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Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
Hello:
What are the most common keys played in Scottish Trad and Ceildih's/Country dance? Also, for button accordionists, what button boxes do they use most? Diatonic (A/D/G) or Chromatic (B/C, B/C/C#)?
Thanks to all for your answers.
Re: Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
Though most keys are used the most common would be A and D as many Scottish pipe tunes are used. Almost all box players for Scottish Dance would used chromatic.
Re: Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
I would have thought that the Piano box was to the fore in Scottish Dance Music with the B/C/C# British Chromatic a close second. I'm basing this assumption on a very large selection of Scottish Dance Band recordings in my record and CD collection?
Re: Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
All the three row players, myself included, who play a B/C/C# started on a B/C# two row. That includes Shand, Will Starr etc, but in over fifty years of playing, listening and watching,. I have never come across anyone in a Scottish Band playing a A/D/G box, or a two row box for that matter. I'm not saying there isn't anybody playing those boxes, I've just never come across one. Back in the fifties there was a gentleman name of Terry Lane who played a five row melodeon C/F/G/D/A with the Garda Ceili Band. A bit like playing an accordion with a Capo. It was a custom built instrument by the De Lappe Company in Italy. It was Jimmy Shand who decided that the two row B/C# box was too limited fro him and in conjuction with Hohner had an extra row added in C#. The box was named the Shand Marino and had Stradella bass added. It was called the British Chromatic to differentiate it from the Continental Chromatic, and that is how the three row B/C/C# came into being.
Re: Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
Fergis MacDonald, who in my opinion, and that of most other highlanders, is the the finest Ceilidh Dance player of his generation actually plays a two row. But then again Fergie is an enigma wrapped up in a conundrum.
Re: Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
Needless to say, many SCD bands have a button and a piano accordion in their band.
In the "right" hands, PA can sound nearly like a button box if you leave enough "holes" in the tune.
Re: Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
Aye, being a dour Scot is a pretty Scottish thing right enough ramblingpitchfork.
Insults can be most useful. The worst type are the gentle compliments that really mean 'oh dear' . I received one a few weeks ago. Doing a pub gig with a trio we had more gremlins that most of our previous gigs put together. We had lent out our amp and it came back with one broken chanel , I had taken the wrong pipes and was 15 minutes late (first time in my life for a gig), The mandola player broke a sting in the second number, a lead went nuts and caused a mad screaming noise half way through the first half and then on the last number of the first half the fiddler broke TWO strings in the first tune. It was truly terrible and we played to match. One punter as he we leaving the second the first set was over said "that was quite good". I couldn't even answer and just sat there like a muppet. He would have been much better saying 'that was totally sh*te" at least then we could have agreed with him. Anyway, it gave us a right kick in the ass.
Re: Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
Ramblingpitchfork - Well spotted...... B/C of course. I hit the Hash in error. Never came across a B/C#, although I once had a tune on a box on which the C row was so out of tune that it was nearly in C#.
Re: Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
First post : ) so hi all and I'd like to offer the following;
When I first met Fergie he was playing a three row. Fergie started getting into Irish music a few years back and I think this may have something to do with the move to the 2 row he's often seen with these days. Of course pipe tunes (and any other scottish tune) sound great on the 2 row, Fergie being a great exponent would most likely agree that a 2 rows is kinder to others at a tune and Fergie loves a tune.
I think the dominance of the piano key is historical rather than due to any stylistic constraints, simply put there were more pianos around in village schools for kids starting off. Some of the great scottish SCDB box payers play/played button box and also some of the really good young trad players are putting the piano key to good (and sympathetic) use also, horses for courses......
Once I sat in with a famous but now gone highland fiddler, he was 80 at the time and he played (wonderfully) in no natural keys what so ever during a 8 or 9 tune set of tunes. It has to be said that this dexterity is not the norm though and I had to be on my toes throughout (my hand hurts just thinking about it).
Most common: A A pipe D Bm G Em but as I say above; it depends who you sit in with ; )
Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
Hello:
What are the most common keys played in Scottish Trad and Ceildih's/Country dance? Also, for button accordionists, what button boxes do they use most? Diatonic (A/D/G) or Chromatic (B/C, B/C/C#)?
Thanks to all for your answers.
Don
# Posted on April 10th 2009 by gdhow62
Re: Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
Though most keys are used the most common would be A and D as many Scottish pipe tunes are used. Almost all box players for Scottish Dance would used chromatic.
# Posted on April 10th 2009 by bogman
Re: Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
I would have thought that the Piano box was to the fore in Scottish Dance Music with the B/C/C# British Chromatic a close second. I'm basing this assumption on a very large selection of Scottish Dance Band recordings in my record and CD collection?
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by Free Reed
Re: Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
"Diatonic (A/D/G) or Chromatic (B/C, B/C/C#)?"
Jimmy Shand played a B/C/C#. You can't argue with that.
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
Yes, Free Reed, the piano accordion is the most popular by far, I was only saying the chromatic is the button box most used.
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by bogman
Re: Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
I always think that Scots PA players who think they're playing like Jimmy Shand have completely missed the point.
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
Do you know any?
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by bogman
Re: Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
All the three row players, myself included, who play a B/C/C# started on a B/C# two row. That includes Shand, Will Starr etc, but in over fifty years of playing, listening and watching,. I have never come across anyone in a Scottish Band playing a A/D/G box, or a two row box for that matter. I'm not saying there isn't anybody playing those boxes, I've just never come across one. Back in the fifties there was a gentleman name of Terry Lane who played a five row melodeon C/F/G/D/A with the Garda Ceili Band. A bit like playing an accordion with a Capo. It was a custom built instrument by the De Lappe Company in Italy. It was Jimmy Shand who decided that the two row B/C# box was too limited fro him and in conjuction with Hohner had an extra row added in C#. The box was named the Shand Marino and had Stradella bass added. It was called the British Chromatic to differentiate it from the Continental Chromatic, and that is how the three row B/C/C# came into being.
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by Free Reed
Re: Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
Fergis MacDonald, who in my opinion, and that of most other highlanders, is the the finest Ceilidh Dance player of his generation actually plays a two row. But then again Fergie is an enigma wrapped up in a conundrum.
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by bogman
Re: Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
Needless to say, many SCD bands have a button and a piano accordion in their band.
In the "right" hands, PA can sound nearly like a button box if you leave enough "holes" in the tune.
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by geoffwright
Re: Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
Free reed, when you say B/C# do you mean b/c or was there such a beast as b/c# in times gone by?
I'm not being sarcastic, I'm not an expert in the history of button boxes, but I've never heard of a b/c#.
- chris
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
Aye, being a dour Scot is a pretty Scottish thing right enough ramblingpitchfork.
Insults can be most useful. The worst type are the gentle compliments that really mean 'oh dear' . I received one a few weeks ago. Doing a pub gig with a trio we had more gremlins that most of our previous gigs put together. We had lent out our amp and it came back with one broken chanel , I had taken the wrong pipes and was 15 minutes late (first time in my life for a gig), The mandola player broke a sting in the second number, a lead went nuts and caused a mad screaming noise half way through the first half and then on the last number of the first half the fiddler broke TWO strings in the first tune. It was truly terrible and we played to match. One punter as he we leaving the second the first set was over said "that was quite good". I couldn't even answer and just sat there like a muppet. He would have been much better saying 'that was totally sh*te" at least then we could have agreed with him. Anyway, it gave us a right kick in the ass.
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by bogman
Re: Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
Crickey, how did I manage that? Obviously this post should be on the best insults page.
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by bogman
Re: Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
Ramblingpitchfork - Well spotted...... B/C of course. I hit the Hash in error. Never came across a B/C#, although I once had a tune on a box on which the C row was so out of tune that it was nearly in C#.
# Posted on April 11th 2009 by Free Reed
Re: Scottish Ceilidh most common keys and Piano or Diatonic/Chromatic?
First post : ) so hi all and I'd like to offer the following;
When I first met Fergie he was playing a three row. Fergie started getting into Irish music a few years back and I think this may have something to do with the move to the 2 row he's often seen with these days. Of course pipe tunes (and any other scottish tune) sound great on the 2 row, Fergie being a great exponent would most likely agree that a 2 rows is kinder to others at a tune and Fergie loves a tune.
I think the dominance of the piano key is historical rather than due to any stylistic constraints, simply put there were more pianos around in village schools for kids starting off. Some of the great scottish SCDB box payers play/played button box and also some of the really good young trad players are putting the piano key to good (and sympathetic) use also, horses for courses......
Once I sat in with a famous but now gone highland fiddler, he was 80 at the time and he played (wonderfully) in no natural keys what so ever during a 8 or 9 tune set of tunes. It has to be said that this dexterity is not the norm though and I had to be on my toes throughout (my hand hurts just thinking about it).
Most common: A A pipe D Bm G Em but as I say above; it depends who you sit in with ; )
TKC
# Posted on April 12th 2009 by Solidmahog