This thread has inspired me to confront a problem that has foxed me for years. I haven't yet looked at the thread 'Mudcat: a force for good?', but I reckon this counts.

Slip jigs are in 9/8; I can cope with that. 1-and-a-2-and-a-3-and-a, 1-and-a... etc. But Martin Carthy's version of 'The Famous Flower of Serving Men' is set in 9/8 (at least according to the book "Martin Carthy: A Guitar in Folk Music"). I could never work that out, but I'm sure as hell he's not playing a slip jig.

Nine-and-a-half minutes later, I now know why these old ballads are so long. It's to give crap musicians like me time to figure out how to count them.

I tried counting 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4-5 and tripped up. Tried counting three lots of 3, straight, without the diddly slip jig rhythm; no good. I began to see the light when I split it into three irregular groups - 1-2-3, 1-2, 1-2-3-4 - almost worked, and got closer still when I reversed it 1-2-3-4, 1-2, 1-2-3. Remembering Carthy's penchant for short bars of differing lengths (even down to single beats on some pieces), I then tried 1-2, 1-2, 1-2, 1-2-3; and suddenly it all made sense.

I'm sorry if that's all a bit tedious, but it's made my evening, and I think an agreeable Rioja might just be on the cards to celebrate.