Results 1 to 16 of 16

Thread: Altering Original Tempo

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    Ms
    Posts
    398

    Default Altering Original Tempo

    Wondering to what degree or any do you alter original tempos in a song. Not because of an inability to play the original tempo but to move it in a different direction. As an example I've seen folks play East Tennessee Blues at blazing speeds but what about moderately fast? I like the clean notes and the bluesy feel.

    In a different direction I worked up an instrumental on my acoustic guitar of the Beatles "No Reply" from their moderate tempo to a really slow tempo and I love the direction it takes the tune. So slow to moderate, moderate to slow on and on

  2. #2
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    S.W. Wisconsin
    Posts
    7,507

    Default Re: Altering Original Tempo

    I play East Tennessee Blues with a nice bouncy feel, not fast. I think any tempo you like is fine.
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    Ms
    Posts
    398

    Default Re: Altering Original Tempo

    I hear you and agree any tempo one likes is fine. I just don't ever play with anyone cause there is noone in my area to play with. I do like creative players who play with feeling and soul...

  4. #4
    Registered User Brian560's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    131

    Default Re: Altering Original Tempo

    A lot of the old time, traditional and Celtic music doesn’t list the tempo on the sheet music. If you haven’t listened to how a lot of people play the tune, you have no idea of what’s too fast or too slow. From what I have read about Celtic music, it’s tempo is dependent on what the music is being played for. Dance tempo is structured to meet the requirements of the dancers. Music played for something to listen to is open to interpretation. I like listening to a variety of versions by different players to help get the feel of a tune.

  5. #5

    Default Re: Altering Original Tempo

    Heck, I'll do a waltz in 4/4, a rocker as a dirge, and anything else I can think of. I do Prince as a bluegrass tune. It is great fun to see the younger bands play with musical ideas. Recordings are a snapshot of what someone did on a particular day, not a carved in stone ideology. Once you can, the temptation is to play fiddle tunes fast, but slowing them down and letting notes bloom is really fun.
    Silverangel A
    Arches F style kit
    1913 Gibson A-1

  6. #6
    Confused... or?
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Over the Hudson & thru the woods from NYC
    Posts
    2,927

    Default Re: Altering Original Tempo

    Quote Originally Posted by Brian560 View Post
    ... From what I have read about Celtic music, it’s tempo is dependent on what the music is being played for...
    ... and whether it's the first pint or the fourth!
    - Ed

    "Then one day we weren't as young as before
    Our mistakes weren't quite so easy to undo
    But by all those roads, my friend, we've travelled down
    I'm a better man for just the knowin' of you."
    - Ian Tyson

  7. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to EdHanrahan For This Useful Post:


  8. #7
    ===========
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Connecticut
    Posts
    1,628

    Default Re: Altering Original Tempo

    Personally, I do a song in whatever tempo/style I feel comfortable with . . . as long as I think that I am still doing justice to the song itself, and not just feeding my own playing abilities and/or inabilities.

  9. #8
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    charlottesville, VA
    Posts
    1,140

    Default Re: Altering Original Tempo

    Recordings are a snapshot of what someone did on a particular day, not a carved in stone ideology
    I find this interesting. I recall Thile once lamenting that songs are typically recorded so early in their life, because they often grow and change and mature after being played a few hundred times. I'm personally a fan of doing a song in any way that pleases you. I do customized versions of quite a few, changing tempo, rhythm, chords, words etc. Sometimes it's intentional. Sometimes not. But there's also value in knowing the source material in it's original form. I play mostly BG and swing, and in both it helps if one knows the usual key, arrangement, etc. when playing in jam situations. But when playing for my own amusement, anything goes.
    Mitch Russell

  10. #9
    Registered User T.D.Nydn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    Upstate N.Y.
    Posts
    1,331

    Default Re: Altering Original Tempo

    When I'm playing I usually take a simple bluegrass tune and after about 2 minutes of setting the melody take it to places a sane mandolinst probably shouldn't go,,often to rock,metal influences to all out atonal jazz fest,involving rhythm ,beat,tempo and style changes,but I always try to find my way back to the original tune,,,sometimes I forget where I am or what I'm doing,,,,when you listen to metal,from doom to thrash,it's all rhythm changes,,metal is 1 or 2 chords and all rhythm changes,,,it shows you how much milage you can get from such a technique..

  11. #10

    Default Re: Altering Original Tempo

    Listen to Bluegrass Stomp on Doc and Dawg then to Bill's version. The one on Doc and Dawg is quite a bit more relaxed in tempo.

    Then listen to Soldier's Joy or Sweet Georgia Brown on Doc and Dawg. They start off reasonable then up the tempo a notch each round through it.

  12. The following members say thank you to CarlM for this post:


  13. #11
    The Amateur Mandolinist Mark Gunter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    South of Cleburne, North of Hillsboro, Texas
    Posts
    5,089

    Default Re: Altering Original Tempo

    I find it hard to reference “original tempo” anyway, unless you’re discussing an original tune as canonized by its author? I think you can, and should, experiment all you want with tempo and play it however you want.
    WWW.THEAMATEURMANDOLINIST.COM
    ----------------------------------
    "Life is short. Play hard." - AlanN

    ----------------------------------
    HEY! The Cafe has Social Groups, check 'em out. I'm in these groups:
    Newbies Social Group | The Song-A-Week Social
    The Woodshed Study Group | Blues Mando
    - Advice For Mandolin Beginners
    - YouTube Stuff

  14. #12
    Registered User sblock's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Redwood City, CA
    Posts
    2,335

    Default Re: Altering Original Tempo

    Bluegrass tempos tend to be on the faster side. Old-time tempos tend to go a bit slower. Dance tempos suit the dancers (~100 BPM or thereabouts). Beginner jams tend to go slowly. It's all good. There are no real "rules" in folk music. Play at a tempo that suits both your musical taste and ability level. Hopefully, you will find some musicians who like the same tempos you do. If not, adjust your tempos -- or your musical friends!

  15. The following members say thank you to sblock for this post:


  16. #13
    Registered User Randi Gormley's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Connecticut, USA
    Posts
    3,379

    Default Re: Altering Original Tempo

    I'll play the same tune at a half dozen tempos depending on who I'm with and why I'm playing. I've also heard tunes played in different styles -- Our ITM group plays Star of the county Down as a song; I heard it played as a waltz or two-step at Grey Fox. We'll start out on Battle of Aughrim as a dirge and then speed it up every time we do a repeat until we're flying on it; same with O'Neill's March. For years, we played King of the Fairies as a solemn, mystical single piece, then we heard it played fast and paired with Rights of Man. I've heard a fast rollicking song played as a sad lament and it was wonderful. I don't think there are actually tempo police, so I wouldn't worry a lot. After all, anything you play is your version anyway, right?
    --------------------------------
    1920 Lyon & Healy bowlback
    1923 Gibson A-1 snakehead
    1952 Strad-o-lin
    1983 Giannini ABSM1 bandolim
    2009 Giannini GBSM3 bandolim
    2011 Eastman MD305

  17. #14
    Registered User Eric Platt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    St. Paul, MN
    Posts
    2,045

    Default Re: Altering Original Tempo

    There are tempo police. Folks that play a lot for dances will often criticize folks playing schottisches and hambos too fast. Then there are the contra players who think everything is too slow. (I'm joking, sorta, maybe).

    If leading something, usually will try to respect tradition. But there are times when throwing that tradition away is just as much fun.
    Brentrup Model 23, Boeh A5 #37, Gibson A Jr., Big Muddy M-11, Coombe Classical flattop, Strad-O-Lin
    https://www.facebook.com/LauluAika/
    https://www.lauluaika.com/
    https://www.facebook.com/Longtine-Am...14404553312723

  18. #15
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    S.W. Wisconsin
    Posts
    7,507

    Default Re: Altering Original Tempo

    Playing old time tunes for the dances here is very fast. The more accomplished the dancers the faster the tunes need to be. Most of us play for dances so when we jam it seems to go faster than is needed. I like to slow some down occasionally, but most are more fun played fast, as long as you can still get the nuance of the tune at breakneck speed.
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

  19. The following members say thank you to pops1 for this post:


  20. #16
    Confused... or?
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Over the Hudson & thru the woods from NYC
    Posts
    2,927

    Default Re: Altering Original Tempo

    Quote Originally Posted by Eric Platt View Post
    ... If leading something, usually will try to respect tradition. But there are times when throwing that tradition away is just as much fun.
    REAL good point! Probably depends on who you're leading; beginners need traditional or, at least, comfortable. More advanced... whatever they enjoy and/or don't rebel against!
    - Ed

    "Then one day we weren't as young as before
    Our mistakes weren't quite so easy to undo
    But by all those roads, my friend, we've travelled down
    I'm a better man for just the knowin' of you."
    - Ian Tyson

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •