ABC, Transposing, New, et al

Irish Flute
1

All,

Hi. I’m brand new here, and brand new to flutes. I have a Calmont PVC flute and am pretty happy with it. I’m saving to get a Casey Burn’s Beginner’s flute. I don’t have what you would call a musical background, but some. I played trumpet in grade school, and some baratone in a Drum and Bugle corps when I was 14. I can plink out a few things on guitar and a few other instruments. But I cant really read music.

So anyway, I have a couple of questions…

Right now I’m just learning to get sound out and doing well, I think. I’m starting to play some scales and basically just messing around. I think I’m ready to start learning some tunes. I’ve been thinking that Danny Boy seems like it would be pretty easy to learn, so I’ve found it in ABC format.

The problem, I guess, is that it’s written in the key of F. I have downloaded a couple of different ABC programs, and found a transposing function, but am not sure how many steps/semi-tones I should change it for a D flute. I’m not even sure if I need to be transposing it at all.

Second, I noticed in Melody Assistant that you can import instruments. Does anyone know where I might import an Irish flute?

And finally, would anyone happen to know if there is an Irish ‘community’ in the Memphis, TN area? I just moved here from KC at the beginning of September.

Thanks,
Tony

2

Hi Tony

Transpose it up a whole tone to G. You could play it in F but this would require half-holing F naturals and the odd Bb (I’m assuming your beginner flute has no keys on it), so I think G is a much easier key to start with.

I’m curious - if you can’t really read music, but you’ve some experience with instruments, why don’t you pick it out by ear and save yourself some trouble. To play it in G, start on an F# - the first four notes are F# G A B — and you’re away.

Steve