Guitars used in irish sessions
Glen
Which guitars do you observe most commonly used in Irish sessions? What do
the big names use (i.e. John Doyle, etc.)?
- Glen
Library Guy
wrote:
>Irish sessions call for more rhythmic and percussive playing that most gigs.
That's a new one on me. I thought melody was foremost; in fact, it
used to stand on its own, didn't it?
Frank (not really as nasty as I sound) Dalton
JB
playing Irish tunes (thats how I ended up stumbling onto
this Irish newsgroup), and it seems to me that "Irish guitar"
is very percussive, it seems like it contributes more
via rhythm first, harmony second (what with the modal scales and
droning strings) and melody is third.......
If anyone knows any good websites giving instruction or
tablature of Irish guitar I would apprecaite it......and Irish
guitarists too, so I can get their CDs or MP3s to review.
thanks in advance.
"Library Guy" <dal...@vet.upenn.edu> wrote in message
news:3cb462cd....@netnews.upenn.edu...
Glen
commonly used as percussive instrument in sessions, not unlike a bodhran in
some cases.
"Library Guy" <dal...@vet.upenn.edu> wrote in message
news:3cb462cd....@netnews.upenn.edu...
Library Guy
wrote:
>For hundreds of years, yes. And it still can. But the guitar is more
>commonly used as percussive instrument in sessions, not unlike a bodhran in
>some cases.
Yeah, tell me about it! (Just ribbin' yez.)
LG
Sore fingers
basically play rhythm. That is they strum chords rather than pick melody. A
variety of steel string acoustics are used. If you've got the money a Lowden
O series adds as much "authenticity" as you are gonna get.news:3cb479a1....@netnews.upenn.edu...
gorblimey
Glen <glen_w...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:a91mg3$m31$1...@pith.uoregon.edu...
I used to play in a ceilidh band. We were the only one in the area that used
guitars at all.
I saw a pretty hot band in Dublin a couple of years ago (slivoar, I think).
They were playing Martin dreads.
Pete
Rich McCarthy
>I just started trying to play guitar backup for a fiddler
>playing Irish tunes (thats how I ended up stumbling onto
>this Irish newsgroup), and it seems to me that "Irish guitar"
>is very percussive, it seems like it contributes more
>via rhythm first, harmony second (what with the modal scales and
>droning strings) and melody is third.......
>
>If anyone knows any good websites giving instruction or
>tablature of Irish guitar I would apprecaite it......and Irish
>guitarists too, so I can get their CDs or MP3s to review.
>thanks in advance.
>
John Doyle (formerly of the group Solas?) offers an excellent learning
video from Homespun . I bought it, I use it, I think it's a good one.
Here's the website
http://www.homespuntapes.com/prodpg/prodpg.asp?prodID=130
... and here's a description from the website:
Irish Rhythm Guitar Accompanying Celtic Tunes
Taught By John Doyle.
VDDOYGT01
Level 3
85-min. video, Includes music + tab book
Learn the fine art of backing Celtic tunes on guitar! The rhythmic
center of one of today's hottest Irish bands (Solas) demonstrates the
strumming patterns, bass lines, accents and syncopations that he uses
to drive a tune forward. You'll discover how adding minor chords and
other substitutions add interest to a basic three-chord tune, and will
be playing both simple and complex accompaniments to more than a dozen
great reels, jigs and hompipes.
John demonstrates his complex strumming patterns using moving bass
lines, palm damping, backbeats, accents and syncopations to drive a
tune forward. Using dropped D tuning throughout, John shows how to add
interest and depth to a basic three-chord tune by using minor chords
and other substitutions to change the underlying harmonic structure.
He goes over each tune, slowly and up to speed, developing dynamic
chord progressions and rhythmic flourishes as he goes.
You'll learn rhythmic accompaniments to reels, jigs, slip jigs and
hornpipes, including "Crowley's," "The Mountain Road," "Craig's
Pipes," "The Gooseberry Bush," "Gallagher's Frolics," "Mist Covered
Mountain," "Langstrom's Pony," "Humours of Whiskey," "Banks of Loch
Gamhna," "Return to Camden Town," "The Fermoy Lasses," "The Girl That
Broke My Heart," "Chief O'Neill's Hornpipe," "Tim Henry's Favorite,"
"The Pullet" and "The Floating Crowbar."
Student Review:
"I just wanted to tell you how delighted I am with the Homespun Tape,
"Irish Rhythm Guitar" with John Doyle and John Williams. Although he
doesn't get into much of the technical stuff, explaining several times
how he plays by "feel," I am really excited to be learning some of the
techniques and chord shapes. Also, I am very pleased just with
theperformance aspects of the tape. I never thought dropped D tuning
could be so full up the neck either. In short, I'm a satisfied
customer." - Rick Boyle (via email) Price:
$39.95 each
:
Donna Osburn
O'Dohmnaill uses and ancient Martin of some sort. Likewise, one of my best
buds in the music scene at home uses an old Martin 00. Myself and another have
both found old Gibsons (1969 B25N and a 20's vintage archtop, respectively)
more to our liking.
Jeff Sherman
<persisten...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>I used to play in a ceilidh band. We were the only one in the area that used
>guitars at all.
I bet that's fun stuff.
Jeff
Gordon Jones
<glen_w...@hotmail.com> writes
--
Gordon Jones
gor...@hartown.demon.co.uk
http://www.harbourtownrecords.com
Box 25, Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 7UN
Tom Loredo
>
> On Wed, 10 Apr 2002 08:41:02 -0700, "Glen" <glen_w...@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> >Irish sessions call for more rhythmic and percussive playing that most gigs.
>
> That's a new one on me. I thought melody was foremost; in fact, it
> used to stand on its own, didn't it?
I once spoke with guitarist and singer/songwriter Brooks Williams
about John Doyle back when Doyle was with Solas; he described him as
"Solas's drummer." 8-) For my tastes, the melodies of Celtic tunes
are among the most beautiful in the world. However, in most
sessions the job of the guitarist is not to provide melody, but
a rhythmic and harmonic foundation for the melody to ride on;
the melody will typically be played by a fiddler, flute/whistle
player, concertina player, etc..
Regarding learning how to play in this style: I just got the Homespun
video by John Doyle:
http://www.homespuntapes.com/prodpg/prodpg.asp?prodID=130
It's very good! A bit low on theory for what I typically like, but
very high on practical stuff. Doyle is a genius in my opinion. This
tape will teach you one style---Doyle's! I've also come across
a book/CD set that briefly introduces the styles of several different
Celtic backup guitarists. I'm at work and don't have it in front
of me, so I'm not sure of the title/source, but I think it was a
Mel Bay publication---I'm pretty sure it's "Celtic Backup for
All Instrumentalists" which you can find by searching at:
They also have "Irish Traditional Guitar Accompaniment" which
I haven't seen, for which there is also a video.
Peace,
Tom Loredo
Glen
Glen
Do you know if Lowden has a product that would be suitable? A very nice
guitar from what I have heard.
"Gordon Jones" <rec...@hartown.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
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duck
"Sore fingers" <dr...@nospambigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:R2%s8.3365$C21.5...@news6-win.server.ntlworld.com...
> I know what you're getting at! Here in Belfast most guitarists in sessions
> basically play rhythm. That is they strum chords rather than pick melody.
A
> variety of steel string acoustics are used. If you've got the money a
Lowden
> O series adds as much "authenticity" as you are gonna get.
>
to my shame I can't remember the name of it, was it 'Trimbles'? Anyway this
was nearly 20 years ago and we had perspex guitars, aluminium, double neck,
V and back then even Midi. But the favourite was always the Lowden and they
made them not a mile from where I live, that complex has closed some time
now but I believe they still make them. Back then they were £1000 for the
top of the range that we sold how much are they these days?
Duck
Sore fingers
Wellington Place in the late 70's. Lowdens are made in Newtownards and the
basic model is around £1200.
"duck" <duck...@NOSPAMhotmail.com> wrote in message
news:a925oq$vcqcc$1...@ID-122481.news.dfncis.de...
Sore fingers
duck
> It was "Crimbals".
*Crimbals that was it, thats brought back memories lol I'm posting from
culture Irish so Trimble's never far away.
> I used to buy my strings there. They moved there from
> Wellington Place in the late 70's.
*They also owned the shop in Ards shopping center.
> Lowdens are made in Newtownards and the
> basic model is around £1200.
*Probably a £400 increase in 20 years not bad.
Sore fingers
"duck" <duck...@NOSPAMhotmail.com> wrote in message
news:a9286e$10fsga$1...@ID-122481.news.dfncis.de...
duck
Duck
"Sore fingers" <dr...@nospambigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:aH1t8.4159$C21.8...@news6-win.server.ntlworld.com...
David Kilpatrick
wrote on 10/4/02 8:56 PM:
>
> Do you know if Lowden has a product that would be suitable? A very nice
> guitar from what I have heard.
>
>
Personally I would go for the F size - they are between the small s and the
rather uncontrollable O (which I use). The F is a bit tighter in sound. An
F-10C - spruce top, mahogany body, and cutaway - would be just about ideal.
Nice tight bass sound but the benefit of the very sweet Lowden treble wail
for solo passages if you do that.
Or, of course, the LSE - the former Pierre Bensusan signature model... at
about three times the price!
David
MAIB
know... I don't use the word much, myself, but that is what the newsgroup is
called). I haven't been there lately, but it used to be a pretty good
group, if occasionally... um, spirited.
Mark
"JB" <jbe...@attbi.com> wrote in message
news:srZs8.18494$WV1.5...@typhoon.ne.ipsvc.net...
MAIB
insulted <g>.
Mark
"JB" <jbe...@attbi.com> wrote in message
news:srZs8.18494$WV1.5...@typhoon.ne.ipsvc.net...
JB
I now subscribe to the Celtic groups (both rec.music and basketball).
"MAIB" <messe...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:9Q6t8.17208$Rw2.1...@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
Peter MacDonald
>Irish sessions call for more rhythmic and percussive playing that most gigs.
>Which guitars do you observe most commonly used in Irish sessions?
Whatever guitar the guitarist can afford. That's only slightly
tongue-in-cheek. At our local session, the guy who plays guitar the
most uses a Madeira (an Asian import from Guild) dreadnaught. I also
play some guitar at sessions (mostly bouzouki) but I prefer my Martin
OM-21, although I have used my Lowden F23 on occasion. Lowdens have
so much power, though, they can be hard to control unless you have
stellar right hand technique.
> What do
>the big names use (i.e. John Doyle, etc.)?
I have seen John Doyle live on three occasions. He has used a
Takamine dreadnaught (model unknown to me), a Martin D-28 and a Lowden
D10 on stage.
Peter
ar...@sover.net
that's important its the guitarist. I'm the primary guitarist at a
session in Burlington VT.
I do fine on my cheap Sigma D-28 copy which is my knock around
guitar. Its more-- do you know the tune? Are you in tune? are you
supporting the melody players? Just don't bash away blithly. Study
Celtic back up.
Bye the way I'm a DADGAD player.
Art
Writer,Guitarist,author of
Fair Melodies:Turlough Carolan An Irish Harper,
Also, Eighteen Fingerstyle Guitar Arrangements of Melodies by Turlough Carolan
ordering information at
www.noblestonepress.com
homepage www.arthuredelstein.com
John C
the foundation with another person laying melody over the top. I like to
lay the bottom down. I'm looking at options for a new bass. I'm also
curious about what the bass can do baking up the music. Does it just double
the guitar or is there something else? Is ther any method out there for it
or should I just trust my rock/blues roots for ideas?
<ar...@sover.net> wrote in message news:3cb9f02b...@news2.sover.net...
ar...@sover.net
>What about bass guitar. I'm in a band where we have a guitarist laying out
>the foundation with another person laying melody over the top. I like to
>lay the bottom down. I'm looking at options for a new bass. I'm also
>curious about what the bass can do baking up the music. Does it just double
>the guitar or is there something else? Is ther any method out there for it
>or should I just trust my rock/blues roots for ideas?
>
The only bass I've heard that is "tasteful" in traditional Celtic
music is a standup.
You could try an acoustic bass guitar but I would avoid Rock/Blues
styles. Probably better using Bluegrass or Old Time backup styles
Art
Andy Copeman
The only bass I've heard that is "tasteful" in traditional Celtic music is a standup. You could try an acoustic bass guitar but I would avoid Rock/Blues styles. Probably better using Bluegrass or Old Time backup styles Art
This is a very inflammatory comment if ever I heard one!
Have a listen to Conrad Ivitsky from Shooglenifty.
Or Dave Pegg from Fairport Convention
Or Eoin ??? from Moving Hearts
All great electric bass guitarists ... all very celtic.
One thing I will say is that a bass player at a "session" would be a bit difficult if there are any guitarists, bouzouki players or other chord players .... the problem here is that in an improvised setting these players so seldom agree on what chords to play and the whole thing ends up sounding like mud.
To be quite honest "traditional" celtic music never had any sort of guitar anywhere near it ... it either had no accompaniment or maybe a piano. It was only in the 1960's that guitars and then (in the 70's) bouzoukis started being accepted in trad sessions.
cheers
Andy
ar...@sover.net
<a.co...@ecu.edu.au> wrote:
>
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>> The only bass I've heard that is "tasteful" in traditional Celtic
>> music is a standup.
>> You could try an acoustic bass guitar but I would avoid
>> Rock/Blues
>> styles. Probably better using Bluegrass or Old Time backup
>> styles
>>
>> Art
>>
>Hi
>
>This is a very inflammatory comment if ever I heard one!
My thoughts not meant to inflame. I've heard some so called Celtic
Bassists, they are playing rock to the trad sound. Never heard of
Ivitsky, Pegg is an exception. I still like standup bass better.
>
>Have a listen to Conrad Ivitsky from Shooglenifty.
>
>Or Dave Pegg from Fairport Convention
>
>Or Eoin ??? from Moving Hearts
>
>All great electric bass guitarists ... all very celtic.
>
>One thing I will say is that a bass player at a "session" would be a bit difficult
>if there are any guitarists, bouzouki players or other chord players .... the
>problem here is that in an improvised setting these players so seldom agree on
>what chords to play and the whole thing ends up sounding like mud.
>
Agreed, the same for guitar and bouzouki.
>To be quite honest "traditional" celtic music never had any sort of guitar
>anywhere near it ... it either had no accompaniment or maybe a piano. It was only
>in the 1960's that guitars and then (in the 70's) bouzoukis started being accepted
>in trad sessions.
True, but the Times They Are A Changin.
>
>cheers
>
>Andy
>
>
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>
><blockquote TYPE=CITE>
><pre>The only bass I've heard that is "tasteful" in traditional Celtic
> music is a standup.
> You could try an acoustic bass guitar but I would avoid
> Rock/Blues
> styles. Probably better using Bluegrass or Old Time backup
> styles
>
> Art
></pre>
></blockquote>
>Hi
><p>This is a very inflammatory comment if ever I heard one!
><p>Have a listen to Conrad Ivitsky from Shooglenifty.
><p>Or Dave Pegg from Fairport Convention
><p>Or Eoin ??? from Moving Hearts
><p>All great electric bass guitarists ... all very celtic.
><p>One thing I will say is that a bass player at a "session" would be a
>bit difficult if there are any guitarists, bouzouki players or other chord
>players .... the problem here is that in an improvised setting these players
>so seldom agree on what chords to play and the whole thing ends up sounding
>like mud.
><p>To be quite honest "traditional" celtic music never had any sort of
>guitar anywhere near it ... it either had no accompaniment or maybe a piano.
>It was only in the 1960's that guitars and then (in the 70's) bouzoukis
>started being accepted in trad sessions.
><p>cheers
><p>Andy
><br> </html>
>
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