allighatt0r Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 I've been asked to join a Ceilidh band, and being a man of adventure, I've gone and said yes without really ever listening to ceilidh before. Can anyone recommend some good bands to listen to, and offer up some tips and tricks that I should be sticking to? From the limited listening I've done (Pogues and Bellowhead), it all seems very simple, but I don't want to sell it short or anything! Any advice much appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earbrass Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 (edited) English, Irish or Scottish? If it's English, you might want to check out [i]The Bismarcks[/i] (bass parts played by piano left hand, but you'll get the idea). [url="http://www.youtube.com/user/Irenesinger?blend=15&ob=5#p/u/0/KHIT0svI4C4"]http://www.youtube.c...u/0/KHIT0svI4C4[/url] There's also the great compilation from the EFDSS "Hardcore English" [url="http://folkshop.efdss.org/Combined+Sets/Hardcore+English+Set.html"]http://folkshop.efds...nglish+Set.html[/url] You can buy the book, the double CD or both together. Edited November 16, 2011 by Earbrass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmachine2112 Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 [s]hi,try a band called Neck they play phsyco ceilidh,there are a few bands do this up tempo stuff.[/s] [s][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZcrL3nJL1Q"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZcrL3nJL1Q[/url] this will give you an idea or maybe not[/s] [s]hope this helps[/s] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtcat Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 I was in a Ceilidh band once doing weddings and corporate stuff. My only advice is never stop counting and know your tunes inside out cos you'll need to be able to adjust quickly when the punters are dancing and miss their cues - which is understandable really as most are more than a little tipsy by the time you play lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 You'll certainly have great fun. Keep it simple. Ceilidh tunes are often played in sets of three tunes. Usually twice or thrice for each tune in the set. It's dance music so if you don't have a drummer you have to keep a very strong beat. Hence the advice 'keep counting'. Learn your sets well so you know when the change of tune comes. There will often be a change of key with the new tune. Try listening to some Fiddlers Bid for Scottish stuff. I'm sure the Chieftans would be a good listen for Irish stuff. This might give you an idea, a gig I played with young Eryn Rae earlier this year. Bass ain't to clear but you'll get the idea. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n8lCW3CJjs"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n8lCW3CJjs[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allighatt0r Posted November 17, 2011 Author Share Posted November 17, 2011 Cheers for the advice, I'll bear it all in mind! I've got a fair bit of listening to do. I'm told I can expect a mix of all three (English/Irish/Scottish) so I think I'm going to have to get stuck in and see what happens. I've asked them for some chord charts to get me started. They record their rehearsals so I'll see if I can get a copy of that too! With the counting, I assume you mean bars as well as beats if there are the key/tune changes to worry about! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtcat Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 Yeah I was referring to bars mainly as everything happens in sets and I used to find it was easy to lose track of where I was if not careful and everyone changed around me. You'll really enjoy it tho. I would defo do it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skej21 Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 (edited) Chord charts are a great idea. I play in an Irish band and for some reason, there is always a random extra bar at the end of reels etc, so chord charts will stop you getting caught out by those early on! It's great fun to play though and will offer a new challenge, so enjoy it Edited November 17, 2011 by skej21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 (edited) [quote name='skej21' timestamp='1321544453' post='1440460'] Chord charts are a great idea. I play in an Irish band and for some reason, there is always a random extra bar at the end of reels etc, so chord charts will stop you getting caught out by those early on! [/quote] Count run thoroughs of tunes, bars and notes in bars. The French Canadians for some reason like to drop an extra note into one bar in tunes. Throws the counting out if you're not paying attention. While it's not French Canadian, try counting along with the L&N Rag. It's in 4/4 but see if you can find where it's not in 4/4. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1WQBlGQND0&feature=related[/media] Edited November 17, 2011 by BassBus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allighatt0r Posted September 6, 2012 Author Share Posted September 6, 2012 So after 10 months, this whole Ceilidh thing is becoming a reality. Any more hints and tips please? My first gig is the end of October...!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Bassy Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 I play melodeon in a ceilidh band rather than bass, but hopefully some of my experience will cross over: A useful step towards playing for a Ceilidh is to have done some dancing yourself. If you haven't then try to fit some in before the gig. You'll soon get an idea of what is required. Make sure that you can hum or whistle the tunes - a good starting point for playing a bass line! Remember that you're playing for people to dance to, not for people to listen to. It's all about pulse and rhythm, and very little to do with fancy fills and runs. Fills and runs are great for your own satisfaction, and are generally fine, - but it mustn't detract or distract from the pulse and rhythm. If people are consciously listening to you (other than pulse and rhythm) then you've gone wrong somewhere. Watch the dancers, you are there as a support to them rather than as a show in your own right! Pay attention to the caller or whoever is the band leader (in terms of calling the changes etc) In bands I've played it its very much make it up as you go along, so although the sequence of tune changes may be fixed, don't think that it's always going to be 3 times through this, then 4 times through that. Always be ready for a call of "Extra A" or "Extra B" etc. (to get back in synch with the dancers if they've messed up) DON'T SPEED UP (unless the caller requests it). That's it for now. Have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stu Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Remember to practise your "Eeeeeeeeeeeee-Yi"! cries - always good to hide a dropped b*ll*ck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oggiesnr Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Are you playing with a drummer? It can make quite a difference to your role. If you have a drummer then normal rules about locking on etc apply but I've always found I have a bit more leeway to do melodic patterns etc, if there is no drummer then you are the beat and need to play accordingly. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allighatt0r Posted September 6, 2012 Author Share Posted September 6, 2012 Thank's Count Bassy, that's some really handy advice. I'll try to bear it all in mind. It's going to be interesting how much my role will be changed after being used to trying to show off in a rock covers band! There won't be a drummer, so I'll be the one responsible for the beat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oggiesnr Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 These days I play Double Bass for a morris team and I find it is useful to mix it up a bit. Play a bit of simple melody every so often, go up an octave rather than hitting the same one every time, that sort of thing. However I don't stray too far up the neck as then I start getting lost in the bass end of the accordion or melodeon which dilutes the sound. However the quickest way I know to total boredom is to stand there playing Root/Five all night! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 You will frequently find that the music is in 8-bar phrases, with a gap between the first beat of the last bar of a phrase and the start of the next phrase. That space is yours, to drive the music through the pause and into the next phrase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vsmith1 Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 I also read this as I was playing my first ceilidh last Saturday. Thanks for the advice. I didn't have to use the Yeehaa coverup. But we had been issued with simple scores for each song. I kept it simple root and fifths mainly, but the rhythm was important I felt. I confess that I was like a "rabbit in headlights" by intently following the score to make sure I was right. The score did include the repeat marks. By the time I was getting comfortable and starting to relax - the song ended and I started again with the next song. There were a few that combined two songs together - switching back and forth. Thankfully the penny whistle/mandolin player called the change. It was quite relaxed as there was a long gap between songs as the caller had to teach the dancers the particular steps for the next song. We must have played 6 songs in just over an hour! I hope that your experience was as pleasant and constructive as mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 After seven years with my ceilidh band (my audition consisted of a gig, having never heard the music before or tried to play it), I still busk it, while having certain fills etc that I've worked out for particular tunes. As long as we make less cock-ups than the dancers, we're ahead on points... It's actually taught me quite a lot about music generally. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_4MQsvX3l8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_4MQsvX3l8[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.gif.9ad672bb8b84505709f76b39c8c256ec.gif)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.