I’m curious,when rolling or cutting on the E note,what finger do you like to cut with.I’ve been useing my A finger(or 2nd finger)and it works ok,but i don’t always get a clean roll.Do i just need to keep practicing?
I use the G finger for E rolls. I actually don’t use the A finger for any rolls at all, I prefer B or G. It’s really just a matter of personal preference, though. And, of course, practice. There’s no one definite correct finger to use.
On 2002-04-10 14:33, TrevorC wrote:
There’s no one definite correct finger to use.
Right. Different fingers will give slightly different sounds and textures, though.
Different players do things differently. For example, I noticed on the Scoiltrad demo lesson that Conal O Grada likes to cut a G roll with the A finger. Mary Bergin uses the G or B finger. Kathleen Coneely seems to use the next finger above the note being cut, e.g. F# finger for an E roll.
I like the crispness of using the B finger for everything - in the lower octave. You have to watch your reflexes, because if you instinctively cut your E roll in the upper octave with the B finger, you’ll get nothing.
I think you get a good balance of effectiveness and ease with the rule “G finger for everything up to and including G, B finger for everything above G”, although as Trevor implies, anything that works is fine.
Try different approaches and go for the sound you like best, or whatever comes easiest.
And yes, you just need to keep on practising!
I would add to Stevie’s remarks about getting different sounds, that cutting with the b note as opposed to the g for lower melody notes can sometimes sound more interesting. Worth experimenting, especially in a slow air.
Addendum: The vast majority of my ornamentation happens with my left ring finger. I get a burn in my left forearm after a couple of run-throughs of long reels like Bucks of Oranmore. Gotta get into better shape. (I’ll have a left Popeye forearm before long.)
Tony
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[ This Message was edited by: TonyHiggins on 2002-04-10 18:56 ]