Tuesday 29 December 2009

The Doggy Few Tunebook







The Doggy Few is an Irish Folk Band based in the Netherlands. They have a nice website at: www.doggyfew.com.
I'm not really good in reading and understanding the language of the Netherlands. But they have a really good tunebook on the website:


http://www.doggyfew.com/doggyfew_tunebook.pdf

They have a cd out with snippets on the website, and a video on youtube:

SlowPlayers.Org Basic tunebook





This is a tunebook for starters with lots of basic session tunes. All with chords, so it's a good starting point for beginners.
http://www.slowplayers.org/BASS/bass2004tunebook.pdf

Monday 28 December 2009

Paul Hardy's Session Tunebook




















Another Tunebook which provides lots of chords for accompanyment is made by Paul Hardy. He made it for Accordion-players, but it is useful for other instruments too.
http://www.pghardy.net/concertina/tunebooks/pgh_session_tunebook.pdf

Paul provides some more tunebooks (a set tunebook, a basic tunebook, a annex tunebook with tunes which will appear in a later version of his tunebook etc.) on his site, look at:
http://www.pghardy.net/concertina/tunebooks/

The Greene Tunebook





















By accident I found this tunebook on the web.
https://www.ceilidhsoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CeilidhSoc-Favourites-Book-1-20181024.pdf

Here's the original one, the link has changed since I last looked at it:
http://old.ceilidhsoc.org/music.pdf?Special=23&Type=Group

42 pages with lots of tunes, most of them with chords. A great learning base.


Tuesday 22 December 2009

Pennknivsmördaren

Pennknivsmördaren (Penknife Killer" is a traditional Swedish tune. Kruzifinger learded it from Ken P, a member of "Mandolin Cafe", who learned it from Swedish group Vasen. Kruzifinger plays it on his Zouk tuned GDAD, Capo 2.

Tuesday 15 December 2009

Andy Irvine - Blacksmith Live

I haven't posted anything for more than a month. How time flies, but I did not find anything, that I thought is so interesting to post. But now my friend Tom gave me the hint to a new video of Andy Irvine.

First there's a video from January 24, 1999 in New Zealand, Christchurch. Live at Maddison's . Andy plays his solo version of the classic "The Blacksmith". Not the best quality but really worth watching.

Thursday 5 November 2009

Tim Browne - The Bold Thady Quill (The Bould Thady Quill)

Another fine song by Tim Browne, one of my favourite Bouzouki players. This is what he writes about the song:

This is a version of the great Cork song written over 100 years ago by Johnny Tom Gleeson. I recorded this version on Mutiny in the County a solo album I made in 2003. The lyrics were published in the 1993 edition of the wonderful Seanchas Duthalla Magazine in an article written by one James Chisman.

It is a mighty song and many versions of it, even one in the Irish language, are known. I particularily like this version because of its Land League component and Chisman mentioned in his article that this version is thought to be the nearest lyrically to the original version. The song has undergone many changes and additions since the original believed to have been written in the 1880's and first published around the early 1920's.

It is a much favoured drinking song possibly due to the references to drinking black porter as fast as you'll fill etc., Some extra lines have been added to this version so perhaps in one hundred years time or so Thade Quill will have become an internationally recognised academic, and maybe even an assissinated President of America................!!!

Saturday 31 October 2009

O'Donoghues covered by kyle25rs

Inspired by the version of Irishlike kyle decided to post his own version. Very interesting to listen to various approaches to one song. Good work!

Wednesday 21 October 2009

Irishlike - O'Donoghue's

A new video my friend Irishlike posted. Andy Irvine's song O'Donoghue's. Just the first verse. I like your version a lot, Tom.

Friday 16 October 2009

Tim Browne

Tim has posted some new videos, so I'm really happy to include them here.

On the first video he plays a guitar shaped bouzouki made by Heiner Dreizehnter a few years ago. As far as I know Tim bought this zouk from my friend Tom from Munich. The newry Highwayman



The Ballad of Ned Jones Toyota


A Youth That's Inclined To Ramble


The Handsome Cabin Boy

Never Tire Of The Road - Andy Irvine with Donal Lunny and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh

Dingle 2009. This is a real short but powerful version of Andy's classic.

Sunday 11 October 2009

New book for Irish Bouzouki out now



Ralf Wackers, German musician with Band Curragh
http://www.currach.de/
has release a tutor's book for the Irish bouzouki. As far as I know it is the first book at this topic which is addressed to beginners and intermediate players of the bouzouki. Unfortunately this book is available only in German. So it could be a little difficult to understand all the things said in this great book. But if you have ears and eyes you can learn a lot by listening to the examples on the cd and look at the notation.

For example here is the tune "Toss the feathers":



Click on the picture to see a larger version. Be careful, the chords are for GDAE-tuning! And here's the audio file which goes with it:



MusicPlaylist
MySpace Music Playlist at MixPod.com



If you want to buy the book or like to have more information got the Ralf's website at:

http://www.currach.de/ralf/Bucher/Irish_Bouzouki-Buch/irish_bouzouki-buch.html

It's a self-pressing, so it's only available directly from him. Many thanks to Ralf for allowing me to publish a sample of his book.

Another example page is to be found at Ralf's website:
http://www.currach.de/ralf/Bucher/Irish_Bouzouki-Buch/B-Buch-2728.pdf

Templates for Reels and Jigs


Some time ago I made some templates for Jigs and Reels where I could just fill in the chords needed. This helps a lot when attending a workshop.
You can download them here:
Reel-template
Jig-template

Find Chord shapes for different chords on GDAD


Some time ago I made this little helper. This shows all the position of the notes wich are in a specified chord. So it helps to find out different positions of the chords.

Friday 9 October 2009

Freshwater Streams (for Dave Freshwater)

This is a nice instrumental tune in honour of Dave Freshwater, the builder of this octave mandolin. Enjoy!

Sunday 4 October 2009

Jon Sanders & Dave Alley

Jon Sanders is known for his guitar playing, i think. He mostly plays in DADGAD and Dropped-D tunings. On these great videos he joins with Dave Alley.

More information at:
www.jon-sanders.com
www.davealley.co.nz.

Dingle Day


Pure Afghan


Pure Afghan - Live Version


Big Ben

Friday 2 October 2009

jonathan sells his Freshwater Octave Mandolin/ Irish Bouzouki on eBay

Jonathan posted a message that he is currently selling his freshwater Octave Mandolin on ebay. Therefore he posted a new video:

Tuesday 29 September 2009

Andy Irvine & Donal Lunny - Live 2009

Feel like a kid in a candy store. Lots of videos by Andy and Donal. Many thanks to DaraghOwens, the uploader.

Empty Handed


My Heart's tonight in Ireland


Never Tire Of The Road


Arthur McBride


The Blacksmith


Tom Joad


Plains of Kildare


And finally The West Coast Of Clare


All fantastic live versions. Sadly there is no new song.

Monday 21 September 2009

Duncan Fig - The Mickey Dam

Duncan has made a fine video, in which he plays bouzouki, Bass, Flute and sings a song called The ickey Dam. What a complex video, must have been a lot of work.



Choux pis des melons, a trad song from Quebec

Tim Browne - Handsome Cabin Boy

Another video by Tim Browne. I love his voice and bouzouki playing. By the way: his new album is out now.

Sunday 30 August 2009

Andy Irvine & Donal Lunny - Live on RTE 2009

Live on RTE this summer Andy and Donal with a perfect version of the Blacksmith. As better as ever.


The Braes of Moneymore


Plains of Kildare


My Heart Tonights In Ireland

Tuesday 25 August 2009

Lempelius & Palm

Lempelius & Palm is a bouzouki and fiddle Duo from Germany. I met both of them at various Irish music workshops in Bonn, Germany. The both do a very good job as teachers, too.

Here's a video of some "tunes by the fire"


Michael solo, demonstrating a bouzouki for sale at ebay:

Wednesday 19 August 2009

Joseph sobol Fingerstyle Cittern Lesson: Reel Techniques

Learn how to play a reel in fingerstyle technique. Joseph explains all in a wonderful lesson. So watch and practise.

Ode To Joy by BmoreBusker

Is this an old Irish tune? ;-)

See and hear how a classical masterpiece can sound played on an irish bouzouki. Well done, BmoreBusker!

Thursday 13 August 2009

Pennou Skoulm & Andy Irvine

A Breton Group together with Andy Irvine. What a pleasure to watch these videos. Recorded at Festival Interceltique, Lorient on August 1st. 2009
Web: http://www.myspace.com/pennouskoulm

The Plains Of Kildare


Time Will Cure Me (Sabra Girl)


The Blacksmith


And some instrumental tunes I don't know the titles of:












Thursday 23 July 2009

Bruce Michael Baillie

I posted some videos of Bruce in the past. He's got a new instrument, he turned an old Guitar into a Bouzouki. The result seems to be rather good.

Here's The Jolly Beggar


Calico Printers Clerk


Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts - A song written by Bob Dylan from the album Blood on the Tracks 1975)


Never Tire Of The Road (Andy Irvine)


Bonnie Glenshee

Sunday 12 July 2009

Irishlike - When Margaret was eleven

Irishlike, a friend of mine posted two videos on youtube.
First he sings a song by Pete St. John, which was also sung by Ronnie Drew. The song describes the fact of war from the sight of a kid who´s father went to fight in Germany. This man left his family as a hero and came back as a broken man. The refrain owns a really truth: "...soldiers are the livin´ proof of our inhumantiy."


Erin's lovely home

Wednesday 8 July 2009

Sunday 5 July 2009

Bob Fox & Stu Luckley

Bob an Stu are two Singers and players making music now for more than 30 years. More information on their myspace-site:

http://www.myspace.com/bobfoxstuluckley

Bob Fox's site:
http://www.bobfoxmusic.com/

The Two Magicians


Dollia


Dollia - Another version

Thursday 2 July 2009

Monday 29 June 2009

Andy Irvine at Dent Folk Festival 2009

Dent Folk Festival took place 26th - 28th June 2009. Here's the website for the event:
http://www.dentfolkfestival.co.uk/

One of the artists among Solas, Karine Polwart etc. was bouzouki player and singer Andy Irvine. Until now there are two videos of Andy available on youtube:

The Blacksmith


Erin Go Bragh

Tuesday 16 June 2009

Brian's huge chordlist collection


If you are still looking for that special chord maybe you can find it here. Brian offers a huge list of chords for various instruments. He has listed chords both in GDAD and greek tuning. Here's the link to GDAD:
http://chordlist.brian-amberg.de/en/bouzouki/gdad/

Monday 15 June 2009

Cittern Lesson By Joseph Sobol

I think Joseph is well know to all seriously playing bouzouki-ists. He is specialized in fingerpicking the cittern. In this lesson he shows his way of playing a jig. Learn how to incorporate melody, harmony and ornamentation.

Thursday 21 May 2009

BmoreBusker

I don't have any informatin about BmoreBusker or Jim Pettijohn which is his real name, but he sent me a message to inform me about his videos on youtube. So here they are,
First a little tune on his new Fylde Cittern, a real lively one.


Second Tralee Trembles


Four Thousand Miles Away (copyright 2009)

Wednesday 20 May 2009

Terry Docherty Cittern

Forbesbell demonstrates his new cittern made by Terry Docherty, a real lovely sounding instrument. Look at: http://www.terrydochertyguitars.com/, where you can find lots if information and photos and a workshop blog, too. Really worth looking at.



Here's a song calles Blackleg Miner, played with his old Fylde

Tuesday 19 May 2009

Tony Gibbons covers Andy Irvine

My friend Tom gave me the hint to this fine video. Tony Gibbons (never heard of him before) plays a cover of Andy Irvine's Never Tire Of The Road.


Tony is a bouzouki player from Liverpool, front man of the band "Garva".

Heres another Video featuring Phil Hare (guitar) and Terry Coyne (flute & whistle)
Aalten Country Fair, Holland


Just for comparation here's a version of Andy

Monday 27 April 2009

Christy Moore - The Least We Can Do

I could include lots of great videos of Christy, but this is a bouzouki blog. But on this video there's Donal Lunny playing his wonderful bouzouki. Fantastic song, deep lyrics.

Thursday 23 April 2009

gn0coach - White Hare

gn0coach has a fine style of playing the bouzouki. This is a cover of a song by Seth Lakeman. I think it's brilliant.


Wavechaser, an original composition, very interesting tune.


Pay the reckoning: A jig. gn0coach writes: "Saw kyle25rs version and thought it about time I learned my first Jig on Irish Bouzouki - cover your ears! GDAD, Capo on the 5th fret. Based on Han Speek tab"

Wednesday 22 April 2009

David Francey and Craig Werth

David Francey is recognized as one of today's finest singer-songwriters. Born in Scotland in 1954 he now lives in Canada. He is often accompanied by multi-instrumentalist Craig Werth.
Many thanks to my friend Tom for sending me the links.

Websites:
http://www.davidfrancey.com/
http://www.craigwerth.com/

www.myspace.com/davidfrancey



Thursday 9 April 2009

Tribute to Donal Lunny

What a tribute: Here are some Tunes with Donal Lunny, John McSherry, Davy Spillane, Liam O'Flynn, Andy Irvine, Christy Moore, Nollaig Casey, Paddy Glackin. Three Bouzoukis altogether on stage. Andy Irvine is playing his old Stevens Bouzouki. Haven't seen him playing it for a long time.


Not my cup of coffee, but some of you might like it: Here's "Dirty old Town" featuring Donal, Gilles Servat, Ronnie Drew, John McSherry, Nollaig Casey

Monday 6 April 2009

Jig: Lark in the morning

A new video from Kyle. This time he plays the jig "lark in the morning". I like his style of playing melody and drones altogether.

Sunday 5 April 2009

The Ballad Of Reynardine

Kyle is playing the arrangement of Andy Irvine. He does a really good job. Really Inspiring!

Monday 30 March 2009

Cittern and Sitar combination

A live recording with Pandit Harvinder Singh Sitar and Anders Falk Cittern. I really like this combination of the two instruments, although there is no celtish influence in the music.

Friday 27 March 2009

Gerry O'Connor, Manus Lunny & Vinnie Kilduff - Moving Cloud

A tune called Moving cloud vividly performed here with 2 bouzoukis, banjo and mandolin on the Late Late Show Christmas 1993.

Thursday 26 March 2009

Bailliekins - Step It Out Mary

Good man bailliekins has posted a new video featuring his Octave Mandolin. This time it's the Song Step It Out Mary, originally by Sean McCarthy. He has rewritten it a bit and has added some verses. Really nice tune.

Wednesday 25 March 2009

Tralee Trembles

BmoreBusker is playing a tune which he says is originally by Terry Woods and maybe Ron Kavana and from a collaboration album called LILT - For the children. Fine playing, nice tune.

Sunday 22 March 2009

Paddy's day

Keith enjoys us here with a set of tunes: Boys of Bluehill, Chief O'Neills and Drowsy Maggie. He writes: Mando is by Freshwater - very beaten up when I got it. have just stripped it back to the wood and refinished it. New set up partially complete. Still needs work on the bridge saddle, and the string gauges sorting out, then final fettling to suit. Enjoy!

Steve Smith plays Mariners Ward on his 1914 Gibson K2 Mandocello

What a nice tune played on a legendary instrument. Steve is playing a original composition from his Other Places, Times and Lives album. For more information look at: www.desertnight.com

Post No. 300! - Irish Bouzouki improvisation

Just back from a lovely weekend in Bonn where I attended on a bouzouki workshop with Michael Lempelius (http://www.myspace.com/palmlempelius) I found this nice video. Joynergy is just fooling around on his bouzouki which is made by luthier Juhn Hullah. Does anybody have some information about this luther?

Wednesday 4 March 2009

Bob Vasile and Jane Peppler

Bob and Jane are a couple playing cittern and fiddle. Here they are with the following tunes:
Flying Home to Shelley (Paul Gitlitz), Paddy on the Landfill (Rob Hayes), Music for a Found Harmonium (Simon Jeffes)

Tim Browne - Step It Out Mary

Tim Browne has posted a new video. A trad song played together with Eoin Jordan on bouzouki at the Trades Union Hall, Kanturk, Co. Cork, Ireland on October 15th, 2008.
Tim's website:
www.tbrowne.net



And here is Mosed Bridge-The Girl From Glashakeenleen

Monday 2 March 2009

Bailliekins - Daleman's Litany

Another fine song from Bailliekins. Unfortunately he does not give any information about the song.

Thursday 26 February 2009

Arpeggio Intro on Bouzouki

nandyfer gives us the chance to look at his right hand while he is playing the arpeggio intro to a song from the group "Quenda Folk". I couldnt't find lots of information about the band but this myspace site:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=396608145

If you have more information please leave a comment.

Beth Patterson - new videos

Yippie! Found new videos from Beth Patterson, one of my favourite bouzouki players. I have mentioned her many times before. First here's her version of Heather on the moor, a song made famous by Paul Brady.


And here's Darling Please:


Hard Times Come Again No More


Musique A bouche

Cittern, Sitar and Nyckelharpa

Here's an interesting mix of indian music played live at Umea Folk Music Festival on Feb, 20th 2009. Pandit Harvinder Singh, Sitar - Anders Falk, Cittern - Daniel Pettersson Swedish Nyckelharpa. The cittern actually only plays a drone, more or less.

Tuesday 24 February 2009

Dominique Rivière - The Foggy Dew

Dominique posted a new video. Here he's playing a mandocello tuned EADG, just like the top 4 strings on a guitar. His website: http://riviere.auzeau.org


Monday 16 February 2009

Tim Browne

Today I discovered Bouzouki Player, Fiddler and singer Tim Browne from the area Duhallow / Sliabh Luachra. I contacted him and finally got the chance to listen to some of his recordings. First here's a video:


Tim%20Browne
Quantcast

If you look at:
http://www.reverbnation.com/timbrowne
you can listen to some of his songs and tunes.

Official website:
www.tbrowne.net

beir sult - enjoy

Sunday 15 February 2009

Bouzouki shapes



With a little help of "chordhouse" I made this list of shapes for the most needed chords. You can find the possible position of the fingers and therefore figure out possible chord shapes. I hope someone will find this useful. You can download it here.

Saturday 24 January 2009

New Fylde Bouzouki for John

John, a new player of the Irish Bouzouki joins us with a short tune on his lovely Fylde. Hope to see and hear more of him in the future.

Banwarth & Mignotte

A new video by Jean Banwarth together with Jérémie Mignotte on funky flute. They are playing a funky reel. The video is really short, but really good.

Jérémie Mignotte on myspace:
www.myspace.com/jeremiemignotte

Jean Banwarth:
http://www.myspace.com/jeanbanwarth

and
http://banwarth.free.fr/

Friday 23 January 2009

Grian playing Old Time Tunes

Who is this man? He likes playing old time tunes on his zouki. First one is called Greasy Coat:



Second set: King of the Pipers/Pipe on the Hob



Julia Delaney

Friday 16 January 2009

Julie Fowlis - Biodh An Deoch Seo 'n Laimh Mo Ruin (backstage at the Union Chapel)

A new video from Julie! My heart skips a beat whenever I listen to her songs or watch her videos. She's simply the best female celtic singer.

Thursday 15 January 2009

Karl Nesbitt - A Bouzouki tutorial

Here's a little bouzouki tutorial from Karl Nesbitt. He demonstrates the accompaniment for the A-part oth the Salamanca reel. He is accompanied by Tommie Conniffe on the Accordion.


Nice finger picking on the bouzouki here from Karl Nesbitt. Two tunes: Ag Fagainnt Slan & The Battle of Aughrim.


Off-topic, but really good, here's a bodhran tutorial from Karl. Seems he likes Apple computers, just like me.



If you like the videos, here's his website:
http://www.karlnesbitt.com/

Here you can have a listen to his CD, but it is currently out of stock.
http://cdbaby.com/cd/nesbitt

ANDY IRVINE – 23/01/09 - LIVE SHOW AVAILABLE ONLINE THROUGH THE INTERNET!

I found this message on this blog: http://branawen.blogspot.com/:

There will be a show broadcasted by the internet! You may have online access at http://www.fmalas.org/
The gig will be on Friday 23th, January, at 23: PM(local time)
As a reference, in the UK that would be 2:00 AM

If anybody has the chance to record this event please let me know.

Friday 2 January 2009

Acoustic Christmas Card 2008

Ok, a bit too late, but I just found that video and I think it's worth a look. So here are some christmas carols played on Bouzouki Fiddle and Bass. Gloria, in Excelsis Deo and Joy to the World.

Zac Leger and Joseph Sobol - Tunes

Wow, what a set! Zac and Joseph are playing Maid of Mt. Cisco and The Skylark. This one's really groovy.

Thursday 1 January 2009

Happy New Year to Everybody

So this is the start into another new year and I like to wish everybody on this planet all the best. Hope this will be a peaceful year for everyone of you.
If you have got anything to add to this blog feel free to inform me.

All the best

Klickie

2 new videos from Bailliekins

It's good man bailliekins again with 2 tunes on his fine bouzouki.

First one is called: The Swedish Jig


Second one is:
Bastard Elizabethan