Valde002 pid=69803 dateline=1581028157 said:
That last video is great, sounds like my mussette tuning, 18 cents I think. Do they vary the shifts? Which other shifts do people use for the jigs and reels?
Hi Valde 002,
Most of my family originate from Ulster in the very north of Ireland, although I am not an expert on Irish music or tunings, and have never followed the scene to any great degree (my main interest is French musette).
In recent years just about everything in Ireland seems to be played in swing tuning, maybe 6 cents or so, and no they dont tend to vary the registers much at all. Almost every tune is played in the same two voice MM register, especially on the traditional two row Irish diatonic button accordion.
The traditional Irish tuning on LMMM accordions was often 25 cents (sometimes more). Im not sure how many players still use that tuning these days. I think it all depends on the preference of the player, and the type of audience.
In my own limited experience of a small pub environment, a big LMMM box with traditional Irish tuning is OK for a soloist, but for a small band where people are trying to play tin whistles and bouzoukis, then they might as well throw them on the fire. A fiddle and a bodhran might be OK, but not much else.
In an outdoor situation with dancers, where a big LMMM would appear to be the natural choice, you are just as likely to hear a little 2 row with swing tuning being played through the PA.
There are a few Irish pro players on the forum, and maybe they could keep us all right on the matter.
Main thing is to play what you want how you want, and dont worry about doing everything right. Unless you are regularly playing alongside native Irish players, and able to hear the subtleties of what they are doing, youre never going to get that genuine Irish sound. Good thing is 99.9% of people wouldnt know the difference.
My playing might sound French here in the UK, but a Frenchman would always detect otherwise. Theres always a give away, however slight.