I’m going through an O’Carolan phase at the moment and seek advice on the playing of Planxty Johnston and Carolan’s Welcome.
I can play these by hopping up and down the octaves but it always sounds false - like a singer who can’t hit the high notes.
I presume the bold Toirleach had a harp that could handle three octaves but my chanter can only manage two (well, one and three-quarters).
Thanks,
What key are you trying to play the Welcome in?
In A minor the range is from the low E to the second octave c natural. No problem if you have a C nat. key.
I don’t have a C nat key.
The starting note, leaving out the warm-up ones, is A.
I drop the octave for the bar with the high C nat but it all sounds a bit higgeldy-piggeldy (not a musical term, I know).
Ciotog,
If you haven’t a Cnat key it might still be possible to play that note in the 2nd octave. Have a look at the following thread:
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=28245&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0