Thanks to all the brave banjoists who attended my “progressive rhythms” workshop at the Banjoree last week! Your dedication was inspiring, and you picked up bizarre rhythms with impressive speed.
In case any of those rhythms are sneaking out of your memory, here are some MP3s that will help you remember them.
If you weren’t at the workshop, these files could still be useful in helping you stretch your rhythmic skills. We learned Betsy Likens, a simple A modal tune, and put it in increasingly odd rhythms. Along the way, we looked at how alternate-string pulloffs and M-skips can help us fill out or syncopate rhythmic patterns, and we saw that we could create any rhythm by combining 2s and 3s.
Handouts
The handouts are all in one PDF file here.
All MP3s in one zip file
Get your 19.6 MB zip file here.
4/4
Slow:
Faster:
Alternate-string pulloffs:
Basic M-skips:
Advanced M-skips:
3/4
With M-skips:
6/8: 3-3
Slow:
Faster:
Alternate-string pulloffs:
The “flutter”:
7/8: 3-2-2
The “flutter”:
7/8: 2-2-3
11/8: 2-2-3-2-2
Basic rhythm:
The tune:
Hi Cathy,
greetings from sunny Hamburg. At home again? How was your impression after the Banjoree? I’m so sorry with the money -
but I thought, Veit was doing this.
Hope to meet again – anywhere on a banjo camp …
regards
Andreas
PS: Good idea with the tabs and mp3 on your website …
dear cathy, i just found your site and love it. i like your you tubeclips also. thank you. i have a question about the m skips. when you do an m skip do you make the physical motion of the m strike with your hand so as to keep time but don’t hit the string or do you make no movement of your hand for the m skip? thanks, elliott
Elliott, thanks for your question. During an M-skip I make the same motion I would make if I were going to play the note, but I don’t play it. It’s sort of an “air” stroke. That way my hand keeps moving to keep the time.
Found your name on the banjo hangou.
We are “Orpheum Bell” and are looking to replace our departing banjoist (who also sings, plays violin, cittern and dobro)
we are not straight old timey or bluegrass. its something like ‘country & eastern’.
if you know anybody with an interest, would appreciate any help. thanks for taking time to read this.
aaron / orpheum bell
frd339@yahoo.com
http://theark.org/1791.html
http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/orpheum-bell-pearls-review/
http://annarborchronicle.com/2009/11/10/column-orpheum-bell-handmade-music/