Being inclined to the, ah, more ergonomic approach, I was wondering if fiddlers (or possibly others) have found ways around the more difficult parts of tunes. I have found myself substituting triplets on the same note for more difficult phrases which call for string crossings, for instance. Does anyone use ornamentation, omissions, etc. to get tunes up to session speed? What are your favorite tricks? I recommend creating an alias if the question makes you too embarrassed.
My favorite fiddle cheat is to play veeerrrryy slow, practicing the hard parts over and over again till I have ‘em, then gradually trying to work up to speed.
Playing an unfamiliar tune in session - if I've got the bare bones of the melody, when it come to the ornamentation (eg a roll), I play only the tonic note of the roll (a little quieter), so I blend in with everyone else. Admission by omission, sort of thing.
Another trick in session when you're not sure of the melody (and are too fired up to stay silent) is holding on to a note (the Em / D reels are a classic example) - say the E note on the 3rd string, while the melody moves around the Em part. That way you can be unobtrusive, and listening to / learning that little bit of the melody while holding quietly on to that E note.
In an unfamiliar tune, on the parts where there is a lot of string crossing, if the 2 notes from start to end of crossing don't vary, then a double stop can fit in quite nicely for the duration.
Some would frown on these techniques, but they are unobtrusive if done properly - and make it easier to learn the tune properly later on, in your own time. It's always easier to learn something when you've had 'hands-on'.
i think some of these 'cheats' actually add to the tone of the session - things like the odd double stop or the odd long note, makes it sound a bit less manic sometimes? or is that just me failing to keep up again...
one "trick" for learning fidle in general that i got is playing the fiddle with the bow the wrong way around. It helps by the fact that you really have to concentrate more on what you are playin.
Of course in a session its mostly a ludicrous idea, but i find it can help re-juvinate my plkayin in a session in that after a couple of jigs in this way, flip the bow back to the right way round and your playin fells great.
Jeez, I just tried the bow-wrong-way-round trick. But the stick just keeps sliding around on the strings. Had to go back to using the hair.
I saw an old time fiddler once play a whole tune on all four stings at once by using a bow with very loose hair, putting the stick UNDER the fiddle and the hair over the strings. I've also seen 'em use gourds for bows. I don't know why.
Jeez maybe you ought to start playing the spoons - contact spiderpromos@aol.com for more info. Actually a couple of visits to Miltown Malbay will have you sorted one way or the other. It's just sooooooo good when you don't have to cheat and - oh yes so worth the ablility to gloat. LOL
Hi Stacey, are you by any chance the guy who plays the tenor banjo and the 5-string fiddle? Were you at the Eclipse session for the Winchester festival two years ago?
I was in a beginner accordion class at a festival once, and the teacher told us to play a dotted quarter note where the music called for a triplet that would have required an out-in-out on the bellows. When a student asked why the difference, the teacher replied that those extra dots on the paper were "fiddle notes."
favorite fiddle cheats
favorite fiddle cheats
Being inclined to the, ah, more ergonomic approach, I was wondering if fiddlers (or possibly others) have found ways around the more difficult parts of tunes. I have found myself substituting triplets on the same note for more difficult phrases which call for string crossings, for instance. Does anyone use ornamentation, omissions, etc. to get tunes up to session speed? What are your favorite tricks? I recommend creating an alias if the question makes you too embarrassed.
# Posted on May 6th 2005 by russellrapport
Re: favorite fiddle cheats
My favorite fiddle cheat is to play veeerrrryy slow, practicing the hard parts over and over again till I have ‘em, then gradually trying to work up to speed.
# Posted on May 6th 2005 by fidkid
Re: favorite fiddle cheats
But man this messes with them during a session. Throws everybody off!
# Posted on May 6th 2005 by fidkid
Re: favorite fiddle cheats
Playing an unfamiliar tune in session - if I've got the bare bones of the melody, when it come to the ornamentation (eg a roll), I play only the tonic note of the roll (a little quieter), so I blend in with everyone else. Admission by omission, sort of thing.
Another trick in session when you're not sure of the melody (and are too fired up to stay silent) is holding on to a note (the Em / D reels are a classic example) - say the E note on the 3rd string, while the melody moves around the Em part. That way you can be unobtrusive, and listening to / learning that little bit of the melody while holding quietly on to that E note.
In an unfamiliar tune, on the parts where there is a lot of string crossing, if the 2 notes from start to end of crossing don't vary, then a double stop can fit in quite nicely for the duration.
Some would frown on these techniques, but they are unobtrusive if done properly - and make it easier to learn the tune properly later on, in your own time. It's always easier to learn something when you've had 'hands-on'.
Can only speak for fiddle, of course.
Jim
# Posted on May 6th 2005 by Worldfiddler
Re: favorite fiddle cheats
i think some of these 'cheats' actually add to the tone of the session - things like the odd double stop or the odd long note, makes it sound a bit less manic sometimes? or is that just me failing to keep up again...
# Posted on May 6th 2005 by phildler
Re: favorite fiddle cheats
I don't call them "cheats". I call them "variations".
# Posted on May 7th 2005 by John Culhane
Re: favorite fiddle cheats
As bad as those buggers battering bodhrans, that's what I call them.
# Posted on May 7th 2005 by bodhran bliss
Re: favorite fiddle cheats
But then I am an elitist.
# Posted on May 7th 2005 by bodhran bliss
Re: favorite fiddle cheats
An elitist what?
Jim
# Posted on May 7th 2005 by Worldfiddler
Re: favorite fiddle cheats
one "trick" for learning fidle in general that i got is playing the fiddle with the bow the wrong way around. It helps by the fact that you really have to concentrate more on what you are playin.
Of course in a session its mostly a ludicrous idea, but i find it can help re-juvinate my plkayin in a session in that after a couple of jigs in this way, flip the bow back to the right way round and your playin fells great.
# Posted on May 7th 2005 by phiddle
Re: favorite fiddle cheats
I use a mandolin. It's not as loud, but it hides the fact that I can't play th fiddle.
# Posted on May 7th 2005 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: favorite fiddle cheats
Jeez, I just tried the bow-wrong-way-round trick. But the stick just keeps sliding around on the strings. Had to go back to using the hair.
I saw an old time fiddler once play a whole tune on all four stings at once by using a bow with very loose hair, putting the stick UNDER the fiddle and the hair over the strings. I've also seen 'em use gourds for bows. I don't know why.
# Posted on May 7th 2005 by ScottC
Re: favorite fiddle cheats
yeah seen that 4 strings at once thang.crazy sh*t.
(by bow wrong way round i mean bottom to top and not upside down incase your wondering scott.duhh oops!)
# Posted on May 7th 2005 by phiddle
Re: favorite fiddle cheats
The alternative of course is just to do that little bit more practise.
Trevor
# Posted on May 7th 2005 by Trevor Jennings
Re: favorite fiddle cheats
Jeez maybe you ought to start playing the spoons - contact spiderpromos@aol.com for more info. Actually a couple of visits to Miltown Malbay will have you sorted one way or the other. It's just sooooooo good when you don't have to cheat and - oh yes so worth the ablility to gloat. LOL
Stacey
# Posted on May 7th 2005 by stacey
Re: favorite fiddle cheats
Hi Stacey, are you by any chance the guy who plays the tenor banjo and the 5-string fiddle? Were you at the Eclipse session for the Winchester festival two years ago?
Jim
# Posted on May 7th 2005 by Worldfiddler
Re: favorite fiddle cheats
Hi Jim
Guilty as charged - see you next Saturday - same city - same bar - same festival - same prevailing hang over???
Stacey
# Posted on May 8th 2005 by stacey
Re: favorite fiddle cheats
Hi Stacey, I'll be there! No hangover this time - I'll be driving.
Jim
# Posted on May 8th 2005 by Worldfiddler
Re: favorite fiddle cheats
I was in a beginner accordion class at a festival once, and the teacher told us to play a dotted quarter note where the music called for a triplet that would have required an out-in-out on the bellows. When a student asked why the difference, the teacher replied that those extra dots on the paper were "fiddle notes."
# Posted on May 10th 2005 by AlBrown