There are a lot of "common" tunes - that most players know. But that is different than "being playing in nearly all sessions". A lot of the very common tunes are left alone in sessions simply because they are so common that people get tired of playing them.
It is good to know common tunes though, because it gives you a starting place for finding things in common with people that you haven't played with before.
A decent way of looking up some of the most common tunes is to click on the Members link at the right, and then the Tunebook tab. If you don't have a specific member selected, it will show you the list of tunes starting with the ones that are most added to the tune books.
You can also do a search in the discussion section, fairly often there will be discussions about this, and people have often listed up to the top 200 most "common" session tunes.
I echo Petes advice to look at the most common tunes in member tunebooks here on the site, a pretty fair approximation of what tunes are popular in sessions.
Also, search the discussions for Dow's List of 50 Essential Tunes. They are not necessarily the most commonly played tunes, since some of them have been played until some people are tired of them, but this is a pretty good list of tunes that folks playing this music are "expected to know." I am marching through this list myself, and hopefully within the next few months will celebrate my mastery of those "essential" tunes. Dow has done a nice service for us by collecting the list, and it has cropped up in a number of versions in discussions of most commonly played and learned tunes, and the discussions of what should and shouldn't be on the list are often as illuminating as the list itself.
As far as purchasing music books, I myself like the David Mallinson books of Essential, Evergreen, Enduring, etc. session tunes, although I have heard some criticize some of his settings.
If you are lucky enough to have a local session to frequent their favorites would also be the best to learn. I use both in conjunction to keep me busy for a while; my local mates' favs and here.
Merry-Hi, Czar of Munster? I can’t stop laughing. I wish I could learn it in five minutes, I have to leave for session.
Go to the sessions part of this site and find the session in Kellys in Sydney. Look at the discussion page. Ignore the argument. This thing was talked about a lot there.
Ah - the much maligned Wizard's Walk.
I happen to think that it's a very fun tune to fiddle around with.
Just 'cause it's not Irish makes it a target for potshots.
IMHO, it's hard for anyone to say what are "must know" tunes. Every region is different. I'm in Maine, so you'll find a lot of Irish, Scottish, French Canadian, and American tunes.
I'd say, stop by a local session, and ask some people there what are some good tunes to learn.
I HTH!
fiddlerjh, Follow the Reverend's directions above to the location that shows the frequency of tunes being included in member Tunebooks. Different folks put tunes in their tunebooks for different reasons, but from my perspective, the list is a pretty good indication of what are the most popular session tunes.
I have been searching and searching for the Dow's list in the discussions and have failed. How can I find it? I too would like to eventually be able to play in some sessions and am right now "on the road to discovery" and am trying to at least have some idea on where to drive....
Thanks!
Tunes U Must Know
Tunes U Must Know
A couple of tunes you must know that are played nearly in all sessions????
# Posted on August 7th 2007 by Irish Mandolin
Re: Tunes U Must Know
There are a lot of "common" tunes - that most players know. But that is different than "being playing in nearly all sessions". A lot of the very common tunes are left alone in sessions simply because they are so common that people get tired of playing them.
It is good to know common tunes though, because it gives you a starting place for finding things in common with people that you haven't played with before.
A decent way of looking up some of the most common tunes is to click on the Members link at the right, and then the Tunebook tab. If you don't have a specific member selected, it will show you the list of tunes starting with the ones that are most added to the tune books.
You can also do a search in the discussion section, fairly often there will be discussions about this, and people have often listed up to the top 200 most "common" session tunes.
Pete
# Posted on August 7th 2007 by Reverend
Re: Tunes U Must Know
I echo Petes advice to look at the most common tunes in member tunebooks here on the site, a pretty fair approximation of what tunes are popular in sessions.
Also, search the discussions for Dow's List of 50 Essential Tunes. They are not necessarily the most commonly played tunes, since some of them have been played until some people are tired of them, but this is a pretty good list of tunes that folks playing this music are "expected to know." I am marching through this list myself, and hopefully within the next few months will celebrate my mastery of those "essential" tunes. Dow has done a nice service for us by collecting the list, and it has cropped up in a number of versions in discussions of most commonly played and learned tunes, and the discussions of what should and shouldn't be on the list are often as illuminating as the list itself.
As far as purchasing music books, I myself like the David Mallinson books of Essential, Evergreen, Enduring, etc. session tunes, although I have heard some criticize some of his settings.
# Posted on August 7th 2007 by AlBrown
Re: Tunes U Must Know
Czar of Munster, Wizard Walk, and the Pennsylvania Polka.... That my friend is the essential 3.
# Posted on August 7th 2007 by The Merry Highlander
Re: Tunes U Must Know
If you are lucky enough to have a local session to frequent their favorites would also be the best to learn. I use both in conjunction to keep me busy for a while; my local mates' favs and here.
Merry-Hi, Czar of Munster? I can’t stop laughing. I wish I could learn it in five minutes, I have to leave for session.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/7588
# Posted on August 7th 2007 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Tunes U Must Know
Irish Mandolin,
Private message sent.
# Posted on August 7th 2007 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Tunes U Must Know
thanks very much a few of those 60 i dont know may get learning them
also was that joke about the 3 essential
# Posted on August 7th 2007 by Irish Mandolin
Re: Tunes U Must Know
Go to the sessions part of this site and find the session in Kellys in Sydney. Look at the discussion page. Ignore the argument. This thing was talked about a lot there.
# Posted on August 8th 2007 by lestow
Re: Tunes U Must Know
Yes, it was a joke. NEVER learn any of those 3.
# Posted on August 8th 2007 by The Merry Highlander
Re: Tunes U Must Know
No, do!! They are way essential! I have SO got to learn the Pennsylvania Polka...
# Posted on August 8th 2007 by Joe CSS
Re: Tunes U Must Know
Ah - the much maligned Wizard's Walk.
I happen to think that it's a very fun tune to fiddle around with.
Just 'cause it's not Irish makes it a target for potshots.
# Posted on August 8th 2007 by morning star
Re: Tunes U Must Know
No. It's not 'cause it's not Irish. It's 'cause it's sh1t.
# Posted on August 8th 2007 by Dow
Re: Tunes U Must Know
Seconded
# Posted on August 8th 2007 by Kenny
Re: Tunes U Must Know
Am i dreaming it? or was there a way on this site to sort the tunes listed by the most popular download etc?
# Posted on August 8th 2007 by jfiddlerh
Re: Tunes U Must Know
IMHO, it's hard for anyone to say what are "must know" tunes. Every region is different. I'm in Maine, so you'll find a lot of Irish, Scottish, French Canadian, and American tunes.
I'd say, stop by a local session, and ask some people there what are some good tunes to learn.
I HTH!
Sara
# Posted on August 8th 2007 by Celtic Lass
Re: Tunes U Must Know
fiddlerjh, Follow the Reverend's directions above to the location that shows the frequency of tunes being included in member Tunebooks. Different folks put tunes in their tunebooks for different reasons, but from my perspective, the list is a pretty good indication of what are the most popular session tunes.
# Posted on August 8th 2007 by AlBrown
Re: Tunes U Must Know
Cheers Al/Reverend.
I knew i wasn't making it up? Just being dozey that i didn't revs. instructions.
# Posted on August 8th 2007 by jfiddlerh
Re: Tunes U Must Know
Reavy tunes.
# Posted on August 8th 2007 by BE
Re: Tunes U Must Know
you have to know them all.
# Posted on August 9th 2007 by rob_handel
Re: Tunes U Must Know
Ditto to Kenny and Dow.
We call Wizard's Walk "Fiddle Faddle."
# Posted on August 10th 2007 by TheSilverSpear
Re: Tunes U Must Know
Ok enough ribald chit chat. How do I actually physically (cyberly speaking) get to hear any of these tunes pleeez?
# Posted on August 12th 2007 by fiddlebd
Re: Tunes U Must Know
I have been searching and searching for the Dow's list in the discussions and have failed. How can I find it? I too would like to eventually be able to play in some sessions and am right now "on the road to discovery" and am trying to at least have some idea on where to drive....
Thanks!
# Posted on August 13th 2007 by swillybay