Irish Guitar Podcast

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.This lesson runs for 11 minutes 16 seconds.File size is 1.3 MB

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 shows the fingering. To purchase the sheet music, click the 'Buy Now 'button at www.irishguitarpod.com. 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.This lesson runs for 11 minutes 15 seconds.File size is 1.3 MB

Our second set of 9 tunes begins with '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. The booklet has been expanded to contain 18 tunes - but the price is unchanged at US $9. Anyone who bought the first booklet automatically gets the new updated version at no cost. If you've missed out, let us know and we'll sort it out.This lesson runs for 9 minutes 35 seconds.File size is 1.09 MB.

We finish this series with 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.This is our final lesson in this series; but we will be back with more another series within a couple of weeks. If listeners have suggestions we'd love to hear them - you can add a comment at www.irishguitarpod.com, or send an email to the address listed there.And of course the notes for the series are also avaialble for purchase there for US $9.Slán go fóill.This lesson runs for 14 minutes 26 seconds.File size is 6.61 MB.

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 at www.custymusic.com.The musician whom Tony mentions is Dympna O'Sullivan, and the CD is Ceol na mBan.This lesson runs for 13 minutes 25 seconds.File size is 6.14 MB.

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.This lesson runs for 8 minutes 26 seconds.File size is 3.86 MB.

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 (www.greenlinnet.com), or online from emusic (www.emusic.com). This lesson runs for 8 minutes 59 seconds. File size is 4.11 MB.

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'.You can purchase the booklet covering all 9 lessons for US $9 from the website (www.irishguitarpod.com) - you can pay by PayPal or credit card. The booklet is over 30 pages in length and contains introductions to the tunes, sheet music, scales and chord diagrams.The brand of capo Tony refers to is Kyser (www.kysermusical.com).This lesson runs for 13 minutes 9 seconds.File size is 6.02 MB.

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.This lesson runs for 11 minutes 51 seconds.File size is 5.42 MB.

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...This lesson runs for 6 minutes 56 seconds.File size is 3.17 MB.

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.Remember, you can download a free PDF of the first lesson - you can purchase the booklet for all 9 lessons for $9 by clicking the 'Buy Now' button at www.irishguitarpod.com.This lesson runs for 23 minutes 51 seconds.File size is 10.9 MB.

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 as it will help with fingering, chords and so on. (http://www.infodesign.com.au/ftp/IrishGuitarPodcastSample.pdf) This lesson is 13 minutes 13 seconds in duration. File size is 60.5 MB.