A senior American officer once said: Going to war without the French is like going deer-hunting without my accordion.
Regardless of the slur on French military prowess, he had a point. Music round the campfire is pleasant, but not when youre carrying the accordion. So I thought Id look at the more lightweight options.
The tin whistle/penny whistle has long been a staple of Irish music but is also a traditional instrument in Scottish and English culture. It is both easy and impossible to play. Easy, because you can pick one up and rattle off simple slow tunes within minutes. Impossible, because well just look at the speed of some jigs and see if you can get there.
The great thing is that there are fantastic resources on the internet for learning instruments- free tutorials, music, mp3 files, you name it.
The picture shows, from left to right, the Clare Whistle, the Irish Feadog, and the Meg whistle by Clarkes all in the key of D, which is recommended for the beginner. Its a close tie between the Clare and the Feadog but I prefer the Feadog. The Meg is more cheaply made, quieter, and just not in the same league in my opinion. All these whistles are very cheap - £5 to £10.
The 12 gauge cartridges are there for scale although those whove heard me play might suggest another use for them
An alternative to the whistle is the harmonica also known as a harp by our colonial friends, or a moothie here in Scotland. The traditional harp is the Hohner Marine Band, which has been in continuous production for a century or so. However, it has a wood comb which is apparently harder for beginners, and may warp with outdoor use. Right in the picture is The Marine Band Special 20 by Hohner, which has a plastic comb and is highly recommended. The other harp is a £3 Chinese Golden Cup. It was out of tune on purchase. Not recommended. I have heard good things about the Suzuki Folkmaster which is £10 delivered on ebay, and the Hohner Big River Harp, which is between the Folkmaster and the Special 20 in both price and quality.
The harp is, IMHO, much harder than the whistle. It took me 2 wks to get single notes reliably, but now Im progressing beyond Kumbaya with a target of Springsteens intro to The River. Like the whistle, the internet harp resources are amazing.
Now the dark nights are on us, a campfire instrument is worth considering. A whistle or harp weighs little, and costs a fiver or a tenner. Acquiring skill takes a little time and perseverance, but it fits with the know more, carry less ethic.
Regardless of the slur on French military prowess, he had a point. Music round the campfire is pleasant, but not when youre carrying the accordion. So I thought Id look at the more lightweight options.
The tin whistle/penny whistle has long been a staple of Irish music but is also a traditional instrument in Scottish and English culture. It is both easy and impossible to play. Easy, because you can pick one up and rattle off simple slow tunes within minutes. Impossible, because well just look at the speed of some jigs and see if you can get there.
The great thing is that there are fantastic resources on the internet for learning instruments- free tutorials, music, mp3 files, you name it.
The picture shows, from left to right, the Clare Whistle, the Irish Feadog, and the Meg whistle by Clarkes all in the key of D, which is recommended for the beginner. Its a close tie between the Clare and the Feadog but I prefer the Feadog. The Meg is more cheaply made, quieter, and just not in the same league in my opinion. All these whistles are very cheap - £5 to £10.
The 12 gauge cartridges are there for scale although those whove heard me play might suggest another use for them
An alternative to the whistle is the harmonica also known as a harp by our colonial friends, or a moothie here in Scotland. The traditional harp is the Hohner Marine Band, which has been in continuous production for a century or so. However, it has a wood comb which is apparently harder for beginners, and may warp with outdoor use. Right in the picture is The Marine Band Special 20 by Hohner, which has a plastic comb and is highly recommended. The other harp is a £3 Chinese Golden Cup. It was out of tune on purchase. Not recommended. I have heard good things about the Suzuki Folkmaster which is £10 delivered on ebay, and the Hohner Big River Harp, which is between the Folkmaster and the Special 20 in both price and quality.
The harp is, IMHO, much harder than the whistle. It took me 2 wks to get single notes reliably, but now Im progressing beyond Kumbaya with a target of Springsteens intro to The River. Like the whistle, the internet harp resources are amazing.
Now the dark nights are on us, a campfire instrument is worth considering. A whistle or harp weighs little, and costs a fiver or a tenner. Acquiring skill takes a little time and perseverance, but it fits with the know more, carry less ethic.
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