Listening to Natalie MacMaster I've noticed (and want to learn) her lightening-fast graces, cuts, and rolls. I have the bowed triplets down, but I can't seem to get the . . . how do you say? . . . the liquid-like, lightning-fast ornaments down. And when she goes from the A string to the open E string, she accents the note so that it "pops". Do you have any tips on doing these?
You can accent a note, or an ornament, by speeding up the bow for the required duration. It's best done with finger and hand; anything further up the arm probably won't produce the fine accuracy required for speed.
In one style of playing polkas on the fiddle you do this on half-beats 2 and 4 (that is, for a polka with 4 eighth notes in a bar), often even when beats 3 and 4 are one note. This gives a characteristic off-beat lift to the tune, and is wonderful when a polka is played at full set-dancing speed (i.e. PDQ!). It isn't a particularly easy technique to master, as I know from experience - and I'm still trying, and needs a lot of slow practice.
The more you learn about ornamentation the more diversity and variety one starts to hear. And when you really start to intently listen to a wide range of styles/performers/instruments it gets even better/worse.
Graces/Cuts/Rolls
Graces/Cuts/Rolls
Listening to Natalie MacMaster I've noticed (and want to learn) her lightening-fast graces, cuts, and rolls. I have the bowed triplets down, but I can't seem to get the . . . how do you say? . . . the liquid-like, lightning-fast ornaments down. And when she goes from the A string to the open E string, she accents the note so that it "pops". Do you have any tips on doing these?
# Posted on May 29th 2007 by Bridgee Stewart
Re: Graces/Cuts/Rolls
(I've noticed Donnell Leahy has these down wonderfully as well.)
# Posted on May 29th 2007 by Bridgee Stewart
Re: Graces/Cuts/Rolls
No big surprise, since they're husband and wife.
# Posted on May 29th 2007 by nofrets
Re: Graces/Cuts/Rolls
Rytmic talent, pratice practice and practice.
# Posted on May 29th 2007 by houlberg
Re: Graces/Cuts/Rolls
You can accent a note, or an ornament, by speeding up the bow for the required duration. It's best done with finger and hand; anything further up the arm probably won't produce the fine accuracy required for speed.
In one style of playing polkas on the fiddle you do this on half-beats 2 and 4 (that is, for a polka with 4 eighth notes in a bar), often even when beats 3 and 4 are one note. This gives a characteristic off-beat lift to the tune, and is wonderful when a polka is played at full set-dancing speed (i.e. PDQ!). It isn't a particularly easy technique to master, as I know from experience - and I'm still trying, and needs a lot of slow practice.
# Posted on May 29th 2007 by lazyhound
The ear is the best teacher
The more you learn about ornamentation the more diversity and variety one starts to hear. And when you really start to intently listen to a wide range of styles/performers/instruments it gets even better/worse.
# Posted on May 30th 2007 by red_tiger