Does anyone who plays guitar on the list have a recommendation for a good book on guitar accompaniment? I see that Paul DeGrae has a book out, but there are others. This would be for a relatively new guitarist who knows enough to do basic stuff but wants to explore more options and more accepted ways of chording behind Irish music. He already has the DADGAD book and likes standard tuning better.
For Standard tuning listen a lot to Dennis Cahill's accompaniments.
John Doyle has an instructional video which is very good.
Nothing beats listening and experimenting with accompaniments.
Get recordings of unaccompanied fiddle.
Best wishes
Donough
But a top tip is to learn the tunes you want to accompany. I don't mean learn them to play them as fast as the fiddles etc. but enough to know how the melodies and arpegios turn. For example, you might think a tune has a straight forward run from G to G that you would accompany in G. But a closer inspection could reveal no B natural but a passing C natural. This obviously changes the chord completely.
A lot of strummers avoid thirds (major or minor) completely, instead playing sixths. This is fine if you are just faffing along, but knowing the tune gets you out of this problem
Another good book to try is "celtic back up for all instrumentalists" . It is by Chris Smith and published by mel bay. It contains a great detail on rythmic and harmonic approaches to irish music. It was recommended to me by paul de grae at a summer school. Most of the tunings are in standard also. it also has a cd with methods and approaches to accompanying tracks. 23 tunes (i think) and the rest is tutorial pieces. the chord reference chart in the appendices is very useful also. good luc.
Thanks, everyone. A little clarification, here. This is for my husband and we've been listening to Irish music since the mid 70's, so though he's new at the guitar he isn't new to the genre. And he does know most of the tunes I play so well that he can pick the melodies. I'm happy with the way he accompanies me, but some of the more basic patterns seem boring to him so he's trying to find out what *other* patterns, chord progressions, ect would be acceptable. With all the slagging of guitarists that goes on in ITM, he just wants to make sure he's operating from a defensible position, I suspect
I didn't find the Chris Smith book, probably because I searched for "Irish" and not "Celtic". And videos are a good idea, as well. Thanks again.
I wouldn't worry about trying to do this "properly". I'm hearing so many approaches to accomp. that it's dizzying! I'm playing in DADGAD and have found that Han's website has a wealth of info. Do a google search under "DADGAD theory" and you'll find it. Once you get the basic shapes it's pretty intuitive. John Doyle's video is wonderful I just found the dropped D not quit open enough sounding for my ears, but his approach is great! Arty McGlynn, Tony McManus, and Dennis Cahill are great players to absorb and emulate. One trick is to study chord substitution. This allows you to constantly revoice the harmony to avoid boring yourself as well as the audience. A simple sub. is relative minor for major, such as A min. for C maj. Emin. for G maj. F#m. for A maj. etc. Jazz players are especially adept at this approach. Hope some of this is useful!
I have a question here. Donough, does Dennis Cahill really play in standard? I've been playing along with the CD, The Lonesome Touch, in DADGAD and it flows really well with the recording? He may very well play in standard, I'm just surprised if that's so, and wonder how he gets such an open string sound. I'd be most grateful for a response.
To answer you question, luthier 3, Dennis Cahill plays in standard tuning. He gets his open sound by using a lot of open positions up the neck. Play a chord on the fifth or seventh fret using only 3 covered strings and open all the strings that fit into the chord. For example: find an em bar chord on the 7th fret. Now, only hold down the fifth, fourth and third strings and let the sixth, third, second and first ring open. Obviously his virtuosity goes beyond just this example, but once you get the hang of this style all kinds of possibilities open up.
John devens
Irish Trad Guitar method?
Irish Trad Guitar method?
Does anyone who plays guitar on the list have a recommendation for a good book on guitar accompaniment? I see that Paul DeGrae has a book out, but there are others. This would be for a relatively new guitarist who knows enough to do basic stuff but wants to explore more options and more accepted ways of chording behind Irish music. He already has the DADGAD book and likes standard tuning better.
# Posted on October 7th 2002 by soft black stars
Re: Irish Trad Guitar method?
For Standard tuning listen a lot to Dennis Cahill's accompaniments.
John Doyle has an instructional video which is very good.
Nothing beats listening and experimenting with accompaniments.
Get recordings of unaccompanied fiddle.
Best wishes
Donough
# Posted on October 7th 2002 by Donough
Re: Irish Trad Guitar method?
I agree, nothing beets listening.
But a top tip is to learn the tunes you want to accompany. I don't mean learn them to play them as fast as the fiddles etc. but enough to know how the melodies and arpegios turn. For example, you might think a tune has a straight forward run from G to G that you would accompany in G. But a closer inspection could reveal no B natural but a passing C natural. This obviously changes the chord completely.
A lot of strummers avoid thirds (major or minor) completely, instead playing sixths. This is fine if you are just faffing along, but knowing the tune gets you out of this problem
# Posted on October 7th 2002 by llig leahcim
Re: Irish Trad Guitar method?
Another good book to try is "celtic back up for all instrumentalists" . It is by Chris Smith and published by mel bay. It contains a great detail on rythmic and harmonic approaches to irish music. It was recommended to me by paul de grae at a summer school. Most of the tunings are in standard also. it also has a cd with methods and approaches to accompanying tracks. 23 tunes (i think) and the rest is tutorial pieces. the chord reference chart in the appendices is very useful also. good luc.
# Posted on October 8th 2002 by covcity
Re: Irish Trad Guitar method?
Thanks, everyone. A little clarification, here. This is for my husband and we've been listening to Irish music since the mid 70's, so though he's new at the guitar he isn't new to the genre. And he does know most of the tunes I play so well that he can pick the melodies. I'm happy with the way he accompanies me, but some of the more basic patterns seem boring to him so he's trying to find out what *other* patterns, chord progressions, ect would be acceptable. With all the slagging of guitarists that goes on in ITM, he just wants to make sure he's operating from a defensible position, I suspect
I didn't find the Chris Smith book, probably because I searched for "Irish" and not "Celtic". And videos are a good idea, as well. Thanks again.
# Posted on October 8th 2002 by soft black stars
Re: Irish Trad Guitar method?
I wouldn't worry about trying to do this "properly". I'm hearing so many approaches to accomp. that it's dizzying! I'm playing in DADGAD and have found that Han's website has a wealth of info. Do a google search under "DADGAD theory" and you'll find it. Once you get the basic shapes it's pretty intuitive. John Doyle's video is wonderful I just found the dropped D not quit open enough sounding for my ears, but his approach is great! Arty McGlynn, Tony McManus, and Dennis Cahill are great players to absorb and emulate. One trick is to study chord substitution. This allows you to constantly revoice the harmony to avoid boring yourself as well as the audience. A simple sub. is relative minor for major, such as A min. for C maj. Emin. for G maj. F#m. for A maj. etc. Jazz players are especially adept at this approach. Hope some of this is useful!
# Posted on October 24th 2002 by luthier 3
Re: Irish Trad Guitar method?
I have a question here. Donough, does Dennis Cahill really play in standard? I've been playing along with the CD, The Lonesome Touch, in DADGAD and it flows really well with the recording? He may very well play in standard, I'm just surprised if that's so, and wonder how he gets such an open string sound. I'd be most grateful for a response.
Luthier 3
# Posted on October 25th 2002 by luthier 3
Re: Irish Trad Guitar method?
To answer you question, luthier 3, Dennis Cahill plays in standard tuning. He gets his open sound by using a lot of open positions up the neck. Play a chord on the fifth or seventh fret using only 3 covered strings and open all the strings that fit into the chord. For example: find an em bar chord on the 7th fret. Now, only hold down the fifth, fourth and third strings and let the sixth, third, second and first ring open. Obviously his virtuosity goes beyond just this example, but once you get the hang of this style all kinds of possibilities open up.
John devens
# Posted on November 6th 2002 by John Devens