Book 2. Lessons 19 to 36

Lesson 19. Andy McGann's Jig

Submitted by admin on Fri, 01/11/2008 - 23:06

The first of the Book 2 lessons is Andy McGann's jig.

Andy McGann was born in West Harlem and composed very many tunes. There was an Andy McGann tribute on RTE in 2004. Although this tune is normally in G, Tony's version is in C, with the capo on the 2nd fret, putting it in the key of D.

Listen to the lesson (Andy_McGanns.mp3, 12 minutes 47 seconds. 2.92 MB)

Lesson 20. The Banshee (McMahon's)

Submitted by gerry.gaffney on Sat, 01/19/2008 - 21:48

The Banshee is a reel that's sometimes know as McMahon's.

The first part is in G Major; it changes to E Minor in the second part.

The last two bars in the first and second parts are identical, which will help in learning.

Listen to the lesson (The_Banshee.mp3, 12 minutes 56 seconds. 2.96 MB)

Lesson 21. Britches Full of Stitches

Submitted by gerry.gaffney on Sun, 01/27/2008 - 21:48

This is a very common polka, and because of its simplicity is ideal for learners.

This tune is often used when playing for dancers but it is a lovely but simple 'stand alone' tune.

The left hand doesn't need to move at all; the notes are all in the first three sets on the four highest-pitched strings. Also, the last 3 bars of both parts are identical.

Listen to the lesson (Britches_Full_of_Stitches.mp3, 8 minutes 5 seconds. 1.85 MB)

Lesson 22. Calliope House

Submitted by gerry.gaffney on Sat, 02/02/2008 - 21:48

This is a nice lively tune in the key of D.

Tony plays this tune with the high part first and the low part second, although it may have originally been played the other way around.

Because it's in the key of D, there are no notes on the first fret. Use your first finger for the second fret, second finger for the third, and so on.

Listen to the lesson (Calliope_House.mp3, 9 minutes 32 seconds. 2.18 MB)

Lesson 23. Crowley's 1

Submitted by gerry.gaffney on Sun, 02/10/2008 - 21:48

Two tunes that are often played together are Crowley's 1 and 2.

The legendary Connemara single row melodeon player Johnny Connolly plays these two on his first recording 'An t'Oileann Aerach', available on CIC Records.

The tune is in D; the sheet music in the booklet shows it in C, with the capo on the second fret (to bring it into D).

The highest note is the G, 3rd fret, 1st string, so you don’t have to move out of the open position.

The right hand is tricky if you include triplets, as you should be if you are playing Irish music - without ornamentation the tune does not sound authentic.

Listen to the lesson (Crowleys_1.mp3, 6 minutes 30 seconds. 1.49 MB)

Lesson 24. Crowley's 2

Submitted by gerry.gaffney on Sat, 02/16/2008 - 21:48

Often played with last week's tune - Crowley's 1.

The tune is in D; the sheet music in the booklet (Book 2) shows it in C, with the capo on the second fret (to bring it into D).

In this episode, Tony also talks about combining tunes into sets.

Listen to the lesson (Crowleys_2.mp3, 12 minutes 34 seconds. 2.87 MB)

Lesson 25. Forty Pound Float

Submitted by gerry.gaffney on Sun, 02/24/2008 - 21:48

A common polka, which Tony tells us has received some rough treatment.

Make it easier to learn by using shortcuts: the first bar is identical to the third and fifth bars, the last two bars of the first section are the same as the last two of the second section, and bars 9 and 10 are the same as bars 13 and 14.

Listen to the lesson (Forty_Pound_Float.mp3, 11 minutes 21 seconds. 2.95 MB)

Lesson 26. Green Fields of America (in Open D)

Submitted by gerry.gaffney on Sat, 03/01/2008 - 21:48

In episode 9, we had this reel in the 'normal' tuning.

In this episode, it's in Open D tuning. The tuning (from lowest pitched string to highest) is D A D F# A D, .

As the tune is normally played in G, the capo is on the 5th fret.

The chord shapes for Open D are, of course, different to those for the ‘regular’ tuning. However, learning them is no different from learning any other chord; and having these under your belt opens up your repertoire.

In the booklet (Book 2), the chords shapes for Open D are on page 43.

Listen to the lesson (Green_Fields_of_America_in_Open_D.mp3, 8 minutes 46 seconds. 2 MB)

Lesson 27. The Kesh Jig

Submitted by gerry.gaffney on Sun, 03/09/2008 - 21:48

A nice simple jig.

The tune is mostly played in the open position, so you don’t have to move your hand until the last two bars.

For the last two bars, you use the first finger for G – the third fret on the first string, the third finger for A (the 5th fret) and the fourth finger for B (7th fret).

If you also use the first finger for D after the open B on the third last bar, the open B gives you the opportunity to move your left hand back to the open position.

Listen to the lesson (The_Kesh_Jig.mp3, 9 minutes 18 seconds. 2.13 MB)

Lesson 28. Lord Inchiquin

Submitted by gerry.gaffney on Sat, 03/15/2008 - 21:48

Another tune by the highly influential Turlough O'Carolan.

Planxty Irwin (which we had in Lesson 14, in Book 1) was another O'Carolan tune.

This is in 3/4 time, with emphasis on the first beat of each bar: *one* two three, *one* two three, *one* two three.

In this episode, we've also included a version with Tony playing the bouzouki and mandolin.

Listen to the lesson (Lord_Inchiquin.mp3, 17 minutes 07 seconds. 3.92 MB)

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