Campfire Instruments

[Tadpole]

I’ve never understood the desire that people have, do destroy the very thing they claim to be seeking, most people claim to wild-camp to get in touch with nature or to search for some deeper more meaningful ‘spiritual’ Zen when out in the woods, but nearly all the time, most are either trying to get smashed out of their heads with booze, or make enough noise to wake the dead.

Is there nothing to be said for sitting round the camp fire and listening to the night?

 

[gregorach]

Conical whistles have a slightly more "breathy" tone. Personally, I prefer straight whistles, but it's largely a matter of taste. Brands I would recommend are Feadóg, Clarke, Oak, Acorn, Shaw, Generation...

Have a read of Chiff & Fipple's Guide to Inexpensive Whistles

Definitely start with a D - it's the easiest key to play, and every single tutor book assumes that key. Once you're up to speed, you can perhaps think about getting some other keys - the most useful usually being C and B-flat, but it depends on what you're playing. Then there's the low whistles, which get much more expensive and are quite tricky to play, especially for a beginner.

I'd also recommend L. E. McCullough's Complete Irish Tin Whistle Tutor.

 

[gregorach]

Is there nothing to be said for sitting round the camp fire and listening to the night?

Plenty, but that doesn't mean you can't ever do anything else. Nobody's trying to tell you how to enjoy yourself, please extend the same respect to those of us who occasionally like to play music outdoors.

 

[MartinK9]

Plenty, but that doesn't mean you can't ever do anything else. Nobody's trying to tell you how to enjoy yourself, please extend the same respect to those of us who occasionally like to play music outdoors.

And to those that want to get smashed

 

[gregorach]

Indeed.

 

[Tadpole]

Plenty, but that doesn't mean you can't ever do anything else. Nobody's trying to tell you how to enjoy yourself, please extend the same respect to those of us who occasionally like to play music outdoors.

Unfortunately if’n I am sitting by yon fire listening to the sound of nature all around me, and half a mile away there is a camp full of people half smashed out of their tree singing just the chorus to the song “total eclipse of the heart” till 0220hrs, they are basically telling me how their style of camping is more valid than mine. Where is the respect then?

 

[gregorach]

So everyone in the entire country has to maintain silence just in case you're around?

 

[Tadpole]

So everyone in the entire country has to maintain silence just in case you're around?

No more than everyone in the country should be forced to listen to the drunken howling of other people. It's as you said all about Respect

 

[Melonfish]

Lol, wasted is fun but i'm a fella who breathes music, i'm constantly singing to myself, when i get home i'm always fiddling with my guitars etc, really music is just me. although i love the outdoors for its peace and serenity i don't mind interupting that a little every so often with some nice music

 

[Doc]

Unfortunately if’n I am sitting by yon fire listening to the sound of nature all around me, and half a mile away there is a camp full of people half smashed out of their tree singing just the chorus to the song “total eclipse of the heart” till 0220hrs, they are basically telling me how their style of camping is more valid than mine. Where is the respect then?

You wouldn't hear a tin whistle half a mile away. I don't think you'd hear it 100 metres away. They aren't particularly loud instruments.

But I would agree that before picking the whistle up it's important to consider if anyone else is within earshot, and what their views might be. Same goes for singing, and doubly so for electronic music.

 

[Andy2112]

You wouldn't hear a tin whistle half a mile away. I don't think you'd hear it 100 metres away. They aren't particularly loud instruments.

But I would agree that before picking the whistle up it's important to consider if anyone else is within earshot, and what their views might be. Same goes for singing, and doubly so for electronic music.

Lol, you would if Mr Galway had it and was amped up, lol All valid points.

I've never been to a bushcraft meet where there's been drunken singing late at night, must be just the commercial campsites, and i won't name the one i went to and experienced it first hand.

 

[scrogger]

Well I enjoy some music I think the right sort of music around the camp fire adds to the experience and for me it gives a little more value and meaning. I am not talking IPODs linked up to speakers or Ghetto blasters. At a meet up at Loch Achray Gregorach played a whistle (correct me if I got that wrong Duncan) there was no loud singing just banter around the fire with the music as a background noise to be honest that combined with the company and yes a few nice malts made it a very enjoyable and memorable night.

That said I also like to sit in solitude I think both have their place around the fire. JMHO

Andy

 

[Andy2112]

Well I enjoy some music I think the right sort of music around the camp fire adds to the experience and for me it gives a little more value and meaning. I am not talking IPODs linked up to speakers or Ghetto blasters. At a meet up at Loch Achray Gregorach played a whistle (correct me if I got that wrong Duncan) there was no loud singing just banter around the fire with the music as a background noise to be honest that combined with the company and yes a few nice malts made it a very enjoyable and memorable night.

That said I also like to sit in solitude I think both have their place around the fire. JMHO

Andy

Spot on mate.

 

[gowersponger]

iam visiting family down in kent christmas time i always visit a shop in canterbury that sells aboriginal instruments ive just gave 2 bongos away that i bought a couple of years ago, and this year iam going for a aboriginal flute .

 

[Nonsuch]

I did a canoe trip in the Colorado desert this summer (a river runs through it) and one of the guides was a great lady called Erin who had brought a guitar in a waterproof case. We had some fantastic warm musical evenings round the campfire looking up at the starry night. Boy was she talented.

NS

 

[morch]

At a meet up at Loch Achray Gregorach played a whistle (correct me if I got that wrong Duncan) there was no loud singing just banter around the fire with the music as a background noise to be honest that combined with the company and yes a few nice malts made it a very enjoyable and memorable night.

That said I also like to sit in solitude I think both have their place around the fire. JMHO

Andy

Couldn't agree more

Dave

 

[rik_uk3]

Problem with camp fire instruments is that many of the players think they can play but reality is often different

I'll stick to radio 4 or music from my MP3 player, via headphones.

 

[Grooveski]

Read this thread last night and then was just in there booking some tickets for the celtic connections when I spotted a 'whistle for beginners' class.
Five minutes later I was on amazon ordering Robin Williamson's Penny Whistle Book.

You guys have a lot to answer for.

P.S. there's an intermediate class as well - just in case anyone round here's interested.

 

[Melonfish]

i popped into my local music shop yesterday and got two whistles, ones a Guinness one! (must be irish!)
not sounding too good atm but it'll improve if i do an hour a day....


...


for the next 20 years!

 

[Grooveski]

I'm glad folk suggested trying a few makes out.
I'd dug out an old Generation(an impulse buy when I was picking up strings years ago) and was having a hard time playing a scale without fluffing notes. A Clarke(original) just dropped through the letter box and it's a joy to play in comparison.

Robin's penny whistle book arrived too. It's mostly a selection of tunes rather than excercises so I'll probably stick it aside for a while but I'm betting they're nice tunes and the patter's good(as you'd expect).
[edit - Sorry, there are a few pages of exercises and the songs themselves are also.
Shouldn't have commented on a book from a quick flick through. I'll let you know how it turns out.


...



in twenty years. ]