Have any of the DG box players among you worked out how to successfully play rolls - and which notes are best suited for rolls on the instrument?
I've experimented with rolling some notes on the G row without much progress, so I'm hoping others have fared better. I'm ok with ornamenting using cross-row triplets and some single-note triplets. The different arrangement of notes on the DG means I'll never reproduce the sound of rolls on a chromatic box, but I'll still try ...
Are there any commercial videos or dvds on irish chromatic box techniques you've seen that explained rolls in a way that was transferrable to the DG box?
I've never got round to doing proper rolls on the DG, though I'm sure that some players are able to. I'm generally content with triplets, as at the start of The Kesh, for instance:
D | (3GFG G GAB| ABA ABd| ....etc.
- Or, The Knotted Cord:
dB | (3ABA AB AGEG| ABcd edBA| ....etc.
The long A 's in The Knotted Cord, or Farewell To Ireland, seem an ideal place to try out rolls. But they're something I haven't persevered with - suitable notes are usually there, but I haven't been able get out the full five-note sequence out fast enough to stay in time.
The best thing to do with fast stuff is give each note its proper value and punch it out "straight and true", varying the note lengths and indeed the tune once you're quite at home with it - all easier said than done, of course!
Chris Parkinson, once (still?) of The House Band, is the cleverest player I've seen on this instrument.
I'll try to illustrate how I play the rolls in bars 1 & 5 of the 'A' music in "Donnybrook Fair" the first triplet is written G3(AGF G , hope that makes sense. middle finger on 'G' (G row) little finger plays 'A' on the 'D' row, back to the 'G', 2nd finger plays 'F#' back to 'G'
In bars 3 & 7, written B3(cBA B, I cheat a little by playing 'd' instead of c#, middle finger on B 3rd finger on 'd' etc.
thanks hetty, you've just shown me a much better approach than I'd worked out on my own.
I just need to check that the 'middle finger' means the third (ring) finger? It feels weird beginning a roll using my weak third finger. I feel more comfortable beginning on my second finger (i.e. the longest one). But now I'm off to practice!
Which other notes do you find your rolls sound good on? I'd be interested to hear what fingering you'd use for a roll on the C natural on the G row. And I don't have any idea how to roll on the higher D on the G row, which is on the push on both rows.
After trying this out I realise we're both starting the roll on the same finger, but I was born with a thumb and four fingers on my hand
The G roll seems to work better using my ring finger (i.e. my third finger!) to play the F# on the D row, without changing the bellows direction. Thanks again for the good advice.
Middle finger to me means the middle digit.
I do change bellow directons though, playing the F# on the pull.
same with the 'B' roll. 'C' roll would also be a bit of a cheat playing an 'e' instead of a 'd' . At present I still change bellow direction where I need to but then I do enjoy the physicality of playing. It has only been over the last few years that I have really got into cross row playing and this through tying up the bass harmony as much as possible.
After a little play & practice I have tried your way of rolling on 'G' ( again with "Donnybrook Fair". I had not thought of that before and will try it with other tunes but find that I have the wrong finger ready for the following bars. there is an alternative roll on B using the little finger on D on the 'D' row (push)
I have the same problem with ending the roll on the 'wrong finger' , but it worked out to be an advantage when I tried the same roll (in the one bellows direction) on the higher 'G' on the G row. I found it worked well in the second part of a reel called "Take Your Choice" for instance.
Anyway, it's all good fun! I started a similar discussion on melodeon.net and its raised some interesting stuff too.
Playing rolls on a DG box
Playing rolls on a DG box
Have any of the DG box players among you worked out how to successfully play rolls - and which notes are best suited for rolls on the instrument?
I've experimented with rolling some notes on the G row without much progress, so I'm hoping others have fared better. I'm ok with ornamenting using cross-row triplets and some single-note triplets. The different arrangement of notes on the DG means I'll never reproduce the sound of rolls on a chromatic box, but I'll still try ...
Are there any commercial videos or dvds on irish chromatic box techniques you've seen that explained rolls in a way that was transferrable to the DG box?
thanks, Ian
# Posted on April 5th 2007 by dogbox
Re: Playing rolls on a DG box
I mostly play straight unornamented I'm afraid. Except for the few French tunes I know which are slower anyway.
That's not to say it isn't possible. You could try this:
http://www.aimoo.com/forum/postview.cfm?id=546320&CategoryID=401378&ThreadID=2607504
# Posted on April 5th 2007 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Playing rolls on a DG box
I've never got round to doing proper rolls on the DG, though I'm sure that some players are able to. I'm generally content with triplets, as at the start of The Kesh, for instance:
D | (3GFG G GAB| ABA ABd| ....etc.
- Or, The Knotted Cord:
dB | (3ABA AB AGEG| ABcd edBA| ....etc.
The long A 's in The Knotted Cord, or Farewell To Ireland, seem an ideal place to try out rolls. But they're something I haven't persevered with - suitable notes are usually there, but I haven't been able get out the full five-note sequence out fast enough to stay in time.
The best thing to do with fast stuff is give each note its proper value and punch it out "straight and true", varying the note lengths and indeed the tune once you're quite at home with it - all easier said than done, of course!
Chris Parkinson, once (still?) of The House Band, is the cleverest player I've seen on this instrument.
# Posted on April 5th 2007 by nicholas
Re: Playing rolls on a DG box
>The best thing to do with fast stuff is give each note its proper value and punch it out "straight and true",....
I don't even manage that! - you want to hear my version of the Heathery Breeze - you'd think I was a rich man the amount of notes I drop.
# Posted on April 5th 2007 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Playing rolls on a DG box
I did say it was easier said than done!!
# Posted on April 5th 2007 by nicholas
Re: Playing rolls on a DG box
I didn't even understand what you said though (only joking).
BTW, have you ever tried playing O'Connor Donn's? Great tune but murder to play as it drifts between both rows.
# Posted on April 5th 2007 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Playing rolls on a DG box
I'll try to illustrate how I play the rolls in bars 1 & 5 of the 'A' music in "Donnybrook Fair" the first triplet is written G3(AGF G , hope that makes sense. middle finger on 'G' (G row) little finger plays 'A' on the 'D' row, back to the 'G', 2nd finger plays 'F#' back to 'G'
In bars 3 & 7, written B3(cBA B, I cheat a little by playing 'd' instead of c#, middle finger on B 3rd finger on 'd' etc.
Hope that hasn't confused
# Posted on April 5th 2007 by hetty
Re: Playing rolls on a DG box
thanks hetty, you've just shown me a much better approach than I'd worked out on my own.
I just need to check that the 'middle finger' means the third (ring) finger? It feels weird beginning a roll using my weak third finger. I feel more comfortable beginning on my second finger (i.e. the longest one). But now I'm off to practice!
Which other notes do you find your rolls sound good on? I'd be interested to hear what fingering you'd use for a roll on the C natural on the G row. And I don't have any idea how to roll on the higher D on the G row, which is on the push on both rows.
cheers!
# Posted on April 6th 2007 by dogbox
Re: Playing rolls on a DG box
After trying this out I realise we're both starting the roll on the same finger, but I was born with a thumb and four fingers on my hand
The G roll seems to work better using my ring finger (i.e. my third finger!) to play the F# on the D row, without changing the bellows direction. Thanks again for the good advice.
# Posted on April 6th 2007 by dogbox
Re: Playing rolls on a DG box
Middle finger to me means the middle digit.
I do change bellow directons though, playing the F# on the pull.
same with the 'B' roll. 'C' roll would also be a bit of a cheat playing an 'e' instead of a 'd' . At present I still change bellow direction where I need to but then I do enjoy the physicality of playing. It has only been over the last few years that I have really got into cross row playing and this through tying up the bass harmony as much as possible.
# Posted on April 6th 2007 by hetty
Re: Playing rolls on a DG box
After a little play & practice I have tried your way of rolling on 'G' ( again with "Donnybrook Fair". I had not thought of that before and will try it with other tunes but find that I have the wrong finger ready for the following bars. there is an alternative roll on B using the little finger on D on the 'D' row (push)
# Posted on April 6th 2007 by hetty
Re: Playing rolls on a DG box
I have the same problem with ending the roll on the 'wrong finger' , but it worked out to be an advantage when I tried the same roll (in the one bellows direction) on the higher 'G' on the G row. I found it worked well in the second part of a reel called "Take Your Choice" for instance.
Anyway, it's all good fun! I started a similar discussion on melodeon.net and its raised some interesting stuff too.
# Posted on April 6th 2007 by dogbox