Alan Murray & Finn Magill - The Bank Of Turf

Have I actually told you that I particularly like the way Alan Murray plays the bouzouki? Well, a few weeks ago I asked Luke Ward if he could do a lesson on Alan Murray’s playing style. In his generous way, he actually did two lessons – one on a reel and one on a jig. You can get these on his Patreon page. Do you remember, I mentioned his patreon a lot of times now. It’s really worth becoming a member there. He’s now got nearly 30 fantastic lessons there, so there’s plenty to learn.

The jig he chose was ‘Australian Waters’, a tune I wasn’t familiar with and hadn’t heard at sessions before. But afterwards, Finn and Alan play the jig ‘The Bank of Turf’, which you often hear at sessions. The tune starts at 40:19 in the video. So I thought I’d have a go at writing down Alan’s accompaniment for this tune. I’ve written out the first and second rounds in Tabledit. (It's a fine app for MAC/PC to write Tab for stringed instruments) 

You can download the tab here and here.

And if you like my work please consider to buy me a drink or two.

Gabriel McArdle & Fintan McManus - Willie Rambler, Tab of Intro and first verse

 What a beautiful song, wonderful sung and played. 

These are the lyrics I found at Mudcat.org (Not the lyrics Gabriel McArdle sings!)

When I was young and foolish, my age being 24,

I left Lough Erne's lovely banks. To England I sailed o'er.

'Twas there I met a lady gay of honour and renown,

And of her I did ask the way to famous London town.

"What would you take, young man," she said, "along with me to stray?

And we'll talk about old Ireland and Lough Erne another day.

I have ranches down in Texas. I have horses by the score;

And I'll take you down the Rio Grande. It's far from Erne's shore."

"Oh, no, kind lady. Pardon me. Your wealth I do disdain.

I'll go with you another day your fond love to maintain.

There is no night nor hour bright is half so fair as you,

But Erin's fens and plains and glens to leave them I would rue.

"How could I leave Lough Erne's banks where my young Molly dwells?

Your mansions and your castles are to me like prison cells.

Were you ever on Lough Erne's banks when the sun is setting low,

With the purple of the heather and the moon a fiery glow?

"The fair in Enniskillen is the greatest fair of all,

Where the cailins are the fairest and the boys are straight and tall;

So I'll bid adieu to Texas, too. I'll see it never more,

For I'm going back to Ireland and lovely Erne's shore."

And here's the tab to the Intro (you can download the whole pdf here):

And today I tabbed the first verse. I had lots of trouble to put in the lyrics in Tabledit, so they may not be at the correct places. You can download the full pdf here.

There's a mistake in the tab, in Tacet 11 the chord has to be G!

The Lowlands Of Holland - new lesson by Robin Jones

Robin Jones's new lesson is online. His version of "The Lowlands Of Holland" is based on the version of Ye Vagabonds. You'll learn a melodic variation and the rhythmic accompanyment of the song. Also lots of other stuff, so check out part 2 on his website.

Luke Ward - Irish Bouzouki Lessons - Golden Eagle Hornpipe

A new video Lesson by Luke Ward is available on his patreon site. This time it's a hornpipe, The Golden Eagle. Learn a complex rhythmic accompanyment with colourful chords. Here's a sample with Brendan Mulholland on flute.

Jim McGrath, Shane McAleer, and Fintan McManus - The Knocknaboul Polka

This is a fine example of Polka accompanyment. The tune is in G, so you could play it with capo on 5th fret with D chords, but Fintan plays without capo in G. So this is a good example to practice playing in G. 

I tried to tab the accompanyment. As the first half is not complete I inserted the first part of the second round through the tune. You can download the whole pdf here.

Farewell To Whalley Range (Michael McGoldrick) - Slipjig accompanyment by Declan Plummer

Every Tuesday Declan Plummer (TopScore Music Academy) sends a live stream on youtube where he tries to find out accampanyment to a certain tune. This week he picked up the slipjig written by Michael McGoldrick called Farewell To Whalley Range. A beautiful tune written in F#m. To play the accompanyment place the capo on 4th fret. 

This is the short video in which Declan shows the accompanyment which he came about. I made a tab so it is easier to follow. This is the A-Part. You can download the whole pdf here.

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.