Chiff and Fipple Forums

Hi all,

Just out of curiosity;
It is always said that a D whistle always plays naturally in 3 keys (Dmaj, Gmaj and Emin)
Dmaj: D, E, F♯, G, A, B, C♯, D
Gmaj: G, A, B, C, D, E, F♯, G
Emin: E, F♯, G, A, B, C, D, E

But what about D mixolydian?
Dmaj: D, E, F♯, G, A, B, C, D

And even F# Locrian
F# G A B C D E

it is easily playable on a whistle, but never mentioned. Why is this?

Cheers,
Erwin

Because if you start counting modes, then a D whistle naturally plays in 14+ "keys" and it's just a pain in the neck to list them all.

Frankly, I wouldn't list Emin separately like that ... you either need more keys (after all, Bmin is every bit as natural a fit for a D whistle!) or fewer (I think just D and G would be my preference).

PS You've left out the super-common in Irish music A mixolydian and A dorian scales.

If you're going to list the modes that Irish tunes on D whistles, pipes, and flute commonly occur in, off the top of my head it would be

D Major, D Mix
E dorian (actual E minor tunes are scarce, seems to me)
G Major (though some tunes or parts of tunes are in G Lydian)
A Mix, A dorian
B minor
C Lydian (a large number of old Highland Scottish tunes are in the equivalent key, G Lydian)

A separate issue, I suppose, are all the scales, the five-note and six-note "gap scales".

Scales with a missing 3rd are neither Major nor minor, but are usually perceived by the listener to be minor. Many tunes which are listed as "minor" and guitarists accompany as minor don't have a 3rd at all, and could be just as fittingly accompanied as Major.

I'm with colomon - D and G will do for me.

Mostly depends on whether you are a "lumper" or a "splitter". But does it really matter? Just play the tune...

Best wishes.

Steve

Steve Bliven wrote:Mostly depends on whether you are a "lumper" or a "splitter".

Reminds me of the time, some years back, when I was trawling round nurseries looking for a Paeonia Lithophila. Eventually, at about the 10th nursery I came to, I asked the man serving (who turned out to be the owner) and his immediate response was, "Are you a lumper or a splitter?" I got my plants.

benhall.1 wrote:I'm with colomon - D and G will do for me.

A little more inclusive but almost as simple: "anything with one or two sharps in the key signature".

StevieJ wrote:

benhall.1 wrote:I'm with colomon - D and G will do for me.

A little more inclusive but almost as simple: "anything with one or two sharps in the key signature".

Yep. That works.

Thanks for all the info.

I normally just play the tune from memory and hearing as well

But just started to go a bit more into the background as I am trying to pick up the flute again. I just started wondering

I am still trying figure out why to call something A Dorian instead of G Major, as they are clearly related (1 sharp), currently looking at Humours of Tuamgreine.

Tuamgraney Castle resolves on A. The note a tune resolves on is usually a good indicator of the key.

What key is the slide "Get Up Old Woman and Shake Yourself"? I guess it is technically hexatonic, but there are just some tunes like this that I have a hard time putting a label on.

awildman wrote:What key is the slide "Get Up Old Woman and Shake Yourself"? I guess it is technically hexatonic, but there are just some tunes like this that I have a hard time putting a label on.

Personally I'd say it was in G, but you could easily argue that it's in E minor.

I think e dorian, but it revolves around some different notes during, and that is what throws me off. It just feels mixy or dorian. I wonder if the missing c makes it feel different enough to confuse me?

awildman wrote:I think e dorian, but it revolves around some different notes during, and that is what throws me off. It just feels mixy or dorian. I wonder if the missing c makes it feel different enough to confuse me?

Sounds to me like you've got it about right. It does move around a bit.

de Salier wrote:Hi all,

Just out of curiosity;
It is always said that a D whistle always plays naturally in 3 keys (Dmaj, Gmaj and Emin)
Dmaj: D, E, F♯, G, A, B, C♯, D
Gmaj: G, A, B, C, D, E, F♯, G
Emin: E, F♯, G, A, B, C, D, E

But what about D mixolydian?
Dmaj: D, E, F♯, G, A, B, C, D

Myeh.

If you can name ány key or scale or mode, you can play it on ány whistle. Don't let all the "three-key-only-folks" mislead!