The Shape of a Tune

In my experience, 99% of fiddle tunes can be played using a note no higher than the 7th fret B note on the fiddle/mandolin's E-string/1st string, and a note no lower than the open G on the G-string/4th string (obviously).  Between those two extremes I suppose there are 29 notes to choose from.  Also, most fiddle tunes consist of an 8 measure A-part and an 8 measure B-part.  If you sub-divide each of those 8 measures into 4 quarter notes, you end up with 32 total quarter notes in each part.  In other words, these 32 quarter notes are the tune's bare bones melody.

My goal is to see if I can make any observations by analyzing a tune's shape, so I've come up with a table that should help me do that (see image below).  The table contains a row for each of the possible melody notes, from the 7th fret B to the open G.  And it contains 32 columns - one for each of the quarter note melody notes.  I've also created a separate row to document the tune's suggested chords/chord progression.  I hope that by charting several tunes in this manner it will begin to tell me certain things, such as recurring shapes, patterns, progressions, likelihood of certain notes, and more.

I'll start by compiling a short list of the most popular fiddle tunes (old-time and Irish) and chart out standard arrangements of those tunes.  I'll also include a few tunes that are common to the jams in my area.  Perhaps I'll happen upon some clues to help me make educated guesses with regard to where a tune might be headed, which could come in handy when trying to pick up tunes by ear.

Here's the table.  I'll follow up once I have some results/observations.

Tune Shape Table - mandolin/fiddle/tenor banjo

Learning to Play Music as an Adult – How I Got Started

I didn’t start playing music until I was in my early 30’s.  I never took any lessons or played any instruments as a child or in high school or college – no guitar, no piano, no band, no choir, nothing.  Then, in summer 2006 I was buying some old-time CDs over the phone from Elderly (I believe the CDs were by Riley Baugus, Dan Gellert and Bruce Molsky) when the Elderly rep asked me if I played?  I said, no - that I just had a burgeoning interest in this music.  She said that I should get a banjo!

That's all it took.  After I hung up the phone I started doing some research.  That’s when I realized that the banjo I had seen played in Ireland during visits in 2004 and 2005 was a 4-string tenor banjo that you could tune and play like a mandolin.  Stupid me hadn't made that distinction before then.  The phone rep was probably referring to a 5-string clawhammer banjo based on the CDs I was buying, but being somewhat of an impulse buyer I decided that tenor banjo was the instrument for me!  After a crash course in figuring out which tenor banjo to buy, a few days later I had purchased a vintage 1920’s Bacon tenor banjo online from Intermountain Guitar and Banjo.

When the Bacon arrived I had new planetary tuners installed and had it tuned to GDAE – one octave lower than a mandolin; the way Irish tenor banjo players do.  I was starting completely from scratch.  Luckily I found a local teacher who played GDAE tenor banjo – Josh Bearman of The Hot Seats.  I took a few lessons from Josh and initially had him show me how to play some songs by my then favorite bands – the Grateful Dead, Phish, Ween, the Meat Puppets, My Morning Jacket, Dr. Dog, Neil Young. Not surprisingly, I found playing that music on tenor banjo to be unsatisfying.  So instead I tried playing a couple fiddle tunes and Irish jigs and really liked them, even though at that point I hadn't actually heard that much old-time or trad. 

I quickly gained a knack for reading mandolin tablature, which also works for GDAE tuned tenor banjo, and found great pleasure in tabbing out arrangements of different fiddle tunes – about half old-time and half from the Irish tradition.  Unfortunately this reliance on tab took away from some all important aural development.  In 2007 I got up the nerve to start attending a local slow session that permitted music stands.  I was a complete novice in every aspect at this point, and instead of motivating me to learn more, attending this session backfired because it caused my inner critic to kick in.  Eventually I started to dread having to attend the jam and in 2008 I stopped playing altogether. 

I plucked a little bit here and there in the interim, but the story literally picks back up in late 2010 when I was inspired to once again pick up the 4-string banjo.  After a few months of sitting around the house playing by myself, a new opportunity to play publicly presented itself; this time with an expert musician at a local coffee shop.  I began playing every other Saturday morning at this coffee shop – first as a duo and now as an open jam that attracts many other musicians.  In fact, I currently try to participate in at least 6 old-time jams and Irish sessions per month, and I feel like I might stick with it this time!

I've learned to not spend too much time worrying about what others think; chances are they are more concerned with what they are doing than what you are doing.  My aural skills are still pretty undeveloped and I still use sheet music and tablature as a learning aid, but by immersing myself in the culture as much as possible through real life music making I hope that eventually I will become a competent amateur player.

Learning to Play Music as an Adult - Why I Play Traditional Music

I grew up around golf, not music.  Nobody in my family played music.  I was in my early 30's when I first started trying to learn an instrument, which just so happened to be tenor banjo.  At first I thought I would want to play songs by the bands/artists I was used to listening to:  the Grateful Dead, Phish, Neil Young, Ween, Uncle Tupelo.  However, I soon realized that fiddle tunes from Ireland and Appalachia were what I wanted to play, even though I hadn’t listened to much old-time or trad at that point and didn't know anything about it.  

Now, six years after starting from scratch, I still enjoy playing traditional music.  Being that my chosen instrument is tenor banjo, I don't think my motivation stems from any sort of revivalist, preservationist or purist ideology.  I just really like playing these kinds of tunes.  Here's why:

• The circular nature - they go round and round in a continuous curve that never ends.
• The symmetry – AA/BB.  It’s a lot of patterns and pattern recognition.
• It’s not a modern music.  It’s timeless.  The ultimate indie music; not trendy or popular.  There’s no marketing behind it.  It’s not a product of mass media.
• The tunes are purely musical, not verbal, so there's no lyrics to scoff at.
• Tabbing out an arrangement from the “dots” on a page stimulates my brain like a book or crossword puzzle.
• It’s not a performance.  I’m playing for myself; not for others.  I don’t have to impress other people.
• With a little bit of practice you can quickly become a participant and contributor to your local scene, while at the same time you can always learn more.
• You get several opportunities to play this music with different people from all backgrounds and age groups.  It’s an interesting and enjoyable scene to be part of.
• You learn a common repertoire that allows you to go anywhere in the world and sit in on a jam or session.
• The inclusiveness of the traditional music community - ordinary folks, not just the gifted and flashy, can make music together. 
• The communal approach to creating sound.  Everyone plays in unison.
• Personality, friendliness and etiquette are just as important as musical competence.
• Beginners and mentors/experts often play side by side.
• You don’t have to sound like anyone else or compare your playing with professionals or any other player.  You can do it your own way.
• The goal of most players is to simply be a competent amateur and not a professional paid musician or entertainer.
• You also learn about musicology, history and folklore through your association with traditional music.
• It increases you understanding and appreciation of music in general, even music you don’t play.
• It can be as non-intellectual or as intellectual as you want it to be.
• You can learn it simply through the medium of the tune rather than through scales and exercises (although scales and exercises don't hurt!).  
• You experience the music organically via real life music making and not just through formal theory and practice.
• It’s a type of music you can play your whole life. 
• It’s acoustic – no power needed when the coming apocalypse happens.
• It’s built-in entertainment and a creative outlet.
• The abundance of audio and transcriptions available online makes it easier than ever to get tunes and learn at your own pace.

Those are my main reasons for playing this music.  What are yours?

Sing and Play the Jamaican Way: Folk Songbook/CD review

I recently returned from my first ever trip to Jamaica!  Part of my reason for wanting to go to Jamaica was due to a growing interest in the island’s indigenous folk music, particularly mento.

Unlike the traditional music of Appalachia and Ireland that I am also learning, I could find very little if any online sheet music or instruction for Jamaican folk music.  So I turned to any tune books or instruction books I could find.  One that I discovered is called Sing and Play the Jamaican Way by Joy Simons Brown.

Sing and Play The Jamaican Way is a booklet and play-along CD containing 30 traditional Jamaican folk songs with lyrics and sheet music designed for the intermediate musician.  Each song in the booklet is included on the accompanying CD, performed at a slow tempo by a backing band.  Songs include Dip Dem Bedward, Emmanuel Road, Hol' Im Joe, Linstead Market, Nobody’s Business, Rookumbine, Sly Mongoose and Wheel An Turn Me.

The project’s musical director, pianist and chief arranger is Joy Simons Brown of Sound of Joy Productions in Kingston.  Ms. Brown's goal was to keep this music alive by making it accessible to children and adult learners like myself.  She was joined by musicians Chris Downer (percussion), Cliff Bond (drums), Nicholas Laraque (flute) and Damian Benjamin (bass).

Joy Simons Brown

Usually the audio that comes with song books has a lead melody for playing along with, but this CD only had backup music with what sounded like a drum kit and electric bass guitar, and some sprinkling of flute.  It’s well recorded, but seeing as how this is melodic folk music from the aural tradition - where sheet music is typically regarded as only short hand - I found it odd that there wasn’t a lead melody track for ear playing.  Students will either need to already be familiar with these melodies or be pretty good at sight reading in order to play the songs correctly.  It may be that you use this book as an aid to learning a song like Linstead Market, which you may have partially figured out on your own but want confirmation of the melody notes.

Also, instead of the “modern” instrumentation an alternative might have been to use Jamaican folk instruments like 4-string banjo, rhumba box and maracas.  In addition, I would like to have seen the suggested chords listed, but chords were absent from the musical scores.  On the other hand, the steady drum beats and bass on the backing tracks could be of use to a percussionist or bassist looking for rhythmic ideas or for the soloist looking for an alternative to a metronome.

The inclusion of the lyrics gives the reader/singer insight into not just Jamaica’s musical heritage, but also its cultural heritage and folklore.  Each of them a folk tale in miniature, these songs take you back to a time of innocence and youth, whether you grew up in Jamaica or not.  Many lyrics were left in their original patois language, so some may have to do research to fully understand the meaning!  Fans of mento groups like the Jolly Boys and Blue Glaze Mento Band will know that those artists have often taken these child-friendly songs and made them significantly more bawdy by adding their own adult verses.

For anyone with an interest in Jamaican folk music, Sing and Play the Jamaican Way will serve as a nice addition to your practice routine, as it will connect you to many hard to find traditional songs in a fun and entertaining way.  For more information visit soundofjoyonline.com.

Playing Styles: Irish vs. Old-Time

I love playing a fiddle tune that might be from the Southern Appalachians then following that up with a jig or reel that may have originated in West County Clare, for example.  I do so freely with little concern for authenticity.  Heck, I play tenor banjo so what does it matter?! 

The way I see it, tunes are just a combination of notes and all I'm trying to do is make it sound like the way it’s supposed to and/or the way I want it to.  Nonetheless, it doesn’t hurt to be aware of some of the melodic characteristics found in tunes of Appalachian origin vs. those of Irish origin.  These include:

Notes:  Irish tunes can be rather notey.  Anyone who has tried to play an Irish reel at a blazing speed knows this!  In an old-time tune feel free to leave out more notes in favor of (deceptive) simplicity. 

Ornaments:  Use triplets to get that Irish sound.  For more of an old-timey sound try using double stops.

Melody/Rhythm:  On old-time tunes you may want to bring out that boom-chucka/shuffle rhythm.  For Irish, focus on the melody, but make sure you can distinguish between a jig, slide and slip-jig, and a reel, hornpipe and polka.  Each of these tune types has its own rhythmic emphasis.

Clarity vs. Dissonance:  On Appalachian tunes you can use more dissonant notes and quarter tones.  For Celtic tunes emphasize fluidity and note clarity.  

My two cents:  It’s a non-intellectual process.  If you use your ear to pick up on the nuances of each individual tune you'll already be making the distinctions you're supposed to, regardless of tune type or country of origin.  Just let it happen.

Grateful Dead Go to the Movies: Alpine Valley, 7/18/89

I don't see many movies in the theater any more, but I will be going this Thursday, April 19th at 7pm to see the complete concert video of the Grateful Dead's 7/18/89 performance at Alpine Valley.  It is being shown in select theaters nationwide.  Not to be confused with Downhill From Here from the night before, this footage has never been officially released until now.

I'm not that familiar with 7/18/89, but by all accounts it is a smoking show with a nice opening one-two-three punch of Touch of Grey, Jack Straw, Jack-A-Roe (I always loved the Jack Straw/Jack-A-Roe combo) and an outstanding late 1st set Bird Song.  Although, the real highlight is reputed to be the entire seamless, flawless 2nd set, which starts with Sugar Magnolia, ends with Sunshine Daydream, and includes a few surprises along the way, like an out-of-left-field Scarlet Begonias sans Fire On the Mountain. 

In my opinion, 1989 is the year that the band reached its peak and this pro-shot video should be a real treat, representative of that time period.  I would love to see an officially released video from an '82 or '83 show - for good or ill - but I'll take another from the fine year of 1989!  Grab your tickets here.

Here's a sneak peak:

Setlist:
07/18/89 - Alpine Valley Music Theater - East Troy, WI

Set 1:
Touch Of Grey
Jack Straw
Jack-A-Roe
New Minglewood Blues
Friend Of The Devil
Stuck Inside Of Mobile
Bird Song
Promised Land

Set 2:
Sugar Magnolia
Scarlet Begonias
Man Smart-Woman Smarter
Eyes Of The World
Drums
China Doll
Dear Mr. Fantasy
Hey Jude Reprise
Throwin' Stones
Sunshine Daydream

Encore:
The Mighty Quinn

Download/Listen to this Show at Archive.org

Great Huts - Boston Beach Jamaica: Eco-tourism, Paradise on the Edge

After several visits to Northern lands (Ireland, Scotland, Iceland and Newfoundland) my wife and I were ready for something more tropical and Caribbean.  We considered going to Los Gringos in the Dominican Republic - and still may some day - but ultimately decided on Jamaica due to its combination of music, people, culture and attractions.  Once I learned about the area around Port Antonio (Portland Parish) and discovered Great Huts I knew we had found the right place!

Water view from Great Huts

About Great Huts

Great Huts is a rustic, 4+ acre eco-resort built on cliffs overlooking Boston Bay/Beach on the Northeast part of the Jamaican coast.  It is well-suited for the budget-minded cultural tourist, adventure traveler and nature lover. Accommodations consist of unique Afro-Caribbean style huts and bamboo treehouses scattered amongst a jungle environment that utilizes the surrounding limestone, trees and rocks to blend into the rootsy habitat.  

All huts feature hand-crafted furniture and are decorated with tribal art.  In fact, art is everywhere - carved wooden sculptures, paintings, masks, murals and more.  Great Huts is about 12 miles from Port Antonio, a bustling town with about 10,000 residents. Port Antonio has a marina, but no cruise ships, so it's less touristy than some other parts of the island, such as Montego Bay or Ocho Rios.

Sea Grape hut

Rates at Great Huts range from $35 to $250 per night, depending on the size of your tent, hut or treehouse and whether or not you have your own bathroom, hot water, kitchen facilities, water view and so on.  My wife and I chose the Sea Grape hut which offers privacy – being perched at the edge of the property on a cliff with an ocean view.  It also has its own toilet, hot water shower, a veranda and a small outdoor pool.  It was perfect!  The indoor/outdoor design makes it feel like you are sleeping in the open, but with a roof over your head.  The sounds of waves, peepers, birds and distant reggae music floats through the air as you drift off to sleep. There are mosquito nets over the beds but bugs weren't really a problem while we were there.

Tip: Don't rent a car!  Great Huts can send a safe, reliable route taxi driver to pick you up from the airport.  From Kingston's Norman Manley International Airport it's a 2.5 hour thrill ride through hairpin turns in the Blue Mountains with breathtaking views of the lush green landscape and the little communities along the way.  Taxi transport to and from the airport costs about $130 US each way. 

One of the many outdoor spots on the property

Great Huts offers free wifi in its open air lounge (I could kinda get it from our hut) and plenty of secluded places on-site to hang out and relax.  For a relatively small 4+ acre compound, everything is spaced out nicely so even when fully booked you still feel as if you have the place all to yourself.   Be sure to check out the cliff-side saltwater pool fed by waters of the ocean.  It was awesome!  Also look for the Rocks Cafe...when this hut is not being rented it's used as a common area where you can have lunch and enjoy the fantastic views of the waves coming into Boston Beach.  

There's music most Saturday nights at Great Huts, performed by the Manchioneal Cultural Group who puts on a traditional African/Jamaican Drumming and Dance show not to be missed!  Great Huts is also home to several dogs, exotic birds, lizards, turtles, rabbits and more.  

The cliff-side saltwater infinity pool! 

The Staff

The staff at Great Huts is friendly and courteous, yet unobtrusive.  The pace of life is a little slower in Jamaica, so service may not seem as prompt as you are accustomed to, but if you just go with the flow things will be fine.  There is security personnel on watch at all times and as guests we always felt comfortable, safe and well taken care of.   

Great Huts is owned by Dr. Paul Rhodes, an American physician who also manages the operations of the Port Antonio homeless shelter, which he founded.  If you wish to, you may make a donation or take part in community service at the shelter. Volunteers are housed at discounted rates. 

Food and Drinks

Breakfast is included - home-cooked and served every morning from 8 to 10am, consisting of eggs, fruit, toast, fresh squeezed juice and blue mountain coffee.  Lunch and dinner are also served - delicious, exotic creations of curried, coconut and jerk flavors, even pizza and pasta! Vegetarian options are also available.  Dinner prices start at $15 US.  

Great Huts keeps a fridge stocked full of soft drinks, juice, water and beer (Red Stripe, Guinness and Heineken) available to guests 24/7 at a reasonable cost. Just take what you need and mark it down on the sheet on the fridge.  Specially made mixed cocktails are also available - daquiris, pina coladas, rum drinks and more, plus wine.  At the end of your stay the manager can tally up your food and drink total and add it to your bill for which you can pay with credit card.  A great convenience!  

Tip:  You can drink the tap water!  At least I did with no problems.  I also consumed plenty of raw fruit (Jamaican apples, sugar cane, "jelly" coconuts and guava) in the wild while on a hike with no later issues. 

Some of the art on-site - Lion sculpture

Outside Great Huts - Yes You Can Leave the Resort!

From Great Huts there's a path down to a small beach complete with lounge chairs, hammocks, plenty of sun and shade, two naturally fed tidal pools, and a diving platform for those daring enough to jump in the water.  The sea water here is clear and pristine.  From this beach you can walk along a short gravel path to Boston Beach where you can take a surf lesson, go for a snorkel or swim, catch frisbee, listen to some music, or just chill with the friendly and helpful locals who will be happy to show you their hand-made jewelry and other offerings, or take care of any needs you might have.  We really liked the guys who hang out on this beach and kicked it with them most days.  These are good people who will look after you once they get to know you.

A short walk from the main entrance/exit to Great Huts is the Boston Jerk Center, which offers no shortage of Jamaica's famous smoked chicken/pork/fish/lobster and plenty of vendors ready for you to sample (i.e. purchase) their selections. A quarter plate of jerk chicken + festival bread should run about $400-500 Jamaican dollars.  Try Little Davie's stand...the first one on the right as you come out of Great Huts.  Don't go overboard with the spiciness though; if you get a little too bold that can come back to haunt you!  Top it off with a cold Red Stripe for $150-200 Jamaican and you've got a tasty little lunch.  

In the evenings there are several lively pubs and rum bars in or around the Jerk Center.  Our favorite was called Sylvia's, although the bartender there was named Angie.  We also liked a bar a short walk up the main road heading toward Long Bay on the left-hand side. We were told it was called "Favorita" (there may not be a sign but look for lights - it's just before a gravel road on the left, if you get to the sports bar on the other side of the road you've gone too far).  Many of the Boston Beach surfers and fishermen we made friends with hung out there. 

Small private pool - Sea Grape hut

Besides Boston Beach, another nice nearby public beach is Winnifred Beach.  (It beats the more well known Frenchman's Cove in my opinion).  Have a local show you the 20 minute jungle path which leads from Boston to Fairy Hill and on down to Winnifred beach.  Then, for his troubles, buy your "guide" a lunch at Cynthia's on the beach - the food there is excellent!  

From Great Huts you are also a short distance away from such attractions as Reach Falls, Rio Grande Rafting, The Blue Lagoon, hiking in the Blue Mountains, Frenchman's Cove, Nonsuch Caves, Long Bay Beach and more.  Any route taxi driver can take you to these places or Great Huts can arrange more formal tours. 

Tip:  Cabs are plentiful in Jamaica!  For a $120 Jamaican dollar route taxi ride (about $1.40 US) you can be in Port Antonio in about 20 minutes.  Port Antonio is a good place to stock up on supplies, visit the market and marina, and people-watch the goings on of everyday life. 

"Hello" bird near common area

What to Bring

Sunscreen - this is the "Island in the Sun" after all!

Bug Spray - just in case.

Water sandals like Tevas, Keens or Chacos - probably the only shoes you'll need.

Flashlight - Great Huts is mostly well lit, but you could use a flashlight when walking up to the bars at night or on the beach or in any other dark places you might find yourself.

Hat - to block the sun.

Immodium - just in case that jerk chicken rubs you the wrong way!

Swim trunks/swimsuit and some semi-casual clothes.  Pack light.  It always seems to be between 75 to 85 degrees and if it rains it's only briefly in the mornings or evenings, so you can leave the long sleeves, rain jackets and long pants at home.  If you should need to, you can always hand wash your clothes in the sink and hang them out to dry. The hot sun and breeze will dry them quickly.

Cash - Most transactions are in cash. You'll probably only use plastic at Great Huts. Carry small bills in both Jamaican and US dollars, just enough on your person to cover what you'll need at that time, and stash the rest away in various places. There are ATMs in Port Antonio should you need it.

Tip:  Jamaicans use Jamaican dollars and American dollars almost interchangeably.  But, a general rule is if it's something a tourist would do expect to pay in American dollars; if it's something a local would do expect to pay in Jamaican dollars.

Unlike other vacations where you are constantly having to go and do something, I was actually able to rest, relax and feel refreshed and rejuvenated by the end of our stay at Great Huts!  I would definitely return and, having now seen some of the other guest houses and villas in the area, I can't think of a better deal or better place to stay in Jamaica than Great Huts!

The Annual Daniel: June 15-16, 2012

Not Daniel

The 2012 Annual Daniel! 

Hammer No More the Fingers – Friday, June 15th

The Hot Seats - Saturday, June 16th

The Annual Daniel is a party/music festival on Claytor Lake/The New River open to all who care to make the trek to this beautiful part of Virginia.  Starts Friday, June 15, 2012 at 11am.  Ends Sunday, June 17, 2012 at approximately 2pm.

Location: Stephanie and Daniel's house, AKA "Deltopia".  1751 Shulls Ln, Draper VA 24324.   

4 hours from Richmond, 3 hours from Durham, 2.5 hours from Charlotte, 2 hours from Bristol, 38 hours from Los Angeles.

Come early and stay late.
Bring a tent – there’s on-site camping along the lake/river.
Bring your own food and drink, including water, and some to share if you like.
There are grills, smokers and kitchen facilities for cooking.

Volleyball and yoga.
A bathing suit, acoustic instrument for jamming and fishing pole might also good things to have.

Please bring at least a $10 donation for the bands – greatly appreciated!

About the bands:

By now most Annual Daniel alumni are familiar with Hammer No More the Fingers and the pure drop of mojo that is summoned when these guys perform in front of friends and family at this... their “2^nd home” alongside Claytor Lake.  Free to take risks they may or may not pursue during a club set, the result is a sonic boom that lingers long after the final notes are played.  Hammer plays Friday, June 15^th.  Here’s a video:

Leading the charge on Saturday will be The Hot Seats from Richmond, VA.  Since last year’s A.D. the Hot Seats have put out a live album + studio album, toured Scotland twice, and honed their chops to become an even tighter bluegrass/old-time/ragtime/country machine.  They are primed and ready to up the ante this time around!  The Hot Seats perform on Saturday, June 16^th.  Here’s a taste:

If you have any questions add a comment or send an email.  Below are some photos from last year's Annual Daniel.

Claytor Lake - by Laura Fields

View of tents from dock - by Laura Fields

Hammer and Hot Seats merch tables - by Allison Springer

Early in the day - by Allison Springer

Just chillin' - by Allison Springer

Getting Hammered - by Allison Springer

More information on Facebook.  See you there!

Jamaica Pictures: Boston Bay, Great Huts, Winnifred Beach

Just returned from Jamaica!  Full length post coming soon, but here are a few pictures!

Below is Boston Beach, a friendly locals beach great for surfing, snorkeling, swimming or just hanging out.  This beach is adjacent to Great Huts, the eco-resort we stayed at.

Boston Beach

Here is a picture of the outside of the hut we stayed in.

Sea Grape hut

The lovely Winnifred Beach, the beach that Jamaicans go to, was about a 20 or 30 minute walk away.  We had one of our Boston Bay surfer friends show us the shortcut jungle path to get there. Learn how you can help keep Winnifred Beach free and open to the public.

Winnifred Beach, Fairy Hill

More to come!