why does it sound monotonous?

Whistle
21

I believe slur is a GHB ornament. The tune “The Jig of Slurs”, I understand, was written as an excercize for the movement.

I usually switch between tonguing to cutting to separate the two notes, rather than using a pat.

The only tune I can think of that I personally use a pat to separate notes is the place with all the repeated Gs in the B part of Merrily Kiss the Quaker’s Wife.

22

What about Idle Road?

23

I don’t think I know that one.

I may use pats more than that one tune, but I find the pattern is that the left hand has done something just before the repeated Gs, so it balances the work to use the opposite hand. At least, my rhythm sounds better when I divide the job of doing the rhythm between the hands than doing it all with my left hand.