Rhythmic Patterns for Polkas, Hornpipes, and Slides, Part 1: Polkas
Jigs and reels are the most common kinds of dance tunes in traditional Irish music, but there are a few others that get played at seisiúns and elsewhere, including polkas, hornpipes, and slides. Polkas come from southwestern Ireland and are in 4/4 time but are usually played much faster than reels. Flynn shows you a syncopated 123–123–123–123–12–12 pattern inspired by Pete Townshend’s guitar playing on the Who’s “Pinball Wizard,” and then shows you how to use it to accompany the polka “Britches Full of Stitches.”
