captbanjo - Posted - 04/30/2017:  16:47:50

For this month, I thought I'd take a left turn from jigs and reels and offer a Carolan tune. So many tunes on Irish banjo tend to be fast but I really enjoy taking the slower and moderate tunes by Carolan. Another benefit is that they can be more accessible to newer players, as the melodies are strong and the tempo is usually slower.

A little while back, I recorded this on the Deering and when I got my Ome I decided to put the same tune in a video so I could compare the two banjos. I apparently have evolved to a slightly faster tempo since I first recorded it but the two are very similar arrangements otherwise. I always enjoy playing this one!

youtube.com/watch?v=jgP2-t57W0Y

Wayne

Edited by - captbanjo on 04/30/2017 16:51:37

captbanjo - Posted - 04/30/2017:  16:49:49

Here is Planxty laying the melody out very clearly:

youtube.com/watch?v=IJmvqWmOEJg

A little more offbeat but cool, a slide version:

youtube.com/watch?v=qscZ23uyRMM

Wayne

robobanjo - Posted - 04/30/2017:  17:15:43

Nice tune Wayne.  I'll try to learn it.  Funny thing is that when you read the tune name, you immediately think it's a pair of 2 tunes, but it's actually just one.  

Also interesting to note that it's apparently the first tune O'Carolan ever composed ...

Picking Dick - Posted - 04/30/2017:  18:29:11

Nice to hear some slower banjo tunes. I'm very interested in playing some slower pieces such as O'Carolan's or maybe just some Irish songs.

I've played Sheebeg Sheemore on my flutes and tinwhistles for a long time. Now maybe I'll try it on banjo.

DSmoke - Posted - 05/01/2017:  03:50:04

Interesting turn Wayne, unfortunately for me I picked the wrong tune.  Last week I started working on Carolan's Concerto.

benhockenberry - Posted - 05/01/2017:  15:23:03

quote:

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Originally posted by DSmoke

Interesting turn Wayne, unfortunately for me I picked the wrong tune.  Last week I started working on Carolan's Concerto.

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Which is a GREAT tune for banjo and mandolin!

benhockenberry - Posted - 05/01/2017:  15:53:56

Here's a take on the tune; basically just single-string. I like the chords you're bringing into your arrangement, Wayne!

Edited by - benhockenberry on 05/01/2017 15:54:37

captbanjo - Posted - 05/01/2017:  17:25:13

quote:

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Originally posted by Picking Dick

 

Nice to hear some slower banjo tunes. I'm very interested in playing some slower pieces such as O'Carolan's or maybe just some Irish songs.



I've played Sheebeg Sheemore on my flutes and tinwhistles for a long time. Now maybe I'll try it on banjo.

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Dick, if you know this tune that well, I'd say go for it! Half the battle for me is getting the tune internalized in my memory.

Wayne

LakeMonster - Posted - 05/02/2017:  14:25:30

Here's mine. I tried a new mic-up technique where I attached my small lav mic to the co-rod with velcro. Sounds pretty good, but it sounds like i got some "shirt rubbing on the mic" going on in a few spots. Please excuse the extra noise, I will have to find a remedy for that. Cheers!

Si Bheag Si Mhor

 

captbanjo - Posted - 05/02/2017:  15:03:24

quote:

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Originally posted by LakeMonster

 

Here's mine. I tried a new mic-up technique where I attached my small lav mic to the co-rod with velcro. Sounds pretty good, but it sounds like i got some "shirt rubbing on the mic" going on in a few spots. Please excuse the extra noise, I will have to find a remedy for that. Cheers!

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Very nice! Love the dark tone...

Wayne

benhockenberry - Posted - 05/03/2017:  07:35:10

quote:

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Originally posted by LakeMonster

Here's mine. I tried a new mic-up technique where I attached my small lav mic to the co-rod with velcro. Sounds pretty good, but it sounds like i got some "shirt rubbing on the mic" going on in a few spots. Please excuse the extra noise, I will have to find a remedy for that. Cheers!

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Beautiful, Matt!

ruraltradpunk - Posted - 05/03/2017:  08:16:38

Lovely versions everyone! And Wayne what a great idea to do a side to side with the two banjos. I of course am biased and lean towards the Ome version meself!

captbanjo - Posted - 05/03/2017:  12:13:57

quote:

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Originally posted by LakeMonster

 

Here's mine. I tried a new mic-up technique where I attached my small lav mic to the co-rod with velcro. Sounds pretty good, but it sounds like i got some "shirt rubbing on the mic" going on in a few spots. Please excuse the extra noise, I will have to find a remedy for that. Cheers!

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Are those nylon strings I'm hearing?

Wayne

BobGooday - Posted - 05/03/2017:  13:15:33

Love the idea of a slower tune, and great stuff all of you who have posted so far. I will get round to recording a banjo version, possibly at the weekend, but in the meantime here is my bouzouki version. (Sorry if this is seen as irrelevant self-promotion!)

youtube.com/watch?v=_fMHB5FnJXc

​The word 'Sí' in the title is a hill where fairies live, or so I believe. So the title means 'Little fairy hill and big fairy hill'.

captbanjo - Posted - 05/03/2017:  13:58:31

Smooth as silk Bob!

Wayne

LakeMonster - Posted - 05/04/2017:  19:37:12

quote:

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Originally posted by captbanjo

 

quote:

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Originally posted by LakeMonster

 

Here's mine. I tried a new mic-up technique where I attached my small lav mic to the co-rod with velcro. Sounds pretty good, but it sounds like i got some "shirt rubbing on the mic" going on in a few spots. Please excuse the extra noise, I will have to find a remedy for that. Cheers!

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Are those nylon strings I'm hearing?

 

Wayne

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Nah, normal steel strings. That banjo is a modified Deering Goodtime tenor with a brass tone ring and rennaissance head. It sounds a little brighter in person than the mic picked up here, but I like a pretty mellow tone.

BobGooday - Posted - 05/07/2017:  07:29:42

Here's my contribution. Really enjoyed recording this one. 

VIDEO: Sí Beag, Sí Mhór - Tenor banjo
(click to view)

 

captbanjo - Posted - 05/07/2017:  07:39:08

quote:

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Originally posted by BobGooday

 

Here's my contribution. Really enjoyed recording this one. 

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Sweet! Wonder what Turlough would think of all of this...

Wayne

robobanjo - Posted - 10/21/2017:  19:33:31

So I finally got around to recording my own simple version - click HERE to listen