Ban which instruments @ song circles

Subject: RE: Ban which instruments @ song circles
From: ossonflags
Date: 24 Jul 03 - 09:26 AM

Well said les!!

Subject: RE: Ban which instruments @ song circles
From: GUEST,furcone
Date: 24 Jul 03 - 09:53 AM

if I'd been banned when I was irritating then I wouldn't be so amazingly wonderful now.... (:>)

Subject: RE: Ban which instruments @ song circles
From: PoppaGator
Date: 24 Jul 03 - 10:28 AM

The acoustic bass guitar is an instrument I'm not at all familiar with -- I can't imagine that it would generate enough volume to be of much use except for practice, or for playing with just one or two other *quiet* instruments.

When I use the phrase "acoustic bass," I'm referring to the good old-fashioned standup bass fiddle, a rather ungainly and increasingly rare instrument. I would imagine that any such bass would *always* be welcome; anyone with a serious enough commitment to own one of those big boys could probably be counted upon to be a serious player.

Another type of acoustic bass is the homemade washtub (or, to you Brits, tea-chest) bass -- perhaps the only instrument more ungainly than the real bass fiddle. I made one for myself years ago, and if I say so myself got some real music out of it -- unlike most tub thumpers I've seen, who often use it only for percussion, not doing much of a job at playing actual bass notes.

I wonder how you all would feel about the unsolicited appearance of a washtub player. I have observed no pre-emptive objections as for the shaky egg and the bodhran -- but maybe that's only because it's not so *commonly* intrusive.

(By the way, there are a number of interesting web sites about the construction and playing of washtubs and other huomepun instruments. I don't know the URLs offhand, but I found them thanks to kinks from Mudcat threads within the last six months or so, so you should be able to find them either by searching the Forum or by Googling directly to the internet.)

Subject: RE: Ban which instruments @ song circles
From: GUEST,furcone
Date: 24 Jul 03 - 10:38 AM

Can I have some of those Mudcat kinks please?

Subject: RE: Ban which instruments @ song circles
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jul 03 - 06:51 PM

In a SONG environment - whatever somebody wants for their own acompaniement is fine as long as they leave it alone when anybody else is singing.

Subject: RE: Ban which instruments @ song circles
From: wilco
Date: 25 Jul 03 - 11:23 AM

I use a washtub bass all the time.

Subject: RE: Ban which instruments @ song circles
From: CraigS
Date: 25 Jul 03 - 08:19 PM

My first reaction was "no keyboard" - then I thought of a fine musician who used to turn up at a session I frequented with a Rhodes piano - and I thought "yes keyboard" - then I thought of an accordion player I used to know, and I thought "small" - then I thought accoustic - "trombone", "clarinet", and the dreaded "piffero".

I go with all the comments about "it depends on the musician" - a good player will fit in anywhere. Don, you have my sympathy re. the bongo player. We used to have a guy at our club who would bring a drum or a tin whistle, and was unaware of the danger he placed himself in whenever he played either. Some people should be locked in a room for 24hr with nothing to do but listen to tapes of someone else playing just as badly. If that doesn't cure them, get Leadfingers to hit them with his banjo (the banjo won't mind).

You need someone who plays "th auld black flute" as a yardstick. If you can't hear that flute, the session is too loud, and people should be asked to drop out (in turns) until the balance is restored. This addresses the volume problem.

Another solution is to play tunes that don't usually turn up in sessions - one session I used to frequent started playing tunes from the Shetlands, Faraoes and Norway to "keep out the amateurs". Trouble is, the true "short planks" of this world will try to play anything!

Subject: RE: Ban which instruments @ song circles
From: GUEST,Seaking
Date: 26 Jul 03 - 02:10 AM

The saw...! No competition in this category. If you'd seen one 'played' in a session you'd know. Made the cat sound good !!

CK