PDA

View Full Version : John McGann's Developing Melodic Variations On Fiddle Tunes, Mand



NewsFetcher
Sep-26-2017, 8:40pm
A new publication with mandolin content has been added to Elderly Instruments' inventory:



https://www.elderly.com//media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail/180x180/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/0/2/02-98557m.jpg (https://www.elderly.com/john-mcgann-s-developing-melodic-variations-on-fiddle-tunes-mandolin-edition-02-98557m.htm)
$19.60





View this item... (https://www.elderly.com/john-mcgann-s-developing-melodic-variations-on-fiddle-tunes-mandolin-edition-02-98557m.htm)

This RSS/news feed function watches Elderly Instrument's book inventory and reports new items with mandolin content as they are added.

http://www.mandolincafe.com/images/elderly.gif (http://elderly.com/books/)

Bob Visentin
Sep-28-2017, 4:03am
At $19.60 this is a bargain. Check this out.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/182759209253

BrianWilliam
Apr-27-2019, 10:33am
What is the consensus on this book?

Gary Alter
Apr-27-2019, 12:35pm
I think it’s really useful, it tabs out a standard version of the tune and then gives you multiple measure by measure possible variations. You can mix and match to create endless versions. Also John has written a brief summary of what he was doing/thinking to create each variation.

bigskygirl
Apr-27-2019, 10:02pm
I’ve had the ebook for quite awhile and refer to it from time to time for ideas. I ended up printing it out so I could lay out the tunes (8 pages for each tune) to actually “see” what is going on. Wait for a 30% off code from Mel Bay and give it a look, it’s a good reference and like Gary said above you get some insight as to what he was thinking.

Mike Romkey
Feb-11-2020, 1:08pm
Can anyone supply some rules of thumb espoused by John, or just that you find useful? I mean, I can certainly get the book, but maybe there are other people's ideas to apply? ... Yesterday I was listening to David Benedict's variations on "Bear Island," which I think is really "Beare Island." He plays the tune, then he's got a bunch of interesting variations. It got me wondering: How's he do that? (I'm trying to set up a session or two with him to discuss.) I kinda have two modes in paying: 1. Just play the tune, which never hurts, and 2. Just make stuff up on the fly. But it seems to me an interesting third way to explore a tune would be to sit down with a pencil and paper (or computer and Sibelius or another scoring program) and, applying some tricks and tools, formally work up some variations. The question being: What are some of those tricks and tools?

Bill McCall
Feb-11-2020, 3:31pm
Change the rhythm.
Change the shape, ie, go up when the tune goes down, etc.
Embellish the melody.
Drop notes.
Add notes.

Buy the book and practice. See the ‘pay the artist’ thread.