Wood Vibrations - Celtic Cadences
Guitar World|February 2018

The influence of Celtic music on my acoustic playing

Mike Dawes
Wood Vibrations - Celtic Cadences

IN THIS COLUMN, I’d like to present some specific, intricate rhythmic ideas, as presented in a composition of mine called “Fortress,” featured on my latest release, Era. I wrote this piece while living in Northern Ireland, and it’s very much inspired by the music of that country, as well as its landscape and people, and the political climate that was present there in the Seventies.

“Fortress” is essentially a slow Celtic ballad in 6/8 meter, with a waltz-like vibe. Underneath the fingerpicked chordal and melodic elements is a “kick drum” pattern that I perform by slapping my pick-hand palm against the face of the guitar. The percussive pattern of this palm accent is a bit odd, as, in isolation, it’s played in a rhythm of 7/8, while the fingerpicked pattern is performed in a 6/8 meter. The odd juxtaposition of rhythms is intended to compositionally imply an air of unrest, akin to that for which the region is known.

Denne historien er fra February 2018-utgaven av Guitar World.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra February 2018-utgaven av Guitar World.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA GUITAR WORLDSe alt
TC Electronic TC 2290P Dynamic Digital Delay
Guitar World

TC Electronic TC 2290P Dynamic Digital Delay

THE MID EIGHTIES was a golden age for digital delay, thanks to the proliferation of pro- and studio-quality rack effects units from Eventide, Korg, Lexicon, Roland and Yamaha.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
Danelectro Doubleneck
Guitar World

Danelectro Doubleneck

WHEN I THINK back to the Seventies, the famously coined “Me” decade, it seems the only surefire way you could leave audiences awestruck was to strap on a doubleneck guitar.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
CARLOS ALOMAR
Guitar World

CARLOS ALOMAR

The former David Bowie guitarist talks Young Americans, Station to Station and the Berlin Trilogy, plus recording (and co-writing) \"Fame\" with John Lennon

time-read
10+ mins  |
November 2024
GEORGE TERRY
Guitar World

GEORGE TERRY

It turns out Eric Clapton's Seventies guitarist (and co-writer of \"Lay Down Sally\") also played on ABBA's \"Voulez-Vous.\" Below, he looks back on a decade-plus of E.C., Bee Gees, Diana Ross and more

time-read
10 mins  |
November 2024
FRANK MARINO
Guitar World

FRANK MARINO

The Mahogany Rush frontman charts the band's Seventies lows and highs, plus SG's, pickups and how he was definitely not visited by the ghost of Jimi Hendrix

time-read
10+ mins  |
November 2024
DEWAYNE "BLACKBYRD" MCKNIGHT
Guitar World

DEWAYNE "BLACKBYRD" MCKNIGHT

The jazz/funk/fusion veteran on his smooth segue from Herbie Hancock sideman to full-on Funkdaledic member -plus his '70s gear and what he learned from Shuggie Otis

time-read
10+ mins  |
November 2024
PAT TRAVERS
Guitar World

PAT TRAVERS

The Canadian-born virtuoso discusses the rise and fall of the Pat Travers Band, witnessing the U.K. punk revolution and the riotous roots of \"Snortin' Whiskey\"

time-read
9 mins  |
November 2024
JOE PERRY
Guitar World

JOE PERRY

The iconic guitarist looks back on Aerosmith in the Seventies, the decade that literally made and temporarily broke apart those Bad Boys from Boston

time-read
10+ mins  |
November 2024
DAZED and CONFUSED
Guitar World

DAZED and CONFUSED

Providing more hits and misses than a vintage K-Tel Top 40 compilation, the guitar industry during the '70s was anything but boring

time-read
10+ mins  |
November 2024
BEST 70s SOLOS, RIFFS and FORGOTTEN HEROES
Guitar World

BEST 70s SOLOS, RIFFS and FORGOTTEN HEROES

A horde of guitar stars including Warren Haynes, Doug Aldrich, Sophie Lloyd, Frank Marino, Vernon Reid and Mike Campbell (not to mention Blackbyrd McKnight, Jared James Nichols, Steve Lukather, Steve Morse and Charlie Starr) choose the best stuff from the '70s

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024