I know there has been lots of discussion in the past on open string rolls, which fingers to use and in which order. But what about open string cuts? For example, in the first measure of Connaughtman's Rambles, when you want to separate out the "a" notes (faa-daa), rather than separate bowing of each a note, would you cut the "a" with your 1st finger or 3rd finger? Is it just personal preference?
I use either the 2nd or 3rd. Although right now Will is pushing me uphill through re-working my bowing and I'm trying a lot more single bows these days, which is making me nuts.
I'd use my 2nd there too I think, and a single bow stroke. The single bow stroke when cutting can really throw you off when you start it at first (well it did me anyway), especially if you've been used to bowing the notes seperately. But I think it gives a smoother sound all round once you get it down.
I'd use my 3rd finger, in the same motion as if I were cutting the B (as I do later in the tune). But I would only cut that open A string once or twice during the tune, unless we're playing it super slow, as a treble jig for dancers, maybe. Mostly, I'd just single bow it. For variety's sake in that particular spot, I tend to do things like:
In reference to the Connaughtman's Rambles I think I would be tempted to play with a single bow stroke per note but still put a cut on one or the other 'A'...probably usually the last 'A' but once in a while only! I don't think that putting in a cut is redundant either after a triplet bowed with all single strokes. It has the effect of putting an even greater separation on the note as well as putting your bowing on track for the next bar. As for which finger to do the cut with... the one least likely to get in the way for the next note...hehe!
There's a distinction to be made here between cuts used to separate two notes of the same pitch, and cuts used to articulate the start of a note. On fiddle, if you're mimicking what a whistle or flute player might do, you could do a cut simply to separate the two A's in Connaughtman's Rambles. If you're playing the tune with a fluter, say, and you want to match his/her timing, you could place a cut note to divide the open A into two notes of basically the same duration.
|FA{d}A dA{d}A|
This is quite different from using a cut to articulate the start of a note. In Connaughtman's, a fiddler might play:
|FAA dAA|BAB dAG|FAA def|edB {d}BAG|
where the {d} cut is used not only to separate the two B notes on one bow stroke, but more importantly to delay and emphasize the beat on the second B.
To my ear, using a cut to separate the two A's works well only if you're playing very even eighth notes here--as a whistle or flute might in doing this as a treble jig for dancers. More typically, the middle note in each group of three in a double jig is shortened, and this works better on fiddle by simply single bowing each note, particularly when you've got two consecutive notes of the same pitch.
In short, cuts on fiddle are mostly used to add lift by delaying and articulating an important note or beat. The third eighth note in each three-note cluster of a double jig is never more important than the first note of each cluster, so emphasizing it will reduce--rather than increase--lift.
Fair play to Will.
To my ear a cut between the "AA" in Connaughtman's would suond a bit... overdone?
I tend to use cuts (and slides, and ties) only to emphasise "strong beats"; typically, in a Jig you'd use a cut on the 1st and 4th quarter... But this is just a general rule, of course...
I, for one, cut open strings with the third finger in general, but it depends on whether or not I want the note to be primarily percussive (in which case I'd use the 3rd) or to more more mellow and actually *sound* (in which case I'd use my 2nd or 1st). It's all to taste. If I am using the cut to substitute for a bow-change, I'm more likely to use the 3rd. (I generally use my 3rd for rolls as well, so that finger is quite used to the motions).
I agree with what Will said about the cut serving to help emphasize notes. I tend to play that tune the same way.
On the other hand, Anytime somebody comes up with a "rule" for how to do something, somebody else comes along and breaks it wonderfully... But that doesn't mean the rule is wrong, it just makes it more of a "guideline".
open string cuts
open string cuts
I know there has been lots of discussion in the past on open string rolls, which fingers to use and in which order. But what about open string cuts? For example, in the first measure of Connaughtman's Rambles, when you want to separate out the "a" notes (faa-daa), rather than separate bowing of each a note, would you cut the "a" with your 1st finger or 3rd finger? Is it just personal preference?
# Posted on August 13th 2004 by Pat
Re: open string cuts
I'd use my 2nd.
# Posted on August 13th 2004 by Jeeves Tones
Re: open string cuts
I use either the 2nd or 3rd. Although right now Will is pushing me uphill through re-working my bowing and I'm trying a lot more single bows these days, which is making me nuts.
# Posted on August 13th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: open string cuts
I'd use my 2nd there too I think, and a single bow stroke. The single bow stroke when cutting can really throw you off when you start it at first (well it did me anyway), especially if you've been used to bowing the notes seperately. But I think it gives a smoother sound all round once you get it down.
# Posted on August 13th 2004 by oraghalm
Re: open string cuts
I'd use my 3rd finger, in the same motion as if I were cutting the B (as I do later in the tune). But I would only cut that open A string once or twice during the tune, unless we're playing it super slow, as a treble jig for dancers, maybe. Mostly, I'd just single bow it. For variety's sake in that particular spot, I tend to do things like:
|[FA]AA dAA|
or
|FGA dAA|
or
|FAA dA/A/A|
# Posted on August 13th 2004 by Will Harmon
Re: open string cuts
In reference to the Connaughtman's Rambles I think I would be tempted to play with a single bow stroke per note but still put a cut on one or the other 'A'...probably usually the last 'A' but once in a while only! I don't think that putting in a cut is redundant either after a triplet bowed with all single strokes. It has the effect of putting an even greater separation on the note as well as putting your bowing on track for the next bar. As for which finger to do the cut with... the one least likely to get in the way for the next note...hehe!
# Posted on August 13th 2004 by c_ya
Re: open string cuts
Warning: fiddle dogma ahead.
There's a distinction to be made here between cuts used to separate two notes of the same pitch, and cuts used to articulate the start of a note. On fiddle, if you're mimicking what a whistle or flute player might do, you could do a cut simply to separate the two A's in Connaughtman's Rambles. If you're playing the tune with a fluter, say, and you want to match his/her timing, you could place a cut note to divide the open A into two notes of basically the same duration.
|FA{d}A dA{d}A|
This is quite different from using a cut to articulate the start of a note. In Connaughtman's, a fiddler might play:
|FAA dAA|BAB dAG|FAA def|edB {d}BAG|
where the {d} cut is used not only to separate the two B notes on one bow stroke, but more importantly to delay and emphasize the beat on the second B.
To my ear, using a cut to separate the two A's works well only if you're playing very even eighth notes here--as a whistle or flute might in doing this as a treble jig for dancers. More typically, the middle note in each group of three in a double jig is shortened, and this works better on fiddle by simply single bowing each note, particularly when you've got two consecutive notes of the same pitch.
In short, cuts on fiddle are mostly used to add lift by delaying and articulating an important note or beat. The third eighth note in each three-note cluster of a double jig is never more important than the first note of each cluster, so emphasizing it will reduce--rather than increase--lift.
# Posted on August 13th 2004 by Will Harmon
Re: open string cuts
Fair play to Will.
To my ear a cut between the "AA" in Connaughtman's would suond a bit... overdone?
I tend to use cuts (and slides, and ties) only to emphasise "strong beats"; typically, in a Jig you'd use a cut on the 1st and 4th quarter... But this is just a general rule, of course...
# Posted on August 15th 2004 by nutsmuggler
Re: open string cuts
3rd or 4th for most effect as they hit harmonic nodes.
# Posted on August 15th 2004 by Choonz
Re: open string cuts
Has to be third for me.
FMF
# Posted on August 16th 2004 by folkmasterflex
Re: open string cuts
I, for one, cut open strings with the third finger in general, but it depends on whether or not I want the note to be primarily percussive (in which case I'd use the 3rd) or to more more mellow and actually *sound* (in which case I'd use my 2nd or 1st). It's all to taste. If I am using the cut to substitute for a bow-change, I'm more likely to use the 3rd. (I generally use my 3rd for rolls as well, so that finger is quite used to the motions).
I agree with what Will said about the cut serving to help emphasize notes. I tend to play that tune the same way.
On the other hand, Anytime somebody comes up with a "rule" for how to do something, somebody else comes along and breaks it wonderfully... But that doesn't mean the rule is wrong, it just makes it more of a "guideline".
# Posted on August 17th 2004 by Georgi
Re: open string cuts
exuse me, at the risk of sounding obtuse, what is an open string cut, and how exactly does one perform it?
# Posted on August 20th 2004 by NZ Jez