Kesh Jig – Variation
Here’s a lesson on how to add variation to Kesh Jig.
If you haven’t already learned the basic version, I recommend taking that lesson first: Kesh Jig – basic
This lesson is free for free for one week. After that, it’s only available to members of the Ultimate or Irish Fiddle subscriptions. Thanks for fiddling with me.
This tune is in the key of G so we can practice it with a G drone. Start by playing the G major and pentatonic scales with some fun variations.
G drone
A PART:
First quarter: D3-0-1-3-A0-1 0-1-0-0-1-3
Second quarter: E0-A3-3-3-EL2-A3-3-3 E0-A3-1-3-[1-3-1]-0
Third quarter: D3-0-1-3-A0-1 0-1-0-0-1-3
Fourth quarter: E0-A3-3-EL2-A3-1 0-D3-2-3
B PART
First quarter: [roll A1-L2-1-0]-1-3-1-3 E0-L2-0-A3-1–D3
Second quarter: [rollA1-L2-1-0]-1-3-1-D3 A0-1-0-0-D3-A0
Third quarter: [roll A1-L2-1-0]-1-3-1-3 E0-L2-0-A3-1–3
Fourth quarter: [roll EL2-3-L2-1]-L2-3-L2-3 4-L2-1-L2
Notes:
In the first and third quarters I add melodic variation to the basic melody. I also add the “jig swing” feel on A0-1-0
In the second quarter I add sixteenth note duplets: E0-A3-3-3. At the end of the second quarter I add a sixteenth note triplet [A1-3-1]. If you play his faster it sounds like a mordent or a cut.
In the first, second and third quarters of the B part I start with a roll around A1. I also used the “jig swing pattern a few times in the B part (bars 9, 12, 13). The fourth quarter begins with a roll on EL2
Alternate variations
A part first quarter
G0D3-G0D3-G0D3-G0D3-G0D3-A0-1 D0A0-D0A0-D0A0-D0A0-D0A0-D0A0-D0A1-D0A3
A part bar 1
[roll D3-4-3-2]-3-3-A0-1
A part bar 2
A0-[cut 1]-0-0-D3-A0
B part bar 1
AL1-1-3-3-1-3
B part second quarter
A1-1-1-1-3-1-D3 A0-0-0-0-0-D3-A0
B part fourth quarter
EL2-L2-L2-L2-L2-3-3-3-3-3 4-L2-1-L2
Full play-along track
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More warmups
G major scale
Full Tabs
A PART:
First quarter: D3-0-1-3-A0-1 0-1-0-0-1-3
Second quarter: E0-A3-3-3-EL2-A3-3-3 E0-A3-1-3-[1-3-1]-0
Third quarter: D3-0-1-3-A0-1 0-1-0-0-1-3
Fourth quarter: E0-A3-3-EL2-A3-1 0-D3-2-3
B PART
First quarter: [roll A1-L2-1-0]-1-3-1-3 E0-L2-0-A3-1–D3
Second quarter: [rollA1-L2-1-0]-1-3-1-D3 A0-1-0-0-D3-A0
Third quarter: [roll A1-L2-1-0]-1-3-1-3 E0-L2-0-A3-1–3
Fourth quarter: [roll EL2-3-L2-1]-L2-3-L2-3 4-L2-1-L2
Sheet music
Connections
Learn and practice some things I mentioned in this lesson:
Triplet variation (Irish fiddle variation course)
Melodic variation (art of fiddling)
Supplemental lesson
Talk about alternate variations, practice