Do you play a trad instrument?

Suaimhneach · 13-08-2004 4:19pm #1

I play the flute meself, love it to bits, even though I'm not brilliant or anything.

My best mate Sinéad is buying her concertina soon, and there will be some jamming sessions!!!

What bout you lot?

ravenhead · 13-08-2004 4:44pm

I play the Bodhran & tinwhistle - the bodhran is a new venture but going well,
I also used to sing trad in & around local area, pubs etc .... group kind of went its seperate ways though - but I love to sing most of all

John · 13-08-2004 11:28pm

I used to play the tin whistle but I'm well out of practice

*Sinéad* · 14-08-2004 11:15am

i've spent my whole summer in a factory so I can afford a concertina, soon i tells ya!!!! soooon.

Why has the concertina captured me so?, why not the penny whistle??

article6 · 14-08-2004 11:33am

I intend to learn how to play an instrument in college this year, though I'm already known for being quite an eager player of the bodhran (if not a particularly good one).

lee_baby_simms · 16-08-2004 1:04pm

I dabble in tenor banjo, mando, bazooki and geetar. i'll make a stab at anythin with strings. there really is nothin like knockin out a few songs over a few pints of a sunday afternoon.

Stabshauptmann · 16-08-2004 8:43pm

I play the melodian and have been know to beat the ol' goats skin.

Epitaph · 17-08-2004 6:24pm

Does the guitar count?

Shanners (the) · 17-08-2004 6:24pm

I play drums for a trad group. also play the bodhran. Seems to be a lot of bodhran players about!

Raskolnikov · 19-08-2004 12:26pm

Learned the tin whistle in school, have some experience in the piano accordian. I'd love to get back into playing again, have a lot more enthusiasm for it now than I did a few years ago!

Unpossible · 24-08-2004 12:15pm

played tin whistle for years, stopped at 15 (when I finished my 3 years with teach siamsa finnuig and didn't get into siamsa tire). Id like to try the illan (sp?) pipes or the banjo. When I get back to Ireland for christmas Im gonna get a bodhan.

petals · 13-09-2004 9:13pm

I play the Piano Accordion and Tin Whistle.

dabhoys · 17-09-2004 11:30am

I play the Mandolin meself. Is there any bands out there looking for one in Dublin. I'd love to start playing live...

Betsy · 21-09-2004 10:10pm

I play the flute, love it, and wish I could get to more sessions

Shadowdancer · 28-09-2004 7:36pm

Fiddle,Mandoline,Whistles and Blues Harp.

Let the Dance begin,
S.

billy the squid · 05-10-2004 2:27am

fiddle tin whistle, well not so good on the tin whistle. I can get a tune out of a 4 string banjo but I dont play it very often.

saving up for a new fiddle anyway. little treat for myself

Shadowdancer · 05-10-2004 3:10am

Anybody interested in Tin Whistle should really be here

http://www.chiffandfipple.com/

Let the Dance begin.

SteveFE · 05-10-2004 8:19pm

Banjo, mandolin, guitar. Also bash an electric bass at me local session but that's not exactly a trad session

Keane's Bar in Mountshannon, Clare, Thursday nights if you're down that way.

An Bradán Feasa · 23-10-2004 6:05pm

Banjo, Mandolin, Uilleann Pipes, Feadóg, Guitar, Bass Guitar.

Sarky · 23-10-2004 6:11pm

I've been playing the bodhran for nearly four years. I had become, I like to think, quite good at it, but I'm somewhat out of practice. I can also play the bones, and the spoons as long as you're not expecting anything amazing...

Can a Boardsie trad bash be far off? Probably not...

dabhoys · 23-10-2004 8:52pm

That'd be class...

Baggio · 26-11-2004 8:23pm

Im a rock drummer but when younger always wanted to play the concertina what a sound Charles O'Connor of Horslips was fab on it and it stuck in my head form there on luv that instrument.
Laughing at the post saying lots of Bodrhan player around:
yeah sure aren't half of the Clare hurlers supporters Bodrhan playerS!!

ciao' amigos,,,Baggio,,,,,,,,

Sarky · 03-12-2004 5:07pm

Playing the bodhran is a bit more complicated than hitting it with a stick, you know.

trotter_inc · 23-12-2004 10:31am

Used to play the accordion for about 6 years or so - gave it up when I moved to college - I should really start it up again.

Used to play the tin whistle as well - would love to be able to play the flute - it has a lovely sound!

sunnyjimac · 05-02-2005 7:54pm

hey yiz'all.

Im a clarinet player by heart, but i play de drums/guitar and a bit of the tin whistle aswell though. Anyone know of any pubs with some decent sessions? i used to play with a group but i dropped it years ago....wanna get back into the tunes....

[ Daithí ] · 01-03-2005 3:37am

I only play guitar nowadays, but I used to play the tinwhistle a bit. I'd love to learn how to play the bodhrán, the uilleann pipes or even bagpipes.

foxybrowne · 02-03-2005 1:48am

Tá bainseo agam. Ye can’t beat "Paddy’s Return" for a tune.

Baggio · 02-03-2005 2:40am

Good stuff dying to do Horslips mark 2!!!!!

what ya think gang?? ............ciao' Baggio

Whiskey Devil · 11-03-2005 4:56pm

Guitars, Mandolin, Bazouki, Bodhrán. After taking up the whistle. Hope to get that down soon.

I'm 19 years old and living in Drogheda. If anybody's interested in putting something together over the next year or so let me know. I've well up on all things folk / traditional. The kind of setup I'm looking at is Acoustic Guitars, Mandolin, Banjo, Whistles, Fiddle, Bodhrán and anything else that will come in handy. Bazouki, Uileann Pipes etc.. Want some decent enough singers, preferably 3 or 4. So if you can play 1 or all the above let me know. I'm willing to try new instruments if needs be.

I have some stuff similar to the sound I'm going for if anybody wants to hear it. Sorry if its the wrong topic. Cheers folks.

Eoghan-psych · 29-03-2005 4:16pm

Flute, tin whistle and low whistle [well, I did until I left it somewhere and can't afford a replacement]. I'm well out of practice though - picked up the flute at the weekend and had serious aches after just a couple of tunes, and one of my lungs seems to have been removed.

larryone · 31-03-2005 11:39pm

well out of practice at: guitar, tin whistle, piano.
played trad stuff on piano for years, i've not met many others who've done it.
would love to get a low whistle and a bodhran, but have a funny feeling i wouldnt have the time to put into it.... =0(

The Muppet · 22-04-2005 5:20pm

I can play a few tunes on the squeezebox but nothing spectacular. I have 2 older brothers that play it to a pretty high standard.

Lyra · 26-06-2005 7:25pm

bruachain wrote:

Were any of ye involved in CCÉ/fleadhanna as kids or even still now?? If so what branches/where?

Yes, took part every year for a good few years, in the tin whistle and flute I used to dread playing in competitions but loved going to the fleadhs

still do but now its for my own enjoyment and I don't have to worry about playing in competitions.
I was and still am a member of Roscommon CCE.

Jammy · 27-06-2005 5:02pm

I play the flute and tin whistle.

I'm in beaumont CCÉ, I can't make it to the leinster fleadh this year unfortunatly.

djmarkus · 06-07-2005 12:34pm

I play the bagpipes or as the fleadh likes to call them the warpipes, started when i was 7, and im 20 now

paddydaledge · 02-08-2005 5:31pm

I play Flute, Uilleann Pipes, Tin Whistle, Guitar, Bódran-and the snare drum in a marching band.

Bip · 01-09-2005 6:12pm

I played classical flute for two years and just last year was bought a traditional one but find the finger stretches really difficult i cant play for longer then 15-20 mins, anyone got any suggestions apart from sticking at it?!

Lyra · 01-09-2005 7:11pm

Bip wrote:

I played classical flute for two years and just last year was bought a traditional one but find the finger stretches really difficult i cant play for longer then 15-20 mins, anyone got any suggestions apart from sticking at it?!

Sorry, sticking at it is the only advice I can give you. When I started the flute I spent lots of time practicing and I have short fat fingers so if I can do it you can

15mins every day is long enough when you're starting off, it will all fall into place after a while, don't worry

Bip · 02-09-2005 10:11am

Ok thankyou... I'll suffer on!! I do love it but Oh the pain! maybe I should stick to classical.. and on the short fat fingers note, mine arent and i still find the stretch difficult!

mad4trad · 02-09-2005 6:38pm

Hi,Ive played the fiddle for the last 14 years(trad).My advice is to stick at it.Its worth it,you meet so many ppl playing music and the festivals are great!Speaking of which theres a festival coming up in Co.Clare called Seisuin na hEireann.If ya play in a trad group its well worth entering the festival as it has a top prize of E5000!As far as im aware they are still taking entries.All details can be found on this link:
www.bestpubsession.com

Dagon · 09-09-2005 1:12pm

I play traditional guitar. Mostly play sessions in Sligo. Played with a band called Spraoi over the summer (concertina, flute, low whistle). At the moment playing Sundays in McGarrigles, so drop in for a tune if you're passing by (10pm to late).

Also love playing at the festivals over the summer. This summer I managed to get a few nice tunes in Milltown Malbay, Tubbercirry, Drumshanbo, Keadue, Gurteen Coleman fest and hopefully catch a few autmn and winterfests as well.

I'm currently learning the Mandolin, that's if music123.com ever actually send me the thing

EvilPixieOne · 28-10-2005 9:19pm

I play bodhran and the whistle. Planning on learning trad piano in time to enter the fleadh, if only because I know I can

padser · 28-10-2005 9:26pm

I play the flute. But recently just havnt as much time to devote to it as before:mad:

Steve_o · 10-11-2005 1:42pm

I Play Guitar, Mandolin, Badhran and a very basic amount of banjo <very very basic>

tootyflutty · 31-12-2005 12:31pm

Trad + classical flute,tin whistle,guitar,piano,bodhrán,recorder and piccolo. Although I play a lot of classical stuff I much prefer traditional and want to learn more.......mabey I'll take up fiddle..........hmm......I wonder

Nalz · 09-01-2006 12:37pm

I play Button Accordion and keyboards

Eoghan-psych · 27-01-2006 2:18pm

Bip wrote:

I played classical flute for two years and just last year was bought a traditional one but find the finger stretches really difficult i cant play for longer then 15-20 mins, anyone got any suggestions apart from sticking at it?!

Watch your fingers in a mirror - getting the visual feedback can help 'work through the pain'. You already play flute, so posture isn't a problem. However, because it's a new instrument you can be inclined to let things slip a bit. Using a mirror helps keep that in check, and keeps comfort levels up.

I had a similar problem when I switched from tin whistle to low whistle - thought my fingers had all been broken. There's a guy here who recently took up bass, and he's very impressed with how far he can stretch his fingers now. I handed him a low whistle yesterday and he had trouble just holding it. I politely refrained from actually playing it, as my lungs would probably explode at the minute. It was a sadistic man invented that thing. A beautiful, beautiful, sadistic man.

aoife_xx · 25-02-2006 4:57pm

yep i play the concertina! my whole family play aswel! its gret

Li'l Irish · 21-04-2006 12:59am

Lap Harp and learning the psaltery. The lap harp's a very American trad, and the psaltery's so trad nobody's ever heard of it.

The Agogo · 28-04-2006 8:24pm

well i play the piano (vamped), the giutar and the bodhrán but am soon picking up the fiddle. should be fun to go busking some day...did you know the bodhran player beside the molly malone gets about net €250 A DAY!!! well so he says...

and LIL IRISH.. the psaltery is a medieval instrument played by monks in the medieval period of music (11th century)...very cool instrument i like it....where you get your hands on one?

Li'l Irish · 28-04-2006 10:32pm

Yes, the sound is similiar to the fiddle, but it's much more difficult to play chords and change notes quickly.

I got my psaltery from the nice folks at Craggy Mountain Music http://craggymtnmusic.com/index.html.

I purchased the 30 string walnut model with the Celtic knotwork on it.

Do you play a trad instrument?

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