I started on this site to learn more about the bodhran but instead I've learned more about things like spelling,politics,religion and sarcasm(Which is great).
Now my new adventure has started I hope I can get some help from the members who I did'nt upset on this great site.
I,ve stared playing the bouzouki a few weeks ago , I know most of the basic chords and I have an idea of the rhythms from the bodhran.I've also been practising a few scales.
So any tips about bouzouki playing would be great .
Thanks a million
saint
You can ofcourse check out the books, dvds, etc available, do not play bouzouki myself, so I have not tried these product, but find similar products helpful for other instruments.
The Gerrt McKee tutorial (mentioned above by tradlad) is mainly of interest for GDAE-players. I´'m not shure it's the right material if you play whith the more common GDAD-tuning. But if you're into a rather chord based playing style it might be worth looking at.
Lars
In a recent thread about chords for mandolas, I mentioned Han Speek's homepage: http://www.xs4all.nl/~hspeek/bouzouki/
He also has chord charts for GDAD whith some additional info on "double-stop runs" - a kind of chord progressions which ought to be useful.
Lars
"I,ve stared playing the bouzouki a few weeks ago , I know most of the basic chords and I have an idea of the rhythms from the bodhran.I've also been practising a few scales."
Chords, rhythms, scales, bodhrans, bouzoukis... Some people will go to great lengths to avoid learning the tunes.
1. Tamalin - RHYTHM AND RHYME (Kevin Dorris on Bouzouki)
2. Moving Hearts - THE STORM (Donal Lunney on bouzoki)
3. Michael McGoldrick - MORNING RORY (Manus Lunney on bouzouki)
The numbering does not mean one is better than the other but these 3 albums have some of the greatest bouzouki playing on them in my opinion.
You also have the Bothy Band and Planxty which influences most bouzouki players..
Does the Zan Maccleod dvd have any instruction on playing lead on the bouzouki, as opposed to strumming rhythms?
I would like to become proficient at both playing the tune and backing the rest of the instruments in a group, but have not found a teacher in my area.
I found the MadForTrad tutorial excellent for chordal work (at least for a beginner who likes Gerry McKee's style) but lacking in melodic instruction.
Of course, if you ARE going to play tunes, then the GDae tuning is preferable, and enables you to transfer from 'zouk to octave mandola and mandolin and fiddle ( if you can get into bowing ). But you do have to be prepared to throw your left hand around a bit.
Personally, I think the 'zouk is worth it; the longer scale length and the lighter strings required give a more satisfying tone to the instrument.
As for melody technique, there's a lot of stuff on the tenor banjo that is directly transferable.
Good luck !
Rook.
As I said I have'nt seen those products I've mentioned, but earlyer there was a sample from the dvd on homespuns webpage, they have (and I dont't know why) removed it now. I saw that sample and, if I recall correctly, Maccleod was playing accompaniment to Billy McComiskey's box-playing. He used both strumming and incorporated melody lines to the tune. But I don't recall him playing (from the clip) pure melody, like banjo or mandolin if this is what you have in mind. But I'm sure somebody at this site have seen the dvd and can confirm. If not you can use the forum at homespuns webpage, you will surely get your answer there.
buy ever single album/video with Alec Finn, Donal Lunny, Andy Irvine, Eoin O'Neill, Dervish, Niall O'Callanain, Ciaran Curran you can find. learn the tunes. work out what they are doing, what right hand techniques they are using, how they compliment the tune(counterpoint, harmony etc). would definately reccomend tuning GDAD so probably forget Gerry's video. try not to play just chord progressions. theres a new program on tg4 on bouzoukis by the way its pretty good, www.tg4.com
The Zan McLeod DVD is good, he starts off with some nice counterpoint stuff, and goes from there. He doesn't really teach any tune playing, though.
My personal preference is to do more counterpoint than actual chords, a lot of which comes from interesting right hand patterns. If you're just strumming chords, then you might as well be playing guitar.
And since you live in Cork, you should be able to find yourself a good teacher. The sooner you do that, the fewer bad habits you will pick up!
And it's a long way away, but the Zoukfest festival in New Mexico, USA is coming up. There is a LOT of great instruction that happens there. http://www.zoukfest.com. This year will feature Roger Landes, Luke Plumb (Shooglenifty), Chris Smith, and Stanley Greenthal for bouzouki instruction. Past instructors have included Andy Irvine and Alec Finn. It's a good festival, dedicated to bouzouki! (Although, there's lots of fiddle and other instruments going on too...)
I can recommend Zan McLeod's DVD as a good intro into the flatpicking and counterpoint stuff. If there's a guitar in your session your zook will sit a lot better with it if you're flatpicking and playing countermelodies and bass runs. There is a book and CD called the Irish Bouzouki which is OK - interesting enough but I'm not sure it's any use as an tutor.
I would also get the Planxty DVD and watch every bit with Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny - facinating stuff and when you see and hear them things begin to click into place.
Most of the CDs I love have been mentioned, Alec Finn being the man. I also love the playing of Eoin O'Neill and i you can get a copy of Mary Custy's With A Lot of Help from my Friends you will hear some sublime playing - a wonderful style. Also, check out any of Cran's CDs for some beautiful playing, including accompanying songs.
Reverend Pete, I must disagree with you, a chord on the 'zouk does not sound like a chord on the guitar.
F'rinstance; on my GDae tuned 'zouk, with octaves on the bottom two pairs, my favourite D chord is 11,0,0,10. That does not sound like a guitar's D !
Or my G variants; 0023 ( pretty standard ).
or; 0553; or 0057.
Or C; 0230 (bog standard again ); or 5530; or 0,10, 7,0.
If I see someone playing a pear-bodied guitar with octave strings and a floating bridge, I'l check to see if it sounds like my 'zouk; but otherwise I'll be surprised.
I have the Zan McLeod DVD and it is great. I have not seen it in a while but I am pretty sure he teaches the melody briefly (and there are tabs of the melody in the accompanying book). He does focus on counterpoint and picking accompaniment though with a look at strumming accompaniment too. Very good and complete with some nice melody playing from Billy McComisky.
Guernsey Pete, I didn't say that a "chord on the zouk sounds like a chord on a guitar", I said " If you're just strumming chords, then you might as well be playing guitar". There's a fine distinction there
Sugarfoot Jack put it well. If you're picking a counter melody with a nifty picking pattern, you'll complement the guitar a lot better. If you have two people playing chords that don't always choose the same ones, then you could be asking for trouble.
And I agree about the Planxty DVD, that illustrates the technique quite well, with Donal doing chords and Andy doing counterpoint. The first track on the DVD is maybe the best illustration of that I've ever seen!
And in fact, there's going to be a class at Zoukfest this year titled "Planxty: The Sound of 16 Strings" with Roger Landes and Luke Plumb talking about how to get the two styles to complement each other. (Unfortunately for me, that class is currently scheduled during the same time slot as John Carty's banjo class... sigh).
Bouzouki
Bouzouki
I started on this site to learn more about the bodhran but instead I've learned more about things like spelling,politics,religion and sarcasm(Which is great).
Now my new adventure has started I hope I can get some help from the members who I did'nt upset on this great site.
I,ve stared playing the bouzouki a few weeks ago , I know most of the basic chords and I have an idea of the rhythms from the bodhran.I've also been practising a few scales.
So any tips about bouzouki playing would be great .
Thanks a million
saint
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by Saint
Re: Bouzouki
You can ofcourse check out the books, dvds, etc available, do not play bouzouki myself, so I have not tried these product, but find similar products helpful for other instruments.
Zan Maccleod has a dvd tutor available from http://www.homespuntapes.com
Niall O Callanain and Tommy Walsh has a book available from http://www.waltonsmusic.com/publications/tutor.htm
Gerry McKee has a cd-rom tutorila availale from http://www.madfortrad.com/
Good luck
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by TradLad
Re: Bouzouki
The Gerrt McKee tutorial (mentioned above by tradlad) is mainly of interest for GDAE-players. I´'m not shure it's the right material if you play whith the more common GDAD-tuning. But if you're into a rather chord based playing style it might be worth looking at.
Lars
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by lars
Re: Bouzouki
In a recent thread about chords for mandolas, I mentioned Han Speek's homepage:
http://www.xs4all.nl/~hspeek/bouzouki/
He also has chord charts for GDAD whith some additional info on "double-stop runs" - a kind of chord progressions which ought to be useful.
Lars
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by lars
Re: Bouzouki
"I,ve stared playing the bouzouki a few weeks ago , I know most of the basic chords and I have an idea of the rhythms from the bodhran.I've also been practising a few scales."
Chords, rhythms, scales, bodhrans, bouzoukis... Some people will go to great lengths to avoid learning the tunes.
End of sarcasm lesson.
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by Dow
Re: Bouzouki
Dow I can play the first part of the mountain road but it will 2020 b4 I learn it all .So I hope your still around then.
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by Saint
Re: Bouzouki
Thanks so far for the info. Keep it coming
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by Saint
Re: Bouzouki
Three albums you should get!
1. Tamalin - RHYTHM AND RHYME (Kevin Dorris on Bouzouki)
2. Moving Hearts - THE STORM (Donal Lunney on bouzoki)
3. Michael McGoldrick - MORNING RORY (Manus Lunney on bouzouki)
The numbering does not mean one is better than the other but these 3 albums have some of the greatest bouzouki playing on them in my opinion.
You also have the Bothy Band and Planxty which influences most bouzouki players..
Hopefully this is of some help.
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by eurbanjo
Re: Bouzouki
"spelling,politics,religion and sarcasm"
All these get discussed in the "real world"...even at sessions.
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by Johannes J
Re: Finn McCool
there's also the alec finn/frankie gavin album
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by biggus dave
Re: Bouzouki
Anything with AlecFinn on it. Mary Bergin's 'Feadog Stain' 1 & 2 - the whistle playing's not bad, either
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by ragaman
Re: Bouzouki
TradLad:
Does the Zan Maccleod dvd have any instruction on playing lead on the bouzouki, as opposed to strumming rhythms?
I would like to become proficient at both playing the tune and backing the rest of the instruments in a group, but have not found a teacher in my area.
I found the MadForTrad tutorial excellent for chordal work (at least for a beginner who likes Gerry McKee's style) but lacking in melodic instruction.
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by Rook
Re: Bouzouki
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/35
Worth buying for Donal Lunny's accompaniment - never mind the flute-playing !!!
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by Kenny
Re: Bouzouki
Of course, if you ARE going to play tunes, then the GDae tuning is preferable, and enables you to transfer from 'zouk to octave mandola and mandolin and fiddle ( if you can get into bowing ). But you do have to be prepared to throw your left hand around a bit.
Personally, I think the 'zouk is worth it; the longer scale length and the lighter strings required give a more satisfying tone to the instrument.
As for melody technique, there's a lot of stuff on the tenor banjo that is directly transferable.
Good luck !
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Bouzouki
Rook.
As I said I have'nt seen those products I've mentioned, but earlyer there was a sample from the dvd on homespuns webpage, they have (and I dont't know why) removed it now. I saw that sample and, if I recall correctly, Maccleod was playing accompaniment to Billy McComiskey's box-playing. He used both strumming and incorporated melody lines to the tune. But I don't recall him playing (from the clip) pure melody, like banjo or mandolin if this is what you have in mind. But I'm sure somebody at this site have seen the dvd and can confirm. If not you can use the forum at homespuns webpage, you will surely get your answer there.
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by TradLad
Re: Bouzouki
buy ever single album/video with Alec Finn, Donal Lunny, Andy Irvine, Eoin O'Neill, Dervish, Niall O'Callanain, Ciaran Curran you can find. learn the tunes. work out what they are doing, what right hand techniques they are using, how they compliment the tune(counterpoint, harmony etc). would definately reccomend tuning GDAD so probably forget Gerry's video. try not to play just chord progressions. theres a new program on tg4 on bouzoukis by the way its pretty good, www.tg4.com
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by ecidralla
Re: Bouzouki
tradlad on the dvd he teaches three tunes; the butterfly,kesh and something else..i havent watched it in 2 years. its very much beginner orientated.
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by ecidralla
Re: Bouzouki
The Zan McLeod DVD is good, he starts off with some nice counterpoint stuff, and goes from there. He doesn't really teach any tune playing, though.
My personal preference is to do more counterpoint than actual chords, a lot of which comes from interesting right hand patterns. If you're just strumming chords, then you might as well be playing guitar.
And since you live in Cork, you should be able to find yourself a good teacher. The sooner you do that, the fewer bad habits you will pick up!
And it's a long way away, but the Zoukfest festival in New Mexico, USA is coming up. There is a LOT of great instruction that happens there. http://www.zoukfest.com. This year will feature Roger Landes, Luke Plumb (Shooglenifty), Chris Smith, and Stanley Greenthal for bouzouki instruction. Past instructors have included Andy Irvine and Alec Finn. It's a good festival, dedicated to bouzouki! (Although, there's lots of fiddle and other instruments going on too...)
Good luck!
Pete
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by Reverend
Re: Bouzouki
Thank s again to all
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by Saint
Re: Bouzouki
I can recommend Zan McLeod's DVD as a good intro into the flatpicking and counterpoint stuff. If there's a guitar in your session your zook will sit a lot better with it if you're flatpicking and playing countermelodies and bass runs. There is a book and CD called the Irish Bouzouki which is OK - interesting enough but I'm not sure it's any use as an tutor.
I would also get the Planxty DVD and watch every bit with Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny - facinating stuff and when you see and hear them things begin to click into place.
Most of the CDs I love have been mentioned, Alec Finn being the man. I also love the playing of Eoin O'Neill and i you can get a copy of Mary Custy's With A Lot of Help from my Friends you will hear some sublime playing - a wonderful style. Also, check out any of Cran's CDs for some beautiful playing, including accompanying songs.
Enjoy!
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: Bouzouki
bass runs suck
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by ecidralla
Re: Bouzouki
Reverend Pete, I must disagree with you, a chord on the 'zouk does not sound like a chord on the guitar.
F'rinstance; on my GDae tuned 'zouk, with octaves on the bottom two pairs, my favourite D chord is 11,0,0,10. That does not sound like a guitar's D !
Or my G variants; 0023 ( pretty standard ).
or; 0553; or 0057.
Or C; 0230 (bog standard again ); or 5530; or 0,10, 7,0.
If I see someone playing a pear-bodied guitar with octave strings and a floating bridge, I'l check to see if it sounds like my 'zouk; but otherwise I'll be surprised.
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Bouzouki
"bass runs suck"
Why?
# Posted on April 26th 2007 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: Bouzouki
I have the Zan McLeod DVD and it is great. I have not seen it in a while but I am pretty sure he teaches the melody briefly (and there are tabs of the melody in the accompanying book). He does focus on counterpoint and picking accompaniment though with a look at strumming accompaniment too. Very good and complete with some nice melody playing from Billy McComisky.
# Posted on April 26th 2007 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Bouzouki
I've just ordered zan mcleod looking forward to it. thanks again
# Posted on April 26th 2007 by Saint
Re: Bouzouki
Guernsey Pete, I didn't say that a "chord on the zouk sounds like a chord on a guitar", I said " If you're just strumming chords, then you might as well be playing guitar". There's a fine distinction there
Sugarfoot Jack put it well. If you're picking a counter melody with a nifty picking pattern, you'll complement the guitar a lot better. If you have two people playing chords that don't always choose the same ones, then you could be asking for trouble.
And I agree about the Planxty DVD, that illustrates the technique quite well, with Donal doing chords and Andy doing counterpoint. The first track on the DVD is maybe the best illustration of that I've ever seen!
And in fact, there's going to be a class at Zoukfest this year titled "Planxty: The Sound of 16 Strings" with Roger Landes and Luke Plumb talking about how to get the two styles to complement each other. (Unfortunately for me, that class is currently scheduled during the same time slot as John Carty's banjo class... sigh).
Pete
# Posted on April 26th 2007 by Reverend
Re: Bouzouki
Saint, you are a sell out.
# Posted on April 26th 2007 by bodhran bliss