Been playing trad 25 yrs, Based in Clare, play fiddle, guitar and bagpipes mostly, Would have a rake of ballads. been playing guitar 35yrs now, but I concentrate on fiddle and pipes .
I also play mandolin,banjo bass and drums. muck about on the cello and I have a few tunes on the whistle as well, . I started music lessons at 9 . I Play a lot. Always have.
Enjoy your music. have fun
Heres some footage of a great little party. Music provided by Charlie; rhythm guitar, vox, and myself lead guitar, plus percussionists . Not Irish mind, but WTF
Olé!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAZCuFylppA
Anyone who has recorded solo fiddle knows how hard it is with no backup, 'Naked' is the expression, 2 new tunes.[url=http://www.filefreak.com/files/78361_0ng8o/Project5bb.mp3]Project5bb.mp3[/url]
Aslow hornpipe tune fingerpicked on guitar, Im very rusty really, hardly picked it up for the last 5 or 6 yrs apart from backing the odd session.;
[url=http://www.filefreak.com/files/64096_gxnwl/chief%20finger%20picked.mp3]chief finger picked.mp3[/url]
A tune on fiddle from a couple yrs ago late one night, 1st take on Viola: goes on too long with not enough variation, is too fast for the feel Im aiming for, but WTF [url=http://www.filefreak.com/files/64097_hcmba/rights%20of%20man.%20scratchy.mp3]rights of man. scratchy.mp3[/url]
Some of my Favourite instruments:
My Hearts delight;
2 sets Antique Hendersons, a 7/8th set with original chanter, and a full size set with a Kron Chanter. Both Coccus wood, turn of century, 1890 and 1920 rough Dates.
http://www.turboimagehost.com/p/2084103/P1070474.JPG.html
Frettless Bass and Electric 17'' 5 string Viola. Matching Pair :-)
http://www.turboimagehost.com/p/2084085/P1070448.JPG.html
Midi enabled Godin Electric, Piccolo Cello, Guitar and fiddle
http://www.turboimagehost.com/p/2084104/P1070467.JPG.html
Spanish guitar and 2 five string Violas, one about 15 1/2 '' the other 16 1/2''
http://www.turboimagehost.com/p/2084102/P1070459.JPG.html
So as to avoid tedious suspensions Im not engaging with certain members here in subjects that are not directly related to the music and in fact may well not respond to their provocation or comments at all.
The main Arguments have revolved around using the metronome as a tool, Using Isolation exercises , scales and arpeggios, all of which I favour.
For any aspiring musician I recomend you to use these tools to Improve your Intonation and rhythm. To be honest, when I came here I had no Idea these things would be in any way controversial. Growing up as on the road I learnt from those around me, not from recordings or books. However I painstakingly taught myself to read music after 20 yrs of playing by ear and It has been of Immeasurable benefit to me as a musician. Which brings us to another of the Arguments we have had here: the dots
I think the 'dots' are a very handy tool that allow me to learn tunes at a much greater rate and from many more sources than befor I could read. In those days, before CD's slow downer software, the Internet etc all It was laboriously learn bar by bar from a patient friend, rewind the odd cassette or pick them out from memory. Now I pick up new tunes every day.
After 30 yrs as a practising musician I taught myself to play a drum kit , along with a click track. This taught me the benefits of the metronome which I then used to tighten up my bass playing. I enjoy playing fiddle tunes to a metronome because I can relax and know that I can rely on its solidity . If you cant play with a metronome then you cant keep a steady beat. Which means that it will be very hard for anyone to dance to your playing.
I play ITM almost exclusively as I have done since 1984. I focus on the music pretty much all day every day as I have done since then.[ With diversions including MMA, my kids , travelling. ]I have explored a few other genres for the craic, a little bit of this, a little bit of that.
I knew what I wanted to do with my life when i was 4, I persuaded my parents to get me a guitar, at 9 and come hell or high water I have stuck to my path. I still enjoy it as much, if not more than I ever did. I dont mind putting the effort in because the rewards are priceless. Enjoy your music and Enjoy your life, good luck with both.
Tunes in the wicked hacker's tunebook: 37
| Siubhan Ni Dhuibir | waltz | May 2nd 2009 |
| Citi Na GCumann | waltz | April 25th 2009 |
| Church Island | reel | November 10th 2008 |
| The Houseboat | slip jig | May 1st 2008 |
| The Left Side | jig | February 2nd 2008 |
| Octopus jig | October 24th 2009 |
| Stories of Ireland. | July 25th 2009 |
| The master in his den! | May 1st 2009 |
| some great old recordings | April 1st 2009 |
| The old and the New | February 25th 2009 |
| Discussions | Re: The Various Cross-bowing Methods | November 23rd 2009 |
| Discussions | Re: The Various Cross-bowing Methods | November 23rd 2009 |
| Discussions | Re: When is a session not a session ? ...ongoing discussion..... | November 22nd 2009 |
| Discussions | Re: Ladies and Gentlemen: The Irish Harp | November 22nd 2009 |
| Discussions | Re: When is a session not a session ? ...ongoing discussion..... | November 22nd 2009 |
