Has anyone worked out what it is that makes some tunes work well together in sets and others not? I like playing around with combinations but I’m not very good and usually end up pinching other peoples’ ideas.
I would be really interested to know peoples’ favourite sets of jigs.
Steve
I don’t think there’s really a set way to make sets. When I make sets, I often make sets based on common keys or keys with good relationships, like e-minor and D-major. But, I always play through the transition between the tunes first to make sure it’s smooth. It’s all about having fun and finding tunes that flow well together.
Some jig sets I often play:
-Dusty Windowsill / Cliffs of Moher
-Old John’s Jig / Palm Sunday
-High Part of the Road / Willie Coleman’s Jig
-Tobin’s Favorite / Scotsman Over the Border
These are a few. But really, just try tunes together, and if they work, they work. It’s often better to give it a go through in practice before trying something you don’t know will sound good in a session. I’ve done that, and often stopped myself because the transitions can be so bad.
-Casey
Trounsdell’s Cross
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1845
Whelans
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1447
Trip to Brittany
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/5008
I always say take sets that work. I stole the first two from Dervish, but then felt that McGoldricks Trip to Brittany really fit well at the end…really lifts the set at the end.
Another one I enjoy:
Christy Barry’s
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/843
Mouse in the Mug
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/362
Tom McElvogue’s in A major
http://www.tommcelvogue.com/music/Compositions/jig_04.jpg
You can listen to Tom playing the last one here:
http://www.tommcelvogue.com/music/Compositions/Tom%20McElvogue%20Jig%20-%2004.mp3
I really like the change to the A major at the end…it seems like a fairly straight-forward set until the last tune…you might need keys to play the last tune.
I really like this set:
Cooley’s Reel
The Earl’s Chair
The Virginia Reel
However, they’re all very similar (in parts) so it can be easy to get confused.
-Brett