How Do You Tell An Irish Jig Apart From An Irish Reel?
If you’re going to do Irish dancing, it’s very important to be able to tell a reel apart from a jig (and both of those apart from the other kinds of tunes). Here are some easy tips on how to do it! The easiest way for most people to tell a jig from a reel is by using words that match the beat of the music. When you listen to an Irish jig, you can say “Patio Furniture” or “Rashers and Sausages” or even “Cantalope Honeydew”. All of these will fit the beat of a jig. An Irish reel, on the other hand, fits words like “Watermelon” or “Locomotive.” If that doesn’t work for you, try listening to the general feel of the music’s beat. A reel generally has more of a steady, driving beat, while a jig is bouncier or “skippier.” Another option is to actually count the beats. Jigs can be counted in 6s, so if you listen to the beat it will be ONE-two-three-/four/-five-six, with the main beat on the one and a secondary beat on the four. A reel, on the other hand, will be ONE-two-three-four, with the ma
