I have a friend that plays Celtic guitar with me sometimes, and even though she's an awesome guitarist, she's new to the traditional music. she's been asking me (the non-guitarist) how to play when accompanying me, but I never know what to tell her while trying to avoid saying "play like John Doyle". any suggestions?
Don't tell her to play like John Doyle or anyone else.
Load her up with CDs or other recordings and tell her to listen, listen, listen, listen like crazy to the music (apropos of what llig said about learning the tunes), so she can become as familiar as possible with its structures, moods, textures, quirks, etc. Listen to tune sets which feature guitar accompaniment, but also those that do not.
Then your friend needs to assess her own abilities and skills, figure out what approach to accompaniment seems within her reach now, and what she might be able to learn. The latter can, and will likely, change over time.
Make a recording of yourself playing some tunes solo for her to practice to at home until she comes up with something that compliments the music without overwhelming it.
even If she is really good, there is still the issue of getting a feel for the music. The best way, as llig says, is to start picking out the tunes, and listening to melody players to get a clue as to what notes are stressed or not stressed etc., otherwise just picking out the melody may come out little better than typing on a typewriter. It is the first step, but the feeling needs to come after and get worked in.
She needs to really, really, really love this music too, to be inspired enough to work on it, rather than just get by and be so so, which can really drag down the melody player.
Tell her to take up the bouzouki. Being forced to work in a different way on a different instrument will reduce the number of musical cliches she could put into her music.
Anyway, one guitar per session is sufficient.
Work out chords based on melody and rules of harmony.
strum said chords with a tune player.
practise all day every day for next 10 years .
voila.
ok not all day, but you get the point
advice for a guitarist
advice for a guitarist
I have a friend that plays Celtic guitar with me sometimes, and even though she's an awesome guitarist, she's new to the traditional music. she's been asking me (the non-guitarist) how to play when accompanying me, but I never know what to tell her while trying to avoid saying "play like John Doyle". any suggestions?
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by hannahseng
Re: advice for a guitarist
get her to learn the tunes
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by ...
Re: advice for a guitarist
DADGAD tuning is common. Also try an open tuning and capo to get the right key. I like open c and open g myself.
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by Barn Owl
Re: advice for a guitarist
Chris Smith book "Celtic Accompaniement" by Mel Bay is THE answer.
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by dmahling
Re: advice for a guitarist
She needs to get the right hand rasping
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by achisholm
Re: advice for a guitarist
Don't tell her to play like John Doyle or anyone else.
Load her up with CDs or other recordings and tell her to listen, listen, listen, listen like crazy to the music (apropos of what llig said about learning the tunes), so she can become as familiar as possible with its structures, moods, textures, quirks, etc. Listen to tune sets which feature guitar accompaniment, but also those that do not.
Then your friend needs to assess her own abilities and skills, figure out what approach to accompaniment seems within her reach now, and what she might be able to learn. The latter can, and will likely, change over time.
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by sts
Re: advice for a guitarist
Make a recording of yourself playing some tunes solo for her to practice to at home until she comes up with something that compliments the music without overwhelming it.
# Posted on September 24th 2007 by irisnevins
Re: advice for a guitarist
If she is really good on the guitar, it shouldn't be a problem.
# Posted on September 25th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: advice for a guitarist
even If she is really good, there is still the issue of getting a feel for the music. The best way, as llig says, is to start picking out the tunes, and listening to melody players to get a clue as to what notes are stressed or not stressed etc., otherwise just picking out the melody may come out little better than typing on a typewriter. It is the first step, but the feeling needs to come after and get worked in.
She needs to really, really, really love this music too, to be inspired enough to work on it, rather than just get by and be so so, which can really drag down the melody player.
# Posted on September 25th 2007 by irisnevins
Re: advice for a guitarist
Tell her to take up the bouzouki. Being forced to work in a different way on a different instrument will reduce the number of musical cliches she could put into her music.
Anyway, one guitar per session is sufficient.
# Posted on September 25th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: advice for a guitarist
Work out chords based on melody and rules of harmony.
strum said chords with a tune player.
practise all day every day for next 10 years .
voila.
ok not all day, but you get the point
# Posted on September 27th 2007 by piobagusfidil