Irish Fiddle : Frankie Gavin 2

[richiem95]

This tuning is called E flat... where you tune each string up a semitone.. Frankie Gavin always plays in E flat

[lindamon8]

He has tuned the fiddle up a semitone from GDAE, so this tune (normally in Bm), is now played in the key of Cm.

[Lisnageeragh]

The fiddle is tuned up around a semitone ..?? Tone / resonance / flow?

[UISTMAN59]

@Lisnageeragh up from what?

[Lisnageeragh]

@UISTMAN59 From the usual tuning around A/440 .

[UISTMAN59]

@Lisnageeragh Thanks for replying . Does that mean that instead of being in A the fiddle is in Bb (which would suit the Highland bagpipes (maybe!) :-) ?

[Lisnageeragh]

@UISTMAN59 It probably would play easier with the Highland bagpipes....though I imagine it would lose a bit in tone quality....what do Scottish fiddle players do?

[UISTMAN59]

@Lisnageeragh @Lisnageeragh I only wish I knew :-( I don't play fiddle or pipes myself and can only read music very slowly. I have a couple of sound clips of Shetlanders talking about how they tune the fiddle for tunes. I read ages ago that fiddlers in various parts of Scotland (& Cape Breton) sometimes use EAEA Scordatura. West Coast fiddlers are said to use the myxolidian mode with aflattened 7th but by now I am well out of my depth - All I can say is "fiddle music all sounds good to me"

[TripToWindsor]

@UISTMAN59 It's distinctive, that's probably the most likely reason. Cathal Hayden does the same, it changes the sound.

[fiedelmina]

@Lisnageeragh

it's impossible for a fiddler to play a duet together with a highland bagpipe. Those things are way too loud. Fiddle with bagpipe would mean the pipe is a small pipe, uillean pipe or something like that.

[Dayepipes]

@Lisnageeragh Gavin's Band De Danann tuned to E-Flat for years so he's probably tuned there. I've got an excerpt of them from the 1970's with Gavin fiddling under my user name. The links won't post so search my user name, but put a double quote before and after my name you see. You'll find the De Danann clip in the list.

[Lisnageeragh]

@Dayepipes Thanks for reply....the Eb ...idea has become more popular ..some flutes of course were designed in that manner...maybe the flute players started it all!!

[richiem95]

His chords really make it..

[shankandbrisket]

One of the best settings of this tune I've heard so far!

[guinnesskoto]

goooooooooooooooooood!

[richiem95]

i dont understand how he is just so good

[Raichu234]

woooow amazing...such a talent :D

[gusthelesswise]

This'll always be the greatest version. Just when I thought I was doing a good job.

[shaxincat]

i love this man <3

[mongorich]

Scary good fiddling! Anyone know what that bridge setup is?

[swingingcats]

"Falling down" bridge..the mark of the true player...oblivious to all but his music, and heedless of the limitations of the physical universe! Hurrah for Frankie! Long may he fid!

[clarebannerman]

Frankie is out of this world on the fiddle. Also a very good flute player. Up Galway!

[4strings4ever]

Ah Frankie, those were the days when he played with De Dannan!

By the way, does he tunes his fiddle 1/2 step up or I am mistaken?

[silviabaroni]

you are very very very good musicist

[UISTMAN59]

Grazie tanto. He is!(I  am not)

[rushkil79]

I love the little harmonic intros into the 2nd part....

[Artcarnie]

He's the best I've seen on You Tube!

[bruceleeC64]

try cathal hayden, johnny cunningham, casey driessen, john carty...

[upkilt]

Skip Casey, but the others are fine.

[bruceleeC64]

driessen isn't irish trad. but he is an exceptional player...

[seisflutes]

Oh, sweet.

[ToddTracy2]

I'm not sure that he's the finest, but I've never heard one better! Awesome bowing.