I'm very lazy and I don't want to have to trawl through the tunes section on this website looking for tunes under A major (of which there are roughly one million) which are in F# minor!!
A lot of the Em reels get put into F#m, like Palmer's Gate (by Joe Liddy), Tom Dowd's Favourite (listen to Mulcahy Family Notes from the Heart), The Ashplant (Dervish version, also recorded by others but can't recall who), also try Nina's Jig by Niall Vallely (I know you like the modern ones), Farewell to Whalley Range as mentioned above (by Mike McGoldrick), and the F#m versions of the Cock and the Hen, as recorded by Lunasa and Dervish. As for the links, find them yerself ya lazy bahstard.
The Cock and the Hen http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/93
posted here in Bm, but more often played in F#m. You'll find it in that key halfway through the comments, posted by Slainte.
I almost forgot, you might also want to try the Miller of Droghan, if you don't know it already. There's one part of it that's in the major and the other that's minor, and it's really nice. I think Lunasa did it in G/Em, but am too lazy to check. The version on this site is in A/F#m though. It's not such a well known tune as some of the others I mentioned, but it's a good 'un in both keys.
Dan, the version of the Miller on this site is a sound one too. Nice key and the A-part doesn't repeat as Lunasa did - unnecessarily in my opinion. You've also got those nice low C#s in the B-part.
"Jennie's Chicks starts in F# minor and then modulates to B minor"
It doesn't modulate to Bm, It's a mode shift from F#minor to Bdorian (unless, as they sometimes are, the Gs are played natural) - or its in Bdorian, but the first chord is F#minor. It doesn't really matter what you call it, so long as you don't make the mistake of dropping down to an E chord halfway through the 2nd bar. An A works better.
Don't agree that the 1st part of Jenny's Chickens is in F#min. An F#m chord works, but that doesn't mean that that's the key. If the 1st part *was* in F#m, then a chord of E in bar 2 would work. As it is, an A chord works better. That means it's Bdor. It's just that B's are missing from the melody so it means you can be flexible with the chords and drone on F#m to make it feel like you're in F#min. There are versions of Jenny's Chickens or related tunes that do contain B's: check out Sleepy Maggie for example.
Dow - What were you doing in my brain? I was going to write exactly the same as you, almost to the letter. Then I decided to tone it down for fear ofbeing deemed too prescriptive.
"I was going to write exactly the same as you, almost to the letter. Then I decided to tone it down for fear ofbeing deemed too prescriptive."
LOL, I don't care how I'm deemed anymore, I guess
Thought of another E minor tune that sometimes gets put into F#min. Try Drag Her Round the Road in that key. It's been recorded in F#m - off the top of my head on this album http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/408 under the title "The Pullet".
"...the Miller of Droghan, if you don't know it already. There's one part of it that's in the major and the other that's minor, and it's really nice. I think Lunasa did it in G/Em..."
In Donogh Hennessy's little book, "Lunasa, the Music 1996 - 2001," he has two versions--one in Bb/Gm, the other in G/Em. I just played along with the version on the "Otherworld" album and it's in Bb/Gm.
Here's Donogh's notes for the tune:
"The Millar of Drohan. While on a three-month tour of Australia in 1998, one of the few tapes we had to listen to was a copy of an album by De Dannan called "Ballroom." A very beautiful version of this tune was on it under the title of Eleanor Neary's, who, as it turned out, was a Chicago-based piano player who had made several recordings between the 30's and 60's. Well I suppose we all just fell in love with it and wanted to give it a go... "
Ilearned Miller of Droghan years ago, off that De Danann album. Figured it out on fiddle in Bb/Gm, and then realized that they were tuned up a half step, as De Danann was wont to do. So really, Frankie was fingering the tune in Amaj/F#m (or Bdor), and that instantly made more sense on the fiddle.
Played it that way for years, and then a fluter friend wanted to learn it, so we dropped it into the more flute-friendly G/Em.
It could be just a typo gw, but the spelling "millar" occurs in Scots, and , to people who aspirate their "h" , a hard "h", "gh" and "ch" aren't all that different - think of Gallagher, Gallacher or Gallaher - so it could easily have been written the way Hennessey has it, perhaps in some older source
Here is some in F# and F# minor..Hope there of use.
From, ireland, canada, scotland, and britteny.
jim,,,,
X:887
T:Tip the Cruiskeen
B:O'Neill's 887
Z: Transcribed by Dan G. Petersen, dangp@post6.tele.dk
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:F#m
A2B c2A|B2G A2F|cAF FAF|cAF FAF|
A2B c2A|B2G A2F|BGE EGE|BGE EGE:|
e2c d2B|c2A cde|cAF FAF|cAF FAF|
e2c d2B|c2A cde|BGE EGE|BGE EGE:|
T:The Scaife's Reel
R:reel
C:Paul S.Cranford.
M:C|
L:1/8
Q:300
K:F#aeo
AB|cABA GE E/E/E|FAcf ecAB|c2 BA GE E/E/E|AFGE F2:|
AB|cFdF cF F/F/F|AcBA GE E/E/E|cFdF cF F/F/F|AFGE F2 AB|!
cFdF cF F/F/F|AcBA GE E/E/E|FAcf efcB|AFGE F2|]!
X:57
T:Laridenn
A:Brittany
O:France
M:4/4
K:F#m
cc|\
fe/f/ gf/g/ aa g>f|ef ga gg cc|\
fe/f/ gf/g/ aa g>f |1 ef ga f2cc :|2ef ga f2||
|:c>d|\
cB AB c2 fg/f/|ef ga gg c>d|cB AB c2 fg/f/|1\
ef ga f2 :|2 ef ga f2|]
It's a funny key to accompany, and sometimes it is confusing as to whether Bm or F#M. If confused I just do a melody line around them with some complimentary notes rather than chording, or hunting and pecking for the right chord.
A fair number of tunes start in that key, which some say is Bm and others say is F#m.....and Part B of many of these tunes is in D major... can't think of names off the top of my head right now.
Tunes in Bm, the F# notes certainly do fit well, as do some others, but to my ear, it's more than about just the key and chords, one should keep in mind that the chords, they contain notes used in the melody at that point they come along, and sometimes hitting the F# chord in that key won't sound just right, a bit awkward, but if you can isolate that note along with the melody player here and there it can sound just perfect, especially followed by a few other notes in a progression along with the melody player.
It's really hard to explain here in print, until you have done it a few times, and the best way to figure it out is to pick out the melody and learn it, and make up chords or partial chords around the melody line. If that makes any sense.... sorry, for being an ear player, I do get lost on the technicalities and theory, but you cannot ever go wrong by learning the melody and improvising around a tune and its notes. Home alone to a slowed down CD is ideal! Not to practice at a session, you'll get some nasty looks!
Here's a slightly unusual one. It's an unnamed traditional Braul dance from Rumania, as transcribed by Bartok. It clearly starts and ends in F#min, but soon starts putting d#s everywhere before reverting to F#min. The tune falls easily enough under the fingers for the fiddle player. I suggest polka speed.
Tunes in F# Minor
Tunes in F# Minor
I'm very lazy and I don't want to have to trawl through the tunes section on this website looking for tunes under A major (of which there are roughly one million) which are in F# minor!!
Anybody know a few off the top of their heads?
Links please!
Thanks guys
Dan
# Posted on April 25th 2008 by D.J.F.
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
Farewell to Whalley Range:
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2410
# Posted on April 25th 2008 by tnoumarap
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
I kind of think Jenny's Chickens is in F#m but it says Bm on here so what do I know?
# Posted on April 25th 2008 by Bren
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
Well, now you know it's not in F#m
# Posted on April 25th 2008 by Dow
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
Ooh i love whalley range!
Jennie's Chicks starts in F# minor and then modulates to B minor...two of my fav key sigs
great tune! Keep 'em coming you legends!
# Posted on April 25th 2008 by D.J.F.
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
Dow you must know a few, deep fountain of tune knowledge that you are!
# Posted on April 25th 2008 by D.J.F.
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
A lot of the Em reels get put into F#m, like Palmer's Gate (by Joe Liddy), Tom Dowd's Favourite (listen to Mulcahy Family Notes from the Heart), The Ashplant (Dervish version, also recorded by others but can't recall who), also try Nina's Jig by Niall Vallely (I know you like the modern ones), Farewell to Whalley Range as mentioned above (by Mike McGoldrick), and the F#m versions of the Cock and the Hen, as recorded by Lunasa and Dervish. As for the links, find them yerself ya lazy bahstard.
# Posted on April 25th 2008 by Dow
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
The Cock and the Hen http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/93
posted here in Bm, but more often played in F#m. You'll find it in that key halfway through the comments, posted by Slainte.
# Posted on April 25th 2008 by granama
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
Me? Lazy?!?!?! Oh yeah, i said that at the start if this thread hmm
hey thanks for all the tunes everyone! really appreciate your efforts...now i need to put some in to learn them!
# Posted on April 25th 2008 by D.J.F.
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
Nina's Jig:
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/7272
(Mentioned by Dow above)
# Posted on April 25th 2008 by tnoumarap
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
I almost forgot, you might also want to try the Miller of Droghan, if you don't know it already. There's one part of it that's in the major and the other that's minor, and it's really nice. I think Lunasa did it in G/Em, but am too lazy to check. The version on this site is in A/F#m though. It's not such a well known tune as some of the others I mentioned, but it's a good 'un in both keys.
# Posted on April 25th 2008 by Dow
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
Wow Dow that Miller of Droghan tune is great! It'll be learnt tomorrow!
# Posted on April 25th 2008 by D.J.F.
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
One more!
The Carillions:
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2957
# Posted on April 25th 2008 by tnoumarap
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
Dan, the version of the Miller on this site is a sound one too. Nice key and the A-part doesn't repeat as Lunasa did - unnecessarily in my opinion. You've also got those nice low C#s in the B-part.
# Posted on April 26th 2008 by Dow
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
"Jennie's Chicks starts in F# minor and then modulates to B minor"
It doesn't modulate to Bm, It's a mode shift from F#minor to Bdorian (unless, as they sometimes are, the Gs are played natural) - or its in Bdorian, but the first chord is F#minor. It doesn't really matter what you call it, so long as you don't make the mistake of dropping down to an E chord halfway through the 2nd bar. An A works better.
# Posted on April 26th 2008 by granama
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
Maybe we can convince Jeremy to change all of these to F#m?...
# Posted on April 26th 2008 by Dow
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
Don't agree that the 1st part of Jenny's Chickens is in F#min. An F#m chord works, but that doesn't mean that that's the key. If the 1st part *was* in F#m, then a chord of E in bar 2 would work. As it is, an A chord works better. That means it's Bdor. It's just that B's are missing from the melody so it means you can be flexible with the chords and drone on F#m to make it feel like you're in F#min. There are versions of Jenny's Chickens or related tunes that do contain B's: check out Sleepy Maggie for example.
# Posted on April 26th 2008 by Dow
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
Reel for Carl by Jerry Holland.
It's posted under E major, but it's actually in F# minor.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6197
# Posted on April 26th 2008 by fiddlebliss
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
Oh bugger. I agree with Dow about a mode.
# Posted on April 26th 2008 by benhall.1
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
Dow - What were you doing in my brain? I was going to write exactly the same as you, almost to the letter. Then I decided to tone it down for fear ofbeing deemed too prescriptive.
# Posted on April 26th 2008 by granama
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
...F# to A could be regarded as F#minor, A being the relative major thereof. Or maybe it's in A, but starts on the relative minor.
# Posted on April 26th 2008 by granama
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
Hey stick to giving tunes will you?
You can always submit a new discussion on music theory!!
# Posted on April 26th 2008 by D.J.F.
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
Spanky's Farewell:
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/5894
Say's in the comments its F #minor, I'm not so sure, cool tune either way.
# Posted on April 26th 2008 by tnoumarap
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
Edinburgh Rock, posted here as Emaj I think.
# Posted on April 26th 2008 by kjay_bc_box
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
"I was going to write exactly the same as you, almost to the letter. Then I decided to tone it down for fear ofbeing deemed too prescriptive."
LOL, I don't care how I'm deemed anymore, I guess
Thought of another E minor tune that sometimes gets put into F#min. Try Drag Her Round the Road in that key. It's been recorded in F#m - off the top of my head on this album http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/408 under the title "The Pullet".
# Posted on April 26th 2008 by Dow
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
"...the Miller of Droghan, if you don't know it already. There's one part of it that's in the major and the other that's minor, and it's really nice. I think Lunasa did it in G/Em..."
In Donogh Hennessy's little book, "Lunasa, the Music 1996 - 2001," he has two versions--one in Bb/Gm, the other in G/Em. I just played along with the version on the "Otherworld" album and it's in Bb/Gm.
Here's Donogh's notes for the tune:
"The Millar of Drohan. While on a three-month tour of Australia in 1998, one of the few tapes we had to listen to was a copy of an album by De Dannan called "Ballroom." A very beautiful version of this tune was on it under the title of Eleanor Neary's, who, as it turned out, was a Chicago-based piano player who had made several recordings between the 30's and 60's. Well I suppose we all just fell in love with it and wanted to give it a go... "
Great tune!
# Posted on April 26th 2008 by gw
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
And if any of you backers want Donogh's chords for "The Millar of Drohan" here you go:
A:
Bb / Gm / Bb / Eb F /
Bb / Gm / Dm / Eb F /
B:
Gm / F Dm / Eb / Dm Bb /
Gm / Dm / Eb F / Gm Am /
# Posted on April 26th 2008 by gw
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
Ilearned Miller of Droghan years ago, off that De Danann album. Figured it out on fiddle in Bb/Gm, and then realized that they were tuned up a half step, as De Danann was wont to do. So really, Frankie was fingering the tune in Amaj/F#m (or Bdor), and that instantly made more sense on the fiddle.
Played it that way for years, and then a fluter friend wanted to learn it, so we dropped it into the more flute-friendly G/Em.
# Posted on April 26th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
Not sure why Donogh spells it The "Millar" of "Drohan" but that's the way it is in his book--several times. ??
# Posted on April 26th 2008 by gw
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
Okay I was thinking the Miller of Droghan too but these people above me beat me to it. I LOVE THAT TUNE!
# Posted on April 26th 2008 by mehitabel23
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
It could be just a typo gw, but the spelling "millar" occurs in Scots, and , to people who aspirate their "h" , a hard "h", "gh" and "ch" aren't all that different - think of Gallagher, Gallacher or Gallaher - so it could easily have been written the way Hennessey has it, perhaps in some older source
# Posted on April 26th 2008 by Bren
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
Here is some in F# and F# minor..Hope there of use.
From, ireland, canada, scotland, and britteny.
jim,,,,
X:887
T:Tip the Cruiskeen
B:O'Neill's 887
Z: Transcribed by Dan G. Petersen, dangp@post6.tele.dk
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:F#m
A2B c2A|B2G A2F|cAF FAF|cAF FAF|
A2B c2A|B2G A2F|BGE EGE|BGE EGE:|
e2c d2B|c2A cde|cAF FAF|cAF FAF|
e2c d2B|c2A cde|BGE EGE|BGE EGE:|
X:86
T:West Clare Railway
C:Junior Crehan
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:F#Min
B,|CEFG A2FG|AGAB AFEB,|CEFG AGAB|1cABc AFFE\
:|2cABc AFFc|:fecB AGAc|fecB AFFc|fecB AGAc|e^def \
ecBc|fecB AGAc|fecB AFFe|c~f3 ecBG|ABcB AFFE||
X:43
T:The Scaife's Reel
R:reel
C:Paul S.Cranford.
M:C|
L:1/8
Q:300
K:F#aeo
AB|cABA GE E/E/E|FAcf ecAB|c2 BA GE E/E/E|AFGE F2:|
AB|cFdF cF F/F/F|AcBA GE E/E/E|cFdF cF F/F/F|AFGE F2 AB|!
cFdF cF F/F/F|AcBA GE E/E/E|FAcf efcB|AFGE F2|]!
X:57
T:Laridenn
A:Brittany
O:France
M:4/4
K:F#m
cc|\
fe/f/ gf/g/ aa g>f|ef ga gg cc|\
fe/f/ gf/g/ aa g>f |1 ef ga f2cc :|2ef ga f2||
|:c>d|\
cB AB c2 fg/f/|ef ga gg c>d|cB AB c2 fg/f/|1\
ef ga f2 :|2 ef ga f2|]
X:491
T:Seumas MacNiel
R:Pipe march
C:Bobby MacLeod
O:Scotland
M:6/8
K:F#
e|\
A>AA c2e|f>aa e>aa|c>dB A2c|BGG Bee|\
A>AA c2e|faa eaa|f<af e>cB|cff f2::
e|\
e>fc e2e|fee faa|efd B2g|BGG Bee|\
e>fc e2e|fee faa|faf ecB|cff f2 ::
e|\
A2c A2c|e>fd c2a|c>dB A2c|BGG Bee|\
A2c A2c|e>fd c2e|f<af ecB|cff f2:|
e|\
a<Ae cdB|efd c2e|a<Ae cdc|BGG Bee|\
a<Ae cdB|e>fd c2e|faf ecB|cff f2e |
a<Ae cdB|efd c2e|a<Ae cdc|BGG Bee|\
A>BB B>cc|c<dB c2e|faf ecB|cff f2|]
X:78
T:Palmer's Gate
R:reel
C:Joe Liddy
D:Dervish: Midsummer's Night
Z:Devin McCabe
M:C|
L:1/8
K:F#min
c~F3 ABcA|(3Bcd cB AFEF|~A3B c2AB|(3cBA ec BcAB|
!c~F3 ABcA|(3Bcd cB AFEF|ABce fecB|A~F3 FGAB:|
!:cffe ~f3g|afga fecB|A2 (3cBA eAcB|ABce fecB|
!cffe ~f3g|afga fecB|ABce fecB|A~F3 FGAB:|
# Posted on April 26th 2008 by FIDDLE4
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
You absolute legend Jim
# Posted on April 26th 2008 by D.J.F.
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
It's a funny key to accompany, and sometimes it is confusing as to whether Bm or F#M. If confused I just do a melody line around them with some complimentary notes rather than chording, or hunting and pecking for the right chord.
A fair number of tunes start in that key, which some say is Bm and others say is F#m.....and Part B of many of these tunes is in D major... can't think of names off the top of my head right now.
Tunes in Bm, the F# notes certainly do fit well, as do some others, but to my ear, it's more than about just the key and chords, one should keep in mind that the chords, they contain notes used in the melody at that point they come along, and sometimes hitting the F# chord in that key won't sound just right, a bit awkward, but if you can isolate that note along with the melody player here and there it can sound just perfect, especially followed by a few other notes in a progression along with the melody player.
It's really hard to explain here in print, until you have done it a few times, and the best way to figure it out is to pick out the melody and learn it, and make up chords or partial chords around the melody line. If that makes any sense.... sorry, for being an ear player, I do get lost on the technicalities and theory, but you cannot ever go wrong by learning the melody and improvising around a tune and its notes. Home alone to a slowed down CD is ideal! Not to practice at a session, you'll get some nasty looks!
# Posted on April 26th 2008 by irisnevins
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
Here's a slightly unusual one. It's an unnamed traditional Braul dance from Rumania, as transcribed by Bartok. It clearly starts and ends in F#min, but soon starts putting d#s everywhere before reverting to F#min. The tune falls easily enough under the fingers for the fiddle player. I suggest polka speed.
X:1
T:no name
R:braul
C:Bartok
O:Rumania
M:2/4
L:1/8
K:F#min
FGAB | cBFB | c2 c>^d | c4 |
Bc^dB | e2 (5 e/2^d/2c/2B/2A/2 | B2 B>c | B4 |
Bc^dB | e2 e/2^d/2c/2B/2 | AGAB | AG F2 |
FGAc | BAGA | F2 F>C | F4 ||
# Posted on April 26th 2008 by lazyhound
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
The Princess Royal by O'Carolan. At least that's the key the harpers do it in.
# Posted on April 28th 2008 by Terriers
Re: Tunes in F# Minor
Here's an F#m tune written by Máire Breatnach
X:1
T:Carillions, The
C:Máire Breatnach
S:Solas, "The Words That Remain"
Z:Jack Gilder
M:6/8
L:1/8
R:jig
K:F#min
FAB c2 f|fec efe|cdc ~B3|AGA BGE|
FAB c2 f|fec efe|cdc ~B3|1AGE F2 E:|2AGE F2 g||
agf gfe|Bce c2 B|AGE FAB|cfg efg|
agf gfe|Bce c2 B|AGE FGA|Bce f2 g|
agf gfe|Bce c2 B|AGE FAB|cfg efg|
agf g2g|fec Be^d|cAF GEC|B,CE F2E||
# Posted on April 28th 2008 by Phantom Button