Celtic Guitar - with a pick

Subject: RE: Celtic Guitar - with a pick
From: GUEST,Joe Moran
Date: 21 Feb 04 - 04:58 AM

Thanks for all the advice. I see that Homespun Tapes ( Happy Traum's company have recently released a Paul Brady tuition dvd/video. Great!

Subject: RE: Celtic Guitar - with a pick
From: MikeofNorthumbria
Date: 20 Feb 04 - 12:53 PM

Hi there GuestJoeMoran!

I don't play this sort of material much myself, but some that do tell me that the secret is to use open tunings, rather than standard EADGBE.

The basic idea is to play the guitar as if it were a 6-string Appalachian dulcimer: melody on a couple of strings - usually the middle two - and the rest as drones. (Play guitar, but think Uillean bagpipes!)

Favoured tunings are DADGAD and CGDGAD, though there are several others.

In my own playing, I prefer to stick with EADGBE, or drop D (DADGBE)because it allows you to pswitch to any key without grabbing for a capo, but I don't deny that open tuning arrangements are very effective in the right context. (for some good examples, try getting hold of a copy of Dick Gaughan's Album "Coppers and Brass")

Wassail!

Subject: RE: Celtic Guitar - with a pick
From: Mooh
Date: 20 Feb 04 - 12:08 AM

Murray...Thanks for the translation. Mooh.

Subject: RE: Celtic Guitar - with a pick
From: van lingle
Date: 19 Feb 04 - 07:13 PM

Hey Joe, The only Celtic flatpicking tab on the internet I'm aware of is at www.paulbrady.com. You'll find his arrangements of "Lakes of Ponchartrain" in Open-D and "Arthur McBride" in Open-G. Good luck, vl

Subject: RE: Celtic Guitar - with a pick
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 19 Feb 04 - 01:07 PM

"blas" = Gaelic for "taste" or "flavour".

I understand what Obie is driving at ...

Subject: RE: Celtic Guitar - with a pick
From: Mooh
Date: 19 Feb 04 - 12:51 PM

Obie..."blas"? Mooh.

Subject: RE: Celtic Guitar - with a pick
From: Marion
Date: 19 Feb 04 - 11:37 AM

Hi Joe. You might want to take a look at "The Guitar Picker's Fakebook" by D. Brody. It has basically the same repertoire as the popular "Fiddler's Fakebook" - a mix of Celtic and old-time/bluegrass tunes. It is in tab format, and is arranged for flatpicking guitar in standard tuning. However, it is basically single-note melody arrangements, so that might not be just what you're looking for.

Good luck, Marion

Subject: RE: Celtic Guitar - with a pick
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 18 Feb 04 - 06:23 PM

Ok my mistake. I wasn't clear enough.

Flatpicking is faster because you don't have to think too hard about how
to make the next note.

Subject: RE: Celtic Guitar - with a pick
From: GUEST,Obie
Date: 18 Feb 04 - 10:26 AM

Murray,
Opinions are always subjective, mine being no exception. I refer more to the material that John Allen produced in his early years than what he would be doing today. While his technical ability may be less than some, his instinct to impart "blas" into the music ranks him higher than many others, who have a more refined style. He can express that elusive element that few can master. It is for instance, easy to stepdance to his tunes and that makes him an exception. After all we are talking about celtic music and "blas" becomes an important element in my opinion.
There is an expression in Cape Breton that the best dance fiddlers play with "a bit of dirt on the bow". In any case he plays it with a bit of dirt on a thumbpick. Sometimes I judge music with my feet. As great a player as Tony McManus is he can't get my toes tapping like John Allen can.
                         Obie

Subject: RE: Celtic Guitar - with a pick
From: GUEST,Mappa Mundi
Date: 18 Feb 04 - 09:11 AM

Tune to open G and experiment with chord runs; lots of open strings and barres. Three/four finger shapes. There are no hard and fast rules.
Someone should make a teaching vid - are you listening Mr Traum et al?

Don Ader

You might want to try this site; he's a superb player and probably be able to furnish you with a few pointers.

Failing that- go to a (good) Irish session and enquire within.

Subject: RE: Celtic Guitar - with a pick
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 18 Feb 04 - 05:53 AM

Obie, from your list of "four of the world's best" I deduce that you must be a Canadian. No disrespect, but John Allen Cameron, although a very nice man, wouldn't be in the "forty of the world's best" in most peoples' opinions, let alone the first four.

Subject: RE: Celtic Guitar - with a pick
From: shankmac
Date: 18 Feb 04 - 04:51 AM

Best pick celtic guitar I have heard is
Tony McManus .
There could be helpful stuff on his site.

Subject: RE: Celtic Guitar - with a pick
From: GUEST,Obie
Date: 17 Feb 04 - 05:44 PM

John Allen Cameron plays with a thumbpick. Both Dave MacIsaac and JP Cormier also play with picks. Scott MacMillan also uses a pick most of the time. That makes four of the world's best using picks. Sorry but I know nothing about tabs. I always associated that more with rock.
               Obie

Subject: RE: Celtic Guitar - with a pick
From: GUEST,Joe Moran
Date: 17 Feb 04 - 05:37 PM

I'm talking solo guitar here, really. Usually, these days, the guy with the pick is playing rhythm, and the fingerpickers are left to do the solo arrangements.But I love the attack and drive of the pick. As I said before, there's lots of tab for celtic fingerstyle, and, come to think of it, lots of tab for pick style bluegrass guitar( but that tends to be single line melody stuff)but I'm after full sounding solo pieces for pick.

Subject: RE: Celtic Guitar - with a pick
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 17 Feb 04 - 05:30 PM

I never ever heard of any trying it without a piok and a decent box on which to play. But then my first encounter with trad was Electric Guitars and Showbands, yup playing reels and jigs in the 1950's.... that long ago!

Subject: Celtic Guitar - with a pick
From: GUEST,Joe Moran
Date: 17 Feb 04 - 01:02 PM

There's lots of tab available on the net of celtic tunes played fingerstyle on the guitar, but does anyone know of any tab for pick style playing of melodies ( with crashing chords! ) - a la Dick Gaughan and Tommy Gilfellon?