Jigs And Reels, Can someone explain?

I was wondering if someone can define what a Jig is, and also what a Reel is? I feel somewhat ignorant not knowing.

Thanks!

Main indicator, I believe, is the time on it. I can come closer telling you the difference by ear than on sheet, and even then I may not be accurate. Perhaps some of the musicians here would be able to better inform

There is a set musical requirement to be defined as jigs and reels. It is all in the timing.

To tell whether a tune you're listening to is a jig or a reel, let your foot tap along with the music at a natural pace, then see how many fast notes you count between each tap. If you can count to 3, it's a jig. If you can count to 4, it's a reel.

Here is a website that describes not only Jigs and Reels, but Strath, Polka, Waltz, etc.

http://www.irishtune.info/rhythm/

BTW, great question!

(Aaediwen, are you a musician by chance? You were right on the timing!)

Thanks Paul!

I'm heading to bed now, but will certainly check out your link tomorrow.

Only by the strictest defenitition of the word per Chiff and Fipple

I meet the requirements for item 1, still working on 2. Getting there

Exactly right with the timing comment!

Jigs are in 6/8. 6/8 is known as a "compound meter" which means that both macro beats can be sub-divided into 3 eighth notes rather than 2.

On a more tangible note: If you can say "Pineapple Apricot" along with the music...it is a jig. This is because the words "pineapple" and "apricot" both contain three syllables.

Therefore, you have two main pulses (the words themselves) which contain smaller divisions of three (the syllables). Two beats which each divide into three smaller parts ...ie....the basic structure of 6/8 time.

Hope that helps....let me know if I'm being obtuse at all.


Cheers


PS...Try saying "Pineapple Apricot" a couple of times in a row while putting a small stress on the first syllable of each word (ie pine-ap-ple ap-ri-cot.

There...not only are you experiencing 6/8...but living up to rule #1 from the chiff and fipple

Very nice explanation! Thanks so much. Now I'm hungry. lol

Now I can make the difference betwen a jig and a reel when I listen without problems, but still cost me quite a lot when I read.

By the time I started to play it was very easy to make the diference... The Reels where those I coulnd't play!