Bill Troxler
  • Home
  • 20 Hour Pledge
  • Classes
    • Bodhran for Beginners >
      • Hugs and Hits
      • Patterns >
        • Reel Patterns >
          • Pivots-Turn Arounds-Clouser
          • Putting Patterns to Work
      • Techniques >
        • Creating a Back Beat
        • Double Down
        • Triplets
        • Tones
      • Things to Know Video >
        • Tippers
        • Tuning the Bodhran
        • Stretch
      • Things to Know TEXT
      • Bodhran Resources
      • Bodhran Buying
    • Celtic Tunes
    • Creating Celtic Sets
    • Pan-Celtic Repertoire
    • Just Enough Music Theory
    • The Common Ground of Music
    • Creating Melody
    • Understanding the Modes
  • Tune Bank
  • Articles
    • Broadway Musical
    • Bluegrass
    • Barbershop Singing
    • The Hammered Mbira - A New Musical Instrument
    • Military Bands
    • Troubadors
  • About Me
  • Recordings

Sets

Most players put two or more tunes in sequence to create a "set".  After a couple of passes through a tune, things get predictable.  The boredom lifts when the tune changes.  The overall rule for creating sets is .....just make certain it sounds good.  Sets are mostly built upon musical intuition.

However, following a few guidelines can help strengthen the effect of a set.


  • Change the key or mode of each new tune in the set
 
  • Moving a key signature from tune to tune by a 5th always works
 
  • Shift the mood during a set.  Start with a major key or mode then end with a minor key or mode
 
  • Changing time signatures can be effective.  However, it isn't easy.  Doing this seamlessly requires practice
 
  • Players often increase the tempo while playing a set.
 
  • It's worth taking some time to understand musical modes.  Celtic music mostly uses four modes: Ionian, Dorian, Mixolydian, Aeolian.  Dorian mode is frequently used in Celtic music because it tends to be ambiguous - a little happy, a little sad. Mixolydian mode is common in Celtic music because it's powerful and unexpected.   Changing modes for each new tune gives a set a lot of power.
NOTE:  The set titles below link to my SoundCloud account where the music stored.
Clicking on a link will open a new tab in your browser.

 Rannie-MacLellan-Virginia-John Bronson
rannie_maccellan-virginia-john_brosnon.pdf
File Size: 35 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Knotted Cord-Gypsy Princess- Andy McGann's
knotted_cord-gypsy_princess-andy_mcganns_.pdf
File Size: 36 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Over the Moor to Maggie-Sgt. Early's Dream - Broken Pledge
over_the_moor_to_maggie_-_sgt._early_-_broken_pledge.pdf
File Size: 44 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Road to Cree-Isle of Ewe-Jerry's Beaver Hat
road_to_cree_-_isle_of_ewe_-_jerrys_beaver_hat.pdf
File Size: 41 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Banish Misfortune-Finn Harpers-Trip to Killarney
banish_misfortune_-_finn_harpers_-_trip_to_kilarney.pdf
File Size: 34 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Sean Reid's - Tinker's Wife-Bunny's Hat
sean_reids-tinkers_wife-bunnys_hat.pdf
File Size: 31 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Wheels of the World - Calliope House - Bonnie Mulligan
wheels_of_the_world-calliope_house-bonnie_mulligan.pdf
File Size: 35 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Miss William'\s Delight - Maid of Montgomery - Jenkin's Jig
miss_williams-maids_of_montgomery-jenkins_jig.pdf
File Size: 35 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Red Haired Lass Road to Errogie- Mountain Road
red_haired_lass_-_road_to_errogie_-_mt_road.pdf
File Size: 33 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Note:  Red Haired Lass is often played in the key of A major.  Bouzouki and Tenor Banjo will find this easy to do by placing a capo at the 2nd fret.  If the tune is played in the key of A put it at the end of this set.  A good order of tunes would be Mountain Road - Road to Errogie - Red Haired Lass. That will make for a nice transition among keys and a very good set!
On The Hoof - Pull the Knife & Stick It Again - Frost is All Over
on_the_hoof-pull_out_the_knife-frost_is_all_over.pdf
File Size: 41 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Proudly powered by Weebly