Jigs

Lesson 1. The Blackthorn Stick

Submitted by gerry.gaffney on Mon, 02/05/2007 - 21:48

Our first lesson is a popular jig in the key of G. It's also a good one to start with because it is played entirely in the open position - which means you don't have to move your hand up and down along the neck of the guitar as you are playing. Do download the free lesson notes (a PDF file) as it will help with fingering, chords and so on. Mon, 5 February 2007.Listen to the lesson (Blackthorn_Stick.mp3, 13 minutes 13 seconds. 6.4 MB)

Lesson 2. The Hole in the Hedge

Submitted by gerry.gaffney on Sat, 02/24/2007 - 22:22

Our second lesson is a jig called 'The Hole in the Hedge'.Originally in D, Tony has transposed it into C. In this lesson, we also discuss ornamentation in Irish music.Listen to the lesson (Hole_in_the_Hedge.mp3.mp3, 23 minutes 51 seconds. 10.9 MB)

Lesson 3. Tobin's Favourite

Submitted by gerry.gaffney on Mon, 03/05/2007 - 22:22

Tobin's Favourite is a lovely and well-known jig in the key of D.

Incidentally, in the booklet, we introduce some scales at this point. Practicing your scales is a great way to get your fingers loosened up, and to get the right fingering into 'muscle memory'.

Once again in this lesson, Tony emphasizes the importance of practice.

Listen to the lesson (Tobins_Favourite.mp3, 6 minutes 56 seconds. 3.17 MB)

Lesson 10. The Lark in the Morning

Submitted by gerry.gaffney on Sat, 06/02/2007 - 22:22

This is a four-part jig - probably the most widely played four-part jig in Irish music.

Because it has a total duration of 64 bars, it can be very handy for set dancers who may occasionally ask for a tune of that length.

Normally it's played in D Major, but Tony's version is in C Major, with a capo on the 2nd fret.

Listen to the lesson (Lark_In_The_Morning.mp3), 9 minutes 35 seconds. 1.09 MB)

Lesson 14. Planxty Irwin

Submitted by gerry.gaffney on Sat, 06/30/2007 - 22:22

This is a finger-style arrangement of an O'Carolan tune.

The tune was written in G.

Tony's arrangement is in open D, with strings tuned as follows (from lowest sounding to highest): D A D F# A D.

The booklet contains both the finger-style information, and a traditional version if you're not quite ready to tackle that!

If you're learning the Open D version, Tony suggests learning a couple of bars at a time. It's worth the effort.

Listen to the lesson (Planxty_Irwin.mp3, 10 minutes 34 seconds. 1.2 MB)

Lesson 16. Na Ceannabhain Bhána

Submitted by gerry.gaffney on Tue, 07/17/2007 - 22:22

A slip jig.

Slip jigs are in 9/8 time - think of each bar as having 3 groups of 3.

The chords are very simple - just G, C and D.

Listen to the lesson (Na_Ceannabhain_Bhana.mp3, 9 minutes 35 seconds. 1.1 MB)

Lesson 17. Mist Covered Mountain

Submitted by gerry.gaffney on Sun, 07/22/2007 - 22:22

The Mist Covered Mountain is a very haunting piece in A Dorian.

Normally it's played in the key of D, but Tony's arrangement is in the key of C, with a capo on the 2nd fret.

Tony talks about trying to arrange music so that it seems as if it's naturally written for the guitar.

There's a very nice version of this on DeDanann's album Mist Covered Mountain. It's available on eMusic.

Listen to the lesson (Mist_Covered_Mountain.mp3, 9 minutes 14 seconds. 1.1 MB)

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 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 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)

Lessons

CDs

User login