Sailor's Hornpipe as an exercise

[Steve Scott]

Thought I would throw this one out - it's a really simple, quick exercise that gives your pinkey a workout and helps your fingers learn the road map of the fingerboard a little better:

Each day play Sailors Hornpipe in a different key in several positions. Especially focus on closed positions.
Try to work around the circle of fifths and include keys like Ab.

Thats it.

[evanreilly]

Bill Monroe's recording of this is in Bb.

[jmcgann]

Every day play any tune in a different key http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Ted Eschliman]

John, I try to everyday, but the heavy duty use keeps wearing out my capo.
http://jazzmando.com/images/Msmiley.gif

[pettyman]

hehehe

I'm learning it from the fiddler's fakebook. A new key each week (and also playing the previously learnt keys too). So far so good. Onto second key - done G and am learning A now!

I also play the chords as I learn it too - helping me change quicker!

Awesome practice piece!

Matt

[mustache]

Good suggestion Scott. I'm gonna give that a try starting today.

[jackofall]

Sailor's is a great tune to play for people anyway. It sounds brilliant on mando and everyone recognises it! And it's easy to play fast, so it makes you look like a hotter player than may be the case (well, works for me at any rate) #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I'm going to try that different keys thing. Sounds like a great exercise.

[ilarn89]

Okay guys, I hate to be the idiot...but somebody's gotta do it. This sounds like a great idea, and I really want to try it, but I have no idea how to begin. Believe it, or not, I read music a little (hardly a "sight reader") and I understand the basic concept of transposition (e.g. When I'm playing rythym guitar and we want to change from the key of E to the key of C...no problem...with the chords.). But, to transpose a tuen note-for-note, I don't have a clue. Do you literally figure out one note at a time, or are there short cuts using all these goofy pentatonic scales that I've been practicing as great finger exercises, but have found no other use for? If it's a one-note-at-a-time exercise, so be it. I'll get started. But, if there's a better way, I wanna know. I don't want to spend a week wandering around the shop looking for a "chord stretcher."

[dj coffey]

I suspect some jazzmandoid would suggest as a starter, to avoid the open strings where possible in the original key (e.g. instead of playing the open d, a or e, play it using your pinky on the adjacent string). You can then pretty easily take the whole thing up a half step or more and be using mostly the same fingerings on the same strings.

[ilarn89]

Thanks Dotty. Maybe I'm trying to make it harder than it is.

[Ted Eschliman]

Do you literally figure out one note at a time, or are there short cuts using all these goofy pentatonic scales that I've been practicing as great finger exercises, but have found no other use for? #If it's a one-note-at-a-time exercise, so be it. #I'll get started. #But, if there's a better way, I wanna know.
There are more than one ways to skin this hep cat. I certainly couldn't think note for note with any sort of speed. I tend to think of Folk Tunes (and most music, really) in terms of scale degree.

On "Sailors" it isn't G, F#, G, G, G,D, C, B, D, G, G.

For me it's 8, 7, 8 , 1, 1, 5, 4, 3, 5, 8, 8, etc. I try to frame new tunes in this way so I can not only transpose quicker, I can use bits of them for improvisational and melodic fodder for other songs AND other keys.

That may seem like a lot of work if you've never thought of it in this way, but it pays off BIG TIME, on down the line. Fiddle tunes are a great way to get started down that path...

Pentatonic scales? Maybe, but don't think G, A, B, C, D. Instead, think 1, 2, 3, 5, 6. This will open some huge doors for your playing, and especially soloing.

[pettyman]

Hmm - Interesting that you actually break songs down into the numbers when trying to learn the solo parts. I've thought about trying to think like this. The main problem is - I play clarinet purely from music and then doing things in my head which I hardly have to think about. I can transpose on sight, harmonise in my head, basically take solos and hit whatever note I want.

I'm gonna have to try putting this process into practise. It'll improve my music theory for mandolin I think.

Anyways, just got back from a 2pm - 10pm shift. I need my bed - but I'm another £50 nearer that Moon mandocello cittern I've reserved! Woohoo!

Matt

[ilarn89]

Ted,

Thanks. Exactly the kinduv tips that I'm looking for. Since, I don't have any real skill in reading the notation (Unlike Matt, I search out each note on the fretboard, and then worry about counting out the timing after I've got a couple of measures memorized.), it's about equally hard for me to think one way as the other. Gotta start somewhere...may as well be with 1, 2, 3....

[jackofall]

Do you literally figure out one note at a time, or are there short cuts using all these goofy pentatonic scales that I've been practicing as great finger exercises, but have found no other use for? #If it's a one-note-at-a-time exercise, so be it. #I'll get started. #But, if there's a better way, I wanna know.
There are more than one ways to skin this hep cat. I certainly couldn't think note for note with any sort of speed. I tend to think of Folk Tunes (and most music, really) in terms of scale degree.

On "Sailors" it isn't G, F#, G, G, G,D, C, B, D, G, G.

For me it's 8, 7, 8 , 1, 1, 5, 4, 3, 5, 8, 8, etc. I try to frame new tunes in this way so I can not only transpose quicker, I can use bits of them for improvisational and melodic fodder for other songs AND other keys.

That may seem like a lot of work if you've never thought of it in this way, but it pays off BIG TIME, on down the line. Fiddle tunes are a great way to get started down that path...

Pentatonic scales? Maybe, but don't think G, A, B, C, D. Instead, think 1, 2, 3, 5, 6. This will open some huge doors for your playing, and especially soloing.
Oh heck yes. I'm 46 and I don't have time to learn the dots (in 35 or so years of guitar playing I never got good at sight reading). Everything I play is by ear or by the fret number patterns. Either way, eventually I rely on the muscle memory.

It may not be the best way, but it's the way that works for me.