Lesson 18 - The Wise Maid

The final lesson in the series is a reel. As we are in the key of D left hand fingering is to use the first finger for the second fret, second for the third fret, third finger for the fourth fret, and fourth finger for the fifth fret.

The accompaniment is a little complicated. Tony uses a lot of D/F# chords. The chord of D contains three notes D, F#, and A, in any combination and in any number.

In the case of D/F# you finger the F# note on the 6th string.

Tony does this with his thumb, which is a bit controversial with the more conservative music teachers.

Sun, 29 July 2007
File size is 1MB.
Duration is 9 minutes 03 seconds.
Direct download: Wise_Maid.mp3

Lesson 17 - Mist Covered Mountain

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.

Sun, 22 July 2007
File size is 1.1MB.
Duration is 9 minutes 14 seconds.
Direct download: Mist_Covered_Mountain.mp3

Lesson 16 - Na Ceannabhain Bhána

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.

Sun, 15 July 2007

File size is 1.1MB.
Duration is 9 minutes 35 seconds.
Direct download: Na_Ceannabhain_Bhana.mp3

Lesson 15 - Man of the House

'Man of the House' is a 16-bar reel, normally played in Em (Dorian mode).

Tony's version is in Dm (Dorian).

Its name in Irish is Fear an Tí , which literally means 'Man of the House'.

Sun, 8 July 2007
File size is 1.1MB.
Duration is 9 minutes 45 seconds.
Direct download: Man_of_the_House.mp3

Lesson 14. Planxty Irwin

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.

Sat, 30 June 2007
This lesson runs for 10 minutes 34 seconds.
File size is 1.2 MB.
Direct download: Planxty_Irwin.mp3

Lesson 13. The Kerry Polka

This lively tune is not just a Kerry polka, Tony says, but *the* Kerry polka.

Tony refers to a nice recording of this by a Connemara accordion player, Sonaí Choilm Learaí (on CIC Records).

This is a tune that fits very well with the guitar.

It's in the key of G.

Chords for the accompaniment are G, C, A7, and D. For variation, you can play an Em in the sixth bar, and can substitute A7 for Am in the fourth bar.

Sun, 24 June 2007
This lesson runs for 7 minutes 57 seconds.
File size is 936 KB.
Direct download: Kerry_Polka.mp3

Lesson 12. Chief O'Neill's

This is a hornpipe in the key of D.

The arrangement in O'Neill's Music of Ireland (revised by Myles Krassen) contains F# throughout the whole of the tune, but it is often played with F naturals in the second part.

Tony's arrangement is the older style, with F# throughout.

Hornpipes are played considerably more slowly than reels.

Chords for accompaniment are D, G, A and C.

Sun, 17 June 2007
This lesson runs for 11 minutes 16 seconds.
File size is 1.3 MB
Direct download: Chief_ONeills_Hornpipe.mp3

Lesson 11. Cronin's Hornpipe

When learning this hornpipe, note that the last 6 bars in the B section are identical to the last 6 in the A section.

The tune contains a high B - which is not at all unusual. It requires you to move out of the open position. The sheet music in the booklet (Book 1) shows the fingering.

The second part of the tune sometimes catches out inexperienced accompanists, because it rather unexpectedly begins with a D chord. This doesn't mean that the tune has changed key - it's just part of the normal progression of the tune.

For something a little bit different, you might wish to insert a B Minor chord instead of the D chord in the first, fifth or thirteenth bar.

The chords for this tune are C, G, Am and D and Em. Although as Tony says you can also use a B Minor for variation.

Sun, 10 June 2007
This lesson runs for 11 minutes 15 seconds.
File size is 1.3 MB
Direct download: cronins_hornpipe.mp3

Lesson 10. The Lark in the Morning

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.

Sat, 2 June 2007
This lesson runs for 9 minutes 35 seconds.
File size is 1.09 MB.
Direct download: Lark_In_The_Morning.mp3

Lesson 9. The Green Fields of America

This is a reel in the key of G. The tune is also known as Judy Brallaghan.

Chords are C, G and D.

This tune has first- and second-time endings. In the sheet music, the bars marked '1' are used the first time you play, and the bars marked '2' are for the second time.

Kerr's collection of merry melodies apparently dates back to the 1870's. A Google search will return a lot of references.

Sun, 15 April 2007
This lesson runs for 14 minutes 26 seconds.
File size is 6.61 MB.
Direct download: Green_Fields_of_America.mp3

Lesson 8. The Green Mountain

The Green Mountain is a Reel.

It's usually in the key of D, but our arrangement is in the key of C, with a capo on the second fret.

Custy's Music in Ennis is mentioned during the episode.

The musician whom Tony mentions is Dympna O'Sullivan, and the CD is Ceol na mBan.

Sat, 7 April 2007
This lesson runs for 13 minutes 25 seconds.
File size is 6.14 MB.
Direct download: Green-Mountain.mp3

Lesson 7. Jimmy Doyle's

Our first polka. This is in the key of G.

Polkas, like slides, are common in south-west Ireland.

They are in 2/4 time.

Sun, 1 April 2007
This lesson runs for 8 minutes 26 seconds.
File size is 3.86 MB.
Direct download: Jimmy_Doyles.mp3

Lesson 6. The Morning Star

This is a reel in the key of G.

Reels are the most challenging pieces in the repertoire of the traditional musician because of the need to play them at speed and yet include ornamentation.

A very nice rendition of this is on Martin Hayes self-titled album (accompanied by Randall Bays). Martin's website is www.martinhayes.com - when we checked some of the links were not working, but you can also buy the CD from Green Linnet, or to download from emusic.

Sat, 24 March 2007
This lesson runs for 8 minutes 59 seconds.
File size is 4.11 MB.
Direct download: Morning_Star.mp3

Lesson 5. Off to California

This tune is a hornpipe, and it's in the key of G.

Hornpipes are played in a 2/2 time signature, which is subtly different to a 4/4 signature, which Tony discusses in this lesson.

Tony also talks about the use of 'triplets'.

The booklet (Book 3) is over 30 pages in length contains introductions to the tunes, sheet music, scales and chord diagrams.

The brand of capo Tony refers to is Kyser.

Sat, 17 March 2007
This lesson runs for 13 minutes 9 seconds.
File size is 6.02 MB.
Direct download: Off_to_California.mp3

Lesson 4. Cock O' The North

Cock O' The North is a slide in the key of C.

Most slides are from south-west Ireland (Kerry and Cork).

Slides are written in 12/8 time. Normally there are not 12 notes in a bar. Instead, there will be a mixture of crotchets and quavers. Tony points out that the first part of the Teddy-bears’ Picnic, played rapidly, has the characteristics of a slide.

Sat, 10 March 2007
This lesson runs for 11 minutes 51 seconds.
File size is 5.42 MB.
Direct download: Cock_O_The_North.mp3

Lesson 3. Tobin's Favourite

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...

Mon, 5 March 2007
This lesson runs for 6 minutes 56 seconds.
File size is 3.17 MB.
Direct download: Tobins_Favourite.mp3

Lesson 2. The Hole in the Hedge

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.

Sat, 24 February 2007
This lesson runs for 23 minutes 51 seconds.

File size is 10.9 MB.
Direct download: Hole_in_the_Hedge.mp3

Lesson 1. The Blackthorn Stick

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
This lesson is 13 minutes 13 seconds in duration.
File size is 60.5 MB.
Direct download: Blackthorn_Stick.mp3