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It does depend on your personal style of learning. Something will be the way that makes sense. (You have to be looking however.)

You also have to get comfortable with the idea that you will see...

There are 'apps' out there. I've used a number of them. However, my experience has taught me that unless I do 'the work myself' they just waste my time. Somehow they 'go in one ear and out the...

There is one missing aspect to this 'problem'. And that is that all instruments have a sweet spot where they like to vibrate at 'their best'. Sometimes going to lighter strings works wonders, and...

This is the 'short version'?

Sigh....
There is so much to learn.

Cheryl addressed the details that we did not care to explain. There is just too much to put into print. Thanks Cheryl. You're...

Most of the time, I avoid tunes that are quite similar. It is better to have a well defined melody that offers space for ornamentation or melodic variation / improvisation.

Having a good...

Last year, 2023 at the Savannah Music Festival. Caterina Lichtenberg, Sharon Gilcrest and Darol Anger joined the band.


https://youtu.be/rxi-5yOmO_I?si=C_9KrWSkZflP4nrs

A good question, 'how do you learn a new tune'?

Posed from a beginner to more advanced players. It gives some insight into different methods, common methods and odd methods based on the...

Looking at this problem from a little different perspective, I see that there are different situations that can 'mess you up'. The very idea of 'combating' your memorized' notes is one. So trust what...

To 'keep it going' we have to look at why 'playing slow and quiet' works and fast and loud does not.

One has the time and attention to handle technical problems at the slow speed. So that leads...

I think when people say, 'to play fast one should practice slowly' there is an implied notion of a lot of assumptions, too many to describe in a short manner.

Many of these assumptions are now...

Interesting tailpiece. Ebony instead of metal.

Thanks for posting this interview.

My impression early on, was that open tunings guide this guy's way of thinking. An then he mentions meeting Joni Mitchell. Wow.

His knowledge of music theory...

The tune is also called the Howling Wind. About twenty years ago, we were at a sessiun at Kieran's Pub in Minneapolis. There was a tornado that night and as the sky turned black, and we should have...

There is another way... Actually, it includes all of the ideas mentioned here. The only new thing I can add is to have a strategic plan to 'nail' just one tune that the fiddlers love.

One...

Continuing the open ended 'kind of random' theme:

Often capo's are used (in Trad Irish at least) to get a certain voicing. Sometimes accompaniment is done with two guitars, one with a capo, the...

I think most folk musicians make decisions based on practical matters like 'ease of use' or adapting to a singers range, or in making 'cool sounds'.

In classical music, the composer makes choices...

I wonder if there are banjo players doing something like this.



https://youtu.be/Qc63_gd2r-M?feature=shared

Ignorance is a large factor in developing 'work-arounds'. I think there are whole genera that build on certain idiosyncrasies. Some make sense and others are odd indeed. This awareness is clarified...

Yes.

There are a couple of factors that affect tone that have little to do with strings. My wife has taught violin for nearly 40 years, and I'm a violin luthier, if you need some credibility, ha, ha....

Ha! This made me laugh. I don't even know how many tunes that I 'know' after playing for 30 years or so. Let us know what you find.

I'm not sure of why you are asking. Are you looking for old time tunes that are similar to Irish? Or are you looking for old time tunes 'in general'? (for your own interests). In any case there...

Mike,
I was able to download the Mp3 and 'give it a listen'. It's a very nice tune, played well along with the accompaniment that I'm assuming is "not human." Good job there. Nice tone too.

Not sure what it is but I'll try to 'reverse engineer this thing'. The camera 'angles' don't work for me. But let's assume that the part with the screws lays flat on a surface. And the holes act as...

I'm not sure what the average range is. (I have some friends who teach voice and should ask, ha, ha.) But the size of the instrument matters. I'm a small guy and guess what, I sing tenor. As for...