I haven't found any good websites about rolls, so I'll ask here:
As far as I've found out, long roll is gonna sound like one note made to three by two grace notes, is this right?
And short roll, like a ehh trille (Norwegian, don't know what it is in English) is that right?
Here are two old threads on fiddle rolls to get you started. If you do a search for "fiddle rolls" or "danish rolls" (no joke), you'll find lots more here.
The point about Irish fiddle rolls is that they are quite different to their classical counterparts, even though both are ornaments and may nominally share the same notes. The Irish roll is distinctly percussive in nature and is so fast that in the hands of a good player it's difficult to make out the notes surrounding the main note, whereas in the corresponding ornamental roll of classical music (called a "turn") each constituent note would be clearly articulated.
Because of the percussive effect of the Irish roll it doesn't really matter if you do a roll on the E on the D-string thus:
E-F-E-D-E, or
E-F#-E-D-E, or
E-G-E-D-E.
The secret of the finger speed is utter relaxation. Don't think about pressing the fingers down hard - that's counter-productive - think more of a fast fluttering movement which is often too fast for the eye to pick up. The note below the main note of the roll (i.e. the open string D in the example above) will probably be quite indistinct and not clearly identifiable as an open string.
Another thing which accentuates the percussive effect is to speed up the bow stroke as you play the roll. If you can also combine all this with a fast controlled bounce of the bow then you're probably peering into the virtuoso territory inhabited by the likes of Tommy Peoples
The "cut" is another ornament which is so fast that it's percussive and you can't hear the pitch of the cutting note. Consequently, you can do a cut on an open string with any available finger, which for me is often the 3rd (or ring) finger, the strongest of the four.
A tip that really helped me about playing first finger rolls was to try playing the open string first (ie making it six notes not five.) Trevor's example would then be D E F (or F sharp or G) E D E.
Rolls
Rolls
I haven't found any good websites about rolls, so I'll ask here:
As far as I've found out, long roll is gonna sound like one note made to three by two grace notes, is this right?
And short roll, like a ehh trille (Norwegian, don't know what it is in English) is that right?
Gard
# Posted on July 21st 2005 by Gard
Re: Rolls
Try this -- http://www.pillsbury.com/View/breads/crescent_rolls.asp
# Posted on July 21st 2005 by Phantom Button
Re: Rolls
Sorry Gard,
Looks like you drew a blank here too.
# Posted on July 21st 2005 by Fredrick
Re: Rolls
What instrument are you playing, Gard?
# Posted on July 21st 2005 by Phantom Button
Re: Rolls
If you play a whistle or flute try
http://www.rogermillington.com/siamsa/brosteve/index.html
and click on the links for 'twiddly bits'
Mark
# Posted on July 22nd 2005 by Ottery
Re: Rolls
Fiddle, judging from his bio.
# Posted on July 22nd 2005 by Will CPT
Re: Rolls
Here are two old threads on fiddle rolls to get you started. If you do a search for "fiddle rolls" or "danish rolls" (no joke), you'll find lots more here.
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/428
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/157
# Posted on July 22nd 2005 by Will CPT
Re: Rolls
Well inthat case rolls are easy...
# Posted on July 22nd 2005 by Ottery
Re: Rolls
Some video clips from my site :
http://www.worldfiddlemusic.co.uk/guest/1st&2ndfinger_rolls.wmv
http://www.worldfiddlemusic.co.uk/guest/3rdfinger_rolls.wmv
Jim
# Posted on July 22nd 2005 by Worldfiddler
Re: Rolls
The point about Irish fiddle rolls is that they are quite different to their classical counterparts, even though both are ornaments and may nominally share the same notes. The Irish roll is distinctly percussive in nature and is so fast that in the hands of a good player it's difficult to make out the notes surrounding the main note, whereas in the corresponding ornamental roll of classical music (called a "turn") each constituent note would be clearly articulated.
Because of the percussive effect of the Irish roll it doesn't really matter if you do a roll on the E on the D-string thus:
E-F-E-D-E, or
E-F#-E-D-E, or
E-G-E-D-E.
The secret of the finger speed is utter relaxation. Don't think about pressing the fingers down hard - that's counter-productive - think more of a fast fluttering movement which is often too fast for the eye to pick up. The note below the main note of the roll (i.e. the open string D in the example above) will probably be quite indistinct and not clearly identifiable as an open string.
Another thing which accentuates the percussive effect is to speed up the bow stroke as you play the roll. If you can also combine all this with a fast controlled bounce of the bow then you're probably peering into the virtuoso territory inhabited by the likes of Tommy Peoples
The "cut" is another ornament which is so fast that it's percussive and you can't hear the pitch of the cutting note. Consequently, you can do a cut on an open string with any available finger, which for me is often the 3rd (or ring) finger, the strongest of the four.
Trevor
# Posted on July 22nd 2005 by lazyhound
Re: Rolls
A tip that really helped me about playing first finger rolls was to try playing the open string first (ie making it six notes not five.) Trevor's example would then be D E F (or F sharp or G) E D E.
# Posted on July 22nd 2005 by Rob Millner