Finger Exercises by Vincent Fogarty

This is an old post but I think these exercises I got from Vincent Fogarty are worth to try them. 

Back in 2019 I got in contact with Vincent Fogarty, a bouzouki player from Tipperary, Ireland. Some yeas ago he recorded an album with a band called The Red Wellies. I'm not sure if it is available somewhere.


At the bottom I will include some videos of the Red Wellies.


Vincent sent me some short video clips in which he shows some finger exercises. He kindly allowed me to post them here, too. Many thanks, Vincent!

He writes about these exercises:

These are exercises I did every day for about six months about 25 years ago. They are challenging but the results are well worth the work. The idea is to start slow and get the notes clear and in time. Keep your pick tight to the string don’t make your movements too big. This will do wonders for your pick and finger coordination. The exercises can be done as four finger three finger or two finger using any end of the fretboard as the start. Starting yesterday I’ve decided to do these again over the next few months. If you think they would be good to post then do so that’s fine by me. Good luck with them.

Clip No. 1



He writes about this clip:

In the first clip I have my capo at the 7th fret. I start with my pinky on the 15th fret of my highest string Start with a down stroke then an up stroke then down then up etc. alternating. Tab is. 15-14-13-12. When you get to fret 12 place your pinky finger on fret 14 then play from there in descending frets/notes. Tab 14-13-12-11 etc until you get to your capo. Then March your fingers back up the frets to 15. Then descend on the next highest string starting with your ring finger on the 14th fret. Pay attention to your picking here. Then descend on that string then the next string then the next string. Then you can start on the lower course and work your way high. 

Clip No. 2




He writes about this clip:

In this clip I play a four note exercise that moves vertically on the fretboard. When you get to the bottom series of 15-14-13-12 you put your pinky on fret 14 which moves your hand one fret then you descend vertically. When you get to the top 14-13-12-11 you place your pinky on the 13 fret and this moves your hand forward again etc.

Clip No. 3




This clip refers to video 2. Vincent writes about it:

This is what my right hand looks like. Start att of the exercises with a down stroke.


Clip No. 4




Vincent writes about this exercise:

This exercise is a linear moment that also descends and ascends.


Clip No. 5




Vincent writes about this exercise:


This exercise is good for developing finger strength and control of your pinky. It’s a two note run starting lower and ending at the fifteenth fret.


Clip No. 6



I did this as a three finger exercise. It also has a linear movement. I’ve also moved the capo to fret five so as to have more fretboard. As I move I also alternate fingers. Pointer finger ring finger pinky frets 689. Then I move too the next lowest string and use fingers pointer middle finger and pinky on frets 7810. I alternate this pattern as I descend and ascend.


Clip No. 7





Vincent writes:

Hi Frank the last clip is my right hand. I’m trying to show how tight I keep the pick to the strings.

The clips I sent will help with your speed but they are more so directed at pick/finger coordination.



The Red Wellies:

Here are some videos I found on youtube:


The Red Wellies play Dr. O'Neill's and Tom Billy's at a house concert in Atlanta:

Beanie Odell -Fiddle Duncan Wickel -Fiddle Vincent Fogarty -Bouzouki




Carter Center farmers market, freedom Parkway



A set of favorite reels:The Road to Garrison (composed by Maurice Lennon-also commonly known as The Godfather);House of Hammil (Ed Reavy);Hounds of Letterfrack (might really be Martin O'Connor's Clog)

New CD: Tracy Ryan & Ryan O'Donnell - Fairy Island

Tracy Ryan & Ryan O'Donnell live near Newport in County Tipperary. Tracy is a singer and plays Flute and Whistle, Ryan plays Banjo, Bouzouki and Guitar. Together they recorded an album full of beautiful songs and tunes with lots of bouzouki on it. 

You can listen to 3 songs on bandcamp, where you can buy it also. 

Here's a little teaser of the album:

And another video I found on YouTube:

And another one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBxcpBFReMM

Inisheer Lesson by Robin Jones

 Robin Jones just release a new lesson for bouzouki. The well known tune Inisheer in a beautiful arrangement. You can watch Part 1 here. Part 2 can be obtained from his website. If you subscribe for a monthly fee you get all his previous videos for free which is a fantastic offer.

The Session Trad Tune Explorer

Did you ever have a tune in mind but forgot it's melody? This is a fast helper for you. Open the website and type in the name of the tune. You'll get a picture of the first 3 bars of the tune. From there you can start playback and listen to the tune or open the whole notation. 

Ye Lovers All - Tutorial by Kevin Elam

 Kevin Elam just posted a Lesson in which you can learn his accompaniment to the Song "Ye Lovers All", an emigration song which has been sung by a lot of artists. 

These are the lyrics as sung by the Chieftains

Ye lovers all both great and small
Who dwell in Ireland
Oh I pray you pay attention
Whilst I my pen command
It was my father's anger
That drove my love away
But I still have hopes
We'll meet again in North Americay

My love he was fair and handsome
And to him I gave my heart
Ah but little was our notion
That we would ever part
It was in my father's garden
That this flower it did decay
But I still have hopes twill bloom again
In North Americay

Now I did not want for money 
Kind fortune on me shone
So out of my father's castle
I took five hundred pounds
It was in the town of Belfast
My passage I did pay
And then set sail across the sea
To far Americay

Now the captain's wife was kind to me
As you may understand
And she kept me in her cabin
Until we reached dry land
It was in the town of Quebec
We landed on the cay
But I knew not where to seek my love
In all Americay

Now I being sick and sore and tired 
Well I went into an inn
And it was there I found my William 
The lad I loved within
He took me gently by the hand 
And to me he did say
Oh I never thought I'd see your face 
In North Americay

Now I hear this couple has got wed 
As you may understand
And I hear they live quite happily 
In a town they call St. Johns
And the money that she took from home 
Well in gold she paid it down
And they think no more of Ireland
Nor Enniskillen town.

More Information on Mudcat.org

Steeplechase - CD Release Concert

Steeplechase are Hanz Araki (flutes, vocals), Zach Bauman (bouzouki), Sam Vogt (guitar, whistle), and David Lofgren (bodhrán).
This is a video of their CD release concert from May 1st 2026.

You'll find more information about the band here.

This is what they write about their album "Far From Home" which is available as vinyl, cd and download from their website:

"From the Pacific Northwest comes a new album of traditional Irish and Scottish fare, Far From Home, the debut from quartet Steeplechase. Recorded at Sage Arts, truly a cathedral to music in Arlington, Washington, Far From Home is a self-produced ten track collection of songs and sundry dance tunes performed on Irish flute, penny whistle, Irish bouzouki, guitar, and bodhrán. The album was engineered by Jordan Cunningham, and mixed by legendary guitar-player and Lúnasa founding member Donogh Hennessy in Dingle, Co. Kerry.

Steeplechase (Hanz Araki, flutes, vocals; Zach Bauman, Irish bouzouki, vocals; Sam Vogt, acoustic guitars, low whistle; David Lofgren, bodhrán) played to their strengths and set out to create an album that hews closely to their live performances. They are at home with the music of Scotland and Ireland and feel no pressure to reinvent the wheel. This philosophy comes from a deep well of respect for the generations of musicians who came before them. This album is both a message of gratitude to their many influences as well as a contribution to this beloved genre."

Killeagh (Kingfishr) - Irish Bouzouki Lesson - Robin Jones

 Robin Jones did a tutorial on how to play Killeagh by Kingfishr. Lovely accompaniment with melody lines. Part 1 is for free, Part 2 can be obtained from his website.

Sam Cormier’s reel - Accompaniment by TopScoreMusic Academy Declan Plummer

 Once a week, every Tuesday, Declan Plummer of TopScoreMusicAcademy, brings his live stream on youtube where he tries to work out an accompaniment to a tune he hasn't accompanied so far. The latest tune he worked on was Sam Cormier's Reel, composed by Denis Lanctot. 

He always uses Video recordings by Fiddler Olivia Barrett. She plays this Reel in E, which seems to be the key in which Denis Lanctot composed it, although it seems that most musicians play it in D. 

Here you'll find the short version of Declan playing Whistle and Bouzouki 

This is the whole video, it's very long but it's interesting to watch how he developes his accompaniments.

This is the video of the final run through all the ideas, but without the melody played so you can listen to the accompanyment. 

I made a tab out of his ideas which you can download here. First Line Melody from thesession, second line Declan's accompaniment.

Luke Ward - Man Of The House Reel - Lesson

 A new Lesson by Luke Ward on YouTube. The Man Of The House in Em played with Capo on 2nd Fret.

I posted more of his videos here if you might want to have a look

The tabs can be found on his patreon site here.

John Davies - Some Songs accompanied on the bouzouki

 I just like to share a few videos by John Davies, a singer, guitar and bouzouki player. I did not find any information about him on the web.

Here' "Tippin it up to Nancy"

Crazy Love by Van Morrison

Rambling Rover by Andy M. Stewart

Holmfirth Anthem, a tradtional Yorkshire folk song

If Not For You by Bob Dylan

Fairytale Of New York

"The Thumpatron" - Bodhrán Backing Tracks for Tune Practice by Michael Eskin

 Michael Eskin, well known for his "ABC Transcription Tools" has now released a new tool for practice, "The Thumpatron", a collection of Bodhran Beats in different tempo. Jigs, Reels and Polka Rhythms are available. Unfortunately no Slides, Slip Jigs and Hornpipes. But a very handy tool it is for sure.

You can find "The Thumpatron" here.

This is his website where you can find his "ABC Transcription Tools"

John Doyle's long neck Bouzouki

 John Doyle, well known for his driving guitar accompaniment is also a great bouzouki player. In this video John and the Kevin Muiderman, Luthier of Muiderman Guitars discuss the building of this fine instrument.

John's bouzouki has a very small 11 1/2" body widths, ultralightweight tops and a graphite composite bracing within. The top is made of Sinker Redwood, back and sides made of Ziricote.

Luke Ward - Lesson on how to play "Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore"

Luke Ward has published a lot of fantastic videos on his Patreon Site. If you haven't checked them you should do it now. 

Now he has shared another video on youtube for free. If you want the notation you can find it on his patreon.

This is my chordsheet which I shared here some time ago, not the one Luke plays. I added 2 verses Daoiri sings sometimes.

{t:Paddy’s Green Shamrock Shore}

{st:Daoiri Farrell}

From [D]Derry quay we sailed a[G]way [D]

on the [C]twenty-[G/B]third of [D]May

We were [G]taken on [Am]board by a [D]pleasant crew, 

bound [Am]for A[G]meri[C]kay

Fresh [G]water [Am]there we did [D]take on, 

five [C]thou[G]sa[D]nd [G]gal[D]lons or [C]more        

In [D]case we’d run short going to New [G]York 

[D]far a[C]way from the [G]shamrock [D]shore. 

So [D]fare thee well, sweet Liza [G]dear [D]

and like[C]wise unto [G/B]Derry [D]town

And [G]twice fare[Am]well to my [D]comrade boys 

that [Am]dwell on that [G]sainted [Am]ground

If [G]fortune shall [Am]ever [D]favor me, 

and [Am]I do have [G]money in [C]store

I’ll go [D]back and I’ll wed the wee lassie I left 

on [C]Paddy’s green [G]shamrock [D]shore. 

Oh at [D]six o'clock on that [D]morning fair 

our [C]anchors [G/B]we did [D]weigh,

The [G]sun shone [Am]down on Ben[D]evassa’s rocks, 

how [Am]splendid [G]he did [C]play,

And green [G]castles, [Am]ancient [D]fort and church, 

oh it [Am]made my [G]heart so [C]sore,

But these [D]memorys still I will hold very dear 

when I‘m a[C]way from the [G]Shamrock [D]Shore.

And then at [D]12 o'clock on that [D]evening fair 

we [C]passed out [G/B]Malin [D]Head,

And then [G]Inishtra[Am]hull far [D]on to the right, 

it [Am]rose of the [G]ocean [C]bed.

But a [G]grander [Am]sight we [D]all did see there, 

that I [Am]never had [G]seen be[C]fore

It was the [D]sun going down between sea and sky, 

far [C]out from the [G]Shamrock [D]Shore.

We sailed three weeks, we were all seasick, 

not a man on board was free

We were all confined unto our bunks 

and no-one to pity poor me.

No father dear nor mother kind 

to lift up my head, which was sore

Which made me think more on the lassie I left 

on Paddy’s green shamrock shore. 

We safely reached the other side 

after fifteen and twenty days,

We were taken as passengers by a man 

and led round in six different ways,

Then each of us drank a parting glass, 

in case we might meet no more

And we drank a health to old Ireland 

and Paddy’s green shamrock shore. 

Matt Heaton - Thoughts on using a capo

 In this video Matt shares his thoughts on using a capo, which is an essential helper when playing the bouzouki.

Robin Jones - Daily Routine - Left and right hand practice

 Robin Jones talks about exercises that might help you to get better. Even if you think you know a lot of exercises you might find something new here. So you really have a look at this.

To help me remember the exercises better and look them up whenever I need to, I sat down today and wrote them out in tablature format. You can download this as a PDF here.