Regional Playing Styles?

[kattywompus]

Hello Friends:

I'm wondering what forum members have to say about regional playing styles & characteristics? Do you notice a difference
in styles from one part of the country to another?

Thanks, and I'm looking forward to hearing your comments!

Cordially,
Jennifer Ranger
Kattywompus String Band
www.SoKattywompus.com

[cboody]

I'll have to think about this. I think there are differences, but I can't articulate them well. So, someone get this started and perhaps we can get somewhere.

One passing thought though: differences might be due to the influence of particular players in a particular region or particular common music styles in a region. Michiganders seem to play with a contradance style, while folks in Appalachia may sound more like Old Time or Bluegrass styles. Those influences, music common in the area or player of influence in an area, might be more important than geographical differences.

[kattywompus]

Okay, I see what you're saying about regional playing styles. And I think in my neck of the woods, it's a real mixed bag as far as music played on Dulcimer and the actual styles of playing it.

Any other thoughts on this subject? I'd love to hear your comments.

Thanks!
Jennifer
Kattywompus String Band
www.SoKattywompus.com

[Martin]

I'll have to think about this. I think there are differences, but I can't articulate them well. So, someone get this started and perhaps we can get somewhere.

One passing thought though: differences might be due to the influence of particular players in a particular region or particular common music styles in a region. Michiganders seem to play with a contradance style, while folks in Appalachia may sound more like Old Time or Bluegrass styles. Those influences, music common in the area or player of influence in an area, might be more important than geographical differences.

This is a very interesting topic.

I am definitely influenced by Old Time and Bluegrass. There seem to be close ties to this region and Scotch-Irish music as well, so even those that grew up in this area have close ties to Celtic songs and tunes. Fiddle tunes are pretty huge here, but they are a lot more fun to play with accompaniment, and I play by myself, so I really don't play a lot of them. In addition, I play a lot of hymns due to my upbringing as well.

As far as style goes, I like to think that I've developed my own style of playing. One thing that frustrates me with fiddle tunes and not playing with anyone else is that fiddle tunes can move so quickly that it's hard to "fill in the space" that left beneath the melody. However, hymns allow for much more musical space to fill in the gaps of music with runs an whatnot. When I learn a song, I try to do melody and accompaniment for myself at the same time with the use of arpeggios. Here's an example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60w4Y-_fxxs



I'm definitely influenced by my region and upbringing, but I'd like to learn and explore other styles...when I can find the time.

[kattywompus]

Thanks for posting that great video! What part of the country are you in?
Jennifer
Kattywompus
www.SoKattywompus.com

[Martin]

Thanks for posting that great video! What part of the country are you in?
Jennifer
Kattywompus
http://www.SoKattywompus.com

I'm glad that you liked the video!

I'm in the mountains/foothills of North Carolina.

[kattywompus]

Yes, that was my guess as to your location being in a southern by your use of arpeggios in
faster tunes - I like it!

Cordially,
Jennifer
www.SoKattywompus.com

[gscratch]

Nothing too intelligent to add, here, just a random comment:

I lived and played in northern NJ for a few years (attended Pocono and By The Bay) a few times, then moved to central Illinois a year or so ago (and attended Railsplitter, Gebhard, and Gateway). More than one of the instructors in IL made comments like "that east coast way of playing" with no embellishment or "east coast people always seem to be left-hand-lead (or right-hand-lead, I forget which)" not that I could confirm or deny. My point is, there are people who apparently believe that there are regional styles (not that I, personally, would be able to identify one very easily).

I've taken workshops with and listened to players from the Atlantic coast and south central parts of the country, and I know that I hear significant variations in their indivdual styles, but I don't know that I could categorize them. And I have no experience with players from the west or or from outside the U.S., so my sample is fairly limited.

Glen

[kattywompus]

Hi Glen:

Thanks for your input - I think this is a really interesting subject, and your comments are important!
Jennifer
Kattywompus String Band
www.SoKattywompus.com

[forums]

in the various places that i've lived, (1) there were very few to none other hd players, and (2) even if there were i didn't get to hear them.
as a result i can confidently say that their affect on my playing style was 0% (to the nearest .01%).
my style was 98% affected by the players on the cds i listened to when i was trying to learn by playing along with them.
the other 2% was probably from some of the workshop instructors at evart, joplin, gebhard woods, and so on.
(at festivals i usually learn lots of things, but playing style is not high on the list.)

there are some regions where there are enough hd players that get together (countering my own #1 and #2 above), such as michigan, in which case good for them.
i'd bet that region makes more affect where there are opportunities for folks to get together to play, which is a far cry from my situation, unfortunately.
anyway, for me the region hasn't made any difference "a tall".
wish it did ('cause i wish i had the opportunity to play along with other folks).

[njt4hd]

Certainly, I'm no expert on this, but IMHO it's not so much regional as the style of individual players and ever-so-slight differences in the melody line of the same tune in different areas of the country. In our travels, it seems to depend on who the players are and the type of music they prefer to play that make a difference. Depending on the number of players in any specific region, I think you'll find playing styles all over the board (....maybe that's "soundboard" ).

[woods]

I have to admit that I, too, learned more from individuals that were not from my "region", whether from workshops or CDs or whatever. In fact, I really don't know what the regional style is here in Southwest Missouri!

I only know 2 other players here, and one of them was a student of mine. I have heard the other player once; but it was many years after my style was pretty matured, and really hasn't made any difference in my playing. So much for my region!!