What instrument(s) do you play?

jayjay · Post by **jayjay** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 12:33 pm

Oh, and a cittern! I heard one played on a contra dance cd I have, I thought it was strangely tuned mandolin, or a bouzouki, or something at first. Sounds magical!

*edited in footnote : this instrument I don't play *yet*.

tin tin · Post by **tin tin** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 12:51 pm

I primarily play a 6-key flute.
I've played (acoustic) guitar for longer than you'd think if you heard me. I don't play much any more, preferring to spend my time on the flute.

I used to play Boehm flute, high whistle, electric bass (and electric guitar), and (briefly, but it was--literally--a blast) Sousaphone.
I struggled with piano lessons for a summer and have dinked around on mandolin a bit.

I have great admiration for multi-instrumentalists; just getting good at one has been a long road for me!

Post by **Nanohedron** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 1:18 pm

jayjay wrote:Oh, and a cittern! I heard one played on a contra dance cd I have, I thought it was strangely tuned mandolin, or a bouzouki, or something at first. Sounds magical!

A person of taste and discernment, to be sure. I have to admit I'm a bit partial to the cittern, myself.

-Joe Foley cittern (DGDAD tuning)
-Peter Noy 8-key Eb/D corps de réchange timber flute
-Alan Ginsberg uilleann pipes masterfully rehabbed by Dave Boisvert, full flat set in C
-Various whistlage

It's enough. I can't believe some of the lists youse guys have. Amazing. I still haven't taken up the bodhrán yet.

jayjay · Post by **jayjay** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 1:35 pm

Nanohedron wrote:
jayjay wrote:Oh, and a cittern! I heard one played on a contra dance cd I have, I thought it was strangely tuned mandolin, or a bouzouki, or something at first. Sounds magical!
A person of taste and discernment, to be sure. I have to admit I'm a bit partial to the cittern, myself.

Uh oh... I didn't qualify that as one of the instruments I'd *like to learn * to play.

Somewhere on this thread we began talking about instruments we would like to learn. Perhaps that would best be a different thread. ... or maybe.... a foot note at the bottom of the list we already have going.

-Joe Foley cittern (DGDAD tuning)

So then, I know nothing about this instrument, I see it has 5 strings, at what intervals? Fifths????

Post by **Nanohedron** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 1:46 pm

jayjay wrote:
Nanohedron wrote:
jayjay wrote:Oh, and a cittern! I heard one played on a contra dance cd I have, I thought it was strangely tuned mandolin, or a bouzouki, or something at first. Sounds magical!
A person of taste and discernment, to be sure. I have to admit I'm a bit partial to the cittern, myself.

Uh oh... I didn't qualify that as one of the instruments I'd *like to learn * to play.

No, I got that. Your appreciation qualifies you.

jayjay wrote:
-Joe Foley cittern (DGDAD tuning)
So then, I know nothing about this instrument, I see it has 5 strings, at what intervals? Fifths????

Ten strings in five double courses - all unison, here. Note the tuning: it's an inversion, sort of like DADGAD in reverse, great for traditional-sounding backup. Citterns tuned in fifths are better for melody playing, I think, and often tuned CGDAE. Some people tune their gizmos starting from G, but that scares me. I get plenty of string tension enough with that bass D.

The neck scale is shorter than that of your usual guitar. One fellow called it a "mandolin on Viagra". Here's a pic of me playing mine, backing up our own intrepid and talented tommykleen:

Doc Jones · Post by **Doc Jones** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 2:03 pm

Tim2723 wrote:
Doc's comment about concertinas got me thinking again too. I briefly fiddled with a concertina long ago, but I'd like to try that agian. The one I tried was an 'Anglo' concertina (?). I've read about English concertinas, but I've never heard of a 'duet' one. I'll have to start hanging around the squeezebox forum!

There are other much less wonderful duet systems out there. I'm speaking only of Hayden.

The Hayden duet is a unique system. Same note in or out and button arrangements that allow you to switch from one musical key to another just by moving your hand position. Almost as easy to switch from the key of G to the key of D (or C or F or whatever) as it is to put down a D whistle and pick up a C. The fact that the notes are the same in or out allows you to do great ornamentation too (try doing a long roll on an Anglo some time). The button arrangement also makes chord playing mindlessly simple. So, if you don't know the melody you just jump in with the guitar guys and play chords. I got mine at buttonbox.com.

Sorry for the tangent...back to strings now.

Doc

jayjay · Post by **jayjay** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 2:27 pm

-Joe Foley cittern (DGDAD tuning)

So then, I know nothing about this instrument, I see it has 5 strings, at what intervals? Fifths????

Ten strings in five double courses - all unison, here. Note the tuning:

Duh, I got that after I wrote it, feel like an idiot.

...it's an inversion, sort of like DADGAD in reverse, great for traditional-sounding backup. Citterns tuned in fifths are better for melody playing, I think, and often tuned CGDAE. Some people tune their gizmos starting from G, but that scares me. I get plenty of string tension enough with that bass D.The neck scale is shorter than that of your usual guitar. One fellow called it a "mandolin on Viagra".

I definitely want one now, as I love the thought of something similar to what I already play, and I'm more of a melody player (working on my accompanying skills though) .

side note: I have been seriously thinking about getting an Octave Mandolin, and there's a thread all about it. I liked someone's bouzouki I heard, and wanted to try one , but I'm now thinking I'd do better on an Octave Mandolin , for it's shorter neck length. I am drawn to the texture of the octave couplets. I wonder if I could basically now consider a Cittern in the same light of thought? I will bring it up over on that thread.... catch you there?

Tim2723 · Post by **Tim2723** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 7:16 pm

Thanks Doc, I'll check that out!

buddhu · Post by **buddhu** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 4:46 pm

jayjay wrote:I have also have a tenor guitar I didn't mention, tuned in fifths. ... I *was* considering trading it in for a 'zouk or OM.

A reason to keep the tenor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWwmhj92-Cw

Dan is a MandolinCafe regular.

As for my own modest list of abused instruments... in order of preference or competence:

Mandolin
Tin whistle
Octave mandolin (no longer have one)
Guitar (all gone)
Tenor Banjo
Bass Guitar
Bodhran
Harmonica (used to think I was OK until I heard clips of Steve Shaw!)

I rarely play anything but mando these days. I either have or will have sold all my other string instruments soon to fund a better mandolin.

buddhu · Post by **buddhu** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 4:48 pm

Sweet Foley, Nano.

(Where da "envy" smiley at?)

Post by **Nanohedron** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 12:27 pm

buddhu wrote:Sweet Foley...

Heh. Sounds like an oath. "Where's my pint??? Aw, Sweet Foley...the waitress fecked it. I still had a drop left, dammit."

Yeah, buddhu, it's a keeper, methinks.

Tim2723 · Post by **Tim2723** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 4:13 pm

I think that will be my new oath! "Sweet Foley!" None in the pub will know what I'm talking about, and that suits me!

ImNotIrish · Post by **ImNotIrish** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 6:18 pm

Hi. I play whistle, flute (original Hudson Pratten, R&R, and Hawkes and Son, tenor banjo (B&D Silver Bell), and fiddle. The banjo and the fiddle are recent additions (last two years). That's it.... I can't imagine making time for anything else.

Tim2723 · Post by **Tim2723** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:15 am

[quote="jayjay
Tim, isn't the psaltery used in medieval and boroque music? I bet there's lots of Renaisance players here in this place....[/quote]

I was just re-reading this thread and found your question buried in a post. Sorry.

The term psaltery commonly refers to two instruments of the zither family. The plucked psaltery is an ancient instrument, possiibly one of the first stringed instruments invented. It's basically a flat, trapezoidal box with strings across the top. Kind of like a small hammered dulcimer or an autoharp with the tone bars removed.

The bowed psaltery is actually a very new instrument. It was invented in the 1940's by a German school teacher who was looking for a simple instrument to teach children the rudiments of music.

Both psalteries show up a lot at Ren faires. They have a very medieval look, especially with some of the decorations that are added to them. Many players will insist that it's a medieval instrument (and the plucked psaltery certainly is), but the bowed version simply looks the part.

It is charming, sweet-toned instrument that is so easy to play that you'll pick out simple tunes within minutes. Indeed, they're often refered to as the easiest instrument in the world. Do try one if you have the chance.

Wormdiet · Post by **Wormdiet** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 5:34 pm

Tim2723 wrote:
Both psalteries show up a lot at Ren faires. They have a very medieval look, especially with some of the decorations that are added to them. Many players will insist that it's a medieval instrument (and the plucked psaltery certainly is), but the bowed version simply looks the part..

A bit of trivia. .. on the sci-fi series "Babylon 5" one of the alien races uses a bowed psaltery for a religious ceremony. It was pretty entertaining.

I can't get a decent sound out of a bowed psaltery to save my life.