We've got a lot of fiddlers, one guitarist, who also plays the fiddle, and one bodhran player, who plays the fiddle too. When everyone is at the fiddlesticks, things can get sort of smooshy -- and a tad inhospitable for the lone mandolin player (me). It's odd how the bodhran in particular keeps the fiddlers honest.
Spot-on rhythm will do it for me, every time, regardless of speed, or how "diddley" it gets.
When it turns into a race, with everyone slightly out of sync with each other, it gets a bit like trying to read text with no capitals and punctuation, which is how I "see" Vicky Pollard from Little Britain's speech but yeah but no but.
I don’t just prefer solid rhythm; it’s painful for me to listen when the rhythm is shaky. If the foundation isn’t there, the rest is almost irrelevant. If I’m playing with somebody who keeps losing it, I might try briefly to help out, but if it doesn’t work, I just fade to silence.
You can always use your thimples on your washboard. That'll help to keep the rhythm steady.
We did have a guy who turned up at one of the sessions for a short while - he had loads of instruments, some really weird, had a font of useless extraneous knowledge, and was so bursting with energy to get the next note out that he had no rhythm at all. All efforts to help in subtle ways went straight over his head, and he hasn't been seen for some time. Playing ( or trying to play ) with him was impossible.
Yes, gimme a solid rhythm every time, because you can always lean on it to swing it, or whatever.
“thimples on your washboard” now you’re talking! I heard a guy once who was absolutely brilliant on the washboard. So much so that if you closed your eyes you swore Sammy Davis Jr. and Gregory Hines were dancing a spot on duet. Truth be told the guy was really using thim”b”les.
As a whistling simpleton I am not much of a diddly note guitar player. As I am not a melody player I can only offer my observations, not a first hand opinion, of what I think most melody players prefer, and based on the comments thus far, my observations seem to bear out, spot on rhythm wins over shaky rhythm with any amount of ornamentation. As far as listening for me there is no choice, spot on rhythm each and every time.
I think people have overlooked the fact that the diddley bits are primarily percusive. I think the music is equally about the even spacing of the broad sweep of it and those perfectly placed micro subdivisions. It's all rhythm. And that's why the bodhran is pointless
."..people have overlooked the fact that the diddley bits are primarily percusive."
Unfortunately it's a lot of melody players that have missed that point, naked melody is a beautiful thing, as played by a master: but all those squiggldy ornments without the percussive effect is very much like overcooked noodles without any flavoring: mushy and unpalatable.
THE Music doesn't need backing, but many of the players do.
I agree. So many players I hear sound like a big bowl overcooked noodles, that's a great analogy. And this kind of playing may indeed sound better with a decent drummer holding it together. But that's just a vicious circle of laziness, crutches and the lowest common denominator. Far better to avoid that kind of playing altogether
Thimple Question
Thimple Question
About Rhythm.
What do you prefer: Lots of diddly notes with bad rhythm, or fewer notes with bang-on, in the pocket, whack ma troosers rhythm?
I thought so. Me too.
Yes, I know you're thinking lots of diddly notes WITH bang on..etc, is having your cake and eating it too. Me too.
So, is your session a piece of cake? Or is it more like a foosty dumpling ?
# Posted on March 11th 2006 by Cammy
Re: Thimple Question
Far more of a foosty dumpling.
We've got a lot of fiddlers, one guitarist, who also plays the fiddle, and one bodhran player, who plays the fiddle too. When everyone is at the fiddlesticks, things can get sort of smooshy -- and a tad inhospitable for the lone mandolin player (me). It's odd how the bodhran in particular keeps the fiddlers honest.
# Posted on March 11th 2006 by Charmion
Re: Thimple Question
Spot-on rhythm will do it for me, every time, regardless of speed, or how "diddley" it gets.
When it turns into a race, with everyone slightly out of sync with each other, it gets a bit like trying to read text with no capitals and punctuation, which is how I "see" Vicky Pollard from Little Britain's speech but yeah but no but.
# Posted on March 11th 2006 by Wurzel
Re: Thimple Question
Thimple answer..........Heavy on the rhythm.
Mary
# Posted on March 11th 2006 by Antikhntr
Re: Thimple Question
I don’t just prefer solid rhythm; it’s painful for me to listen when the rhythm is shaky. If the foundation isn’t there, the rest is almost irrelevant. If I’m playing with somebody who keeps losing it, I might try briefly to help out, but if it doesn’t work, I just fade to silence.
# Posted on March 11th 2006 by Bob himself
Re: Thimple Question
You can always use your thimples on your washboard. That'll help to keep the rhythm steady.
We did have a guy who turned up at one of the sessions for a short while - he had loads of instruments, some really weird, had a font of useless extraneous knowledge, and was so bursting with energy to get the next note out that he had no rhythm at all. All efforts to help in subtle ways went straight over his head, and he hasn't been seen for some time. Playing ( or trying to play ) with him was impossible.
Yes, gimme a solid rhythm every time, because you can always lean on it to swing it, or whatever.
# Posted on March 12th 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Thimple Question
Mr. Guernsey Pete,
“thimples on your washboard” now you’re talking! I heard a guy once who was absolutely brilliant on the washboard. So much so that if you closed your eyes you swore Sammy Davis Jr. and Gregory Hines were dancing a spot on duet. Truth be told the guy was really using thim”b”les.
As a whistling simpleton I am not much of a diddly note guitar player. As I am not a melody player I can only offer my observations, not a first hand opinion, of what I think most melody players prefer, and based on the comments thus far, my observations seem to bear out, spot on rhythm wins over shaky rhythm with any amount of ornamentation. As far as listening for me there is no choice, spot on rhythm each and every time.
Peace,
Ed
# Posted on March 12th 2006 by ejsant
Re: Thimple Question
I think people have overlooked the fact that the diddley bits are primarily percusive. I think the music is equally about the even spacing of the broad sweep of it and those perfectly placed micro subdivisions. It's all rhythm. And that's why the bodhran is pointless
# Posted on March 13th 2006 by llig leahcim
Re: Thimple Question
By definition, anything circular has no point.
But it may still have a purpose.
# Posted on March 13th 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Thimple Question
Ah, but the pupose of climbing a mountain may well be to get to the top. But still be pointless
# Posted on March 13th 2006 by llig leahcim
Re: Thimple Question
Or "r" less even..
# Posted on March 14th 2006 by Cammy
Re: Thimple Question
."..people have overlooked the fact that the diddley bits are primarily percusive."
Unfortunately it's a lot of melody players that have missed that point, naked melody is a beautiful thing, as played by a master: but all those squiggldy ornments without the percussive effect is very much like overcooked noodles without any flavoring: mushy and unpalatable.
THE Music doesn't need backing, but many of the players do.
# Posted on March 14th 2006 by Owell Mabee
Re: Thimple Question
I agree. So many players I hear sound like a big bowl overcooked noodles, that's a great analogy. And this kind of playing may indeed sound better with a decent drummer holding it together. But that's just a vicious circle of laziness, crutches and the lowest common denominator. Far better to avoid that kind of playing altogether
# Posted on March 14th 2006 by llig leahcim
Re: Thimple Question
I use thimbles on my washboard
# Posted on March 14th 2006 by dafydd