Two great tastes that taste great together? I have a buddy that plays CG and we’re interested in playing together. Anyone ever done whistle and classical guitar? Any tips on style for us? Tips on tuning for him?
We want to practice and get a few decent tunes under our belt so we can spend summer evenings busking for beer money!
-d
Hello, WD!
You’ve come to the right place. I am both a whistler and a guitarist. You have indeed discovered two great tastes that taste great together! Get some Gaelic Storm CD’s and listen to them. Some good tunes from them are “Heart of the Ocean” (from Herding Cats) and “Black is the Colour” (from Tree). Another good one (even though it features CG and fiddle without any whistles) is “The Broken Promise” (from Herding Cats). You can also try Clannad’s version of “Eleanor Plunkett” substituting CG for Celtic harp. “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas is another good one. What I’m trying to say is that there is no shortage of material for whistle and guitar.
Happy picking and blowing (not your nose),
BB
I believe there are those who play classical guitar amongst us. I have done a little research as my son will be starting CG next month. Some of the best accompanist I have found had classical backgrounds. When it comes to Irish music, I can’t stand hearing someone just strumming a bunch of chords (makes me want to light a fire and start cooking somores’ while singing “Kumbaya”). You may want to look into O’Carolyn’s tunes as they are easily transposed into CG pieces.
I have a number of recordings(mp3) and a book /CD from the following Flute](http://www.fluteandguitar.com/%3EFlute) and Guitar by Jessica Walsh and Allan Alexander. Their book and CD: Celtic](http://www.fluteandguitar.com/celtic.html%3ECeltic) Music for Flute and Guitar is nice. The also have about 50 recordings on their MP3.com - Celtic Flute and Guitar site.
Hope this helps you and yours …
Enjoy Your Music,
Lee Marsh
[ This Message was edited by: LeeMarsh on 2002-01-18 16:12 ]
On 2002-01-18 15:34, CraigMc wrote:
When it comes to Irish music, I can’t stand hearing someone just strumming a bunch of chords (makes me want to light a fire and start cooking somores’ while singing “Kumbaya”).
Way too funny! 
An exception to this is when the chords are strummed FURIOUSLY and accompanied by accordion and fiddle, as in Sharon Shannon’s piece on the “Gael Force” video. She is SOOO fun to watch on this video!
You may want to look into O’Carolyn’s tunes as they are easily transposed into CG pieces.
I have a CD that came with a guitar magazine which features a lovely guitar-based version of “Si Beag, Si Mhor”. A friend of mine and I are also practicing “Eleanor Plunkett” with him playing the guitar and me playing the whistle.
I’m also a classical guitarist. In fact, I took up whistle to add to my recording. Turns out, now I play it nearly as much as guitar. You need to look up some stuff by El McMeen. You’ll enjoy his stuff. Here’s a link http://www.elmcmeen.com/
Enjoy!
Thanks for all the help! One, question…he’s never played Irish trad. Are there any resources on playing Irish Trad on CG? At the very least I assume he has to tune down to D (or I’ve got to get a new whistle).
Here is a tip: Get the recordings of O’Carolan tunes by Chris Newman and Máire Ní Chathasaigh. Classic stuff and should be suited for a CGist since there is little or no strumming, iirc. 
Whistling Dave,
There are a number of Celtic Music for Classical Guitar books around. But, if your CG friend knows their chords, just take any Irish tune book with chord symbols above the tune, and finger pick them. Randal Bays is an accompanist (and fine Irish fiddler too) who is a CG. He appears on the John Williams CDs - I especially recommend the first CD - lots of lovely finger-picking acompaniments,
and gorgeous tunes!
Hi! BrassBlower:
Would you please tell me where can I get the tune of “Dust in the Wind”? Thanks.
Tinwfun,
You can find the sheet music at many musical instrument stores and record stores. Also, you can get the “Best of Kansas” CD if you want to play it by ear and/or transcribe it. There are many other good tunes on it as well, such as “Carry On Wayward Son” and my personal favorites “Hold On” and “Song for America”.
Good luck to you!
BB
Thanks all for your great comments. My CG friend is off and running! Hopefully in a few weeks we will get together and take a crack at playing together.
-d
I think using DADGAD tuning would work well under a D whistle.
I second ScottStewart’s El McMeen suggestion. I have a video he did with 6 great Celtic tunes in (I think it was) CADGAD tuning, capo 2nd fret. The South Wind (An Ghaoth Aneas) was the first tune, which I did learn but need to re-learn. Another I remember was O’Carolan’s Receipt, and I think The Castle of Dromore was a third. The tunes really came alive, absolutely haunting, under El’s fingers, and I really should have practised harder to learn them all. The unusual tuning created a rich, full, deep sound, and I think a whistle could be put on top to really fill out the sound. Even better a low whistle or flute.
On 2002-01-20 10:22, BrassBlower wrote:
Tinwfun,You can find the sheet music at many musical instrument stores and record stores. Also, you can get the “Best of Kansas” CD if you want to play it by ear and/or transcribe it. There are many other good tunes on it as well, such as “Carry On Wayward Son” and my personal favorites “Hold On” and “Song for America”.
Ah… Some Good high school memories.