The Folk Music Academy

About this course

In this course Ale goes into the depth of playing traditional dancing tunes made for fiddle on a plucked instrument. Many great tunes from the southern part of Sweden, as well as lessons on ornamentation, pull-off & hammer-on, phrasing, and how to get a great tone. All in this wonderful course.

Filmed by: Olav Luksengård Mjelva
Edited by: Jens Linell

Teacher: Ale Carr

Instrument: Cittern

Countries: Sweden

Regions: Skåne, Gudbrandsdalen

Musical forms: Polska, Springleik, Hambo, Technique, Engelska, Slängpolska

Browse the 17 lessons

Introduction to the Cittern
Performance - Slängpolska e Johan Jacob Bruun
The Cittern, Gear & Tuning
Ergonomics
Tone
Hammer On & Pull Off
Ornamentation
Phrasings - Pick vs Bow
Polska efter Enninger
Engelska efter Mattis Kollberg
Slängpolska e Johan Christian Blomgren
Vals efter Lorens Brolin
Bror Dahlgrens Hambo
Skara Brudmarsch
Vigstadmoin
Pärlepolskan
Polska

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About Ale Carr

Hailing from the Skåne region in southern Sweden, Ale Carr is an extraordinary musician with a deep-rooted feeling for rhythm, phrasings, and dynamics. His playing style is sought after by many and now you can learn all his secrets in his first-ever course on melody playing on a plucked instrument. He is a part of Dreamers’ Circus, Basco, and a trio with Esko Järvelä & Bjarke Falgren. Ale has been awarded 10 Danish Music Awards, including Artist of the Year and Composer of the Year. He particularly enjoys teaching - as he believes the essence of tradition is based on sharing experiences and one’s cultural inheritance and has been teaching at the Malmö Academy of Music since 2011.

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About the Cittern

It is similar to the mandolin and guitar and is often played in folk music styles. The instrument has a pear-shaped body with a flat top and back and a long neck. It typically has four or five courses of strings that are played by plucking with a plectrum or pick. While the cittern has a long history, it experienced a revival in the 20th century, particularly in the folk music scenes of the United States and United Kingdom. Today, the cittern remains popular among musicians who appreciate its unique sound and versatility.

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