I have taken up mandolin and a former schoolmate has taken up bagpipes. We're getting together this summer for our 20 year class re-union.
We'd like to try to play together at the re-union (just informally!) and are looking for a tune that would work well with just bagpipes and a mandolin AND would be fairly simple.
Any ideas? Pointers to any arrangements with specific bagpipe and mandolin parts would be bonus.
Bogman - I just sent my friend the question. I'll let you know as soon as I find out.
skreech - we wouldn't be performing for anyone. It's just if we have a chance to connect. Most likely we'll be able to accommodate for the volume of the bagpipes for an informal jam. And if we can't, then we'll just have fun of two novices making noise together.
Bogman -- I'm not sure. That's why I'm asking him. I'm not familiar with pipes at all and we haven't really conversed much on the subject. He's just referred to them as "bagpipes".
If it's the Highland pipes, you'll find that you'll probably have to use a capo on the mandolin as tunes "A" will be "Bb" and so on. ..........A semi tone higher.
Of course, you can always relearn them in the same key as the pipes but that's maybe a lot at the beginner's stage.
Northumbrian, Uillean, Scottish Small pipes won't give you this problem.
Jon Jay -- I'm assuming the tunes on the Session are mostly for C instruments (though, that's relative!). Are you saying Highland Pipes are a B (half step down from C) instrument? If so, would I just take the tune (for example the one suggested by Henk above) and play it as is for mandolin and transpose it down a half step for Highland Pipes? I'm not a theory expert but I've transposed a few songs and know the basics
The best Highland Bagpipe tune is ABBA's "Super Trouper" - you should try it! It fits within the range of the instrument.
It is better than "Mull Of Kintyre", which is the other Highland Bagpipe tune. People may groan, heckle or walk out, and crazed supporters of Heather Mills may try to rush you.
The most common pitch for instruments in this tradition is D. Highland pipes are tuned up a semi-tone from that so tunes that are written in D come out as Eb and tunes that are written in A come out as Bb.
The other thing to factor in is that most Highland pipes are not exactly pitched at Bb. They are somewhat higher than that so you might have to retune the mandolin a bit as well as capoing it - or just tune it up to match the pipes and don't worry about the capo.
No, I'm saying that it will be "higher" on the Highland bagpipes. So "A" will be "B flat" and so on.
Easiest solution for yourself is just to capo the first fret and use the same fingering as you would normally. You could relearn the tunes in the keys of Bb, D#, G#/Ab and so on but you'd have to use different fingering.
But NO-ONE will hear the mandolin, unamplified, above a set of Highland pipes. Maybe not even over a set of Lowland pipes.
Smallpipes, Scots or Northumbrian, or Uillean pipes, you have a small chance of being heard. Have you tried one of these resonator mandolins ? They're quite loud.
Nicholas, you're absolutely right, Super Trooper is the best pipe tune. I did a canal tour in Sweden a few years ago and though there were no pipes in the line-up three of us were pipers and played Super Trooper on top of the boat as we came up to locks. Word soon got around about the mad Scots and we had welcoming committees at each lock, often with beer for us.
But to the point, if you friend has Highland pipes there is absolutely no way whatsoever you will be able to play with him without some sort of amplification, they a vastly louder than a mandolin. But if you do then capo on the first fret is the way to go. Solo pipers tune slightly sharp of Bb but almost everyone who plays with others tune to concert Bb.
Please post your pipe setting of the abba tune on this thread guys!!! It sounds hilarious. A friend of mine has a set of smallpipes and has been known to play the odd groaner. We could use this tune for next year's 03-17 gig.
Tuning your mandolin a semi-tone high should not break the strings but be careful
A capo would be better - the G7 mandolin/banjo capos are great, but expensive
If both of you are relative beginners, then I'd guess that:
1) you won't have access to a resonator mandolin
2) he won't be tuned +exactly+ to Bb, so you'll have to tune to him, even with a capo
This is one of those occasions where it might just be best for you to thrash away on some chords rather than pick out a dainty unheard melody. Try an Am tune like the Drunken Piper or Lexie McAskill if he can play those
Bogman - glad to hear your take on Super Trouper! I've never actually *heard* it yet on bagpipes - I just found it worked a treat on D/G melodeon, and then realised it fitted on the GHB, and thought "Wow, that could really sound good!"
It's got a tad more oomph than Highland Cathedral anyway - though I don't mean to diss that tune.
If your friend is a piper and you just want to connect rather than entertain, ask him to bring his practise chanter. It might be in tune, and at least he will hear your mandolin.
Simple bagpipe and mandolin tune
Simple bagpipe and mandolin tune
Hello,
I have taken up mandolin and a former schoolmate has taken up bagpipes. We're getting together this summer for our 20 year class re-union.
We'd like to try to play together at the re-union (just informally!) and are looking for a tune that would work well with just bagpipes and a mandolin AND would be fairly simple.
Any ideas? Pointers to any arrangements with specific bagpipe and mandolin parts would be bonus.
Thanks,
Mike
# Posted on March 30th 2009 by MikeJansen
Re: Simple bagpipe and mandolin tune
What kind of bagpipes?
# Posted on March 30th 2009 by bogman
Re: Simple bagpipe and mandolin tune
Any pipe tune will do. No one will hear the mandolin.
# Posted on March 30th 2009 by skreech
Re: Simple bagpipe and mandolin tune
Bogman - I just sent my friend the question. I'll let you know as soon as I find out.
skreech - we wouldn't be performing for anyone. It's just if we have a chance to connect. Most likely we'll be able to accommodate for the volume of the bagpipes for an informal jam. And if we can't, then we'll just have fun of two novices making noise together.
# Posted on March 30th 2009 by MikeJansen
Re: Simple bagpipe and mandolin tune
Mike, I mean are they Uilleann, GHB, smallpipes ?
# Posted on March 30th 2009 by bogman
Re: Simple bagpipe and mandolin tune
Bogman -- I'm not sure. That's why I'm asking him. I'm not familiar with pipes at all and we haven't really conversed much on the subject. He's just referred to them as "bagpipes".
# Posted on March 30th 2009 by MikeJansen
Re: Simple bagpipe and mandolin tune
How 'bout http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/651
# Posted on March 30th 2009 by Henk Bos
Re: Simple bagpipe and mandolin tune
Thanks, Henk. I've added it to my tunebook. I love hornpipes. I'll give it a shot this weekend.
# Posted on March 30th 2009 by MikeJansen
Re: Simple bagpipe and mandolin tune
If it's the Highland pipes, you'll find that you'll probably have to use a capo on the mandolin as tunes "A" will be "Bb" and so on. ..........A semi tone higher.
Of course, you can always relearn them in the same key as the pipes but that's maybe a lot at the beginner's stage.
Northumbrian, Uillean, Scottish Small pipes won't give you this problem.
# Posted on March 30th 2009 by Johnny Jay
Re: Simple bagpipe and mandolin tune
Jon Jay -- I'm assuming the tunes on the Session are mostly for C instruments (though, that's relative!). Are you saying Highland Pipes are a B (half step down from C) instrument? If so, would I just take the tune (for example the one suggested by Henk above) and play it as is for mandolin and transpose it down a half step for Highland Pipes? I'm not a theory expert but I've transposed a few songs and know the basics
# Posted on March 30th 2009 by MikeJansen
Re: Simple bagpipe and mandolin tune
The best Highland Bagpipe tune is ABBA's "Super Trouper" - you should try it! It fits within the range of the instrument.
It is better than "Mull Of Kintyre", which is the other Highland Bagpipe tune. People may groan, heckle or walk out, and crazed supporters of Heather Mills may try to rush you.
# Posted on March 30th 2009 by nicholas
Re: Simple bagpipe and mandolin tune
The most common pitch for instruments in this tradition is D. Highland pipes are tuned up a semi-tone from that so tunes that are written in D come out as Eb and tunes that are written in A come out as Bb.
The other thing to factor in is that most Highland pipes are not exactly pitched at Bb. They are somewhat higher than that so you might have to retune the mandolin a bit as well as capoing it - or just tune it up to match the pipes and don't worry about the capo.
# Posted on March 30th 2009 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Simple bagpipe and mandolin tune
No, I'm saying that it will be "higher" on the Highland bagpipes. So "A" will be "B flat" and so on.
Easiest solution for yourself is just to capo the first fret and use the same fingering as you would normally. You could relearn the tunes in the keys of Bb, D#, G#/Ab and so on but you'd have to use different fingering.
# Posted on March 30th 2009 by Johnny Jay
Re: Simple bagpipe and mandolin tune
"or just tune it up to match the pipes and don't worry about the capo."
I'd be careful about doing that though unless the strings were a fairly light guage
# Posted on March 30th 2009 by Johnny Jay
Re: Simple bagpipe and mandolin tune
But NO-ONE will hear the mandolin, unamplified, above a set of Highland pipes. Maybe not even over a set of Lowland pipes.
Smallpipes, Scots or Northumbrian, or Uillean pipes, you have a small chance of being heard. Have you tried one of these resonator mandolins ? They're quite loud.
# Posted on March 30th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Simple bagpipe and mandolin tune
Nicholas, you're absolutely right, Super Trooper is the best pipe tune. I did a canal tour in Sweden a few years ago and though there were no pipes in the line-up three of us were pipers and played Super Trooper on top of the boat as we came up to locks. Word soon got around about the mad Scots and we had welcoming committees at each lock, often with beer for us.
But to the point, if you friend has Highland pipes there is absolutely no way whatsoever you will be able to play with him without some sort of amplification, they a vastly louder than a mandolin. But if you do then capo on the first fret is the way to go. Solo pipers tune slightly sharp of Bb but almost everyone who plays with others tune to concert Bb.
# Posted on March 30th 2009 by bogman
Re: Simple bagpipe and mandolin tune
Please post your pipe setting of the abba tune on this thread guys!!! It sounds hilarious. A friend of mine has a set of smallpipes and has been known to play the odd groaner. We could use this tune for next year's 03-17 gig.
# Posted on March 30th 2009 by octogreg
Re: Simple bagpipe and mandolin tune
Tuning your mandolin a semi-tone high should not break the strings but be careful
A capo would be better - the G7 mandolin/banjo capos are great, but expensive
If both of you are relative beginners, then I'd guess that:
1) you won't have access to a resonator mandolin
2) he won't be tuned +exactly+ to Bb, so you'll have to tune to him, even with a capo
This is one of those occasions where it might just be best for you to thrash away on some chords rather than pick out a dainty unheard melody. Try an Am tune like the Drunken Piper or Lexie McAskill if he can play those
# Posted on March 30th 2009 by Bren
Re: Simple bagpipe and mandolin tune
Bogman - glad to hear your take on Super Trouper! I've never actually *heard* it yet on bagpipes - I just found it worked a treat on D/G melodeon, and then realised it fitted on the GHB, and thought "Wow, that could really sound good!"
It's got a tad more oomph than Highland Cathedral anyway - though I don't mean to diss that tune.
# Posted on March 30th 2009 by nicholas
Re: Simple bagpipe and mandolin tune
If your friend is a piper and you just want to connect rather than entertain, ask him to bring his practise chanter. It might be in tune, and at least he will hear your mandolin.
# Posted on March 31st 2009 by gam