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Playing in C minor
Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 (1 votes) 
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Little Prairie Girl
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March 12, 2021 - 10:58 am
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I'm trying to record a song for St. Patrick's day (left myself a lot of time, didn't I?) And I sing it in the key of C minor and I wanted to add a fiddle break.... I was wondering if anyone has any advice playing in such an awkward key? I don't want to sing it in a different key....

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ELCBK
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March 12, 2021 - 1:25 pm
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@Little Prairie Girl -

If you don't want to transcribe a tune, this search may help (951 tunes in C minor). 

https://www.folktunefinder.com.....Mode:minor

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c0/a4/6f/c0a46f4a2d6370d2ed9512536ce19823.jpg

 

- Emily

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Little Prairie Girl
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March 12, 2021 - 1:42 pm
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Good idea. I hadn't thought of a different tune! I'm playing (and singing) the Parting Glass.

Does anyone know a bit about arrangement? Should I put the Fiddle part in the middle of the song; say between verse 2&3? Or would it be better to sort of break into another tune at the end? Maybe a Celtic jig or reel?

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ABitRusty
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March 12, 2021 - 1:57 pm
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Id probably make a recording, either with just the chord progression say with piano or one with piano and your singing...and experiment with the fiddle with the backing track playing.   make sure you record your playing and when you find something you like...target in on that for a while.  i havent thought out the scale but im assuming if its in cminor then the cminor pentatonic would work for an imorovised fiddle break.  just some short section would be enough to break the parts between singing.  this may be easier to suggest than put in practice but its something that id start with.

a key change could be interesting in the middle of a song if you can make it work.  maybe switch to cmajor ( probably too many notes changing)  F maj maybe.?  just for your fiddle break?  idk....id just have to experiment.

 

Not to send you off into the weeds...i think from what ive seen youve got a great musical background..but this is a good video on key changing.  only include it because i said something about ut.  disregard if its not something that would work in the time you have.

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ELCBK
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March 12, 2021 - 2:54 pm
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@Little Prairie Girl -

Most of the Irish tunes I like that have lyrics usually have a break in the middle - where a different tune, jig or part of a reel, is inserted. 

I was wondering why "The Parting Glass" was different - several groups I watched all brought in Pipers to continue the same tune in the break! 

Found this - might explain it. 

https://www.tripsavvy.com/the-.....-1542681 

It could be very nice to use a part of a traditional jig or reel in the break of this song - just slow it WAY down, so you keep the feel of a lament. 

Maybe part of something like "Siul A Ruin"? 

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d8/5f/e1/d85fe146b2c4ae87264f7dd3813582ee.jpg

 

- Emily

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ABitRusty
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March 12, 2021 - 3:22 pm
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if you decide to not do the fiddle break i think a tune like elcbk is suggesting..a jig or reel would be good...something related in title like say out on the ocean or the rolling waves..but i think id probably make it a little faster in a happy key :) and play it after instead of a break in the middle to contrast the song if able.  sorta like a story...person saying goodbye then onto the travel (instead of the other) .idk..either way..excited to hear what you come up with!

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Mark
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March 12, 2021 - 10:01 pm
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C minor is the relative minor for E flat if that helps so just the E flat scale starting on C.

 

Mark

Master the Frog and you have mastered the bow.

Albert Sammons

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Little Prairie Girl
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April 21, 2021 - 12:28 pm
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I did eventually decide to just play a break of the same tune, simple, but it fits, and the key was so unforgiving to me that I just didn't mess with it too much.

Not my favorite, but it's ok.

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Unfretted
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April 21, 2021 - 12:54 pm
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Nice, Little Prairie Girl.  Very haunting, and lovely, and ancient-sounding.

Do you play that harp?

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JohnG
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I'm truly impressed, very nice!

The old curmudgeon!

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ABitRusty
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Little Prairie Girl said
I did eventually decide to just play a break of the same tune, simple, but it fits, and the key was so unforgiving to me that I just didn't mess with it too much.

Not my favorite, but it's ok.

  

I hope you do more like this.  perfect choices on this... i mean mixing and reverb and video shots ..your fiddle playing...really good.  beautiful singing is the highlight here.  after all the talk on the fiddle break earlier in your post...i think you did it right.  

can you tell i like your video?  coffee

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Little Prairie Girl
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April 22, 2021 - 12:00 pm
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Thank you :) And no, I don't play the harp, that's my sister's. I figured 4-6 instruments is enough for one person (for now)

I'm still fairly unsatisfied with the fiddle break, and thinking of rerecording if I can think of a reel or a slow air in Cm. Does anybody know the one Farewell to Clare?

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ELCBK
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April 22, 2021 - 3:08 pm
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@Little Prairie Girl -

💖 Everything about your video is beyond-words beautiful! 💖

You have a very lovely voice - very talented! 

...could listen all day. 😊 

 

Thought your break was GREAT - this is a good place to play around and experiment. 

Yes, I have heard, and LOVE, "Farewell to Clare" but never looked for sheet music. 

https://fiddlerman.com/forum/i.....c/#p115149   (Post #3)

🤔 Maybe check out the article on "Ancient Irish Scales"?  ...you can check out how to modulate in your break. 

https://fiddlerman.com/forum/m.....115156   (Post #18 and #20)

 

giphy.gif

 

- Emily

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ABitRusty
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April 22, 2021 - 8:30 pm
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Little Prairie Girl said
Thank you :) And no, I don't play the harp, that's my sister's. I figured 4-6 instruments is enough for one person (for now)

I'm still fairly unsatisfied with the fiddle break, and thinking of rerecording if I can think of a reel or a slow air in Cm. Does anybody know the one Farewell to Clare?

  

not until you mentioned it here.  haunting tune.  Sounds old timey..probably due to the dulcimer..and kinda like cold frosty morning but slower..or like a slow star of munster in parts.  nice  and wouldnt sound right fast either.  thats a good one.  

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Fiddlerman
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May 12, 2021 - 11:21 am
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Little Prairie Girl said
I'm trying to record a song for St. Patrick's day (left myself a lot of time, didn't I?) And I sing it in the key of C minor and I wanted to add a fiddle break.... I was wondering if anyone has any advice playing in such an awkward key? I don't want to sing it in a different key....

It's great to force your skills to adapt to an awkward key.
Did you try working on C minor scales?

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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