Question: Why use MIDI instead of recordings of these tunes?
Answer:
- Tunes can be slowed down dramatically without distortion.
- The two track mix on an audio CD means instruments cannot be separately manipulated.
- Tunes can be presented in a consistent format.
- Storage and bandwidth costs are kept to a manageable level.
Hetzler's Fakebook does not promote a particular style of playing nor does it represent the latest popular arrangements of these tunes. If you are a beginning to intermediate player, this site will help you, but it is not a substitute for playing on a regular basis with other musicians.
Question: I am totally lost. How do you find tunes on this site?
Answer: Old Time tunes are grouped by key rather than alphabetically. Old Time fiddle tunes are commonly played using open tunings. That is, the fiddle is tuned to something other than GDAE. The result is that fiddle and banjo players (who also use open tunings) tend to think in terms of D tunes, A tunes, G tunes, etc. because each of these keys requires a different tuning. In most cases there is agreement about which key is the proper key (Soldiers Joy is universally known as a D tune). However, some of the tunes have regional differences.
If you do not find a tune where you expect it, use the Quick Find Index to see if it exists on this site and where it can be found. Celtic tunes are listed alphabetically by category (i.e., reels, strathspeys, hornpipes, etc.). English, Welsh and Klezmer tunes are listed alphabetically.
Question: Why do tunes start and stop stop abruptly?
Answer: The MIDI on this site are intended for instructional purposes. They are designed to be played back as a continuous loop. Lead in notes and special endings have been omitted because they would break the continuity of the playback loop.
Question: What is a modal tune?
Answer: Modes originated in the middle ages. They are an archaic way of representing scales. Each mode is a unique combination of whole steps and half steps. You can memorize the whole steps and half steps associated with each mode or you can relate modes to the familiar diatonic scale we use today. This discussion does the latter.
The diatonic scale of any Major key corresponds to the Ionian Mode. If we use the notes of the C Major diatonic scale, but start on the second note (or second degree) of the scale (D) rather than the first note (C), the series of whole steps and half steps that results is D Dorian. The Dorian mode is equivalent to starting on the second note (or degree) of the major scale. If we start on the third note (E) we get the E Phrygian. If we start on the fourth note (F), we get F Lydian. If we start on the fifth note (G) we get G Myxolydian. If we start on the sixth note (A) we get A Aeolian and so on.
Each major diatonic scale has 7 modes that correspond with the notes of that particular scale: Ionian (I), Dorian (II), Phrygian (III), Lydian (IV), Myxolydian (V), Aeolian (VI), Locrian (VII). The Ionian (I), Lydian (IV) and Myxolydian (V) are major sounding. The others are minor sounding. In practice the Locrian mode is rarely encountered.
Most Old Time modal tunes fall into the Dorian (II), Myxolydian (V) or Aeolian (VI) Modes. Modal tunes are generally played on the fiddle with standard GDAE tuning.
Still Confused by Modes?
Key Signature of C
D Dorian (II)
G Myxolydian (V)
A Aeolian (VI)
Key Signature of D
E Dorian (II)
A Myxolydian (V)
B Aeolian (VI)
Key Signature of G
A Dorian (II)
D Myxolydian (V)
E Aeolian (VI)
Key Signature of A
B Dorian (II)
E Myxolydian (V)
F Aeolian (VI)
Modes vs Modern Equivalents
Ionic = major scale
Dorian = natural minor with a raised 6th.
Myxolydian = major scale with a lowered 7th.
Aeolian = natural minor.
Still Confused by Modes?
Old Time Modal tunes mostly use the following Modes.
D Dorian
D Myxolydian
G Myxolydian
A Dorian
A Myxolydian
A Aeolian
These can all be played using standard tuning on the fiddle.
Notes vs Degrees
using the scale of
C Major as an example.
C = I (tonic)
D = II
E = III
F = IV (sub-dominant)
G = V (dominant)
A = VI (relative minor)
B = VII
Hetzler's Fakebook
Hetzler's Fakebook
