15th Feb 2013
Welcome to EFDSS - we run courses and classes for young people in folk music and dance.

Get Your Folk On! course for 12- 18 year olds: 20 - 22 February 2013
FULLY BOOKED!

For more info visit www.efdss.org

8th Feb 2013
Modes

Instead of being in normal major or minor keys, a lot of folk music is modal. Modes are 7 note scales that have a slightly different pattern of tones and semitones.

For example, the pattern T S T T T S T gives the dorian mode - this is the same pattern as playing D - D on the white notes on a keyboard, or playing a scale with a flattened 3rd and 7th note.

The dorian mode is very common in traditional music. Some examples are: Kissed Her Under the Coverlet (G dorian) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrYg09Xn_xU
Drowsy Maggie (E dorian) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIHI49JQ7zY
Cuckoo's Nest http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf6-Q6k6o_o
Scarborough Fair
Greensleeves

It's also quite common in jazz, and in some popular music too.
"Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson, "Oye Como Va", "So What" by Miles Davis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEC8nqT6Rrk
"Mad World" by Tears for Fears http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gFl2OXySs8 , covered by Gary Jules http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N3N1MlvVc4

Why not try writing a tune in the dorian mode and bring it along to folk ensemble?