Does anyone know where I can find chords for for reels jigs etc. I'm just picking up the bouzouki and don't know where to put the chords in the tunes. I got lots of chords off a site for GDAd tuning. Just looking for the chords for tunes like mountian road and cooleys etc.
Chris Smith's Mel Bay book on Celtic backup is helpful information to use for any situation rather than just specific tunes. Check it out at melbay.com - No financial interest although I edit a webzine for Mel Bay Publishing.
Two other helpful sources might be "Learn to play the Irish Bouzouki" taught by Zan McLeod and put out by Homespun video. He teaches much more than where to put the chords. Another helpful CD-rom put out by madfortrad is taught by Gerry McKee (of Nomos) if you want to play strictly chords and tune to GD AE as opposed to Zan's (GDAD). You might find one of these on ebay. Godd Luck!
If your into downloading midi files of tunes from the internet, well there's a piece of software called MidiNote available which I use which will automaticaly, like magic , transcribe the chords to any midi tune . . . problem solved . .
Ax, I would reccomend learning the tunes outright and "making the chords" out from the melody...find the feel of the tune (major-modal-minor, etc); start simple 1-4-5 for majors, 1-3-5 , 1-5-1, etc... try different combinations and find the one that (in your mind) most agrees with the tune(s)....or, start (and I should have written this first) by just droning out the dominant chord of the tune and get the right rhythm down...it's not so much what you play, it's what you don't play, as long as you have the right beat on...the bouzouki is more like a drum kit with strings than an instrument per se...try this approach and build your chord repertoire as you go alon
I've been playing a piano accordion for over 30 years, and this instrument is the ultimate in versatile chord accompaniment. Unlike the modern fashion of box players playing right hands only, I hear every tune in my head while I'm playing as a succession of harmonies, so I indulge myself with left hand chords and harmonic runs feely when I play.
I have a list of chord notations which I produced a while back for my mates for when we play in gigs, who play guitar, bouzouki etc. It includes many of the old session favourites, and needs me to update it with the past three or fours years' tune additions. But it exists, it's only my interpretation, anyone's welcome to have it, and it's free of charge!
If anyone wants I can send them this as an attachment Word file, but Jeremy's site email doesn't seem to allow me to do this.
So if anyone wants the list, email me with your private email address and I'll send you the file.
Chords for tunes
Chords for tunes
Does anyone know where I can find chords for for reels jigs etc. I'm just picking up the bouzouki and don't know where to put the chords in the tunes. I got lots of chords off a site for GDAd tuning. Just looking for the chords for tunes like mountian road and cooleys etc.
Thanks
# Posted on November 20th 2004 by banjaxbanjo
Re: Chords for tunes
Chris Smith's Mel Bay book on Celtic backup is helpful information to use for any situation rather than just specific tunes. Check it out at melbay.com - No financial interest although I edit a webzine for Mel Bay Publishing.
# Posted on November 21st 2004 by Carrmuse
Re: Chords for tunes
Two other helpful sources might be "Learn to play the Irish Bouzouki" taught by Zan McLeod and put out by Homespun video. He teaches much more than where to put the chords. Another helpful CD-rom put out by madfortrad is taught by Gerry McKee (of Nomos) if you want to play strictly chords and tune to GD AE as opposed to Zan's (GDAD). You might find one of these on ebay. Godd Luck!
# Posted on November 21st 2004 by CC
Re: Chords for tunes
If your into downloading midi files of tunes from the internet, well there's a piece of software called MidiNote available which I use which will automaticaly, like magic , transcribe the chords to any midi tune . . . problem solved . .
# Posted on November 21st 2004 by Justintime
Re: Chords for tunes
Ax, I would reccomend learning the tunes outright and "making the chords" out from the melody...find the feel of the tune (major-modal-minor, etc); start simple 1-4-5 for majors, 1-3-5 , 1-5-1, etc... try different combinations and find the one that (in your mind) most agrees with the tune(s)....or, start (and I should have written this first) by just droning out the dominant chord of the tune and get the right rhythm down...it's not so much what you play, it's what you don't play, as long as you have the right beat on...the bouzouki is more like a drum kit with strings than an instrument per se...try this approach and build your chord repertoire as you go alon
# Posted on November 21st 2004 by zoukmike
Re: Chords for tunes
Hey stewpot, that sounds interesting- got any good sites for midi files to share? And where did you find that software?
# Posted on November 21st 2004 by CC
Re: Chords for tunes
I've been playing a piano accordion for over 30 years, and this instrument is the ultimate in versatile chord accompaniment. Unlike the modern fashion of box players playing right hands only, I hear every tune in my head while I'm playing as a succession of harmonies, so I indulge myself with left hand chords and harmonic runs feely when I play.
I have a list of chord notations which I produced a while back for my mates for when we play in gigs, who play guitar, bouzouki etc. It includes many of the old session favourites, and needs me to update it with the past three or fours years' tune additions. But it exists, it's only my interpretation, anyone's welcome to have it, and it's free of charge!
If anyone wants I can send them this as an attachment Word file, but Jeremy's site email doesn't seem to allow me to do this.
So if anyone wants the list, email me with your private email address and I'll send you the file.
Pete May
# Posted on November 23rd 2004 by petemay