Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.

Subject: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 26 Oct 25 - 02:02 PM

There are of course many instruments used in Folk music but which is your favourite?? Mine as some already know is the Uillean Pipes.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Helen
Date: 26 Oct 25 - 02:04 PM

And mine as some already know is the Celtic harp.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 27 Oct 25 - 04:12 AM

Northumbrian pipes

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Johnny J
Date: 27 Oct 25 - 06:44 AM

"Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument"

Basically, you can use any instrument you want and/or experiment as this young band are doing. There are and have, of course, been many examples over the years.


https://www.freyaraemusic.com/about

Perhaps, the question could be rephrased "Your favourite instrument which has been traditionally used for playing folk music"   or "Your favourite traditional musci instrument" or similar.
The word "folk" is actually too vague as well as all sorts of instruments are used in the wider genre...everything from Bob Dylan "going electric" and beyond. :-)

Anyway, to answer the quesion. Probably the fiddle (I play mandolin as much, of course, but it's less traditional) and The Harp. I also like various "pipes" too although I've never tried these myself.

Also, don't forget the human voice either.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 27 Oct 25 - 07:43 AM

Irish Bouzouki, when I first heard Lunny and Irvine's playing on the Planxty "Black Album" I was instantly hooked. I was also taken with Liam O'Fylnn's Uillean Pipes on that LP but that seemed like a different universe for a string guy.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Oct 25 - 02:28 PM

My favorite folk music instrument is the kazoo, because it's the only instrument I can play halfway decently.

But hey, I can sing! ;-)

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 27 Oct 25 - 05:05 PM

The next one.

I don't know what it is yet - it's still in the shop or belongs to someone else, who's yet to pass it on to me - but I want it. I NEED IT!

DC

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Helen
Date: 27 Oct 25 - 05:38 PM

So I guess the question is, Doug, which instruments have you crossed off the list so far and what else is on the list to check out?

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 27 Oct 25 - 10:34 PM

... which instruments have you crossed off the list so far ... ?

Guitar; Fiddle; Mandolin; Tenor banjo; Five string banjo; Anglo concertina; Various whistles; Recorder; Ocarina; Halusi (aka gourd flute); Hammered dulcimer; Epinette des Voges; Autoharp; Bowed psaltery; Thumb piano; Guiro; Tambourine; Voice.

Not really 'Folk':-
Piano; Classical guitar; Tenor saxophone.


... what else is on the list to check out?

I quite fancy having a go at an English conertina or a Handpan.

DC

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Helen
Date: 27 Oct 25 - 10:45 PM

OMG! And I thought I was bad! :-D

My crossed off list is: xylophone in Infants School, plastic whistle called a Musette (it was fun in 6th class in Primary School and easy to play), guitar, recorder, thumb piano, tin whistle, flute, piano, a tenor size ukulele which has a good sound quality, i.e. not what I call plinky-plunky sound - subject to snide remarks by a certain member of the music session group which I no longer attend but lighter to carry than a harp until I bought the lightweight Harpsicle.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 28 Oct 25 - 12:30 AM

... a tenor size ukulele which has a good sound quality...

How could I have forgotten the ukulele? I have a couple of concert sized ukes, one of which can be plugged into an amp, and a banjolele. I also have a chromatic harmonica.

Of my collection, it is the guitar amd unamplified concert uke that I generally take to singarounds, open mics and the like, although I also like sing unaccompanied and perform the odd recitation or two. For instrumental sessions, I take the fiddle and mandolin. I am normally out playing about 8 times a month.

Of the others, such as the banjo, concertina, whistle and hammered dulcimer, I have only limited repertoire and they may only be seen in public once or twice a year. The more obscure instruments are generally just for fun at home.


DC

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 28 Oct 25 - 05:20 AM

How about your least favourite folk instrument? I can imagine some of the following getting a mention by some people (though not me, since I play some of these myself):
Ukelele, melodeon, accordion, harmonica, concertina, tenor banjo, five string banjo, autoharp, dulcimer, electric guitar, twelve string guitar, penny whistle, crumhorn, bodhran, cajon, etc.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 28 Oct 25 - 01:56 PM

OK-
If folk music is about communication with the folk in the general sense, and I believe it is, there is only one instrument which can hold its own in a noisy crowd, which is the norm these days.

It can 'cut through' such a gathering, given the right choice of material and some ability with the instrument & maybe a singing voice?

Flutes and pipes and fiddles etc can be amazing on the concert stage or other formal setting for short periods but it's hard to accompany your singing with them! in a lively crowd, for me, to communicate with the 'folk' as I define them, the 'best' instrument
is the melodeon.
Mind you, I could be biased?

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Helen
Date: 28 Oct 25 - 03:20 PM

GUEST,Jerry, in my opinion it is usually not the instrument itself which is the problem. It's the way someone plays it.

I have heard some really good concertina players, and I can think of at least one player who makes me leave the room. Loud, non-rhythmic, over-bearing, with a total lack of appreciation for the feel or lilt of the music, and accompanied by loud, endless singing.

The same goes for banjos, Uillean pipes, fiddles, you name it. It depends on who is playing it and how well they interpret the music.

There is even a harp player I have seen on TV, playing what she calls interpretive music and I can't turn the sound down quick enough each time I hear it. Grrr!!

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 28 Oct 25 - 07:42 PM

Yes, I agree with all that; there is a lot of prejudice against certain instruments, but I reckon that’s because they haven’t actually heard them played well, and dare I say, played properly. For example, the ukelele has an attractive sound, as featured in TV soundtracks a lot recently, but few people bother to learn to play it properly to my mind, and bands of massed ukes all struggling to keep together do the instrument a great disservice.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Helen
Date: 28 Oct 25 - 11:47 PM

Look on the bright side of ukes: there are a lot of people who are getting the opportunity to gain musical skills and knowledge which would not have happened if there had not been a uke revival. IMHO

Here in Newcastle NSW Oz there is a large group of mostly volunteers running various musical events and workshops, including large singing together events. Music is becoming a more common "language" in our area and a lot of credit goes to voluntary groups like that.

I have been to a few of their workshops, events and festivals and enjoyed every one of them:

The Sum Of the Parts

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 29 Oct 25 - 07:06 AM

Yes, that’s why I struggle to decide whether I like uke bands or not. Clearly, they bring a lot of people into music that otherwise would not feel inclined to participate, plus it’s good way of learning about music and performing, but I think they tend to move into performing a bit too early on. Hearing your favourite songs all but ruined by being reduced to over simplified three chord off beat strum alongs possibly only appeals to all the relatives and friends that cheer them along. I know we were all beginners once, but we practiced for months, even years, before daring to perform in public. Or am I just being a miserable old sod?

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Helen
Date: 29 Oct 25 - 04:12 PM

Well, from my experience of the local Ukestra events, what I see is joy, laughter, meaningful social contacts, and a sense of community alongside increased musical skills, ranging from beginner level up to professional. There are a lot of uke classes available here for all levels of competence and uke workshops with very clever musicians like James Hill - a workshop I attended a few years ago. I learned a lot from his workshop and was also inspired musically in relation to the Irish sessions I have been involved with for over 40 years with my music friends.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 29 Oct 25 - 04:56 PM

That sounds a lot different, and certainly more accomplished, than what I witness around here. However, I reckon some of my doubts arise from an earlier experience where we were performing at a festival, and were preceded on stage by a local uke band. We had spent a lot of time working up arrangements of some popular songs, including special harmony vocal arrangements, only to find that the uke band did rather lacklustre versions of several of the same songs in their preceding set. We then had to either hastily alter our set list, or crave the audience’s indulgence with a song they’d just heard done almost to death by some strumming pensioners. I sound like a right prig here, especially since I’m now a pensioner too.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Helen
Date: 29 Oct 25 - 05:25 PM

Nah, I get what you are saying. :-)

Our local uke mob are fantastic. It's probably not the same everywhere.

I also think that your better harmonised versions of the same songs would have benefited greatly from the less-than-perfect amateur renditions immediately before your performance, by comparison.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 29 Oct 25 - 05:59 PM

You’re probably right, Helen, but I would normally strongly avoid repeating a song that someone has already done. Not just as a matter of good manners, but because you either will come over as poor by comparison or appear a smartarse for doing it better - neither is a good look of course.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Helen
Date: 29 Oct 25 - 07:02 PM

It would be nearly impossible to know the previous act's repertoire before their performance, especially at a festival. It was just dumb luck that they performed some of the songs on your list.

I also think that amateur performers are viewed differently by audiences. Everyone knows it's mostly for fun and the joy of learning and playing music with other people so the audience cheers them on. I don't think you would have been judged badly.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: GUEST,PHJim
Date: 30 Oct 25 - 01:43 AM

I recall Hootenannies in school gyms and church halls in the early sixties.
We (the performers) would all get together for a meeting before the shows and make sure that no songs were repeated. If this were not done, we might have 4 or 5 renditions of "Don't Think Twice".

In order to decide what is a folk music instrument, we'd have to agree on what is "Folk Music". Folkies have been attempting to define this for decades and have not yet decided on a definition.
-If we know who wrote it is it folk music? I recall wearing a Shelter Valley Folk Festival to a Toronto folk club and being told, "Shelter Valley is not a folk festival, it's a singer/songwriter festival."

My favourite instrument is the acoustic guitar, and I use it for many genres of music.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: GUEST,Dick Miles
Date: 30 Oct 25 - 05:11 AM

English Concertina.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 01 Nov 25 - 04:41 AM

I’m with Jim, on the melodeon!

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: GUEST,Steve Shaw
Date: 01 Nov 25 - 07:24 AM

My favourite folk instrument, by a long chalk, is the fiddle. Having said that (thereby sticking to the sentiment of the thread as I thought I understood it), I confess to not knowing one end of a fiddle from the other. I can play only one sort of instrument and that is the harmonica, though I do play three iterations thereof, namely blues harps (which I retune for the ould jigs, reels and polkas), chromatics (when I'm forced to) and tremolos (far more these days than I used to play them, in order to blend in with my Cornish singing band).

If I had to pick just one to take to the desert island it would probably be a Tombo Band 3121 tremolo in the key of G. I might just try to sneak in a Special 20 low D* down the front of my shorts and pretend I was smuggling a budgie...

*You can't get these any more, but I still have a precious few from days of yore.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 01 Nov 25 - 08:48 AM

Apart from the human voice, I agree it has to be the fiddle, which certainly has been the most significant folk instrument. Whether you play one or not, a lot of the time you are playing what started out as fiddle tunes, or singing songs to original 16 bar fiddle tunes. Guitars and squeeze boxes are more versatile of course, since you can provide some accompaniment at the same time, notwithstanding arguments about chords and harmony being modern affectations.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 01 Nov 25 - 08:55 AM

thank you Tattie- we must stick together, we could be persecuted... a very brief meeting at Girvan but nice to see you..

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 01 Nov 25 - 10:17 AM

I selected CBOMs above thinking of what I enjoy playing but I have to agree the fiddle is the king of instruments, IMO.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 02 Nov 25 - 06:38 AM

Ha-ha Jim! It was good to see you too. Have you heard Acorn4’s song “The Melodeons are coming” - talking of persecution?

As it seems we can also include instruments other than those we play ourselves, yes, the fiddle can be absolutely sublime (or, as with a guy who used to come to our sessions years ago, sound like someone sawing wood!)
My no 1 favourite of the sublime players would be Duncan Chisholm, but others close behind - Aly Bain, Jenna Reid, Paul Anderson, Gregor Borland, to name but a few.

As for the best tunes, yes, many were originally written for fiddle, but “here in Scotland “ we have some crackers that were composed for bagpipes, but lend themselves well to other instruments. Pibroch, laments, , slow airs, marches in 2/4, 4/4, 3/4, 6/8, 9/8, and even 5/4 , reels, you name it.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Johnny J
Date: 02 Nov 25 - 09:07 AM

I was at a session the other day...don't go to so many these days.... and the best tunes I played on the fiddle that day were actually the pipe marches.

Maybe I'm getting old but I can only take so much of some of the newer fancy fiddle tunes which seem to just go "round and round" and end up going nowhere.

I prefer a clear structure whether it be a march, strathspey, reel, jig or whatever. That's regardless of whether it's Scottish, Irish, Shetland, Scandinavian or whatever. I like them all.

As I say, I'm maybe getting old.
:-)

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Helen
Date: 02 Nov 25 - 02:39 PM

Ok gillymor, I'll take the bait. What are CBOMs? I assume it has nothing to do with the results of my internet search: Cryptography Bill of Materials. :-D

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 03 Nov 25 - 12:00 AM

Flutes and pipes and fiddles etc can be amazing on the concert stage or other formal setting for short periods but it's hard to accompany your singing with them! in a lively crowd, for me, to communicate with the 'folk' as I define them, the 'best' instrument is the melodeon.

I have never played the melodeon but I do play the anglo concertina and they would seem, to me, to have the same problem as far as accompanying yourself singing. As each button gives different notes on push and pull, I find it difficult to control my breathing if I want to sing out long and strong when pulling instead of pushing. This limits my repertoire, so I only perform with the concertina now and again.

DC

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Johnny J
Date: 03 Nov 25 - 05:47 AM

Helen,

"CBOMs" is an acrononym for Citterns, Bouzoukis, and Octave Mandolins(Sometimes referred to as Octave Mandolas).

I own one of the latter. Arguably, a tenor guitar could be added to the list as well but the initials don't fit. ;-))

I have a couple of the above plus a tenor guitar.

Actually, you see less of them around these days in session situations. They are good for accompaniment and lovely to hear playing melody in a smaller grouping or a solo setting.
However, they don't seem to "cut across" as well as some of the higher pitched instruments when playing "the tunes".

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 03 Nov 25 - 07:45 AM

Actually, Helen, it means Curmudgeonly Bastards with Oversized Mandolins.
Nah, Johnny J got it right but I would respectfully disagree agree about tenor guitars, I think it only includes double course instruments.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Johnny J
Date: 03 Nov 25 - 08:20 AM

Well, I guess that's why they weren't included in the first place.

I think you have a point. Otherwise, banjos would be included too
:-)

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 03 Nov 25 - 08:52 AM

Must confess I didn’t know what CBOMs stood for either, even though I play each of them, albeit not as much as I’d like to because yes, they do tend to get lost in the general wash at a session if playing tunes. A good mandolin cuts through much better overall.
.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 03 Nov 25 - 09:15 AM

I have a Crump cedar/rosewood zouk that provides a nice rhythmic backing sound that everyone seems to prefer to a guitar backup in our 4-5 person session and it really shines playing unison melodies and harmonies in duets with a concertina playing friend of mine. My Davy Stuart spruce/mahogany octave mandolin cuts through quite well in the session playing melodies.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Helen
Date: 03 Nov 25 - 12:20 PM

Thanks for the info Johnny J. I never would have figured that out.

And thanks Curmudgeonly Bastard - er sorry, I mean gillymor. :-D

Bouzoukis and mandolins can sound beautiful. A few of my music session friends play mandolins but a couple of those musicians can play overwhelmingly loud and off-rhythm and it can be very annoying, especially when one of them plays his mandolin with the metal resonator plate on it like a dobro. The other musician friends play well and it is always a pleasure to hear them. All of them mostly play melodies but the session groups I know around here are not large.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 03 Nov 25 - 02:26 PM

You're quite welcome, Helen.

Curmudgeonly Yours, g mor

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Johnny J
Date: 03 Nov 25 - 02:27 PM

Oops.

Just realised I made a typo. It should be *acronym*, of course.

Subject: REh: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Jack Campin
Date: 03 Nov 25 - 02:39 PM

I have got increasingly interested in instruments that predate human life and will survive the fall of civilization - the very first objects people made music with. I got a great response to a pair of pacay shakers last night (dried giant bean pods - in their fresh state, the beans are in a pasty matrix like ice cream - how many musical instruments can you eat?). And you can get the same variety of sounds out of a pair of scallop shells that you can with a drumkit. You can blow hagstones like xuns (Bob Pegg makes an act of that) - they are bored by piddocks, which have been around for 14 million years. Conch trumpets, donkey jawbone rattles. Marimbas of floating ice slabs, as people do around Lake Baikal. Or slapping still water as percussion, as the Baka pygmies do.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Helen
Date: 03 Nov 25 - 02:57 PM

Or First Nations in Australia clap sticks.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 03 Nov 25 - 03:41 PM

The sessions I was referring to earlier would be those with about 15 or more musicians, incorporating several melodeons, so I tended play tenor banjo then just to be heard. Now that sessions around here have shrunk in size, through age-related ailments (sadly including deaths), I have reverted to mandolin and fingerstyle guitar, though I do take the point about CBOMs being better for rhythmic accompaniment (given the better scope for modal chords).

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Jack Campin
Date: 03 Nov 25 - 06:50 PM

Pacay (in its capacity as food)

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Pappy Fiddle
Date: 04 Nov 25 - 03:07 PM

"...it's still in the shop... but I want it. I NEED IT!"

The concertina seems so soothing. I bought a Hohner D1, but the notes are arranged so strange I can only play something by first carefully planning it out with a chart.

I think, for a perfect concertina, it would have to be more ergonomic. I would hold my hands out in front of me, and you measure and create something that would fit 'em. Standard concertina, I'm having bend my wrists backward almost. That's hard on my tendons. The two faces of the concertina need to be angled like this: / \

Also, every button should make the same note push or pull.

And, I want a full set of notes 12 to the octave, maybe 2 octaves.

Also while we're wishing, a million dollars...

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: DaveRo
Date: 04 Nov 25 - 03:40 PM

See Dick Miles' post earlier.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 05 Nov 25 - 06:17 PM

The way I've heard it: The classic folk-music instrument is the fiddle, as that's easier to run across the tundra with, when the kossaks are on your heels, than a piano.

As for my own favourite folk instruments: Vox Humana, and whichever guitar I've got to hand which doesn't shred my fingertips. (I'll leave the banjo aside, much to everybody's relief.) I've acquired a four-course bouzouki recently which has a lovely sound, but I haven't tamed it yet; stay tooned.

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: Sol
Date: 06 Nov 25 - 01:05 PM

1) The voice
2) The fiddle
3) The harmonica

FWIW, least liked ...
Tambourine (by folk who have no idea how to play it)
Bodhran (as tambourine above)

Subject: RE: Tech: Your favourite 'Folk music' instrument.
From: GUEST,PMB
Date: 07 Nov 25 - 05:31 AM

Jack, have you read Sound Tracks by Graeme Lawson? Archaeology of music, highly recommended.