PlayList for Palm
PlayList is a program I created for the Palm PDA. PlayList is almost totally based on Andrew Low's List, a simple database for the Palm, but I added a feature for playing musical "tune hints" when a particular text-based Palm music format is found in the Notes field of a database entry.
I created PlayList for those times when nobody in a jam can remember how to start one of the hundreds of old time fiddle tunes. When this happens, if I have the tune in my "Oldtime Tune Hints" PlayList database, I can use the Palm to play a little bit of the A and B part to refresh our memories. In addition, I use PlayList to view normal List databases I have created of Bill Wisdom's old time tune list from the Wisdom Jam in Bryn Mawr, PA., and another list of many old time recordings and their tracks.
The PlayList program and its databases, and also plain text files of the old time tune list and recordings list can be downloaded at my website Computers, Clawhammer, and Cats .
Carolyn
I created PlayList for those times when nobody in a jam can remember how to start one of the hundreds of old time fiddle tunes. When this happens, if I have the tune in my "Oldtime Tune Hints" PlayList database, I can use the Palm to play a little bit of the A and B part to refresh our memories. In addition, I use PlayList to view normal List databases I have created of Bill Wisdom's old time tune list from the Wisdom Jam in Bryn Mawr, PA., and another list of many old time recordings and their tracks.
The PlayList program and its databases, and also plain text files of the old time tune list and recordings list can be downloaded at my website Computers, Clawhammer, and Cats .
Carolyn
posted by Carolyn at 9:26 PM
3 Comments:
I've been thinking of making a list for just the reason you mention -- when nobody in a jam can remember how to start a tune. (I've only been playing for 5 years and consider myself lucky to remember ANY starts!) I thought about doing it on paper, in a little book, but your post has me thinking in a whole new direction.
I'm not a programmer, though, I'm a writer. And I don't have a Palm. (I know, sacrilege.) So where do I start?
Chele, old-time fiddler from Bainbridge Island, WA
Hi Chele -
Hi -
You could go several different ways.
1. MP3
You could get a high quality portable MP3 player/recorder that allows you to have categories or folders for files and can display file by name. Then make short MP3 recordings of any tune that is easily forgotten, download the file, give it the right name, and if necessary edit it with a sound editor like Goldwave to trim or save in a smaller lower quality of MP3. Then upload it back to your player in the correct category or folder. The benefit of this method is that you don't have to enter tunes by hand.
2. Cel Phone
If you have a modern cel phone it may be able to play MP3 and might even be able to record small files if it has a built in voice recorder. Record short bits of tunes. You may want to download the files to your computer, reduce their size and/or quality with a sound editing program like Goldwave and save as a smaller MP3. Then put it back in the phone. I don't have a cel phone but my fiance does this. Benefit is you already are carrying and charging your cel phone.
3. MIDI
Modern PDA's and cel phone can often play MIDI files or you can get a player for them that can. Get a simple MIDI editor. Look for MIDI renditions of tunes that you can download (trim these and use standard built-in MIDI instruments to shrink the files). Put them in your PDA or cel phone.
4. Palm
On a Palm you could use PlayList and my tune hints database. At my website http://www.chesco.com/~carolyn/ on the PlayList page I describe how you can use another Palm program called PocketSynth to create new tune hint data for PlayList. But I will tell you it is not easy to enter music using that program. I practice on Aldo's Pianito then try to enter the tune on the Palm using PocketSynth.
5. Since you are a fiddler, a little book is not a bad idea. If you can read music it wouldn't be too hard for you to write up a bit of the A and B parts. If you don't really equate fiddle melodies to the actual notes (B, C# etc.), then if have ever played piano, a real piano or a simple PC piano program like Aldo's Pianito is a help in checking the notes before you write or enter them elsewhere.
If you cannot read music, there are other ways to write down a melody. This Fiddle Tune Index uses the "ABC" format of letters and numbers to describe some of the melodies:
http://www.ceolas.org/tunes/fc/
You will have to find a reference to the ABC format elsewhere. You can probably find ABC players for most PDA's.
For an easier format for a paper notebook, you could just list the fiddle tuning (if you retune) and the finger positions on the strings. You could use a bar character to separate the measures and pick a way to indicate note length. A fiddle tab I saw once only used the string letter at the beginning of each measure, whenever the string is open, and whenever you switch strings.
A D2 | D, D, D 1 2 3 | A, A, A, D2
Here I used commas to indicate if the note is a full beat - this would be a simple way to write the beginning of Dixie in the key of D.
I hope one of these methods works for you!
Carolyn
Thanks for all this, Carolyn! I have a suggestion for you -- can you e-mail me at cheles +++ at +++ speakeasy dawt net ? I've come up with what could be a very cool idea!
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