Tune Req: Bouzouki tunes?

Subject: Tune Req: Bouzouki tunes?
From: Perdan
Date: 05 Oct 05 - 10:55 AM

I recently started playing the Irish bouzouki/ GDad tuning.   Does anyone have any good bouzouki tunes to suggest learning for a solo performer? Or, any tips in general? So far I'm having a ball with it.
Thanks all!
Perry

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bouzouki tunes?
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 05 Oct 05 - 02:04 PM

Have you tried tuning GDAE?

Gerry

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bouzouki tunes?
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 05 Oct 05 - 02:48 PM

You've probably already done so, but have a listen to Planxty/Donnal Lunny/Andy Irvine/Sweeney's Men recordings.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bouzouki tunes?
From: Helen
Date: 05 Oct 05 - 03:09 PM

One of the best tunes I've ever heard played on an Irish Bouzouki is Music for a Found Harmonium. Brilliant!

Helen

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bouzouki tunes?
From: Mooh
Date: 06 Oct 05 - 10:33 AM

I generally play the same or similar stuff as on mandolin and/or guitar, though I use GDAE rather than your GDAD. The difference between the tunings only means a two fret shift in notes on the first string, so adapting tab and notation isn't hard.

Good solo tunes? Anything where you can add chords or some harmony with the melody. Airs are nice on the zouk, in my opinion.

Look in the mandolincafe.net tab archive.

Peace, and good luck. Mooh.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bouzouki tunes?
From: clueless don
Date: 06 Oct 05 - 11:06 AM

Echoing some of the previous posts, GDAE is probably better for playing the tunes (i.e. melody) than GDAD. GDAD is great (in my experience) for accompaniment.

I know someone who used to play GDAD, and would capo up at the seventh fret when he wanted to play melody. The capoed (sp?) instrument would then be DAEA, so the bottom three pairs may be played as the top three pairs on an uncapoed GDAE instrument. I myself do not like this approach, because I find the frets to be too close together up there. But mandolin players would probably feel right at home!

Don

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bouzouki tunes?
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 07 Oct 05 - 12:42 AM

Over the years I've had a number of conversations with Andy on the subject - he recommends GDAD for his style of playing.

As far as tunes go it would be hard to know where to stop. If you visit John Chamber's Tune Finder at this site, you can download print music or MIDI tunes to play. If you're into ABC music notation you have the chance to change key, add rythms, add harmony lines and much more. There are many thousands of tunes here, but you will need to know at least one word of the tune name.

Enjoy.

Regards, John

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Bouzouki tunes?
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 07 Oct 05 - 07:01 AM

What tuning did Briggs and Moynihan use for Willie O'Winsbury?
The tune, though, is from the Fause Foodrage.