Who needs them......?
Well we do, is the plain and simple answer. Ok, you look at a scale book and think 'bugger', where do I start? As this blog deals (in the main) with traditional Irish and Scottish tunes we can narrow down our need for scales and the practise of scales, quite a bit. To be honest, quite a LOT!
Most GDAE tuned instruments will only part with two or two and a half octaves anyway so that does us a favour to start with. Follow that with 95% of tunes never venturing near the 'G' string (the thick one or 'fourth' string as I put it. Others say 'first'.). So that cuts the range down even more. I do include the 'G' in my practise as it gives your memory and fingers the whole picture and that is what your after. You hear 'muso's' talking about 'muscle memory' and this seems a strange and wondrous thing when you first start. Just watch the likes of Vin Garbutt playing a set of jigs on tin whistle at speed and I can assure you he is not thinking, 'ah, what comes after C sharp'!!!! The 'muscle memory' in his fingers and brain are doling the 'talking'. And sorry to say that's practise and loads of it. Afore I stray off the subject as I tend to do.....my tips for scales are. To start with, stick to C, G, D, and A Major. One octave at first then two. Both up and down. Remember the Major scale rule: from your start note that names the scale eg. 'C Major', it's, tone (2 frets), tone, semitone (1 fret), tone, tone, tone, semitone, for the octave. Then on to the second octave etc.
If you give these a good ten to fifteen minutes a day four or five times a week you will soon have that 'memory' that will drive further learning forward. Have fun with them and never make them a chore. If you don't feel like em' don't do em' but it will pay off...........Promise!
Just the place to put those new found skills and old ones too is The Gun Inn on the A628 Nr Glossop. Run by a guy called James McCormack, on 07805338747. This is one of those 'grass roots' jobbies that folk music is all about and the ones we should be supporting, so give it a go if you can. It's every second Thursday so March will be, 8th, 22nd, April 5th, 19th, etc, etc. Make a note of James' number and give him a call to confirm. Do not want you to waste a journey.
Well it looks and sounds as though David Hope enjoyed gigging with The Henry Girls over the water on the 'Emerald'. I do hope he makes it over here soon, he seems such a nice guy and want to buy him a pint.
Far too many festival confirmations to mention, Rothbury, Whitby, Cambridge and Sidmouth are all looking very good. With no doubt more to follow.
'Pet hate' this week, Kirstie Allsopp!! Supose some daft bugger loves her?
Springs on it's way, good health to you all, Phil.
Email: folktalkinfolk@gmail.com, Twitter: @folktalkinfolk, Moan Line: 07526 504285.
Well we do, is the plain and simple answer. Ok, you look at a scale book and think 'bugger', where do I start? As this blog deals (in the main) with traditional Irish and Scottish tunes we can narrow down our need for scales and the practise of scales, quite a bit. To be honest, quite a LOT!
Most GDAE tuned instruments will only part with two or two and a half octaves anyway so that does us a favour to start with. Follow that with 95% of tunes never venturing near the 'G' string (the thick one or 'fourth' string as I put it. Others say 'first'.). So that cuts the range down even more. I do include the 'G' in my practise as it gives your memory and fingers the whole picture and that is what your after. You hear 'muso's' talking about 'muscle memory' and this seems a strange and wondrous thing when you first start. Just watch the likes of Vin Garbutt playing a set of jigs on tin whistle at speed and I can assure you he is not thinking, 'ah, what comes after C sharp'!!!! The 'muscle memory' in his fingers and brain are doling the 'talking'. And sorry to say that's practise and loads of it. Afore I stray off the subject as I tend to do.....my tips for scales are. To start with, stick to C, G, D, and A Major. One octave at first then two. Both up and down. Remember the Major scale rule: from your start note that names the scale eg. 'C Major', it's, tone (2 frets), tone, semitone (1 fret), tone, tone, tone, semitone, for the octave. Then on to the second octave etc.
If you give these a good ten to fifteen minutes a day four or five times a week you will soon have that 'memory' that will drive further learning forward. Have fun with them and never make them a chore. If you don't feel like em' don't do em' but it will pay off...........Promise!
Just the place to put those new found skills and old ones too is The Gun Inn on the A628 Nr Glossop. Run by a guy called James McCormack, on 07805338747. This is one of those 'grass roots' jobbies that folk music is all about and the ones we should be supporting, so give it a go if you can. It's every second Thursday so March will be, 8th, 22nd, April 5th, 19th, etc, etc. Make a note of James' number and give him a call to confirm. Do not want you to waste a journey.
Well it looks and sounds as though David Hope enjoyed gigging with The Henry Girls over the water on the 'Emerald'. I do hope he makes it over here soon, he seems such a nice guy and want to buy him a pint.
Far too many festival confirmations to mention, Rothbury, Whitby, Cambridge and Sidmouth are all looking very good. With no doubt more to follow.
'Pet hate' this week, Kirstie Allsopp!! Supose some daft bugger loves her?
Springs on it's way, good health to you all, Phil.
Email: folktalkinfolk@gmail.com, Twitter: @folktalkinfolk, Moan Line: 07526 504285.
