Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
I tried searching the conversations but it got tedious, so just asking since the Bflat chat has been lively on here lately.
I notice I have grown lazy, about matching the pitch of the session, or even just maintaining quality intonation on my own, I started messing around with the Gmin/Bflat scales because the different finger positions force my brain and fingers, to correct.
I think it has actually helped my intonation on the the standard keys used in the Irish sessions, and my goal is to improve my ability to match other players pitch.
So to better entertain myself, I would like suggestions for fun hornpipey tunes, in those keys. I only know a couple, and I am slowly getting bored with them.
No desire to tune up a half step, there are no piper's in my life at the moment, so this is really more of couch entertainment, and torturing my ever so patient and loving family, while i work on my aural center communicating with my fingers.
In case anyone is chomping at the bit to discuss ear training:
I learn tunes by ear just fine, that's not the part I am looking to improve it's more the intuitive matching of pitch, improvement of intonation, I am looking for, so as to be a better "band member." Comments or advice on this are welcome as well.
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
Coles 1000 fiddle tunes (Ryan's Mamouth Collection) has 28 hornpipes in Bb and one in Gm. There are also several in F. The flat keys were popular in the 1870's.
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
The Bee`s Wing Hornpipe, as nicholas suggested, is a good one. I learned it in B flat. It`s in G here, but you can find the ABC in B flat in the comments.
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
For Pres Garfield's: http://www.juneberry78s.com/sounds/ListenToCapeBretonFiddles.htm Cue up Winston Fitzgerald playing the Wonder/Newcastle - Pres Garf's the 3rd tune, unlisted here. On that page you also get Angus Chisholm playing President Grant's, thus filling out your Chief Executive medley.
Both of those tunes are in Ryan's. I have recordings of these artists playing President Garfield's:
Cape Breton Symphony
Darley Fulks
Eddie Keenie
Ensemble
Jerry Holland
Leizime Brusoe's Orchestra
Seamus and Manus McGuire
Tony Furtado
Will Atkinson (mouth organ)
Winston 'Scotty' Fitzgerald
Not exactly a hit with Irish musicians. Winston speeds up for it, playing it almost as a reel. I play that tune (and other flat key hornpipes) on the pipes and flute, too.
Other fun tunes from Ryan's: the Acrobat, the Nightingale, the News Boys, the Red Lion. These are easy to play in the flat keys, more so than in G/D etc, I think. Playing them in the flat keys you actually use the open strings more than you would otherwise, which is why they were published in F or Bb. Other tunes in the flat keys are trickier, but the same is true for many of the Ryan's tunes in D/A/G.
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
Why not just take some of the tunes you like and transpose them? You could do it with your own ABC if you don't trust other versions, or use midi files to play along with (yes I know, but they're OK for practising).
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
gam I am too lazy to transpose, yes it would be highly educational, but ref lazy above.
I really like the idea of learning scottish/english/or cape breton tunes, to have something a little snazzy to cheer myself up with when practicing.
Someone asked for the Beeswing recently, (this is one I know) Imagine how chuffed I was to play it! Problem was the guitar present took about 1.2 times through to decide on a key, then got started on deciding how to help out. painful flashback... I will probably keep these tunes for entertaining myself, or in controlled situations only if in public.
Thanks to everyone who posted tune ideas, this is probably more than enough!
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
Dowd's Favourite http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/229 is listed as G Dorian but has no E flat/natural in it, and the B part is effectively in Bb. It's also a common session tune.
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
Kerr's Merrie Melodies Vol. 2 has loads of Bb Hornpipes, including a lot of the ones mentioned previously.
Johnnie Cope - 7 part hornpipe in Gm, played by Noel Hill on The Irish Concertina.
I like Cape Breton Symphony's version of the Democratic Rage set - including President Garfield and The Constitution.
Enjoy!
Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
I tried searching the conversations but it got tedious, so just asking since the Bflat chat has been lively on here lately.
I notice I have grown lazy, about matching the pitch of the session, or even just maintaining quality intonation on my own, I started messing around with the Gmin/Bflat scales because the different finger positions force my brain and fingers, to correct.
I think it has actually helped my intonation on the the standard keys used in the Irish sessions, and my goal is to improve my ability to match other players pitch.
So to better entertain myself, I would like suggestions for fun hornpipey tunes, in those keys. I only know a couple, and I am slowly getting bored with them.
No desire to tune up a half step, there are no piper's in my life at the moment, so this is really more of couch entertainment, and torturing my ever so patient and loving family, while i work on my aural center communicating with my fingers.
In case anyone is chomping at the bit to discuss ear training:
I learn tunes by ear just fine, that's not the part I am looking to improve it's more the intuitive matching of pitch, improvement of intonation, I am looking for, so as to be a better "band member." Comments or advice on this are welcome as well.
# Posted on May 21st 2010 by SandyBottoms
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
President Garfield's:
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/419
# Posted on May 21st 2010 by John Culhane
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
Yeah exactly I like that one Taco, do you have a favorite player, setting or recording of it? I've grown to skeptical of the ABC's.
# Posted on May 21st 2010 by SandyBottoms
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
I don't have a recording of him playing it, but I like the way Rodney Miller plays it.
There is also The Banks, which is in Eflat:
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/922
# Posted on May 21st 2010 by John Culhane
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
And Madam Neruda:
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/5834
# Posted on May 21st 2010 by John Culhane
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/685
A great jig in Bb/Gm. I've heard it as "The Blue Angel" on the Button and Bows album featuring Jackie Daly, Seamus And Manus McGuire.
# Posted on May 21st 2010 by PatrickJWK
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
I think the James Hill hornpipe The Beeswing is in Bb. It's a good tune.
# Posted on May 21st 2010 by nicholas
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
Coles 1000 fiddle tunes (Ryan's Mamouth Collection) has 28 hornpipes in Bb and one in Gm. There are also several in F. The flat keys were popular in the 1870's.
# Posted on May 21st 2010 by fiddlentina
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
Not hornpipey, but I play The Cat in the Hopper in Gm.
# Posted on May 21st 2010 by Bob himself
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
The Bee`s Wing Hornpipe, as nicholas suggested, is a good one. I learned it in B flat. It`s in G here, but you can find the ABC in B flat in the comments.
# Posted on May 21st 2010 by Vivian Hsu
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
Mountain Top (Mountain Ranger Hornpipe) is in Bb in O'Neil's and can be found in Bb or D in the tunes section. Nice tune.
# Posted on May 21st 2010 by fiddlentina
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
O'Dowd's favourite (reel) and Galway Bay (hornpipe).
# Posted on May 21st 2010 by biggus dave
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
Tommy's Tarbukas, an Alasdair Fraser tune (The Road North). In
Gm. Splendid. It's a reel. Good practice for fiddlers for what I'm told.
# Posted on May 21st 2010 by pennhorse
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
For Pres Garfield's: http://www.juneberry78s.com/sounds/ListenToCapeBretonFiddles.htm Cue up Winston Fitzgerald playing the Wonder/Newcastle - Pres Garf's the 3rd tune, unlisted here. On that page you also get Angus Chisholm playing President Grant's, thus filling out your Chief Executive medley.
Both of those tunes are in Ryan's. I have recordings of these artists playing President Garfield's:
Cape Breton Symphony
Darley Fulks
Eddie Keenie
Ensemble
Jerry Holland
Leizime Brusoe's Orchestra
Seamus and Manus McGuire
Tony Furtado
Will Atkinson (mouth organ)
Winston 'Scotty' Fitzgerald
Not exactly a hit with Irish musicians. Winston speeds up for it, playing it almost as a reel. I play that tune (and other flat key hornpipes) on the pipes and flute, too.
Other fun tunes from Ryan's: the Acrobat, the Nightingale, the News Boys, the Red Lion. These are easy to play in the flat keys, more so than in G/D etc, I think. Playing them in the flat keys you actually use the open strings more than you would otherwise, which is why they were published in F or Bb. Other tunes in the flat keys are trickier, but the same is true for many of the Ryan's tunes in D/A/G.
# Posted on May 21st 2010 by KLR
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
Here's a few mostly Scottish:
Niel Gow:
http://www.math.mun.ca/~bshawyer/straths/WelcomeWhiskyBackAgain.abc
http://www.math.mun.ca/~bshawyer/reels/DemocraticRage.abc
This is a nice challenge:
http://www.math.mun.ca/~bshawyer/reels/Firefly.abc
Love this one:
http://www.math.mun.ca/~bshawyer/reels/EugeneStratton.abc
and one in Eflat
http://www.math.mun.ca/~bshawyer/straths/MrsDalzell.abc
I have these in the Winston Fitzgerald book, so had a look for the ABCs, and there they faithfully transcribed on a Canadian university website - there must be more.
I wouldn't claim to play these fluently, but you're right, working on them does improve one's intonation for the standard keys.
# Posted on May 21st 2010 by RichardB
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
Why not just take some of the tunes you like and transpose them? You could do it with your own ABC if you don't trust other versions, or use midi files to play along with (yes I know, but they're OK for practising).
# Posted on May 21st 2010 by gam
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
Whoa thanks for the Juneberry link! I love it!
I will have lots of fun researching many of the tunes above!
# Posted on May 21st 2010 by SandyBottoms
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
gam I am too lazy to transpose, yes it would be highly educational, but ref lazy above.
I really like the idea of learning scottish/english/or cape breton tunes, to have something a little snazzy to cheer myself up with when practicing.
Someone asked for the Beeswing recently, (this is one I know) Imagine how chuffed I was to play it! Problem was the guitar present took about 1.2 times through to decide on a key, then got started on deciding how to help out. painful flashback... I will probably keep these tunes for entertaining myself, or in controlled situations only if in public.
Thanks to everyone who posted tune ideas, this is probably more than enough!
# Posted on May 21st 2010 by SandyBottoms
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
trailbane bridge
# Posted on May 21st 2010 by Ben Steen
"Trailibane Bridge"
# Posted on May 21st 2010 by Ben Steen
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
Jeremiah McLane's "Raoulf"
email me if you want a screen shot - it's difficult and amazing
# Posted on May 22nd 2010 by Toppish
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
The Golden Castle is a lovely one.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2170
# Posted on May 22nd 2010 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
Mary Claire http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/9626
Catharsis http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/703
Mitton's Breakdown http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/10410
Old Maid of Galway http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/976
Policeman's Request http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2142
Whitefish in the Rapids http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/7376
Whistler of Rosslea http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/304
Lizzy in the Lowground http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/4782
# Posted on May 22nd 2010 by SmashTheWindows
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
Woops they're all reels...
# Posted on May 22nd 2010 by SmashTheWindows
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
Snowshoer's http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/10440
A part is in Bb, B part is in Gm. It's relatively easy to play, and sounds good at a slower speed.
# Posted on May 22nd 2010 by fiddlerdan
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
THE NEW HIGH LEVEL
# Posted on May 22nd 2010 by Dick Miles
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
The Drunken Sailor is a great Gm hornpipe.
# Posted on May 22nd 2010 by cathycook
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
Drunken sailor hornpipe Gm
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/553
Spellan's Inspiration, a good one in Bb
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/8260
# Posted on May 22nd 2010 by cathycook
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
Splendid Isolation (reel G mi)
Seanhamac Tube Station (Jig G mi)
both on Cathal Hayden's CD
great tunes
# Posted on May 23rd 2010 by millionyears_bc
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
Dowd's Favourite http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/229 is listed as G Dorian but has no E flat/natural in it, and the B part is effectively in Bb. It's also a common session tune.
# Posted on May 23rd 2010 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
Thanks for this list, I love flat keys!
# Posted on May 23rd 2010 by Earl Cameron
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
Kerr's Merrie Melodies Vol. 2 has loads of Bb Hornpipes, including a lot of the ones mentioned previously.
Johnnie Cope - 7 part hornpipe in Gm, played by Noel Hill on The Irish Concertina.
I like Cape Breton Symphony's version of the Democratic Rage set - including President Garfield and The Constitution.
Enjoy!
# Posted on May 23rd 2010 by The Archivist
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
Sandy,
Again, although not hornpipes, the following are real fun:
Frenchie's Reel
Cadeaux's Jig
...both Bb
Have fun!
# Posted on May 23rd 2010 by SpeyBox
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
A good version of President Garflield's is by Tater Tate:
http://saggyrecordcabinet.blogspot.com/2009/02/tater-tate-fiddling-favorites-of-usa.html
It appears as "Blue Water Hornpipe" in Bb.
# Posted on May 24th 2010 by dogmageek
Re: Bflat/Gmin Tune suggestions (for fun and practice)
Tater is on here:
http://www.ibiblio.org/keefer/tp02.htm
You can click on President Garfield's and
see other such as Jerry Holland that did it.
# Posted on May 24th 2010 by dogmageek