So I travelled 5000 miles from the U.K. to Seychelles with my fiddle, only to find that my D string had broken in transit. I’m here for several months and a friend is bringing out strings in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, could I please have your suggestions for tunes played only on the E and A strings? I know I was stupid not to bring a spare set but now I have to live with it best I can for the time being. Thanks all!
Can’t you buy strings there?
https://www.facebook.com/seychellesmusicalstore/
I have tried and failed to get strings. Maybe it’s just me but…
Lots of polkas in A!
Britches Full of Stitches
Jimmy Doyle’s
Bill Sullivan’s
Also any tune that’s usually in D only using the D and A strings can just move up a string to A (for playing alone)
Edit: or a tune in really any key as long as it’s usually just on two strings. Gotta be a lot in G and Em like that too
Great - I will make a start! Strange sort of discipline not being able to go to the D. New strings in 10 days!
Just remembered, Britches does actually go down below A, but you could try playing those notes an octave up or some other workaround like flutes/whistles often do. Like you said, an interesting discipline!
If it were me I’d move the G string over, tune down a step or two to lessen the excessive tension, and have 90% of the repertoire available. I suppose this might be unwise on a fine instrument however.
The Boys of Malin
https://thesession.org/tunes/11
I think this might actually benefit my playing!
Mason’s Apron - just the basic tune, not the Sean McGuire version.
My mentor from Mayo (God help us) played Devil’s Dream as a barn dance.
When I was in the Seychelles in 1987 on an Arts America tour there were a few Seychellois fiddlers playing with accordion, triangle, banjo, and guitar. The violin is one of the main folk music instruments. That was another generation ago, but ask around and if you venture away from the resort-type places there may be still be some fiddlers in some bars in the less posh areas.
Also ask around to see if there are any violin teachers teaching privately or in the schools who may have an extra D string. It’s like a much smaller version of Ireland in the sense that everyone knows everyone and somebody, and that somebody may be their cousin’s brother-in-law’s neighbor’s uncle who plays violin. I found the people there to be amazingly friendly, good natured and hospitable - and they have Guinness for sale in all the little country stores! And the seafood is great!
I just tried High Rd to Linton on the mando without hitting the D and it works more or less - where you would normally go to the F# on the D string you just have to fudge it ………………
If you play the Scottish version of High Road to Linton in 4 parts (i.e. the X:1 and 2 settings on this site), you don’t need an F# on the D string. It’s all on the A and E strings.
I thought I was playing the Scottish 4 part version - I learnt it in Shetland about 30 years ago so maybe it was a Shetland version. No the F# isnt necessary just put it in as a variation. Anyway, a good one for Rhod with his 3 string fiddle! ps Rhod maybe you could maybe tune your G up to A as a drone?
‘Crossing The Minch’ (a.k.a. MacNab’s Hornpipe) https://thesession.org/tunes/2117
This tune only requires the A and E strings but it will keep you busy practicing your bowed triplets
Thanks for all the great responses! I should explain that I’m volunteering on a tiny island called Aride (www.arideisland.com) with little opportunity to visit other islands. Praslin is our nearest island with shops but nothing doing there.
Just in case you lose another string:-
https://thesession.org/tunes/17602#setting33871
Transpose to A,E,G,Bb, etc…
An “opportunity” to learn to play up the neck! Waaay up.