Jig-to-Reel Sets: How do you do it?

[Roger O'Keeffe]

Although they're not uncommon on commercial groups' recordings, and seem to be common in Scottish music, mixed-tempo sets are a bit of an anomaly in Irish music.

The best way to handle them is to hold the last note of the first tune for a couple of beats, which signals the fact that you're going to do something funny, then launch into the new rhythm. If you have accompanying rhythm instruments, they can stop momentarily during the bridge note, and switch into the new rhythm for a couple of bars before the melody gets going.