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23 Sep 08 - 08:32 AM (#2448042) Subject: percussion at sessions From: Will Fly Any views on "percussion" at acoustic sessions? At nearly all of the sessions I've been to, there's been some sort of percussion - usually a bodhran, and occasionally one of those wooden seaty-beaty things that you sit on and bang with your hands (don't know what they're called but they can make a great sound). I used to do a bit of drumming years ago, and was contemplating getting a bit of jug-band-type kit together - perhaps a washboard, blocks/skulls, hit-hat, even a small drum. Just enough to back up the sessions now and then without getting in the way. Anyone do this? |
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23 Sep 08 - 08:58 AM (#2448071) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: Leadfingers Volume is the only problem - Washboard kit is normally OK , but once you start adding Hi Hat and such its TOO easy to overpower acoustic stuff ! |
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23 Sep 08 - 09:38 AM (#2448097) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: Will Fly Yes - that had occurred to me - was thinking of using thimbles and/or brushes. |
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23 Sep 08 - 10:03 AM (#2448115) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: bubblyrat We always take a bag of "things " with us to our Marlow Bottom Acoustic session ( shaky eggs, rattles,tambourines,etc) and lay them out on a table for people to pick up and join in with if a) they want to and b)it suits the tune ! I like to join in,if not playing,with different sized and filled glasses and two pens-----very satisfying !! But I guess not every session feels as comfortable with the arrangement as we do----although most of our joiners-in are pretty good,I have to say. |
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23 Sep 08 - 10:13 AM (#2448124) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: Stu If it's an Irish trad session then bodhran if you're a good, sensitive player and know the tunes inside out, otherwise forget it, especially shakey eggs and those sodding things you sit an and beat with your palms - how to destroy the subtlety of the music in one fell swoop. That said, if it's not a trad Irish session and no-one minds then go for it but remember the melody players need to be heard. There used to be a session over the hill from our house where anything went, and it could be a wonderful, mad night out. |
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23 Sep 08 - 10:21 AM (#2448131) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: GUEST,Joe P Sometimes a bit of bad percussion can totally put me off the rhythm of a tune, but on the other hand a friend dof mine plays one of the boxes you sit on, and played well it can sound great. |
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23 Sep 08 - 10:23 AM (#2448135) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: GUEST,Tom Bliss Cajon - pronounced ca-hon |
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23 Sep 08 - 10:29 AM (#2448139) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: Will Fly Our monthly sessions at the Bull in Ditchling usually attract anything from 12-20 musicians. Most nights we have a trombone and alto sax along with the guitars, mandolins, fiddles, accordeons, concertinas, whistles, smallpipes, etc. The guitars can barely be heard - it's a huge sound, and the cajon and bodhran give a real pulse to the tunes. And we play anything from traditional tunes to blues, jazz and ragtime. |
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23 Sep 08 - 10:36 AM (#2448146) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: open mike see many threads about shaky eggs and, oh, the bodhran jokes! (i play bodhran, but it does not always fit in.) i used to have a basket of claves, spoons, maracas, shaky eggs, (and veggies) and other rhythm instruments for folks to join in with on jams. the problem is that most of the folks who come to a jam without their own instrument are often non-musicians, and do not have a sense of rhythm. be alert for clues from the others in the session as to whether what you are playing is enhancing the situation or not. |
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23 Sep 08 - 11:54 AM (#2448202) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: Mr Red When in doubt play quietly. I have been known to go to bluegrass sessions but id did play with a brush, a washing-up brush. And no-one said a word, except the guy leaving as i entered who siad I was brave. Nah! considerate. |
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23 Sep 08 - 12:53 PM (#2448271) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: Richard Bridge Have you heard Tone Deaf Leopard? |
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23 Sep 08 - 01:38 PM (#2448314) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: Ernest It is also a good idea not to join in on every song/tune but only in those where the instrument fits in. And a variety of percussion helps too.... Best Ernest |
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23 Sep 08 - 07:25 PM (#2448553) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: Tattie Bogle Yes, knowing when NOT to play is the best thing any percussionist can learn: as a percussionist myself (came up thro' classical orchestral stuff)I know there are times when you have to sit thro 397 bars rest! And some pieces where percussion just doesn't happen. I once saw a bodhran player who was complaining about his sore wrist at the end of a 3-day festival - I was (then) too polite to tell him the obvious - "If you hadn't felt compelled to play through absolutely everything, you wouldn't be in this state now!" - but I was certainly thinking it! On the other hand there are some songs even where a good percussionist is an asset and can enhance the song, so I will on occasion invite one or a number of people to join in. A cajon is on my Christmas list. And shaky eggs should always be played in TWOS (one in each hand), so you can get counter-rhythms. |
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23 Sep 08 - 08:44 PM (#2448582) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: Bee-dubya-ell The appropriateness of percussion in sessions generally declines in direct proportion to the alcohol intake of the percussionist. |
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23 Sep 08 - 09:38 PM (#2448605) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: The Fooles Troupe More Percussion! "Maxwell's Silver Hammer came down on her head!" |
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24 Sep 08 - 04:00 AM (#2448729) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: Stu "And shaky eggs should always be played in TWOS (one in each hand), so you can get counter-rhythms." AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!!! |
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24 Sep 08 - 05:22 AM (#2448781) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: Will Fly We have a lady at our sessions who occasionally shakes a large pineapple...just the one (collapse of Stigweard). |
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24 Sep 08 - 07:50 AM (#2448839) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: GUEST,Suffolk Miracle Please tell the lady she has it wrong. The instruction is quite plainly PUSH pineapple - shake the TREE. |
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24 Sep 08 - 09:45 AM (#2448928) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: Acorn4 Bodran player with a sore wrist? I'll refrain from the temptation of making the obvious comment! |
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24 Sep 08 - 09:57 AM (#2448937) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: bubblyrat I know a singer called "Lefty" who has a cahon (made in Germany, I believe, although associated with flamenco).He wanders about at festivals with it in a tailor-made case strapped on his back, and you think " Bloody hell !! That's a big melodeon ! ", ---then out comes this tea -chest and he sits on it and plays it !! I absolutely MUST have one !! |
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24 Sep 08 - 10:01 AM (#2448940) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: Manitas_at_home He puts a box into a box? |
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24 Sep 08 - 12:37 PM (#2449029) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: Will Fly He puts a box into a box? Quite possibly. The cahon player I know keeps his in a huge gig bag and carries it on his back. |
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24 Sep 08 - 01:43 PM (#2449076) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: My guru always said Lefty's Cajon has another brilliant use at festivals - he keeps a loo roll in it! |
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24 Sep 08 - 03:00 PM (#2449128) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: cptsnapper Does anyone know " The Spoons Murder " by Hammy Hamilton, Seamus Creagh and Con O'Drisceoil from the album "It's No Secret"? |
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24 Sep 08 - 03:46 PM (#2449170) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: Jack Campin I met a tea-chest bass player at an anti-nuclear demonstration in Scotland in the late 70s. He stayed on the site for a few days, and made good use of his instrument as a haybox oven. |
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24 Sep 08 - 07:28 PM (#2449306) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: Tattie Bogle BWL; re your comment: that could and does apply to ANY instrumentalist, not just percussionists! Stigweard, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH to you too! |
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25 Sep 08 - 07:33 AM (#2449590) Subject: RE: percussion at sessions From: Mr Red The appropriateness of percussion in sessions generally declines in direct proportion to the alcohol intake of the percussionist. As Tattie Bogle says. All people - including those who are not playing, they can get rowdy. As Humphrey Littleton used to say "Alcohol doesn't make you play any better, but everyone else sounds better!" |