Fast Repeating Notes On The Anglo

[Daddy Long Les]

I'm currently teaching myself Dick Gossip's Reel on my Anglo. The B part has four fast low A notes in a row, several times. I'm doing it in C although it's in D on my mandolin music.

 

At first I thought to use two different buttons on the left hand side that give me the same note on the C and G rows. This definitely made it easier but this sounded weird and disjointed. So now I'm using just one button and alternating my first and second fingers on it. Is this the correct method?

Edited October 27, 2015 by Daddy Long Les

[Bob Michel]

It's an eighth note followed by a triplet. There are a number of different ways of playing the triplet, of which no two sound quite alike. Using two different buttons as you're doing is certainly an option, and practice will make it sound less disjointed.

 

Another approach is to roll the A using the first two buttons on your right hand C row--on the pull, d and (upper-case) b (when I type the character in question I get an idiotic smiley). Play the A on the left hand C row, play it again, then tap those two right hand buttons, then play the A again. The rhythm is dum-dum-ditditdit--or, with a very slight lag on that right hand tap between d and B, dum-dum-dittlydit. Either is OK. The trick is to play the d and B with so quick and light a touch that the ear can barely make out the actual notes being played, if at all. It's a rhythmic, percussive ornament rather than a melodic one.

 

If you're playing a 30-button instrument (I can't remember whether you've got hold of one yet), you might consider learning the tune in D from the outset. Not only will other musicians want to play it in that key; the fingerings and ornaments you use will also be quite different. That said, techniques like the roll described above can be learned on a 20-button and carried over when you make the switch; they just won't be applied in precisely the same way in a given tune.

 

Bob Michel

Near Philly

Edited October 27, 2015 by Bob Michel

[Daddy Long Les]

It's an eighth note followed by a triplet. There are a number of different ways of playing the triplet, of which no two sound quite alike. Using two different buttons as you're doing is certainly an option, and practice will make it sound less disjointed.

 

Another approach is to roll the A using the first two buttons on your right hand C row--on the pull, d and (upper-case) b (when I type the character in question I get an idiotic smiley). Play the A on the left hand C row, play it again, then tap those two right hand buttons, then play the A again. The rhythm is dum-dum-ditditdit--or, with a very slight lag on that right hand tap between d and B, dum-dum-dittlydit. Either is OK. The trick is to play the d and B with so quick and light a touch that the ear can barely make out the actual notes being played, if at all. It's a rhythmic, percussive ornament rather than a melodic one.

 

If you're playing a 30-button instrument (I can't remember whether you've got hold of one yet), you might consider learning the tune in D from the outset. Not only will other musicians want to play it in that key; the fingerings and ornaments you use will also be quite different. That said, techniques like the roll described above can be learned on a 20-button and carried over when you make the switch; they just won't be applied in precisely the same way in a given tune.

 

Bob Michel

Near Philly

That's clever Bob! I'm still getting a hint of those two notes coming through but I'll work at it. I guess it might be my poor old Hohner D40. I'm still trying hard to get a good 3-row. If using two different buttons to get the same note is legitimate I'll try improving that as well.

Thank you so much - when I get that 30 button I'll definitely re-learn it in D.