisun.html
# Posted on December 3rd 2006 by celticagent
Re: Lists
Many of the tune sets played at our mid week sessions at the Cultúrlann in Monkstown are shown at http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1227 (Foinn Seisiún CD1). We also play sets from CD2 shown at http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1587. It definitely helps in having sets as otherwise with the tens of thousands of tunes that are out there it could become a bit like a lottery in learning the ones other musicians play!
# Posted on December 3rd 2006 by Bannerman
Re: Lists
I contributed a list to that thread, because I happened to have one handy. We are starting a new session, and I thought it might be nice to provide the list to someone who emailed us about the session, so they wouldn't show up expecting to play something else (bluegrass, rock, Old Timey, whatever).
But I would not go to a "session" where the leader says, "Everybody pull out your tune books, and turn to page 12."
For me, part of the fun is seeing how many tunes I know, and picking up some good ones for my own (very long) "must learn" list. Yes, it is a bit like a lottery, but it's a win/win situation.
# Posted on December 3rd 2006 by John Galt
Re: Lists
Totally agree Mick - those Foinn Seisiun books are really scary. The thing I personally like about lists is that they can remind you of tunes you haven't played in years. And it can help you keep track of some of the best tunes that your mates know, like some of the tunes Bridie and I were playing tonight I didn't even know she played but now I know if I start it she'll join in.
# Posted on December 3rd 2006 by Dr. Dow
Re: Lists
I play in an old-time group and find our list most helpful partcularly when there is a banjo pesent.
# Posted on December 3rd 2006 by litestikpilot
Re: Lists
I keep a list of all the tunes (and play through it when I'm practicing alone) I know so some won't dry up and wither away.
# Posted on December 3rd 2006 by Kheelch
Re: Lists
I used to keep a list only because it seemed like learning each tune was so much work. Then as time went on the list became unmanageable. Now I keep a list with my favorite medley ideas. I have fun going back and trying them again to see how they work. This list is always changing, but it will contain tunes that I haven't thought of in a while. But it would be far to daunting at this point to maintain an up-to-date list of either tunes or medley ideas, but I keep contributing to the medley idea list regardless of how up-to-date it is or isn't.
# Posted on December 3rd 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Lists
I've not had a list until now - for a start I know next to no tune names, I have no idea how to read music or ABCs either so I cant look them up on a search engine. But Dow had this list and was like - 'do you know this one or this one"? And it ended up being quite funny that we played soooo many tunes together (dont forget we are only up to G) that neither of us realised the other played - and we have been playing together for about 6 years. There were loads of tunes that Dow reminded me about that I just havent even thought of in 5 or 10 years. So even though usually I dont have lists - this is almost like the biggest practise session Ive ever had!
# Posted on December 3rd 2006 by bb
Re: Lists
Yea... lists are pretty much a non-starter if you don't have names for your tunes. Because I like to make medley idea lists I have to come up with some name to use. It doesn't matter so much if it's correct or not, but more that I just need something to attach. I make an effort to find the common or original title for the tune, but every now and then I'm forced to make one up. When I do, I make it obvious that it’s a made up name so that I'll keep hunting for a more accurate title.
# Posted on December 3rd 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Lists
Of course you could brainstorm your list of tune sets and come up with the kind of snappy names for them that feature on the outside covers of contemporary TM CD's, to the bewilderment of any would-be buyer who'd actually like to know what tunes are being played. Something like (and I'm hardly exaggerating) -
1. Nokia v. Orange
2. Ferret
3. The Rasta Set
4. Slides Into Chaos
5. Pick Up Your Legs And Go
6. 4 a.m.
7. The Ryanair Reels
8. The Crocodile / Road Rage In Enniscorthy
9. Numpties
10. Oz
...Well, that's hardly an exaggeration. Just a thought!
# Posted on December 3rd 2006 by nicholas
Re: Lists
I love these titles, nicholas.......Slides into Chaos!
What a kick.
(now back to lurking).......
# Posted on December 4th 2006 by morning star
Re: Lists
Bridie, I am curious as to how you went through the tunes alphabetically. You don't know tune names and don't read music, so did Dow/NB just do it all from his head or did he use a reference book. What actually acted as the prompt for each tune.
Maybe you should record the next time (G to O) and sell the recordings - could be very entertaining!
# Posted on December 4th 2006 by Donough
Re: Lists
Dow brought over a list of all the tunes he knows and then played each one and said 'do you know this'? and if I did he'd ask if I liked it or not and then put a
or a :( depending.
# Posted on December 4th 2006 by bb
Re: Lists
So then what did you guys do?
# Posted on December 4th 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Lists
Well, it was something to do while we sat getting drunk on bottles of Cooper's from Bridie's fridge and having a good old chinwag. We took each tune and played it through 2 or 3 times until we were happy we had it down, which was pretty intense given that it was all reels and we were playing a few hours, but it was great practice. I've never done that before with so many different tunes. Usually you spend half your time thinking what to play next, which is fine for a session, but this was different. It was like going to a party in a room full of old friends you haven't spoken to in ages and going round the room really quickly catching up with as many people in the room as possible. V funny! Brides we'll have to do that next week but do what you said and make it in the afternoon so we're not still up at 3am. I was knackered this morning, and it's difficult to sleep when you've got tunes going through your head like a non-stop jukebox you can't turn off
I think we should take the resulting list to the sessions so we never forget tunes. People will think we're weird but at least we won't have to think anymore - we can just play. I'm sick of sitting there going "I can't think of anything to play - go on, you start something".
# Posted on December 4th 2006 by Dr. Dow