What was the last thing you learned? Musical

Subject: What was the last thing you learned?
From: Cappuccino
Date: 30 Oct 18 - 09:36 AM

Inspired by Andy 7’s thread, ‘where are you, beginners and learners?’, might I develop that thought a bit and ask – what was the last thing you learned? I don’t mean what was the last tune or song you learned, I mean what was the last trick or technicality on your instrument that you discovered? I have only this week realised how to play blues scales on the mandolin, and am trying to develop this into up-the-neck blues solos on my bouzouki.
And I’ll happily admit that after playing bass for decades, it was quite recently, actually in the middle of a number during a gig, that I clicked to something about a ‘run down the sevenths’ : I had always been playing a sequence like C-A7-D7-G7-C with my left hand racing up and down the fretboard… and then in the middle of a blues, it suddenly occurred to me that the last four notes are all on the same fret, and my left hand could take a rest!
I wonder why it took me so long to work that out – have you recently discovered any such little tricks?

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: leeneia
Date: 30 Oct 18 - 11:37 AM

My latest piece is "Hell on the Wabash."

My latest trick is playing "Ragtime Annie" and stressing the right notes so it's actually ragtime.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: GUEST,Jack Campin
Date: 30 Oct 18 - 11:54 AM

Learning to play the oud and cümbüş without looking at all. Which means I can stand or sit up straighter in a much healthier posture.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: Andy7
Date: 30 Oct 18 - 01:35 PM

Just a couple of weeks ago, I learned to yodel, from videos on the internet.

It's great fun! ... although maybe not for the neighbours.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: David W
Date: 30 Oct 18 - 04:25 PM

The Inverse skank blast and Mirie it is go well together.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 30 Oct 18 - 05:34 PM

The newest thing I have learned is from Leeneia in this thread.

I have little patience for listening or viewing.

stressing the right notes so it's actually ragtime....

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

and also boogie

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 30 Oct 18 - 05:54 PM

I learned that creating an original instrumental piece is not easy, but giving that piece a name that doesn't sound pretentious, derivative, or just plain stupid is damned near impossible.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: leeneia
Date: 30 Oct 18 - 08:19 PM

I had no idea.

Can you share your composition BWL? YouTube, maybe?

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: Joe Offer
Date: 31 Oct 18 - 12:42 AM

Fluorocarbon fishing line makes great strings for a fretless banjo, with a nice, bright sound.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: BobL
Date: 31 Oct 18 - 02:59 AM

The more I learn, the more I learn how much more there is still to learn!
For example, I've learned that Jump At The Sun and Whistling Rufus are both possible on my "new" box (bought second-hand a couple of years ago) with its accidentals and extra bass keys. Actually playing them will mean a stiff climb up the learning curve.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 31 Oct 18 - 03:40 AM

Huge personal breakthrough - after years enjoying my car-boot-sale Mugen 12-string, I've just started playing finger-style. Now I'm channelling George Papavgeris. All those unexpected harmonics ringing through....

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 31 Oct 18 - 07:47 AM

I hadn't just learned it exactly, but I honed the tune Amazing Grace so that I could play it on the harmonica at my dad's funeral last week. He always enjoyed it when I played a few tunes. I played it at the end of my little speech, to give him a good send-off. I've played in front of people hundreds of times and I never get nervous, but this time I was shaking like a leaf.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: Cappuccino
Date: 31 Oct 18 - 10:36 AM

BobL, our ceilidh band was playing at a show last year where John Kirkpatrick was coming along as a guest... we play his Jump At The Sun a lot, but we decided to make a really good job of it for him.

But his car was late, and he missed it!

Well done, Steve - sympathies.

- Cappuccino

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: Andy7
Date: 31 Oct 18 - 04:41 PM

Yes, well done, Steve.

Early this year, my brother and I each sang a song - at our mother's request - during the wake for our father.

I'm so glad we were able to do so. But after singing, I was shaking so much I needed two hands to hold my glass of drink!

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: Mooh
Date: 31 Oct 18 - 08:46 PM

Ongoing trial and error EQing of my recorded tracks. Luckily my playing seems pretty consistent, so the process is streamlined somewhat, but getting the mud out of bass tracks, preserving the shimmer of treble tracks without them sounding strident or shrill, etc. In a perverse way I enjoy all this.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: leeneia
Date: 01 Nov 18 - 11:46 AM

BobL, what's a box?

Andy and Steve, those are touching stories about services for your fathers.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: Amos
Date: 01 Nov 18 - 11:29 AM

I'm embarrassed trying to answer the damn question, for some reason. I guess it was some frippery using a formations on the 7th fret.

I've learned several new tunes lately, noteworthy among which (so to speak) was "Ten Men in Black Hats" (Dave Mallett), "Sam Stone" (John Prine), and "All the Soft Places to Fall" (Willy and Merle).

Amos

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: John P
Date: 01 Nov 18 - 05:29 PM

Like Jack, learning to play the oud. It's a bit scary, but I just keep telling myself not to fret . . .

Also learning to play the electric guitar. I know the notes and chords, of course, but it's fun learning to be in control of sounds that come out of the instrument.

The last songs I learned are a set power pop songs written by my new roommate. I generally don't care much for pop music, but her songs have great melodies, thought-provoking lyrics, and damnably catchy hooks. Lots of fun.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 01 Nov 18 - 06:13 PM

Sunday's ceilidh band practice; it was suggested we should have a Christmas dance set, but nobody had thought to provide a score: Jingle bells in G not too tricky, Good King Wenceslas in - God help us - A. Completely busked! It happened for better or worse!

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 01 Nov 18 - 06:41 PM

Oh - AND - we are playing a ceilidh for the Scottish/Finnish society in December for the Finnish Independence day, so learning their national anthem! Might also do the latter part of Sibelius' Finlandia for them.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Nov 18 - 07:36 PM

"The last thing I learned?"

I don't know. I'm still alive.

Charlie Ipcar

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: BobL
Date: 02 Nov 18 - 03:24 AM

Leeneia, in a folk music context "box" generally means a squeeze-box of some sort. In my case, melodeon.
Incidentally the melodeon is a transposing instrument. Whatever key it's written in, on the melodeon it comes out in (usually) G.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 02 Nov 18 - 06:47 PM

Not on mine, BobL! It is indeed a transposing instrument though: play in any key (at least right-hand) as it's a B/C.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: Cappuccino
Date: 05 Nov 18 - 10:54 AM

Mooh, I empathise with what you say about recording and EQing. I'm mixing fifteen tracks for our ceilidh band at the moment, and the balancing is a nightmare. Apart from the fact that my ears are finally going, I don't really understand EQ, I just go with what sounds right to me... but every so often the whistle plays one note with a tone that goes right off the meter, and I think 'where the hell did that come from... and what do I do with it?'
But the great thing about home recording is that you think up your own new tricks. Typically, I'm working with a Zoom R16, and I can't get a decent sound from the fiddle pick-up; but if I record the fiddle both DI and through a mike at the same time, using two channels, then I can work them together into a decent sound.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: Mooh
Date: 06 Nov 18 - 07:01 AM

Cappuccino...Using Garageband I can't really use two sources simultaneously, so instead I've taken to using a Blue Yeti microphone set on stereo mode which at least gives me what amounts to a stereo pair of mics into a single channel. Great for almost every instrument except voice (so far). The odd time I have to record two players at the same time I set it to the figure of 8 pattern and do a number of scratch tracks to determine the approximate balance (and if there ultimately proves to be an imbalance either re-do it or double one or both separately). Interestingly, some judicial use of EQ can give the impression of volume balance on the same track as long as it's in a register that isn't entirely shared like violin and guitar...but one has to really narrow the frequency.

Peace.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: Cappuccino
Date: 08 Nov 18 - 04:03 PM

I had never heard of Garageband,so had to go and look it up. Hmmm...

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 08 Nov 18 - 08:46 PM

I will second Garage Band for mixing.

If you have used "Band in a Box" you can ovrtylay and/or select trscks and mix.

sincerely,
Gargoyle

"N
mix master DJ'S...from what I have experienced Bar Mitsvahs and wedding, seem to prefer "Band-in-a-box".

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: vectis
Date: 08 Nov 18 - 11:01 PM

A new song, Sonnys Dream on a new instrument, the ukulele.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: GUEST,johnmc
Date: 09 Nov 18 - 06:19 AM

I came across a youtube clip in which he explains how composers employ octave
displacement. It made me realise why so much classical music baffled me.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: GUEST,saulgoldie
Date: 09 Nov 18 - 09:20 AM

At the FSGW getaway, I was fortunate to be in an autoharp workshop that was given by Dan Schatz. (S'pose to have been Bryan Bowers. But he was sick.) I had had this harp for a while. But I was kinda shy and a little intimidated about approaching. Well, Dan showed us some basic strumming/picking patterns. And low and behold, I was "given permission" to proceed, which I have. Sometimes it is less about the ability to perform a given action than it is about being given permission and encouragement by a humanoid. For me, anyway.

Thanks, Dan!

Saul

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 25 Nov 18 - 12:16 AM

Thanks Saul! I was disappointed when Bryan couldn't make it; I'd looked forward to doing the workshop with him. Also he's been teaching autoharp longer than I've been playing, and I'm going on 37 years playing now. Despite all those years, I hadn't gotten into the instructional side of things before this, so it means a lot to know it was useful to folks.

Dan

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: leeneia
Date: 25 Nov 18 - 05:14 PM

The last new thing I did was decipher the music for a Playford dance from the original script of 1696. The hardest part was figuring out that the little circles were not noteheads, they were the 'flags' of eighth notes. The business end of the eighth note was at the other end.

I got my start with old notation at a wonderful early-music workshop, the Texas Toot.

Just to show you that we haven't got everything all figured out -- I tried to find that page again, and Google couldn't find it.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 25 Nov 18 - 06:25 PM

Finlandia is coming on well! (See 1st Nov)

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: leeneia
Date: 26 Nov 18 - 11:15 AM

Good. Is it the melodious part which is sometimes used for a hymn? That is very beautiful.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 26 Nov 18 - 03:22 PM

"Using Garageband I can't really use two sources simultaneously"

Er, you can record as many tracks simultaneously as you like in Garagband?!.

But you would need to have more than one microphone, and several audio inputs on your interface.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 26 Nov 18 - 03:24 PM

last thing I learned musically was probably to leave more space on the guitar when accompanying singing. Every time I think I've taken out notes, I could definitely take out a few more.

Also to record myself as often as possible and force myself to listen back unflichingly! A truly painful process!

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: GUEST,Ebor Fiddler
Date: 26 Nov 18 - 06:53 PM

Looking at my office, it seems to be "A night on The Gin", but I swear it was Enrico!

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 26 Nov 18 - 07:13 PM

Yes to Leeneia, it's the end bit of the suite, which is done as a hymn also.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: Will Fly
Date: 27 Nov 18 - 07:22 AM

I've been working through a tune which, though one of my favourites, I've never tackled before - for no particular reason.

It was used some years ago as a theme tune for a series of UK TV film review programmes called "Film '78", "Film '79", "Film '80", etc. (whenever they were). The programme was presented by the late Barry Norman.

The tune, which has a great gospel feel, is by Billy Taylor and is called "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free". There are words - not by Billy Taylor, sung by Nina Simone - but I like it as an instrumental piece.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: GUEST,Matt Milton
Date: 27 Nov 18 - 03:33 PM

Good choice Will. I forever associate that music along with the Minder theme with being in bed as a kid while my dad was downstairs watching tv.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: Bugsy
Date: 28 Nov 18 - 09:45 AM

London Girls, by Chas n Dave.

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: leeneia
Date: 28 Nov 18 - 10:10 AM

This morning I woke up with a tune going in my head. I have started a collection of such fragments, which I keep on my computer as MIDI files. Today's motif sounded like a march or fanfare.   

It's important to note the tunes first thing in the morning, because once I start making toast, etc, the tune disappears forever. Now that I'm playing accordion, maybe I will go back to these short passages and make songs out of them.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: C-flat
Date: 28 Nov 18 - 10:12 AM

I've also been working on a tune which, for no particular reason, I never got round to.
"I'll see you in my dreams" sounds simple enough until you take the Chet Atkins approach and it turns into a right handful!
I've got it under my fingers now but the real joy was the "getting there".
Similarly decided to look at a old jazzy tune "Sway" on the request of a friend.
Dead easy if you take the simple path but there's some lovely jazz chords in there when you look closely.
I'll probably never play it again but enjoyed the learning.
Every day is a schoolday!

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 28 Nov 18 - 10:59 AM

Something I am about to learn (I hope)

Tatie This has puzzled me for a while. I understand that a B/C can play in any key and understand any diatonic box in 2 adjacent keys can do the same. But what bass buttons do you get? Would it be feasible to fit a Stradella bass system to such a beast. Say 24 button to cover a few keys without taking up too much space. Maybe 8 keys using only bass note, major and minor.

Only out of interest.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: GUEST,Beachcomber
Date: 28 Nov 18 - 01:04 PM

Thanks to Mr Matt Milton's advice, I looked up a link that he kindly provided and learnt (after some 60 yrs of "playing" guitar) that SCALE length is what governs the distance between the frets ! I think that is correct ???

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: Tony Rees
Date: 28 Nov 18 - 05:32 PM

Most recent thing I have learned (guitar related) is to try picking fast runs using an alternating right hand thumb and forefinger - tricky for a while but very neat and versatile when you can master it. For the all time best example listen to Willie Walker play "South Carolina Rag" in 1930 (blind of course) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWGN178hkOY - amazing stuff. (There is also an alternate take which has different licks!).

I believe Mr M. Knopfler employs a similar approach when he plays electric guitar - no flatpick involved (he learned his trade playing acoustic blues with Steve Phillips in Leeds, as "The Duolian String Pickers", a little before my time there).

Regards - Tony

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 29 Nov 18 - 06:22 AM

The last thing I learned is most probably a Czech/Moravian tune, but I can't remember how long ago or which one it was. The last song I learned must be getting on for 15 years ago - probably a music hall song or a shanty.

Notwithstanding, I do have a couple of dozen songs that i have been in the process of learning for years, not to mention the hundreds I can no longer remember all the way through.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 29 Nov 18 - 09:33 AM

Hi Dave the Gnome: you'll find a lot of discussion about diatonic accordions with stradella bass over on the melodeon.net forum. Far more there than I could ever tell you with any accuracy! I do know a couple of people who have them, but would guess that they were made that way, rather than converted from the more conventional two or three row diatonic accordion.
My B/C has the "modern" arrangement of chords and basses: outer row G and C on rhe push, D and a second G on the pull, inner row E and a second D on the push, A and F on the pull. The "classic" arramgement has a second C rather than the second D, which is less useful rhan the D if you are going to be playing with people who favour lots of tunes in G and D. The one I don't have, and might find useful in the left hand, is a B, tho I can do B maj chords with right hand on the B row. I also have a stop to take out the middle note of the left hand chords, so you are only getting the 1st and 5th notes of the scale, which means they are amiguous, can be major or minor.
You'll realise that your left hand notes are paired up, with the one button being the bass, and the one next to it the chord for same key.

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 29 Nov 18 - 10:25 AM

Thanks Tatie - Good answer and my curiousity is satisfied :-)

Subject: RE: What was the last thing you learned? Musical
From: leeneia
Date: 29 Nov 18 - 12:20 PM

I'm working on several new tunes for our English Country Dance, Dec 1st. Some on recorder, some just percussion.