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Author Topic: Playing fast  (Read 17559 times)

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arty

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Re: Playing fast
« Reply #100 on: June 16, 2013, 09:19:32 PM »

I don't know your playing style, arty, and so I don't know if it would help you to say that finding a playing and strap position that keeps the right hand side rigid is a necessary condition of playing fast and/or with accuracy and drive (which I guess we would all like to be able to do, fast or not!)  Practising right hand style is of course another necessary requirement, but it can never compensate for poor playing position.

I have just spent a very rewarding couple of hours trying different strap positions on my melodeon. While sitting on a hardback chair, I found that the instrument stays a lot steadier with the straps adjusted longer, so that the instrument rests on my left leg and with my right leg crossed over resting against the bottom of the grill for extra support. Before, I had the straps quite short, holding the instrument against my chest but it wasn't resting on my leg. Consequently, it did move about quite a bit and my fingers often missed the button it was aiming for  because the instrument had moved and sometimes it slipped off the side of the button mid note! I can't believe the difference this has made. The instrument is now much steadier, and because it is not moving about so much my fingers are already playing more accurately and quicker.

Thank you for suggesting I look at this Chris, I'm sure it will go a long way to help my accuracy.
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ladydetemps

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Re: Playing fast
« Reply #101 on: June 16, 2013, 11:07:43 PM »

My rule of thumb- if it sounds like flatulence its too slow and if it sounds like morse code its too fast. As long as you can hear the melody your on the right track. My fave speed is brisk walking/strolling pace.

george garside

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Re: Playing fast
« Reply #102 on: June 16, 2013, 11:19:04 PM »

? sort of a non flatulating jaunty walk or in the vanacular  somewhere between a good fart and  and pebbledashing!

george >:E
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EastAnglianTed

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Re: Playing fast
« Reply #103 on: June 16, 2013, 11:23:04 PM »

? sort of a non flatulating jaunty walk or in the vanacular  somewhere between a good fart and  and pebbledashing!

george >:E
Hahahahaha that made me genuinely laugh ;D Great analogies
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ladydetemps

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Re: Playing fast
« Reply #104 on: June 16, 2013, 11:26:44 PM »

Lowering the tone.
:rolls eyes:

Chris Ryall

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Re: Playing fast
« Reply #105 on: June 17, 2013, 10:02:34 AM »

Quote
And am I to understand you would actually like to turn this into an anything-but-Irish forum

Not at all. It's one of the world's greater traditions, true to itself, and also boxes well above its weight amongst the others. I confess to being  a little jaded by its commercialisation, leprechaun pubs in Bangkok etc but that's not the issue. 

I (and others) do feel that in Britain, sadly, the "Irish session" has become a little exclusive, and for some reason plays up to 50% faster than elsewhere. Bizarre, probably false to its roots, and (back to topic?) another way to exclude people. I felt no such exclusion in Galway.

I've also "had a go", several times! I don't subscribe to the "more difficult"  thesis though there's definitely a knack to it on melodeon. Actually it doesn't move my soul. Chorded stuff does, but I began this journey in a Capella sung harmony. I don't actually deny any music tradition and if it moves your soul, I'm happy for you. Delighted to listen too, though I won't award points for velocity.

Just to repeatedly re-iterate (again), that the "anything but" is a session in another city, not run by me, responding (says Theo) to local circumstances, that I get to … maybe twice a year. It was merely example of session labelling working well, in practice. I was (read it) suggesting "steady pace", but blundered into a jungle of sensitivities (sorry) with my actual point lost in what felt like trench warfare. I sincerely hope to tap in no more on this off topic side topic …
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IanD

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Re: Playing fast
« Reply #106 on: June 17, 2013, 02:10:20 PM »

? sort of a non flatulating jaunty walk or in the vanacular  somewhere between a good fart and  and pebbledashing!

george >:E
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Theo

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Re: Playing fast
« Reply #107 on: June 17, 2013, 02:14:48 PM »

This topic has strayed so far, from the original request for help, that we better end it here.
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