Whats the difference between a reel and a jig?
Reels and jigs both have two main beats to the bar. In a jig each of these beats is divided into three (or into 2 in a long-short pattern), whereas in a reel each of these beats is divided into 2 or 4. A jig is in 6/8 time and goes Diddly diddly Diddly diddly : the theme to the Archers (Barwick Green) is a jig. A slip jig is in 9/8 and goes Diddly-diddly-diddly Diddly-diddly-diddly : The Rocky Road To Dublin is a slip jig. A reel is in 4/4 time and goes Diddle-iddle diddle-iddle Diddle-iddle diddle-iddle : Drowsy Maggie, Soldiers Joy, Speed The Plough are all reels. Someone also suggested ‘Glasgow Rangers Glasgow Celtic’ as an aide-memoire for reel time, and ‘Liverpool Everton Liverpool Everton’ for jig time. A hornpipe is also in 4/4 time, but the first note of each pair is often elongated to give the distinctive DIDDle DIDDle DIDDle DIDDle rhythm : Captain Pugwash (aka The Trumpet Hornpipe) is a hornpipe.
