D Mixolydian
- de Salier
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D Mixolydian
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
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
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield
- colomon
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Re: D Mixolydian
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.
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.
Sol's Tunes (new tune 2/2020)
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Re: D Mixolydian
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.
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.
Richard Cook
c1980 Quinn uilleann pipes
1945 Starck Highland pipes
Goldie Low D whistle
c1980 Quinn uilleann pipes
1945 Starck Highland pipes
Goldie Low D whistle
- benhall.1
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Re: D Mixolydian
I'm with colomon - D and G will do for me.
- Steve Bliven
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Re: D Mixolydian
Mostly depends on whether you are a "lumper" or a "splitter". But does it really matter? Just play the tune...
Best wishes.
Steve
Best wishes.
Steve
Live your life so that, if it was a book, Florida would ban it.
- benhall.1
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Re: D Mixolydian
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.Steve Bliven wrote:Mostly depends on whether you are a "lumper" or a "splitter".
- StevieJ
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Re: D Mixolydian
A little more inclusive but almost as simple: "anything with one or two sharps in the key signature".benhall.1 wrote:I'm with colomon - D and G will do for me.
- benhall.1
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Re: D Mixolydian
Yep. That works.StevieJ wrote:A little more inclusive but almost as simple: "anything with one or two sharps in the key signature".benhall.1 wrote:I'm with colomon - D and G will do for me.
- de Salier
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Re: D Mixolydian
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.
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.
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- Mr.Gumby
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Re: D Mixolydian
Tuamgraney Castle resolves on A. The note a tune resolves on is usually a good indicator of the key.
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Re: D Mixolydian
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.
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Re: D Mixolydian
Personally I'd say it was in G, but you could easily argue that it's in E minor.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.
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Re: D Mixolydian
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?
- benhall.1
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Re: D Mixolydian
Sounds to me like you've got it about right. It does move around a bit.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?
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Re: D Mixolydian
Myeh.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
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!
-- A tin whistle a day keeps the racketts at bay.
-- WhOAD Survivor No. 11373
-- WhOAD Survivor No. 11373