benhockenberry - Posted - 05/09/2016:  04:29:49

I'm running late this month, apologies.  Here's a fun polka, not too tough, but if you're learning by ear, note that the Cs in the tune go back and forth from Natural to Sharp -- on almost every measure!  It's been recorded by many -- Julia Clifford, Jackie Daly, De Danann, Solas, among others.  I've uploaded a very slow take.  I'll upload a version in a set with some other polkas later.

Dots here: thesession.org/tunes/1820

Not a lot of videos of the tune being played on Youtube, oddly enough.

Tom Sullivan's Polka

 

mikeyes - Posted - 05/09/2016:  06:16:23

Great tune! I'll get on it right away.

Mike Keyes

Tom Hanway - Posted - 05/09/2016:  21:40:59

Lovely job Ben, it's good to slow down the tunes like you do so students such as myself can meditate on every little buddha note. One can learn this just by playing along, so you have succeeded in getting the tune across.

Great choice, too. I can think of other tunes to combine this with, but first I'll make friends with this one.

Thank you for making the effort, it's much appreciated.

All the best ~ Tom

mikeyes - Posted - 05/16/2016:  09:41:28

Here is my attempt at Tom Sullivan's Polka. It still needs work, but it is a great tune.

Mike Keyes

VIDEO: Tom Sullivans Polka
(click to view)

 

Fud - Posted - 05/16/2016:  11:57:03

I learned this as a reel from the piping of Mick O'Brien. He called it: Did you wash your father's shirt?

Larry

robmac07 - Posted - 05/17/2016:  00:57:03

quote:

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Originally posted by mikeyes

 

Here is my attempt at Tom Sullivan's Polka. It still needs work, but it is a great tune.



Mike Keyes

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Good one Mike. Nice to see and hear you on a Gold Tone Tenor. I have the same archtop model but with the shorter scale 17 fret neck. They 'kick'

Tom Hanway - Posted - 05/17/2016:  06:16:17

quote:

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Originally posted by Fud

 

I learned this as a reel from the piping of Mick O'Brien. He called it: Did you wash your father's shirt?



Larry

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benhockenberry - Posted - 05/17/2016:  16:54:58

Yes! I've heard the reel version called The Disappointed Coquette as a reel, too, with parts reversed.  Nice one, Mike!

Tom Hanway - Posted - 05/18/2016:  02:37:21

I found some variations for this tune ... just the endings of the A and B parts, which give a certain lift to the tune by coming down to the notes from an A, then G.  

Great job, Ben. This one works nicely on 5-string as well, and I'm keeping pretty close to your version, and trying this with other tunes so I can remember it.  

That's the only way I can remember tunes....    

Best ~ Tom

Escaron - Posted - 05/20/2016:  08:17:27

quote:

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Originally posted by benhockenberry

Dots here: thesession.org/tunes/1820

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Could you share what version of the dots from thesession.org are you playing, please? I'm learning how to learn by ear, so I'd like to check if my ear is correct.  Thanks.

BobGooday - Posted - 05/22/2016:  07:49:25

Here's my recording of Tom Sullivan's. I haven't had much experience with 'polkas' in the celtic sense, this one was good fun to learn.

Escaron, this tune was taken directly from version one on the Session page that Ben linked to.

VIDEO: Tom Sullivan's - Tenor banjo
(click to view)

 

captbanjo - Posted - 05/22/2016:  08:12:07

Nice! How'd you come up with the backup?

Wayne

quote:

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Originally posted by BobGooday

 

Here's my recording of Tom Sullivan's. I haven't had much experience with 'polkas' in the celtic sense, this one was good fun to learn.



Escaron, this tune was taken directly from version one on the Session page that Ben linked to.

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BobGooday - Posted - 05/22/2016:  08:33:40

I just looked up some chords other people had put to the tune and used that as a base. Wanted the bass to emphasize the mixolydian feel, so played plenty of C naturals around the chords.

benhockenberry - Posted - 05/26/2016:  12:41:36

quote:

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Originally posted by Escaron

Could you share what version of the dots from thesession.org are you playing, please? I'm learning how to learn by ear, so I'd like to check if my ear is correct.  Thanks.

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The version you play is the version I'm playing. ;)  I think I'm closest to version 1, though I usually just do the 3 note E/F/G movement at the start, as in version 4.

benhockenberry - Posted - 05/26/2016:  12:43:08

Nicely done, Bob!

Escaron - Posted - 06/10/2016:  08:20:43

quote:

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Originally posted by benhockenberry

The version you play is the version I'm playing. ;)  I think I'm closest to version 1, though I usually just do the 3 note E/F/G movement at the start, as in version 4.

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Great, the beginning was the main thing I was concerned about. It happened to me in the past, that while learning only by ear I learned a tune with one beat missing and was rightfully frowned upon by other musicians. I'd like to avoid that in the future.

robmac07 - Posted - 06/10/2016:  20:30:06

This is a bit late but I thought it a catchy tune that I'd never heard before, so here's my version.

VIDEO: Tom Sullivan's Polka
(click to view)

 

Tom Hanway - Posted - 06/10/2016:  23:18:49

And that's a wrap.  

Infectious, and stop smiling, Rob!

robmac07 - Posted - 06/12/2016:  04:29:24

quote:

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Originally posted by Tom Hanway

 

And that's a wrap.  

Infectious, and stop smiling, Rob!

Thanks Tom. Sometimes they call me Mr Grumpy but I just look that way when I pick banjo or guitar. At my age it's hard to concentrate and I try to tell folks I'm having so much fun, especially when the recording is over.   

 

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Tom Hanway - Posted - 09/04/2016:  22:19:03

quote:

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Originally posted by benhockenberry

 

Yes! I've heard the reel version called The Disappointed Coquette as a reel, too, with parts reversed.  Nice one, Mike!

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Ah, Hockenberry, you've got great energy, and you know how to move it.  I look forward to more Ben Hockenberry ideas. I miss you here.

All the best ~ Tom