Ian uses lots of interesting interpretations and chord voicings (e.g. C#dim substitution for Em on Teetotalers). Does anyone elso out there in the ether share this sentiment?
I'm wondering - what tuning does he use? are they any recording that capture his "session" guitar backing on non-vocal tunes? any other insight into his style?
I have it from reputable sources that he uses standard tuning most of the time, with the occasional drop-D (low-E dropped to D). Quite a pioneer in my opinion.
His chording is certainly wonderful, but what really impresses me is his rhythm: imaginative but not overpowering. I love hearing his work with Kathryn Tickell and Swop in particular.
..."rhythm: imaginative but not overpowering"...quite a contrast to the earlier unimaginative overpowering thrash-bang-hammer-drum rhythms by the likes of Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention, when trying to accompany a melody!
Uh, Jim, maybe I'm just tired or I shouldna had that second glass of wine, but I'm not sure how to take your reply. Do I need to break out the Sarcasm-o-tron, or are you serious?
Ian Carr's work with Syncopace was the first time I heard his backing, and I was hooked. I enjoy any album he plays on. He doesn't just play chords and rhythm like other backers, he creates textures. The guy's an absolute genius.
sts - yes, I'm serious - but no offence meant. I'm agreeing with your comments on Ian Carr's rhythm, and contrasting that with *some* of Fairport and Steeleye's approach. Just my opinion.
Thanks for the clarification, Jim! But which incarnations of Fairport and Steeleye are you referring to? Both groups have gone through their fair share of guitarists, after all, e.g. Martin Carthy, Richard Thompson, Simon Nicol, Bob Johnson, to name a few.
sts - I'd need to re-visit some of the old analogue recording of the early Fairport to be sure...but the pounding of Dave Mattacks' drums through some of the reels is what prompted my constrast...and the use of drums in general. No complaints about any of the guitarists, though.
Ian's rhythmic approach is interesting - though hard to convey online like this. As far as chord voicings, such as Teetotalers Reel, I'm think I heard drop D tuning with chords like:
G 5-5-0-0-3-3
Em 2-2-2-0-0-0
"A" 7-0-7-0-0-0
Bm7 9-9-7-7-7-7
C#dim 11-10-9-9-x-x
Dsus
Jim wrote: I'd need to re-visit some of the old analogue recording of the early Fairport to be sure...but the pounding of Dave Mattacks' drums through some of the reels is what prompted my constrast...and the use of drums in general
I don't have anywhere near enough of a good music theory vocabulary to elaborate, but I recall reading that at the time of "early" Fairport -- i.e. "Liege and Leaf," "Full House" etc -- Dave Mattacks' drumming was considered a real innovation, especially his backing on jigs. The obvious question would be "compared to what?," and I would assume the writer of this article probably meant ceilidh band-type accompaniment. Again, imprecise memory at work here.
I have to say that even though the likes of Steeleye and Fairport helped fuel my interest in UK and Irish folk music -- namely their blending of rock and other contemporary influences -- I was never all that interested in the drumming. I was far more focused on the guitar work, the fiddle and mandolin playing, and for me the drums got in the way. That's why I tended to (still do, actually) prefer the pre-Nigel Pegrum Steeleye: "Please to See the King," "Ten Man Mop," "Below the Salt."
Actually, let me qualify my remarks somewhat: One folk-rock group which I thought did a very good job of interpolating drums was 5 Hand Reel. But then, quite a bit of their repertoire would have been heard in pipe bands, right?
Ian's genius is in his syncopation and his counterpoint, particularly when he's playing in a very small ensemble or even a duo. I was intrigued by his playing with John McCusker's band on a recording I picked up last year, and based on that, I ordered from Scotland a recording of him and Karen Tweed ("Fyace"), and it's simply amazing. I can't rave enough about their music, and Ian's guitar work on it. He is simply one of the most creative and original Celtic-style guitarists working today, and anyone serious about pushing the envelope must listen to him. His chord changes and shapes are worth studying alone, but what really blows me away is how well-integrated and musical his lines and rythyms are w/ what the equally-amazing Tweed is doing on accordion. He's not just playing guitar; he's playing music on an equal level with any instrument. Great stuff! I like McCusker just fine, but I suspect even his playing wouldn't quite be the same w/o Carr.
BTW, according to Tweed's website, she and Ian are going to reissue an earlier recording called "Shhh."
I've got "Shhh" on CD. It's a good album. If you like IC's guitar playing you should definitely look into Swap as well, with a little circle on the A. That has the 2 of them and also some great fiddle playing, and some interesting tunes as well - mixture of Irish tunes plus some polskas and stuff.
Talking of wild and wicked chord tunings I was at a festival over the summer and saw Jonny Dyer perform. Some of his chords were utterly amazing. Using all kinds of different tunings, drop D, standard, DADGAD. Ian is one of his hero's and he wrote a tune kind of dedicated to him. He plays with a piper, they have sound tracks, you should check them out!
Ian Carr guitar style
Ian Carr guitar style
I've been intriqued since recently discovering Ian's Carr guitar backing on the BBC Virtual Session website.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/r2music/folk/sessions/
Ian uses lots of interesting interpretations and chord voicings (e.g. C#dim substitution for Em on Teetotalers). Does anyone elso out there in the ether share this sentiment?
I'm wondering - what tuning does he use? are they any recording that capture his "session" guitar backing on non-vocal tunes? any other insight into his style?
Thanks.
# Posted on September 4th 2004 by SteveM
Re: Ian Carr guitar style
I have it from reputable sources that he uses standard tuning most of the time, with the occasional drop-D (low-E dropped to D). Quite a pioneer in my opinion.
Jim
# Posted on September 5th 2004 by Worldfiddler
Re: Ian Carr guitar style
His chording is certainly wonderful, but what really impresses me is his rhythm: imaginative but not overpowering. I love hearing his work with Kathryn Tickell and Swop in particular.
# Posted on September 5th 2004 by sts
Re: Ian Carr guitar style
..."rhythm: imaginative but not overpowering"...quite a contrast to the earlier unimaginative overpowering thrash-bang-hammer-drum rhythms by the likes of Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention, when trying to accompany a melody!
Jim
# Posted on September 5th 2004 by Worldfiddler
Re: Ian Carr guitar style
Uh, Jim, maybe I'm just tired or I shouldna had that second glass of wine, but I'm not sure how to take your reply. Do I need to break out the Sarcasm-o-tron, or are you serious?
# Posted on September 5th 2004 by sts
Re: Ian Carr guitar style
Ian Carr's work with Syncopace was the first time I heard his backing, and I was hooked. I enjoy any album he plays on. He doesn't just play chords and rhythm like other backers, he creates textures. The guy's an absolute genius.
# Posted on September 5th 2004 by Dr. Dow
Re: Ian Carr guitar style
sts - yes, I'm serious - but no offence meant. I'm agreeing with your comments on Ian Carr's rhythm, and contrasting that with *some* of Fairport and Steeleye's approach. Just my opinion.
Jim
# Posted on September 5th 2004 by Worldfiddler
Re: Ian Carr guitar style
Thanks for the clarification, Jim! But which incarnations of Fairport and Steeleye are you referring to? Both groups have gone through their fair share of guitarists, after all, e.g. Martin Carthy, Richard Thompson, Simon Nicol, Bob Johnson, to name a few.
# Posted on September 5th 2004 by sts
Re: Ian Carr guitar style
sts - I'd need to re-visit some of the old analogue recording of the early Fairport to be sure...but the pounding of Dave Mattacks' drums through some of the reels is what prompted my constrast...and the use of drums in general. No complaints about any of the guitarists, though.
Jim
# Posted on September 5th 2004 by Worldfiddler
Re: Ian Carr guitar style
Ian's rhythmic approach is interesting - though hard to convey online like this. As far as chord voicings, such as Teetotalers Reel, I'm think I heard drop D tuning with chords like:
G 5-5-0-0-3-3
Em 2-2-2-0-0-0
"A" 7-0-7-0-0-0
Bm7 9-9-7-7-7-7
C#dim 11-10-9-9-x-x
Dsus
# Posted on September 5th 2004 by SteveM
Re: Ian Carr guitar style
that's,
Dsus 0-0-0-10-9-8-0
# Posted on September 5th 2004 by SteveM
Re: Ian Carr guitar style
Dsus 0-0-0-10-9-8-0
That would be on the famous 7 string guitar :}
# Posted on September 6th 2004 by Donough
Re: Ian Carr guitar style
Jim wrote: I'd need to re-visit some of the old analogue recording of the early Fairport to be sure...but the pounding of Dave Mattacks' drums through some of the reels is what prompted my constrast...and the use of drums in general
I don't have anywhere near enough of a good music theory vocabulary to elaborate, but I recall reading that at the time of "early" Fairport -- i.e. "Liege and Leaf," "Full House" etc -- Dave Mattacks' drumming was considered a real innovation, especially his backing on jigs. The obvious question would be "compared to what?," and I would assume the writer of this article probably meant ceilidh band-type accompaniment. Again, imprecise memory at work here.
I have to say that even though the likes of Steeleye and Fairport helped fuel my interest in UK and Irish folk music -- namely their blending of rock and other contemporary influences -- I was never all that interested in the drumming. I was far more focused on the guitar work, the fiddle and mandolin playing, and for me the drums got in the way. That's why I tended to (still do, actually) prefer the pre-Nigel Pegrum Steeleye: "Please to See the King," "Ten Man Mop," "Below the Salt."
Actually, let me qualify my remarks somewhat: One folk-rock group which I thought did a very good job of interpolating drums was 5 Hand Reel. But then, quite a bit of their repertoire would have been heard in pipe bands, right?
# Posted on September 6th 2004 by sts
Re: Ian Carr guitar style
Ian's genius is in his syncopation and his counterpoint, particularly when he's playing in a very small ensemble or even a duo. I was intrigued by his playing with John McCusker's band on a recording I picked up last year, and based on that, I ordered from Scotland a recording of him and Karen Tweed ("Fyace"), and it's simply amazing. I can't rave enough about their music, and Ian's guitar work on it. He is simply one of the most creative and original Celtic-style guitarists working today, and anyone serious about pushing the envelope must listen to him. His chord changes and shapes are worth studying alone, but what really blows me away is how well-integrated and musical his lines and rythyms are w/ what the equally-amazing Tweed is doing on accordion. He's not just playing guitar; he's playing music on an equal level with any instrument. Great stuff! I like McCusker just fine, but I suspect even his playing wouldn't quite be the same w/o Carr.
BTW, according to Tweed's website, she and Ian are going to reissue an earlier recording called "Shhh."
# Posted on September 7th 2004 by Audeamus
Re: Ian Carr guitar style
I've got "Shhh" on CD. It's a good album. If you like IC's guitar playing you should definitely look into Swap as well, with a little circle on the A. That has the 2 of them and also some great fiddle playing, and some interesting tunes as well - mixture of Irish tunes plus some polskas and stuff.
# Posted on September 7th 2004 by Dr. Dow
Re: Ian Carr guitar style
Talking of wild and wicked chord tunings I was at a festival over the summer and saw Jonny Dyer perform. Some of his chords were utterly amazing. Using all kinds of different tunings, drop D, standard, DADGAD. Ian is one of his hero's and he wrote a tune kind of dedicated to him. He plays with a piper, they have sound tracks, you should check them out!
# Posted on September 7th 2004 by Anna Karlsson
Re: Ian Carr guitar style
"Leige And Lief"
# Posted on March 1st 2003 by dafydd
Re: Ian Carr guitar style
Thanks for the comments - and for a few more CD's to add to my ever expanding wishlist!
# Posted on September 9th 2004 by SteveM