Birkin Tree

Whistle
1

I’m having a hard time getting started on trying to figure out The Birkin Tree, as performed by Old Blind Dogs… does anyone know what key it’s in?

Best,
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2

Well, the tonic note is clearly D, and the Cs are all natural. I think the Bs are too, and I don’t hear any F’s at all in the song. Best guess is D dorian, then.

3

I love that song. One of my great challenges in life is to figure out all the lyrics. I’m at about 30% at present. Guess I could ask Stacey, but that would take all the fun out.

4

http://users.argonet.co.uk/users/gatherer/tunes/tab/tab5/birkt.html

Close enough,the rest is down to imagination.

Slan,
D.

5

Thanks Colomon!

Em, the lyrics are out there on the web if you really get stuck. :slight_smile:

6

Dub, that one will work on my D whistle, thanks! Unfortunately, it’s a different key than the Old Blind Dogs version, so I’ll have to keep noodling away at playing along with the CD.

Can someone correct me if I’m wrong-- if Colomon is right about it being in D dorian, it should be good on my C whistle?

7

:slight_smile:
You could always transpose it down/up.
Any body got a scottish.english dictionary?


http://www.geminica.com/investigations/songbooks/scottish.html#birkin

Slan,
D.

8

Actually, I don’t see any problem with playing it on D whistle (no Fs, which would be the only problem note), but it definitely felt much more natural on a C whistle.

9

BTW, the sheet music dubhlinn links to is in E dorian, so I’m thinking D dorian is definitely right. Very comfortable to play on a C whistle.

10

Actually, if you read the sheet music (in E dorian) and pretend you’re playing a D whistle but actually play a C whistle, it should come out in D dorian like the album.

11

Argh… I knew I should have paid better attention in my music theory class. ::sigh:: I need a translator. :laughing: Seriously though, I’ll see if I give it a go Colomon! Thanks to both you and Dubhlinn for the help!!

Now if I just had a decent C whistle-- I hate my Clarke. :frowning:

12

Try an Oak C. The one I have is amazingly good…I love the D’s but the C is even better.

Good to see you online…Shan and the ferts send their love.

If you’re ever in this neck of the woods (central Arkansas) you oughta try to sit in on a session. They’ve got amazingly good sessions up in these hills. :slight_smile:

Blessings,

–James

13

Thanks James, I’ll see if I can get my hands on an Oak… the Clarke is just way to breathy for me, to the point of causing dizziness. Not a good thing. :boggle:

My love to Shannon and the ferts, too! I’ll give a holler if I ever head your way. :slight_smile:

14

Sounds like yer Birkin up the wrong tree…

15

http://www.mudcat.org/scots/index.cfm is pretty good.