You won't find much syncopation in Irish music, it is mainly used in other styles sucha s some jazz and classical. Thats not to say it isn't present, but its not very popular, I'll see if i can find some links, but until then, the 59th street bridge song(feeling groovy) is a great example of syncopation.
You get syncopation in polkas. If you mentally divide the 2/4 polka bar into 4 eighth notes (quavers) there will be that little syncopated accent on the 2nd and 4th. It gives that extra drive to the tune and is much appreciated by the set dancers. I've been taught it for a while now and enjoy doing it.
On the fiddle it's done by speeding up the bow stroke on the syncopated beat. If the bar has just two notes (quarter notes or crotchets) in it then you do the syncopation by speeding up the bow over the second half of the note to give that emphasis.
If a polka set is played in a competition I find it difficult to understand how the particular stylistic feature of syncopation can be excluded.
> what is syncopation? can i have some advice, the defintition > is stressing the offbeat notes?
Not exactly. More like placing the melodic stress where it's not normally expected according to the regular rhythmic pulse of the tune.
One example that comes to mind is the first bar of the B part of Frank's Reel |aAA gAA fA|effe cABc| where the change to a triple rhythm causes the accented g to fall on a normally unaccented quaver.
Another example is the hemiola sometimes played in jigs, such as Solas' setting of "Wind that Shakes the Barley". In the introduction, they play (in DDor): |a2g fga|g2 f2 e2|f2e def|e2 c2 A2| etc. In the even-numbered measure, the strong 3 pulses per measure against the underlying 2 pulses per measure of the jig creates a kind of syncopation.
And here's an very artificial example of, say, The Silver Spear with jazz-type syncopation:
|FA A B2 A2 d|z e2d BdAG|FAA BAA df-|fe2d BA2G| etc.
Hi Stacey-
When you're cross-picking, for example the second time through the A-part at the beginning of your Youtube clip, that's syncopation right there. My guess is that the judges probably won't be too into it. I think it's a pretty recent introduction to Irish banjo technique, like since Gerry O'Connor. Sounds good to me, though! Never done the fleadh thing though, so I'm not really familiar with what goes and what doesn't.
flead advice 2 syncopation
flead advice 2 syncopation
what is syncopation? can i have some advice, the defintition is stressing the offbeat notes?
i need examples, im told its a no no in comps, i dont know if im doing it
look at my youtube and tell me if i am doing it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf33-vg3g6U
sorry for being a fool but i really dont get it.
cheers for all the help.
# Posted on March 27th 2007 by S.McMullen
Re: flead advice 2 syncopation
Nope, its not syncopated, but the rhythm goes a bit weird in places.
# Posted on March 27th 2007 by tnoumarap
Re: flead advice 2 syncopation
yeh i was trying some mental stuff out, but thats a releif ill carry on how i am, have u got ne examples of syncopated stuff?
# Posted on March 27th 2007 by S.McMullen
Re: flead advice 2 syncopation
You won't find much syncopation in Irish music, it is mainly used in other styles sucha s some jazz and classical. Thats not to say it isn't present, but its not very popular, I'll see if i can find some links, but until then, the 59th street bridge song(feeling groovy) is a great example of syncopation.
# Posted on March 27th 2007 by tnoumarap
Re: flead advice 2 syncopation
nice triplets
# Posted on March 27th 2007 by ecidralla
Re: flead advice 2 syncopation
You get syncopation in polkas. If you mentally divide the 2/4 polka bar into 4 eighth notes (quavers) there will be that little syncopated accent on the 2nd and 4th. It gives that extra drive to the tune and is much appreciated by the set dancers. I've been taught it for a while now and enjoy doing it.
On the fiddle it's done by speeding up the bow stroke on the syncopated beat. If the bar has just two notes (quarter notes or crotchets) in it then you do the syncopation by speeding up the bow over the second half of the note to give that emphasis.
If a polka set is played in a competition I find it difficult to understand how the particular stylistic feature of syncopation can be excluded.
# Posted on March 28th 2007 by lazyhound
Re: flead advice 2 syncopation
I think the Ramnee Ceilidh is .Its on Flooks Rubai
# Posted on March 28th 2007 by Saint
Re: flead advice 2 syncopation
> what is syncopation? can i have some advice, the defintition > is stressing the offbeat notes?
Not exactly. More like placing the melodic stress where it's not normally expected according to the regular rhythmic pulse of the tune.
One example that comes to mind is the first bar of the B part of Frank's Reel |aAA gAA fA|effe cABc| where the change to a triple rhythm causes the accented g to fall on a normally unaccented quaver.
Another example is the hemiola sometimes played in jigs, such as Solas' setting of "Wind that Shakes the Barley". In the introduction, they play (in DDor): |a2g fga|g2 f2 e2|f2e def|e2 c2 A2| etc. In the even-numbered measure, the strong 3 pulses per measure against the underlying 2 pulses per measure of the jig creates a kind of syncopation.
And here's an very artificial example of, say, The Silver Spear with jazz-type syncopation:
|FA A B2 A2 d|z e2d BdAG|FAA BAA df-|fe2d BA2G| etc.
Cheers, hope that helps.
# Posted on March 28th 2007 by MTGuru
Re: flead advice 2 syncopation
Hi Stacey-
When you're cross-picking, for example the second time through the A-part at the beginning of your Youtube clip, that's syncopation right there. My guess is that the judges probably won't be too into it. I think it's a pretty recent introduction to Irish banjo technique, like since Gerry O'Connor. Sounds good to me, though! Never done the fleadh thing though, so I'm not really familiar with what goes and what doesn't.
# Posted on March 28th 2007 by patrick cavanagh
Re: flead advice 2 syncopation
ah buger, thanks for teeling me a no no on cross picking, cheers
# Posted on March 29th 2007 by S.McMullen