Ornamentation can be used in tunes to allow players to express their individual style and flair to their music. Here’s a quick breakdown of some common ornamentations and how they’re used in Irish traditional music:

Rolls

Rolls are a distinctive and rhythmic embellishment used to decorate longer notes, usually in jigs and reels. There are several methods to create a roll but we will look specifically at a cran roll.

In playing a cran roll you take the main note eg D and you play two more grace notes in quick succession, lightly before returning to the main note.

For example: D Roll- DBD’D

In this example the B and D’ notes are played very quickly and lightly, they are barely audible while the main notes of D are heard more strongly. The middle two notes act as a percussive effect which break up the rolled note.

Cuts

Cuts are quick, single-note embellishments used to add separation and emphasis to certain notes within a tune. Played by briefly touching a higher note and immediately returning to the main note, cuts are fast and percussive, enhancing the pulse of the music without breaking the flow. They are commonly used in faster reels and jigs to add energy and highlight the main melody notes.

Lets try to play a cut on the note of B, by playing D’ quickly and lightly before playing B more strongly: D’B

Triplets

Triplets are used to add speed by dividing a single beat into three quick notes. Triplets often appear in place of a single note to add excitement, especially in dance tunes. They are played rapidly and smoothly, giving the melody a rolling feel and are especially effective in lively reels and hornpipes.

Let’s try to play a triplet using these 3 notes: F’G’F’

Play the three notes quickly together. It may take some practice to get the rhythm right. The notes should be played with equal emphasis.

Octaves

Octaves are when the same note is played simultaneously at two different pitches, an octave apart. Used sparingly, octaves create a fuller, richer sound, adding depth and strength to certain notes. They are often used in slower airs or to emphasise specific phrases in a tune, creating a resonant, harmonised effect.

Try playing D’ and D (both pull) at the same time. This is an octave.

Chords

Chords involve playing two or more notes at once and are often used to provide harmony and rhythmic support in traditional tunes. On instruments like the concertina, chords are usually used sparingly to emphasise key notes or phrases, especially in slower pieces or for a dramatic effect. They create a fuller, more layered sound, balancing melody with harmony. A simple way to introduce chords into your playing is on the last note of a tune.

For example, on the tune ‘Na Ceannabhain Bhana’, the last note is G. Try to play this note as a chord by playing G and D at the same time.

An Introduction to the Irish Concertina

Get in contact at:

intrototheirishconcertina@outlook.com

Supported by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland

An Introduction to the Irish Concertina

Get in contact at:intrototheirishconcertina@outlook.com

Supported by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland

Get in contact at:

intrototheirishconcertina@outlook.com