Ae_ae

On the subject of the AEAE fiddle tuning, I tuned up this way for the first time this morning and tried it with a couple of reels I have, one of them Brenda Stubberts but well I can’t get the gist of it though I know it works wonderfully for droning effects. As in when I go to play the G as usual on the D string (now an E) it’s obviously now a note higher so do I just go down a tone on these upped strings to get the same note and play an ‘Fnatural’ in its stead??
I’m very confused! (’_^)

Is that “high bass” tuning? Sounds like a lot of hard work - personally I’d leave it to the Cape Bretoners - I understand it’s a tuning that was used to increase the volume of the fiddle when playing for step dancers. Having said that, I’m sure it’s used on some of the Cape Breton fiddle cds I have, to great effect.

I know it is used occasionally in Cape Breton tunes. However, it is extremely common for Appalachian tunes. Any tune in Amajor, or Amodal will likely be in this tuning.

Here’s a list of Cape Breton tunes in high-bass tuning:
http://www.cranfordpub.com/tunes/abcs/scordatura.abc

and yes the G on the raised D string (low E string) will now be where F used to be.

Yes glennP - I knew there was a fancy name for it somewhere. It’s also discussed in “The Dungreen Collection”, by Kate Dunlay & Dave Greenberg.

Interesting to see the Paul Cranford link you posted has Christy Campbell as being played that way - might explain why it never sounds quite right when I try to play it!

Some trad players seem to do it as well, I had a look at other threads and they mention that a lot of the old Kerry fiddlers used this particular tuning. Of course Caoimhin O’Raghalliagh does this all the time and it’s just magic, then again all of his playing is!

I didn’t realise Caoimhin O‘Raghalliagh used that tuning - that’s such a great recording he did with Mick O’Brien.

I also didn’t know some of the old Kerry players used it too.

Thanks smuit!

Woops! I don’t think that’s how Caoimhin’s surname is spelt.

Must agree wholeheartedly Ron P, that is a classic recording!

Old Time fiddlers in America used to call it A minor tuning.I use it to play tunes like Cotton Eyed Joe,The Fall Of Richmond,Ducks On A Pond,Cluck Old Hen,Scotland,Lost John etc.Big John McNeill sounds great in this tuning.

A even better tuning for some stuf is AEAC#.

The Hanged Man’s Reel and Drunken Hiccoughs are played in AEAC#.

This sounds like a Scouser ….. AE AE AE Are you starten summen?
(The Scouser scripts are available on the internet if you have not seen them on The Fast Show).

If you want a darker, more resonant sound I think GDGD is a wonderful tuning and is intervallically (is that a word?) equivalent to the brighter AEAE. Actually, the best tradeoff on my fiddles between bright and dark is AbEbAbEb, which you can only do if your guitarist has a capo….

O’Raghallaigh…Ron of the critical eye!

Ythanks smuit, that looks more like it, ai ai !!!

Ythaannnks - sh*t -m’I diong ti nwo…..