BS: Instrument combinations

Subject: Instrument combinations
From: Mooh
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 09:29 AM

Thanks in advance for your input.

What pairs (or more , I suppose) of instruments do you think sound the best in combinations, duo or trio style? Fiddle and concertina are great to my ear, as are guitar and harmonica. Any unusual, and deadly, combinations work for you guys? Or do we all stick with what's safe?

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 10:20 AM

I am also a lover of the fiddle/ concertina combination another combination that I found very pleasing to my ear, having listened to Tom McConville and Pauline Cato, is the Fiddle/ Northumbrian Pipes.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: JedMarum
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 10:20 AM

guitar and whistle

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: Hollowfox
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 10:29 AM

The first folk festival I ever went to, an Irish piper, still full of enthusiasm with his discovery, dragged an autoharp player on stage with him saying, "He plays autoharp American style and I play pipes Irish style - they go together like ham and eggs! Sounded pretty good, too. Some years later, I heard Bob McQuillan play a duet with a highland-style piper (Bob plays a "Stomach Steinway" aka an accordion.) Sounded grand.

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: MandolinPaul
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 10:34 AM

One of my favourites has always been the guitar and mandolin. Listen to some old Monroe Brothers recordings (but try to block out their vocals).

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 10:46 AM

Harp,Guitar,Flute/Recorder

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 11:14 AM

Melody fiddle un-amplified with amplified kickass autoharp chords

Melody fiddle un-amped with amped plucked psaltery strung to deep clear bell tones tolling accented beats

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: Chocolate Pi
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 11:56 AM

flute and accordion; my mother and I did the Bach two-part piano inventions this way, and it sounded very baroque, more like a single organ than two instruments.

Chocolate Pi

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 01:02 PM

How about the banjo, couple of spoons and a washboard?
Lovely combination

Little Neo

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 04:28 PM

I was once in a session with two hurdy-gurdy players, and two uilleann pipers. A few others too, but those are the instruments that stick in the mind. You'd think in a bar it would have been unsconscionably loud, but in fact it wasn't, because they were tactful and musical and didn't just blast it out at full volume. A good sound in fact.

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: Mbo
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 07:05 PM

2 hurdy-gurdy players & 2 uilleann pipers? YES! Sounds like AfroCelt Sound System acoustic! I like the combo of a fiddle and an acoustic dobro....an accordion and a harmonica.....the pipes & a brass band....a banjo & an lectric bass.

--Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: Helen
Date: 16 Apr 00 - 12:06 AM

A Celtic harp and a cello, with maybe a flute or fiddle as well. The cello's deep sound with long slow notes couterweaving between the melody and left hand accompaniment of the harp. The flute or fiddle doing counter-melodies or descant harmonies. Delicious!! good enough to eat (with reference to the two food threads at the moment: Marmite & Lapsang Souchong)

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: Kelida
Date: 16 Apr 00 - 12:40 AM

As a clarinet player myself, I tend to enjoy the sound of two clarinets playing dueling parts or alternating parts in a jig. However, clarinet can lend a more mellow harmony to a high flute melody and it also blends well with bodhran or guitar.

Peace--Keli

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: Mbo
Date: 16 Apr 00 - 01:46 PM

Oooohh Helen, you reminded me of ELO! The combo of 2 cellos and 1 violin totally rocks!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: GUEST,zander
Date: 16 Apr 00 - 03:03 PM

What about guitar and tenor banjo. Check an early Dubliners album and listen to Barney playing Beethoven on the tenor banjo. Blessings on you all, Dave

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: Mbo
Date: 16 Apr 00 - 03:08 PM

Dave, I was just listening to the Dubliners play "Roisin Dubh" yesterday with just such an instrument combo...brought tears to me eyes, it did!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: Caitrin
Date: 16 Apr 00 - 03:23 PM

I like guitar and harmonica or guitar and fiddle. I also like alto/tenor vocal harmonies.

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: Mbo
Date: 16 Apr 00 - 11:53 PM

I love the instrument combo that Kate Rusby uses: acoustic guitar, flute, double bass, and diatonic accordion....Heaven...

--Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: Rex
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 11:19 AM

A friend and I were playing yesterday. She on an open hole flute in "F" and me on the fiddle. We thought it made a nice combination. I must say that the key of "F" is not my favorite key however. Got to get her a nice "D" flute. Got to get one for me too. Awhile back this same friend and I were entertaining in Evergreen, a town to the North of here. That time she played an Eb horn and I played a tenor banjo. An interesting combo.

Rex

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: Midchuck
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 11:27 AM

Old timey: frailing banjo and one fiddle - just the two, with no other instruments.

Western Swing: Twin fiddles.

Peter.

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 11:36 AM

With my limited skills it has to be pianola and kazoo- works for me but then I'm seriously strange!
RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: Willie-O
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 12:19 PM

Pretty much depends who's playing them! But it can be real nice to have a banjo & mandolin _without_ a guitar getting in there.

The conventional wisdom is that you should avoid combinations of instruments that have about the same timbre and tonal range--particularly harmonica and fiddle. But just to confound the experts, Mike Seeger sometimes plays both of those at the same time, in unison, for an effect that's altogether spooky.

Whereas if they both play different parts in the same range, it can sound weird and clashy. You can ameliorate this effect though if one plays high and one plays low (and the other plays the raggle taggle gypsy-o).

Willie-O

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: MK
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 12:28 PM

I tend to experiment with different instruments/textures when I'm looking to add ''coloring'' to my recording projects.

I'm working on one right now, that marries fingerpicking guitar with ragtime piano, and a little bit of Dixieland thrown in (clarinet/trumpet).

About the strangest sounding combination to my ears, are certain David Bromberg tunes where the band is essentially playing bluegrass with all the traditional blue grass instruments one (or at least I) would tend to associate with that sound, as in guitar, fiddle, banjo, dobro, bass, drums....with alto sax playing fills....which just doesn't seem to cut it for me. The alto just feels all wrong, and it annoys me...but that's why he's David Bromberg and I'm lowly little Michael K.

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: black walnut
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 01:01 PM

i suggest celtic harp + guitar + mandolin + voice (our band did this combo for Harley Allen's 'It Doesn't Matter'....very nice sound).

but NOT celtic harp + scottish bagpipes....i was in a situation where i had to try it....and, oh, bad marriage.

~black walnut

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: Mooh
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 01:12 PM

Michael K, I thought likewise when I heard (and saw live) Pierre Schryer's band with a trumpet. I thought, "What the hell's that all about?" I otherwise love the guy's work, but what was going on there I don't understand unless the trumpet player (female) had something over on Pierre. With so much other obvious talent on stage I thought it diluted the set terribly. Oh well, maybe it's me that doesn't get it, lowly as you?

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: MMario
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 01:16 PM

A combo I heard last summer, that I was really surprised sounded good.

Acustic guitar and electric bodrhan.

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: black walnut
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 01:30 PM

mooh, was that at goderich?
i was told by somebody that she was pierre's g.f.

didn't suit the celtic mood, imho.

~'nut

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: Willie-O
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 02:02 PM

Pierre's got a trumpet player? Weird. But _could_ be smokin. (Never mind the puns) What I have always loved about his playing is how he just exudes impeccable, innovative-to-a-point taste, served over flawless technique.

Geez, I really haven't been keeping up.

I keep seeing this lately--highly talented people performing professionally with their significant other, and it's really hard to offer constructive criticism even though I seem to want to in almost every case!

No names please...
W-O

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: Allan C.
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 02:03 PM

John Gorka (vocal & guitar) made use of a tuba (or maybe it was a baritone) along with some more standard instrumentation on his "After Yesterday" CD. I thought it worked well on one cut at least.

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: black walnut
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 03:04 PM

agreed W-O, pierre and his band are fabulous. with his sister julie on piano, amazing!

when piano is done well, it is great in combination with just about anything.

~'nut

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: BlueJay
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 03:32 PM

A long time ago I saw a bluegrass band called "Three on a String", who effectively used a TRUMPET in some of their tunes. Called it the "Bluegrass Threevalve" or something. I found it unusual, but pleasing. My current favorite combination is bass and flute, plus either 12 string, mandolin or autoharp. This is mainly since my daughter, Annie, picked up the flute about a year ago, and really has a flair for it. She studied it in school years ago, but now relies on playing by ear, and does it verry well, whether folk, blues or jazz! It really sounds nice. Plus, another friend has the unusual ability of pulling the mouthpiece off of said flute, blow into it like a trumpet, and make it sound much like a clarinet! We have a lot of fun.

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: Mooh
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 08:53 AM

Black Walnut and Willie-O. PS's band is as tight as any out there today and I love them. I've seen them several times and each time the vibe is new and refreshed. However, yes it was in Goderich when I saw them with the trumpet, but maybe it was a one-off gig with her, I don't know. All I know is it didn't work for me at all, and I like weird combinations of instruments as you can follow on a related thread here. Maybe I'm missing something.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: Allan C.
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 08:57 AM

My friend, David C. usually plays dobro and/or harmonica when he joins me in my guitar playing and singing. There are some songs to which these add an almost ethereal sensation. I suppose I have always admired the sound of a well-played harmonica along with a guitar. But I have never spent any time around a dobro before now. I am starting to appreciate it as being quite a versatile and beautiful instrument.

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: sophocleese
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 09:30 AM

Mooh you are missing something there. Pierre did introduce the trumpet player as his sweetheart and that's why they played together. I thought it was nice of him to do so.

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: Mooh
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 10:09 AM

Sophocleese, Thanks for the enlightenment, and I suppose it was nice of him, and typically nice I think. But did it work for you musically? I wish I could hear it again to see if I'd still feel the same about it. Maybe I never recovered from the shock in time to appreciate it.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 10:14 AM

Zander, what is the Dubliners Album with Barney playing Beethoven? I haven't heard that one and I love his playing.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: sophocleese
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 12:19 PM

I think, Mooh, it was new and they were new to it themselves. With more practice at it they might be able to come up with something wonderful, maybe not, but I'm glad they tried. I thought it was a good attempt if not entirely convincing but I was also shivering, damp and suffering the beginnings of a godawful sore throat, so my judgement was not clear.

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: Mooh
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 01:02 PM

Sophocleese, 'Hope you got over that sore throat! That festival always leaves me with a 3 day emotional hangover, but I've attended all of them anyway. There's too much to do in too short a time, but it's still fabulous. (My bias is based on the fact that as a volunteer, organizer, and performer, I can promote it shamelessly.) Amazing isn't it how even within the confines of one genre there's much to discuss and so much variety. Now if my band hires on a trumpet player I'll really have to open my mind, won't I?

See you there?

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Instrument combinations
From: Jim Krause
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 01:12 PM

I rather like any combination of stringed instruments that are playing horn arrangements, like the Western Swing bands do, e.g. steel guitar, electric guitar, and fiddle: or, dobro, accoustic guitar, and fiddle. Also I'm partial to clawhammer banjo and fiddle, as well.