I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!

Subject: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Oct 09 - 09:42 PM

Really. 12 or 20 or any other gauge. You play it (or any other pipe) like a bugle, creating the notes by lip and air control, and you can only do this with barrels removed from the gun or on breakaction guns. Old Timers used to use this to signal to each other.

It is HIGHLY desirable to unload the damned thing before commencing the concert.

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: frogprince
Date: 18 Oct 09 - 09:51 PM

Can't you get a nice deep tone by blowing over the barrel with it closed, like jug playing?

Wonder if Spaw has ever tried a personal adaptation of the technique?...

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: Luthier2b
Date: 19 Oct 09 - 12:05 AM

The problem with playing shotgun is that he holes do not always get placed where you want them.

There used to be a duo in the Washington DC area called "side by side" which I confirmed was not named after a shotgun.

For versatility I would thing that a Drillings would be preferable to a shotgun musically and otherwise. But I geuss we all need to start with a student model and work our way up to a professional grade instrument.

-- Eric

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: Ernest
Date: 19 Oct 09 - 02:06 AM

So, tell us about your greatest hits!

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: terrier
Date: 19 Oct 09 - 06:13 AM

Just can't get the right calibre of musicians these days.. might trigger off a whole new genre of folk music..
Brings to mind Gerard Hoffnung's Concerto for hosepipe and strings, with Dennis Brain playing solo hosepipe.

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: Azizi
Date: 19 Oct 09 - 02:11 PM

I used to play "Shotgun" too-and I really could "get down" dancing to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnhI_ECOAK4&feature=related
Jr Walker & Allstars - Shotgun

[This video is from the 1966 American tv show "Hullabaloo".]

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: bubblyrat
Date: 19 Oct 09 - 06:32 PM

You can't have " a Drillings"----but you can have "a Drilling" (pronounced Dry-Ling) ....a German idea( and word),of course ; two shotgun barrels with a rifle barrel between,usually (but not always) on top. Formidable,but probably rather heavy to carry about all day. The rifle barrel,used with a cornet mouthpiece,would be very suitable for playing something like the "Post Horn Gallop", which I have seen & heard played by six British Marines using Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield .303 rifles....very impressive !!

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 19 Oct 09 - 06:38 PM

If you forget to unload it before the concert, you risk being disconcerted, I should think.

JM

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: Bill D
Date: 19 Oct 09 - 07:30 PM

It would be very useful for marching bands who want to do "The 1812 Overature".

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: Ernest
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 01:49 AM

bubbyrat:

the rifled barrel usually is BELOW the 2 shotgun barrels, not on top of them - and the word is pronounced Drilling like in drilling a hole.

Best wishes
Ernest

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: Rapparee
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 09:15 AM

Yes, it's a whole new way to gauge a concert -- and NEVER a bore!

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 09:26 AM

Shotguns are like sex, side by side, or over and under. So I assume you would play an overture to start with, followed by a legatto over, a quick glissando, ending with Crescendo.

JM

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: Rapparee
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 09:31 AM

And the whole concert ends with a bang.

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 09:39 AM

I haven't finished playing the introduction yet mate !

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: Severn
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 10:22 AM

We'd love for you to give it a shot in public. I'm sure the audience would be blown away! Bring your "owl's head" to the next hoot!

So roll out the barrels! We'll have loads, that is to say TWO barrels, of fun!

If something goes wrong, some of us at least will see you in a Pellet Court.

Is this where the modern NRA meets Roosevelt's National Recovery Act?

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: gnu
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 10:46 AM

Sniff... I have a single barrel.

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 11:56 AM

And you don't use it

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 11:59 AM

What have we done to trigger this?

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: Bill D
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 12:14 PM

(I was working on some comment about a muzzle loader, but I think I'll let it pass)

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 12:15 PM

I haven't attempted to play a shotgun, but used to give the kids each one fired (empty) .38 Special, .410, 12 ga, or '06 cartridge case to use as a signal whistle when wandering around primitive campsites. The cartridge cases generally produce a pretty shrill tone that carries for a long distance, and it's easier for most people to tell the direction a sound comes from when higher pitches are used. With the larger sizes, overblowing to 2d & higher harmonics gives a selection of notes or note combinations that can be used to signify "just lost," "in trouble," or "come and see the rotting 'possum corpse, I just found," but the kids never conformed well to our prearranged codings.

I toyed with the idea of "pan pipes" made with cartridge cases of selected sizes, but never accumulated a sufficient collection of different sized cases to make much of an instrument.

(I did find my souvenir 105 Howitzer casing a bit difficult to blow. It would perhaps be better suited for use in a king-sized glockenspiel(?).)

John

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: gnu
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 01:08 PM

GLOCKenspiel

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: Stringsinger
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 01:20 PM

Instead of swords into plowshares, guns into musical instruments.
Sounds like a plan.

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 01:47 PM

I tried this when I was a kid on the ranch, but I hated the taste of burnt gunpowder on my lips. Also, the moisture is bad for the chamber unless you clean it right away. The sound I got was something like a flute on steroids. I played cornet at the time, so I was accustomed to a mouthpiece, not the thin, hard steel of a 12 gauge barrel end. It was hard on the embouchure. I probably should have used a .410.

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: Severn
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 04:22 PM

Is there anyone here that can play "Here Comes The Bride" on one?

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 04:55 PM

Severn:

Would that be for an upcoming....wedding?

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 04:55 PM

Ya got them over a berrel on that one Sev. You're smooth, and not a bore, there's no one to rifle you.
Never use a stock remark, when you have a better one in sight.
I hope your knees are improved after the cartridge trouble.
Still; no problem to an old buck like you.

JM

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: Tangledwood
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 05:33 PM

Could be a useful instrument to add to a Salvo's band - Winchester Cathedral might be an appropriate tune.

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: Severn
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 06:05 PM

Not yet that I know of, TJ! I wouldn't read too much into it.....

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: Rapparee
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 09:42 AM

Sure. You can play "Here Comes The Bride" on any instrument once you understand its range.

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: GUEST,bs
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 08:59 PM

this needs to go in bs you stupid clones

Subject: RE: I can play the shotgun and I'm proud!
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Feb 26 - 07:40 PM

Rapparee, did you learn that in 'Nam?

Shotgunning