|
|
The
Kerry Polka
This is the first of the dance tunes. As they were originally used for people to dance to (and still are occasionally), bear in mind that the rhythm is very important. The main dance tunes are reels, jigs, hornpipes, polkas and slides. Polkas and slides are still played more for dancing than the others, which are now more prominent in sessions and instrumental concert performance. Look at the music and try the A part on the right hand with me. Listen to the tune on the video first though, until you can hum or whistle it. Then try the B part, paying special attention to your fingering and bellows direction. Repeat each part twice, so that you play the tune AA BB AA BB.
|
 |
 |
| |
Kerry Polka Bass Pattern First Part:
Once you are confident with the tune on the right hand, let’s look at the bass pattern. We will be playing a fundamental with a major chord, one after the other, like so:
G Gmaj G Gmaj D Dmaj D Dmaj
Except this time we will also be using some of the counter basses. Try this exercise, where the bass note ‘B’ is the counter bass of G.
G Gmaj B Gmaj G Gmaj B Gmaj
When counter basses are indicated, they are usually underlined so that you know that it’s a counter bass and not a fundamental. In this bass exercise, you play the major chord that corresponds to the fundamental, and when you see a counter bass you also play the corresponding major chord. For example, where you see a B, that means play B (the counter bass of G) followed by a Gmaj chord. You will notice that each bar has four beats: a fundamental followed by a chord, then a fundamental / counter bass followed by a chord for each bar.
So where the first two bars appear as:
Gx Gx / Bx Gx /
You actually play:
G Gmaj G Gmaj / B (counterbass of G) Gmaj G Gmaj /
So try this bass pattern:
Gx Gx / Bx Gx / Gx Gx / Cx Dx /
Gx Gx / Bx Gx / Cx Cx / Dx Gx //
Let’s try playing this with video clip A - practice each hand separately before putting
them together.
If you want to add more rhythm, you can lean a little on the counter basses (play them for slightly longer and a little harder) or leave some main bass notes out as we tried in the jig bass exercise. It’s quite a percussive use of the bass and fun to try.
|
 |
| |
Kerry Polka Bass Pattern Second Part:
In the same way as we worked through the A part, let’s now look at the B part and work
on each hand slowly until you feel confident to put both hands together. Listen first and
then work from the music.
Gx Gx / Bx Gx / Cx Ex / Dx F#x /
Gx Gx / Bx Gx / Cx Cx / Dx Gx //
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
