A friend just bought a bouzouki and she is having it refurbished. She would like information on how to play it. DVDs, websites books etc. Can anyone give me ideas to give her?
Check Han Speek's site: http://www.xs4all.nl/~hspeek/bouzouki/
Lots of info there.
First thing she has to do is to choose a tuning. Common options are GDAd, GDAe and ADAd. I tried GDAd, which is good for backing but a bit difficult for playing melody, so switched to GDAe which is easier for playing melody. Didn't try ADAd. If she chooses GDAd there is a good tutor DVD by Zan Mc Leod available at http://www.homespuntapes.com
Check this thread too: http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/13489
There are a few questions that spring to mind - what sort of 'zouk ? make/model/condition?
What needed refurbishing ?
What made her buy a 'zouk, as opposed to a mandola/mandolin/banjo, etc ?
What does she play already ?
I agree about the tuning - definitely GDae for melody playing, but I find it fine for chordal work too, though if you've had a mandolin before there are chords you simply can't stretch to, and you have to work out different fingerings.
And there's lots of stuff on Youtube to see and hear - they didn't have that in my day.
Mad for Trad also have a tutor by Gerry McKee, although this more a strumming tutorial and based around GDAE (although not difficult to follow in GDAD).
I recommend the Zan McLeod tutor - about the best one out there for ITM accompaniment.
I reall I caused great controversy some while ago when someone wrote that he was a musician with 30 years experience, and wanted a 'zouk teacher in his area. I replied that I didn't see why a person of his experience needed a teacher, just time to work out his own way round the instrument.
If you just search round this forum, the word bouzouki will turn up all sorts of useful stuff, including a page of chord shapes in GDae that I posted.
A safety hint - if your friend gets one of these gig bags, tell her to always carry it on BOTH straps, or the handle - I had an unfortunate experience with my instrument slung over one shoulder on one strap, as the straps are threaded through the thinnest part of the buckle.
Well it turns out that my friend's zouk is really a SAZ a Middle Eastern intrument that resembles a zouk. I passed on an article on the SAZ that was in the New Grove Dictionary of Musical Intruments on to her on the SAZ. Thanks for all you help.
Friend bought a bouzouki What now?
Friend bought a bouzouki What now?
A friend just bought a bouzouki and she is having it refurbished. She would like information on how to play it. DVDs, websites books etc. Can anyone give me ideas to give her?
Thanks
# Posted on May 28th 2008 by Pirate-Fiddler
Re: Friend bought a bouzouki What now?
Check Han Speek's site:
http://www.xs4all.nl/~hspeek/bouzouki/
Lots of info there.
First thing she has to do is to choose a tuning. Common options are GDAd, GDAe and ADAd. I tried GDAd, which is good for backing but a bit difficult for playing melody, so switched to GDAe which is easier for playing melody. Didn't try ADAd. If she chooses GDAd there is a good tutor DVD by Zan Mc Leod available at http://www.homespuntapes.com
Check this thread too:
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/13489
# Posted on May 28th 2008 by Ramiro
Re: Friend bought a bouzouki What now?
There are a few questions that spring to mind - what sort of 'zouk ? make/model/condition?
What needed refurbishing ?
What made her buy a 'zouk, as opposed to a mandola/mandolin/banjo, etc ?
What does she play already ?
I agree about the tuning - definitely GDae for melody playing, but I find it fine for chordal work too, though if you've had a mandolin before there are chords you simply can't stretch to, and you have to work out different fingerings.
And there's lots of stuff on Youtube to see and hear - they didn't have that in my day.
# Posted on May 28th 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Friend bought a bouzouki What now?
Mad for Trad also have a tutor by Gerry McKee, although this more a strumming tutorial and based around GDAE (although not difficult to follow in GDAD).
I recommend the Zan McLeod tutor - about the best one out there for ITM accompaniment.
# Posted on May 29th 2008 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: Friend bought a bouzouki What now?
I reall I caused great controversy some while ago when someone wrote that he was a musician with 30 years experience, and wanted a 'zouk teacher in his area. I replied that I didn't see why a person of his experience needed a teacher, just time to work out his own way round the instrument.
If you just search round this forum, the word bouzouki will turn up all sorts of useful stuff, including a page of chord shapes in GDae that I posted.
A safety hint - if your friend gets one of these gig bags, tell her to always carry it on BOTH straps, or the handle - I had an unfortunate experience with my instrument slung over one shoulder on one strap, as the straps are threaded through the thinnest part of the buckle.
# Posted on May 29th 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Friend bought a bouzouki What now?
Well it turns out that my friend's zouk is really a SAZ a Middle Eastern intrument that resembles a zouk. I passed on an article on the SAZ that was in the New Grove Dictionary of Musical Intruments on to her on the SAZ. Thanks for all you help.
# Posted on June 6th 2008 by Pirate-Fiddler