Pardon my ignorance, but If I were to purchase a piccolo in D, could I play most irish tunes? Could I perhaps play the song An Gaoth Aneas by the Chieftains? I do not currently play any woodwind instrument, but do play the guitar by ear, and am looking to learn another instrument.
Thanks,
Chris Williams
Hi Chris,welcome to the board.The answer is yes.The piccolo is pitched an octave above the normal irish concert flute in ‘d’,and sometimes used to be used in ceilli bands as it could be heard over the sound of the band,and sometimes noisy dancehalls!.Some people think that the piccolo is due a revival in popularity.As you haven’t played a wind instrument before,then why not consider a tin(‘penny’)whistle as a first wind instrument.A cheap ‘d’ whistle would cost a fraction of what you would pay for a piccolo,and the playing skills,fingering etc. would transfer to a piccolo,or irish flute,if you chose to buy one at a later date.You can play most Irish music,including ‘An goath aneas’ on a simple 'd’whistle.See the whistle board,main site and ‘chiff and fipple matrix’ for lots of info.Aword of warning though-whistles are one of the most addictive drugs known to man-you may end up selling that guitar to pay for them if you seccumb to their charms!!
Check out Michael Eskin’s site. He has clips posted of tunes played on a D piccolo. Very nice stuff, and very well played. So in answer to your question, yes, it can and should be done.