E or E flat? And what key is this in?

Whistle
1

Which key is more common in the kind of music we like to play? I’ve decided to buy a flute and figure it might as well fill a gap in my whistle lineup, but I’m not sure which one is more common.

If anyone knows if Kathleen McInnes or Julie Fowlis is partial to either key, that’d help. I like a lot of their music. Lunasa is another. Do they play stuff in E or E flat (or both)?

Here’s a clip of Kathleen McInnes singing Oran na Cloiche:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W7QM8X2EdE
Anyone know what key this is in?

Generally, I can transpose a song I know really well, or play along if I have the whistle in that key, but figuring out the key is still a bit of a mystery to me.

Thanks,
Nathaniel

2

I’d have to listen a bit more, but I think it’s in Bb minor. I’ll play through it again tomorrow. In a way, it would make more sense if it was in C minor, played on an Eb flute.

3

Bb yes. Minor mode. Dashing out any minute, but it sounds to be gapped at the sixth, whch is common.

4

To reply to your first question, neither of those keys is common in the music we play. If you intend joining in in sessions, you need a flute in the key of “D”, commonly referred to as “concert pitch”. An flute pitched in E or E flat would be virtually useless in that situation.
[ Having said that, you may, very rarely these days, come across sessions in Ireland where everyone is playing in Eb. I’ve yet to come across a session where everyone is playing in E ].

You’ve cited 2 examples of singers there, but any singer will sing a song in the key which suits their voice, and that can be any key at all. I managed to play along with the Kathleen MacInnes track using an Eb whistle, and it would appear that Michael McGoldrick’s flute is an Eb as well.

I’d have to check, but I’m 99% certain that “Lunasa” have recorded tracks in Eb as well as concert pitch.

Hope this helps. Best of luck. Kenny

5

True. Also, De danann and Mary Bergin play loads of tunes in Eb although i agree that bringing a Eb flute to a session is mostly a waste of time.

6

I’m pretty sure me bringing any flute to a session at this point would be a waste of time :slight_smile:. I’ve got a couple of low D’s already. I might go ahead and get a D flute, but I don’t have anything in Eb (or E), so that’s why I was considering them (as my flute playing will probably be a solo endeavor for the foreseeable future, but I might be able to play along with some tracks at some point if I have an instrument in the key. Decisions…

7

A soprano Eb tin whistle perhaps? For learning tunes by playing along, the fingering is applicable in any key instrument once you got it :slight_smile:

8

I have thought about getting a soprano Eb whistle just for testing to see what songs where in what key, but the thought of playing one makes my ears hurt. A while back I decided that Bb was about the highest I’d ever want to go and I’d just fill in the keys down from there. My wife tolerates me on my low whistles, but I got kicked out of the house a lot for playing the soprano whistles.

9

Bb is a great key for a whistle. When I’m playing solo stuff, I pretty much exclusively play my Freeman Bb. It’s the perfect balance; a little of the “cosmic drainpipe” mellowness and yet bright enough so as not to be muddy.

10

Seems like Bb Minor

strong keys i heard were Bb-Db-Ab-F-Eb
weaker keys heard is C-G with the G like just a hint



I did not seem to hear the Gb but not sure.

Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C-Db-Eb is the Eb Major Scale.

It is most probably Eb but in a different mode because the last note is in Bb.

I guess it is Bb Mixolydian. Bb-C-Db-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb

11

I haven’t listened to the piece yet. But …

No, that describes the Eb Mixolydian scale.

And that describes the Bb Dorian scale.

12

Mr. Guru has the right. Why does this not surprise me… :laughing:

13

An E flute or whistle can be good for playing tunes that are in A Major.