Glenn Cottage on CBA
- Thread starter dan
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It's a nice polka, I've played it for ages on fiddle, will have to have a try on CBA.
If you're not able to pop over to the CBA rally next Sunday Dan we'll see if we can apply the collective wisdom of the participants to this tune!
(There may be more than enough good suggestions before then.)
Cheers
Tom
If you're not able to pop over to the CBA rally next Sunday Dan we'll see if we can apply the collective wisdom of the participants to this tune!
(There may be more than enough good suggestions before then.)
Cheers
Tom
G
Geronimo
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C system or B system? Or one of the others?dan post_id=56764 time=1522735594 user_id=1712 said:
C system, 5 row boxGeronimo post_id=56769 time=1522747685 user_id=2623 said:
TomBR post_id=56766 time=1522743240 user_id=323 said:If youre not able to pop over to the CBA rally next Sunday Dan well see if we can apply the collective wisdom of the participants to this tune!
Sadly, Im on the wrong side of the pond, but look forward to hearing about it.
Im now comfortable enough with the C system layout to no longer have to think about where the notes are located, playing either from sheet music or by ear, and if I was pecking out a melody with a single finger at a walking pace Id have no problem. The trouble comes in when Im having to put two fingers on the same row (which happens all the time in traditional music) and whatever logic was employed in fingering scales breaks down. I often end up sliding or hopping a finger at the end of a phrase.
I had a quick play before heading for work this morning 
(Counting thumb as 1) Starting with 4 on the first B I found it essential to change fingers on the repeated E so that the second one was played by 4. Things flowed quite well from there.
The second part of the tune flowed quite naturally, the only thing that came to mind was using adjacent fingers to go from the B to the E. Then coming back down to the thumb on the A.
As I said, I've played this tune lots on the fiddle, I really enjoyed doing it on box.
Cheers
Tom
(Counting thumb as 1) Starting with 4 on the first B I found it essential to change fingers on the repeated E so that the second one was played by 4. Things flowed quite well from there.
The second part of the tune flowed quite naturally, the only thing that came to mind was using adjacent fingers to go from the B to the E. Then coming back down to the thumb on the A.
As I said, I've played this tune lots on the fiddle, I really enjoyed doing it on box.
Cheers
Tom
G
Geronimo
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I'll probably put up some video later but I observed myself playing and one essential thing was that I basically divided the tune into short phrases and the fingering inside of each phrase was sort of "use the next convenient finger". Now it happens that quite a few phrases start with the same pitch that the previous phrase ended with: that basically means nothing for the choice of the finger to use. In particular, I more often than not start with a different finger than what I stopped with, anticipating where the next phrase goes.
I use only the first three rows (basically a habit when playing from score sheets: if I use the fourth row at all, it is usually for chords and very sparingly for trills).
I use only the first three rows (basically a habit when playing from score sheets: if I use the fourth row at all, it is usually for chords and very sparingly for trills).
Good stuff, thanks for the video Geronimo. Interesting to see you bringing the thumb over for the bottom B. I did that a couple of times on my quick run through as one alternative.
G
Geronimo
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Oh man, this is stupid. I forgot to mute the video audio before exporting so there is handling noise and hiss and bad stereo. So here is the reexported video. With regard to the thumb in the third row: youll find that the video contains several different fingerings since I havent really practiced this to the degree of getting consistency. Sometimes the running out of fingers problem is solved by finger changes, sometimes by some sort of fingering crossover. I suppose that is likely the kind of trick dan had been missing out on. When the thumb is used on the low B in the third row, it appears to save one crossover.
Well, I played the Glen Cottage Polkas in public with a guitarist friend and was much pleased with the dancing and hand clapping that ensued.
This video shows the fingering Ive adopted. Thanks Geronimo for posting a video, I hadnt considered bringing thumb up the B. I also have embraced the idea of breaking out short phrases that can be reached from a single hand position. This helps with learning and speed, but Ive found that articulation sometimes suffers, since I dont have much strength in my ring and pinky fingers. The E minor polka worked well on outer three rows but I employed 4th and 5th rows in the second part of the A Dorian polka.
Fun tune. Im gonna have to learn more dance music
This video shows the fingering Ive adopted. Thanks Geronimo for posting a video, I hadnt considered bringing thumb up the B. I also have embraced the idea of breaking out short phrases that can be reached from a single hand position. This helps with learning and speed, but Ive found that articulation sometimes suffers, since I dont have much strength in my ring and pinky fingers. The E minor polka worked well on outer three rows but I employed 4th and 5th rows in the second part of the A Dorian polka.
Fun tune. Im gonna have to learn more dance music
Well played Dan.
I very much agree with the short phrases approach mentioned by you and Geronimo, particularly for polkas.
If polka rhythm can be described as 123-, 123-, etc, the 123 kind of has to be in one hand movement, and the - is the moment to get ready for the next! (Or something like that!)
Quite a strong feel of it when he gets up to speed in this clip
(The 123-,123- reflects the dance I think.)
Tom
I very much agree with the short phrases approach mentioned by you and Geronimo, particularly for polkas.
If polka rhythm can be described as 123-, 123-, etc, the 123 kind of has to be in one hand movement, and the - is the moment to get ready for the next! (Or something like that!)
Quite a strong feel of it when he gets up to speed in this clip
(The 123-,123- reflects the dance I think.)
Tom
Tom,
Thanks for that link. Not only does it demonstrate phrasing (like language), but it is also a beautiful demonstration of "centering" (on the middle rows), as I've brought up in earlier posts. The guy follows, perfectly, the patterns I've been developing while centering. I even recognized, visually, some of the riffs/patterns I've been using. EXCELLENT!
That's a very cool, compact, CBA he's playing. Anybody recognise the brand? It's too styalizied for me to read.
Press on...
Waldo
Thanks for that link. Not only does it demonstrate phrasing (like language), but it is also a beautiful demonstration of "centering" (on the middle rows), as I've brought up in earlier posts. The guy follows, perfectly, the patterns I've been developing while centering. I even recognized, visually, some of the riffs/patterns I've been using. EXCELLENT!
That's a very cool, compact, CBA he's playing. Anybody recognise the brand? It's too styalizied for me to read.
Press on...
Waldo
craptiger
Mudchutney - folky clothing
WaldoW said:
It's a Castagnari box he's playing.
I'll have a go at this tune later and try to record a video of me playing it. I think when you say "centering" you mean playing in the "first" position whatever the key? So tunes in C and A sit well on the outer 3 rows, in G and E on the middle rows and D on the inner rows? It's all to do with playing arpeggios. If the arpeggio "fits" your hand shape then that's the most natural position.
DISCLAIMER: I'm completely self taught by the way so it might be that everything I've said above is a load of complete tosh!
craptiger
Mudchutney - folky clothing
Ok so Ive had a go.... if you like it then please let me know. Im welcome any feedback / comments too. The fingering is probably not right, but I had fun learning the tune. You can slow it down using the YouTube setting if you want.
Good work Ben! (First 30 seconds.) I should be working so I'll have a proper look and listen later!
Cheers
Tom
Cheers
Tom
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