Melodeon.net Forums
Discussions => Teaching and Learning => Topic started by: Cam Button on March 27, 2018, 11:41:02 PM
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Hello,
I have friends who participate in Scottish country dancing, and singing in Gaels. I would like to learn to play the same type of music, but I'm unsure of which keyboard / key to start learning.
I have a b/c, c//f club, a/d, and a g/c/f.
I would like an opinion about which key / layout you would recommend for learning this type of music.
Thank you
Cam
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Some of the Scottish players play B/C/C# so B/C would be closest and a starting point if you move to a three row. George will be along shortly to explain why this is the best system ;)
I would think that the cross row style of play on the B/C would lend itself to the next row C# when added.
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Probably best with Chromatic B/C because generally Tunes tend to be in sharp keys and songs are in flat keys, so you need full range of notes. However, this limits basses you can play. If accompanying singers then often best not to play the tune, just chords or simple harmony with bit of tune between verses etc.
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Nowadays by far the most popular box for Scottish Country Dance is piano accordion.
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if you are reasonably competent on the BC and not bothered aabout the bass (assuming yours is standard 8 bass rather than stradella) you should be fine for most Scottish dance music in CGD&A and can chuck in F and E if required.
Developing skills on BC will provide a natural lead in to playing a BCC# eg a 48 bass 3 voice casali if you want a one or a 96 bass gaelic if you want 4 voice.
have a look at you tube Brandon Mcphee to see just what can be done on the 3 row box.
Coming at it from a completely different direction if you want to start from scratch again the continental chromatic 5 row is far easier to play than a piano box , unless you already have good piano/keyboard skills in which case a piano box might be the way to go.
Another option if you want to keep the weight right down would be a double ray with 12 stradella bass, same weight as the more common 8 bass version but with bass for CGDA and enough to get by with in F and E. The 12 bass 3 voice trichord is still very light indeed ( same as corona) and provides treble for 12 keys with the bass the same as the 12 bass double ray
hope this helps!?
george
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Thank you much for sharing your knowledge. I'll keep on at the b/c box.
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sounds like a good plan!
george ;)
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Nowadays by far the most popular box for Scottish Country Dance is piano accordion.
:D :D :D :D :D :D
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I am also a fan of Irish music. If you want to hear whats possible to play on a semitone box ( b/c, c/c# etc), buy Mairtin O'Connors CD- "The Road West"
After listening to it for several years, I still think its amazing.
I like to play music from all countries,but this blew my socks off - Love it!
John - Scotland