BillyG said

stringy said

Needs a LOT of polishing but I am quite pleased for my first attempt, I picked this one up by ear, I find slow tunes much more difficult than faster ones, don’t know if anyone else feels the same, anyway here goes...

Well done @stringy - yup - I agree on the demands made by slower tunes and airs...  I find I need to pay a lot of attention to bow control, distribution and direction change, but, equally, there's a lot of scope for dynamics, perhaps the occasional decoration/embellishment/vibrato and so on.  I too pick up a lot of tunes by ear (and usually end up with something marginally different from anything that might be scored, but still well recognisable.  LOL).

Good work !

  

Thanks Bill, I intend postimg it again once Ihave got itrightin a couple of weeks, I am not happy with that recording at all  but it is my first attempt. I have just finshed learning humours of whiskey, good one if you havent heard it, I am now swapping all my tenor banjo tunes onto the fiddle which as you know is easier said than done, especially as I cant play the fiddle yet lol. When you mention changing tunes slightly, I think thats what its all about, shows creativity, I must have heard about a hundred variations of banish misfortune and the coleraine jig. I have recently started to add in triplets, which on banjo I do without thinking but on fiddle its a whole new ball gamehe,he,he. I compose music as well, here is one I wrote for my friend on an Irish bouzouki he made to show off one  his instrument, my missus comes in with a brew half way through, bouzouki isnt my normal choice but you may or may not like it

Dont know if I am breaking any rules by posting this, if I am I will delete it at source

GregW said
@stringy... cool.  for the past couple years ive been thinking id either get one or an octave mandolin.  cant decide so havent.  any advice on which one?  been looking at trinity college (bouzouki) and eastman for the mando

( mdo305 ).

  

I have a pilgrim octave mandolin, the bouzouki I am plaYing was handmade by a friend of mine. Picking between a bouzouki and an octave mando depends onthe style of music you want to play to an extent. The bouzouk is better suited to chord playing but can be used for playing melody lines, the tuning is usually gdad on bouzouki, but can be a whole host of different ones depending on the player, octave mando is usually tuned like a violin and is better for playing fast jigs and reels, quick melody lines, due to the neck being shorter, I havent tried a trinity college but haveheard good reports, personally i would go for a cheaper instrument, no matter what the make to see if I liked it first, tenor banjo is also a great instrument for all irish music. In saying all that though it is probably just personal choice, have a listen to this fellow play bouzouki

As you see some people findthe bouzouki easier for quick passages, I would try them both in a music shop and see which suits you, Andyis playinga greek bouzouki in this vid.

Thanks

BillyG said
@stringy

   stringy said ....Thanks Bill...., I intend postimg it again once Ihave got itrightin a couple of weeks, I am not happy with that recording at all  but it is my first attempt. I have just finshed learning humours of whiskey, good one if you havent heard it, I am now swapping all my tenor banjo tunes onto the fiddle which as you know is easier said than done, especially as I cant play the fiddle yet lol. When you mention changing tunes slightly, I think thats what its all about, shows creativity, I must have heard about a hundred variations of banish misfortune and the coleraine jig. I have recently started to add in triplets, which on banjo I do without thinking but on fiddle its a whole new ball gamehe,he,he. I compose music as well, here is one I wrote for my friend on an Irish bouzouki he made to show off one  his instrument, my missus comes in with a brew half way through, bouzouki isnt my normal choice but you may or may not like it......Dont know if I am breaking any rules by posting this, if I am I will delete it at source

Aye, I know what you mean about "initial attempts on a new tune" - with me it's usually "close-enough to be recognisable" - but - lacks the finesse and nuances something like 100 more play-throughs will bring.... to the point where it picks up your own personal style and interpretation and you eventually "own it" LOL....

I liked the bouzouki piece ! 

And no - you are not breaking any rules - your sharing of the bouzouki piece grew out of the discussion on the thread regarding creativity - and your enthusiasm for not only playing music but also creating new music shines through!!!  No problem at all there !

  

Thanks Bill, I think its all the play throughs that make it so enjoyable:)