Breton Gavotte/Swallowtail Jig Medley

[Marg Sherringham]

This is my ‘end of the Spring Practice Challenge” video. I was inspired by Jason’s Practice Journey on Breton Gavotte and had already started to work on it. He had some great suggestions to expand on the tune, so I thought I’d experiment with these ideas and try to string them together. It’s still a work in progress, I think I managed to pull myself up from a stumble and hopefully with more practice I’ll improve my intonation on the lower octave notes in particular.

[Marg Sherringham]

Whoops I don’t think that last link worked, sorry.

[Marg Sherringham]

[Marg Sherringham]

Hmmmm, Sorry to muck this up so many times, trying to submit the video a different way this time, fingers crossed.

[Deb Hilton]

Impressive Marg! I loved it all so much!

[Owen]

That was very good, Marg; a nice light touch, fine tone and timing, and you sway to the beat as well….Hip-Hip!!

[Marg Sherringham]

Thanks Owen, yes the swaying came naturally once I eventually relaxed. I’m pushing myself out of my comfort zone to make these videos, but I know they’re a good tool for our practice.

[Joanne Iles]

Very good, I really enjoyed that!

[Marg Sherringham]

Thanks Joanne, I’ve enjoyed your videos too!

[kate.kakadu]

Great stuff, Marg! Awesome variation and I love your transition to Swallow tail jig. I have downloaded the strum machine app I was so inspired. I want to develop a set of songs to play and thought it was a good way to practise. (But I can’t work out how to add the mandolin yet. I’ve ticked the box but it just sounds like guitar to me.) Love that you’re experimenting with this and sharing it!

[Marg Sherringham]

Thanks Kate, I was very nervous relying on my memory and hoping I could move through the variations smoothly. I can’t take credit for the ideas, they were from Jason’s Practice Journey replay, but I did enjoy the challenge! That’s great that you have Strum Machine now, it’s saved a lot of time for me, as I used to make all my own backings with Garageband, still do when I want the sound of my other instruments, but for practice Strum Machine is so easy and quick. I had a look at my settings, pulled back the mandolin and then guitar, and I think you’re right, they do sound the same.
The way I joined Breton Gavotte and Swallowtail Jig was by using the medley feature in the right hand side bar. When I made the backing for Breton Gavotte, I had to use 6/8 and double every chord because Strum Machine only goes up to 9/8 and Breton Gavotte is in 12/8. Swallowtail Jig was already in strum machine in E Minor, so I just transposed that to B Minor (same key as B.G.). Then set them both to 85bpm and yay, it worked!
Good luck, have fun with Strum Machine and I look forward to your next video. 🙂

[Rita]

Oh, my Kate! I am impressed with how you have learned to do back up with garage band and now strum machine, which I have no idea what it is or how to use it. Our little music on line community is so great!

[kate.kakadu]

Also was that strum machine that you used as a back up or another app? Also, if it is strum machine, how did you get the different strumming?

[Rita]

Well done! Thanks for sharing. It is so good to be able to record and share our progress with a wonderful, encouraging group!

[Marg Sherringham]

Thanks Rita, I’m so happy I found this online community.

[Michael G]

I love the Breton Gavotte, and you are playing it really well. I haven’t worked on the octave lower version – or the embellishments you’ve added. You’ve inspired me. And your Swallowtail Jig is really excellent. Great job!

[Marg Sherringham]

Thanks for your kind comments Michael.

[Nancy Couch]

Marg, thanks for sharing this, I’m inspired to maybe working up the nerve to maybe share my own practice videos. I like how you used all of the tools Jason gives us here and I wanted to say (since no one else mentioned it) that you are getting very good tone out your fiddle-especially on the low-end.

[Marg Sherringham]

Thanks for your kind comments Nancy, I look forward to seeing your 1st video. The Fiddlehed community is very supportive and encouraging. 🙂

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