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[Sandy Flett]

Yes, those are the keys. If you like the chords I have worked out for them I can send you a copy of my sheet music.

[nemethmik]

Yes, those are the keys. If you like the chords I have worked out for them I can send you a copy of my sheet music.

Thank You, Sandy. I have a question that might be interesting other forum members either:
I'd like to teach this set of tunes to some of my hurdy-gurdy (tuned to G) friends. I guess that the 2nd tune in C and the third tune in G would work fine. But I am not sure about the 1st one in E minor, would it sound right against the G drones of the hurdy-gurdy?
That is I am looking for a key for the 1st tune that is equally OK both for a G hurdy gurdy and a G/C diatonic accordion.

[Sandy Flett]

I am not familiar with the hurdy-gurdy, but if it has a G drone then G minor would fit, but that would not be suitable for a GC melodeon. I have just tried the tune in D minor with a G drone and it is certainly better than E minor with G drone.

Other melnetters probably better placed to advise on this.

[Chris Ryall]

I was 'told' to play as a warm up for Swain&Price at Oxford Dance Camp last weekend. The other fella dragooned had a G gurdy and I was on a G/C. We'd not played together    Mostly I let him lead and chorded. Jump@theSun in Gm was 'interesting' 

At 'last one' we hadn't done a bourrée so I launched into my Chav set which come out in Am on a G/C.  I have to say ziggy's gurdy sounded really solid against it and the dancers were well enough pleased.  So it can be done. Didn't ask how - it was my turn to dance. 

[nemethmik]

my Chav set which come out in Am on a G/C.  I have to say ziggy's gurdy sounded really solid against it and the dancers were well enough pleased.  So it can be done. Didn't ask how - it was my turn to dance.

When playing in E minor on a D set of Irish pipes, the piper does not turn off the D drones. When playing a B minor tune on GHB against the A drones the piper does not swith off the drones. And the music sounds right, noone understand why, but it works.
I assume therefore that A dorian/minor could sound fine against G drones. This has already been partly discussed in another thread, though.

[parkwood]

Great to hear from you and learn "its not just me". And thank you for the various steers which I will follow up. Had a quick listen to the two tracks you mentioned and was impressed. Look forward to your recordings when you post them.

I notice in the article Becky says she loves the diatonic instruments but does not play them. However, you and I both play melodeon as well as accordion; any idea why we don't just play melodeon instead of also trying to get its influences onto accordion? Some of my reaons are: (a) you can play in (essentially) any key on accordion (b) the Stradella bass offers more options (c) more choice and ease-of-use of couplers usually (d) a quality accordion costs less than an equivalent quality melodeon (e) I grew up with PA and just like it very much as an instrument (f) there are some types of tune I play much better on accordion (eg really fast ones, fastish ones with lots of accidentals, slow airs). What's your excuse story - or that of any other "cross player" as I think someone on melnet once called it?

Hi Sandy - as promised, here's a few sets recorded in my living room last week. I think you can hear my melodeon influences in the second tune of each set - I don't really 'oom pah' at all. It's also the first outing for the stomp box!
http://soundcloud.com/cotterandwatson/fallen_hero
http://soundcloud.com/cotterandwatson/back-of-the-change-house

[Sandy Flett]

Its been a while, as they say, but worth the wait. Couple of lovely tunes and treatment there, and I do like the expression.

Quite a John Spiers effect on the bass. Steeped as I am in dance music the oom pah comes most naturally, but I am trying to get a bit of variation for listening sets, and yours is a good example for me.

I notice you are also a member of the accordion forum? I am currently canvassing opinion about whether we should have a members recordings board and I think your couple of tracks are an excellent example of what I would like to see on there.

[parkwood]

Glad you enjoyed them, Sandy. Well spotted - I am a little Spiers inclined on the LH (The LH reed combination, bass EQ and stomp box all contribute) and Cutting/Price on the RH!

Happy to post them in the other place to an appropriate thread....