Tempokeystudio - Webapp helps learning tunes - now with Youtube Import!

Declan Plummer, the app’s programmer, is constantly working hard to improve the app. It has recently become possible to embed videos from YouTube. You can now loop clips and adjust the speed and pitch.

 YouTube’s own tools are used for this. This means you can now not only listen to the music, but also watch the musicians and see exactly what they’re doing. Unfortunately, though, you can’t get a clean, continuous loop with this. Nevertheless, it’s an excellent way to learn tunes. It takes a bit of getting used to, but once you’ve got the hang of it, the work goes quickly. 

I’m really looking forward to seeing what else Declan will add to this app in the future. And best of all: this app is completely free! And as it is a webapp it runs in the browser on all devices.

You can get the app here

Little Session App (iOS and Android)

I just downloaded a (for me) new app to my iPhone and just started getting used to it.

 Little Session is a specialized mobile app created by developer Sébastien Allie, designed to serve as a comprehensive pocket companion for players of Irish traditional music.   

The app comes bundled offline with over 23,000 traditional tunes sourced from TheSession.org, covering reels, jigs, hornpipes, polkas, and more. It allows musicians to search tunes, display sheet music (with adjustable ABC notation playback and tempo control), organize sets, and recognize melodies in real time during live sessions. Its core highlight is real-time interactive fingerings and custom chord accompaniments for 19 different instruments.   

For backing players—especially Irish Bouzouki musicians—Little Session delivers targeted playback and practice tools:

• Real-Time Fretboard Visualization: Displays interactive fretboard diagrams tuned specifically for Irish Bouzouki, showing exact fingering positions and scales as the tune plays.  
  
• High-Quality Audio Packs: Includes dedicated downloadable sample packs for Bouzouki, producing authentic string playback instead of generic MIDI.  
  
• Tradition-Based Chord Accompaniments: Focuses on standard session-style open modal chords and modal modal-friendly voicings common in Irish backing rather than strictly formal music theory chords.  
  
• Chord & Rhythm Practice: Enables players to adjust playback speed, loop A/B sections, change key signatures, and practice rhythm and backing lines directly alongside sheet music.  
  

Available on iOS and Android as a one-time purchase without subscriptions, Little Session bridges traditional tune learning with realistic string-accompaniment tools. 

This is the link to the Little Session YouTube Channel 

Whether you’ve been using this app for a while or are just trying it out for the first time, please do leave a comment to let us know what you think of it and what tips you can offer to bouzouki players. And if you come across any tutorials or videos about the app, please do share the link here.

Lowlands Of Holland - Ye Vagabonds - Lesson by Johannes Broborn

 Johannes Broborn is really busy these days. Here's a new lesson by him, another cover of a song played by Ye Vagabonds.

Here are the lyrics and the chords I use. They might be a little different from Johannes' chords.

{t:Lowlands of Holland}

{st:Ye Vagabonds}

The [D]love that I have cho[G]sen I there[D]with [A]be con[Bm]tent

The [D]salt sea shall be fro[G]zen be[D]fore that [A] re[D]pent

Re[D]pent it shall I [G]ne[D]ver un[G]til the [D]day I [Bm]die

But the [G]lowlands of [D]Holl[G]and has [D]twined my [A]love and I[D].

My [D]love lies in the salt [G]sea and [D] am [A]on the [Bm]side

en[D]ough to break a young thing's [G]heart that [D]lately [A]was a [D]bride.

But [D]lately was a [G]bonny [D]bride and [G]pleasure [D]in her [Bm]eye.

For the [G]lowlands of [D]Hol[G]land has [D]twined my [A]love and [D]I.

My [D]love he built a bonny [G]ship and [D]set her [A]on the [Bm]sea

With [D]seven score good mari[G]ners to [D]bear her [A]compa[D]ny.

But the [D]weary wind be[G]gan to [D]rise, the [G]sea be[D]gan to [Bm]rout

And my [G]love then and his [D]bonny [G]ship turned [D]with the [A]shins a[D]bout.

There [D]shall nae a quaff come on my [G]head nor [D]comb come through my [Bm]hair

There shall [D]neither coal nor candlel[G]ight shine [D]in my [A]bower [D]mair.

Nor [D]will I marry a[G]nother [D]one, un[G]til the [D]day I [Bm]die

For the [G]high winds and [D]stormy [G]seas have [D]twined my [A]love and [D]I.

Oh [D]hold your tongue my daughter [G]dear, be [D]still and [A]be con[Bm]tent.

There's [D]men enough in Gallo[G]way, you [D]need not [A]sore la[D]ment.

Oh there's [D]men enough in [G]Gallo[D]way, a[G]las there's [D]none for [Bm]me

For I [G]never had a [D]love but [G]one and he's [D]drownded [A]in the [D]sea.

Donal Lunny, Róisín Elsafty and Máirtín O’Connor perform ‘Pota Mór Fataí’., 2005

 Checking my harddisk I found an old tab I made years ago but never posted here. It's the bouzouki accompaniment to the song Pota Mor Fatai, sung by Roisin Elsafty. 

This is the tab I made. You can download it here.

Please comment if you download and maybe think of buying me a pint?

Planxty (Donal Lunny) - Junior Crehan's Favourite Tab

 Today I listend once again to the Black Album by Planxty and I just had to try to play Donal's backing to Junior Crehan's Favourite. Usually the tune is listend as ADorian with chords A5, G, E5, but Donal plays it in D!

Here's the tab I made. You can download the full pdf here. 

But please comment, if you download it, and maybe think of buying me a pint?

Farewell Donal Lunny

Is there a bouzouki player in the world who hasn’t been influenced by Donal Lunny and his style of playing the bouzouki? When I heard the news of his death yesterday, I was deeply saddened. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to meet him in person; I only saw him perform live once with Planxty (Bremen, 1980). The internet is now full of tributes to him and his life’s work, so there’s nothing more I can add. What remains is the memory of a wonderful person with a deep love for traditional Irish music and a curiosity to constantly discover and nurture new, up-and-coming talent.

There aren't many tabs on my blog that try to explain Donal's playing style. I find it difficult to analyze and write down his playing style. If any of you have tabs or lessons that explain his bouzouki playing, I'd really appreciate it if you'd be willing to share them here.

Here's at least a link to the tabs I've posted here on the blog.

Here's an interview with Donal from 2004

I'm A Rover - Lesson by Johannes Broborn

 Next lesson by Johannes Broborn. He seems to be a big Fan of Ye Vagabonds. So this is his take on the song I'm a Rover.

First the recorded version by Johannes:

And here is his lesson:

Here's the lyrics and chords which I use (there may be some variations to Johannes' chords)

{title: I'm A Rover}

Capo on 3rd fret

{soc}

[D]I'm a rover and[G] seldom so[D]ber

I'm a rover, o' high de[A]gree;

And when I'm[D] drinking, I'm [A]always [D]thinking

How to [G]gain my love's[A] compa[D]ny.

{eoc}

 

Though the [D]night be [G]dark as [D]dungeon, 

not a star to be seen a[A]bove

I will be [D]guided with[A]out a [D]stumble, 

into the [G]arms of me [A]only [D]love

I went up [D]to her [G]bedroom [D]window, 

kneeling gently upon a [A]stone

Oh, I [D]rapped on her [A]bedroom [D]window 

My darling [G]dear, do you [A]lie a[G]lone?

{soc}

[D]I'm a a rover and[G] seldom so[D]ber

I'm a rover, o' high de[A]gree;

And when I'm[D] drinking, I'm [A]always [D]thinking

How to [G]gain my love's[A] compa[D]ny.

{eoc}

She raised her [D]head up from her [G]feather[D]pillow

Raised her arms up around her [A]breast

Saying [D] at me [A]bedroom [D]window, 

disturbing [G]me at me [A]long night's [D]rest?

It's only [D], your [G]own true [D]lover, 

open the [Bm]door and please [G]let me [A]in

For I have [D]come on a [A]long night's [D]journey

I am near [G]drench - ed [A]to the [D]skin

{soc}

[D]I'm a a rover and[G] seldom so[D]ber

I'm a rover, o' high de[A]gree;

And when I'm[D] drinking, I'm [A]always [D]thinking

How to gain my love's[A] compa[D]ny.

{eoc}

She opened the [D]door with the [G]greatest [D]pleasure

Opened the [D]door and she let me [A]in

We both shook [D]hands and em[G]braced each [D]other

'Til the [Bm]morning we [A]lay as [G]one

Well now me [Bm]love, I must go and [D]leave you

Though the [F#m]mountains be [Em]high a[A]bove

Well, I will [D]climb them with [G]greater [D]pleasure 

That I have [G]been with me [A]only [G]love

{soc}

[D]I'm a a rover and[G] seldom so[D]ber

I'm a rover, o' high de[A]gree;

And when I'm[D] drinking, I'm [A]always [D]thinking

How to [G]gain my love's[A] compa[D]ny.

{eoc}

The Foggy Dew - Ye Vagabonds - Lesson by Johannes Broborn

Here's a new lesson by Johannes Broborn. Another song recorded by Ye Vagabonds. This is not the famous rebel song!

There's another lesson to this song by Jasper Kaye, which I posted here. You can also find the lyrics and chords to the song there.

So you can compare these videos and decide which one suits you best.

Here's Johannes' recorded version of the song

2 lovely cover versions by Wyn Oran - The Lakes of Pontchartrain and The Hare's Lament

 Just found these 2 beautiful versions of Folk Songs. I love the singing and playing of Wyn. Have a listen and get inspired.

Blue is the Eye (Ye Vagabonds) - Irish Bouzouki Lesson by Johannes Broborn

 Yesterday I posted the cover version Johannes posted on youtube, today he is offering the lesson on how to play it. So take your chance to learn a beautiful little song. Lyrics and chords you can find in my other post here.

As the tab which is in the video is a bit difficult to see I made a tab in Tabledit. You can download it here.

Kevin Elam - How to Accompany a Strathspey (Highlander's Farewell)

Kevin Elam just released a lesson on how to rhythmically accompany a strathspey on his Patreon page. He kindly set this one for free for 14 days so hurry and have a look. And maybe bekome a member of his site.

You can watch the video here

Blue is the eye by Ye Vagabonds - Cover by Johannes Broborn

This is a lovely cover by Johannes Broborn played on bouzouki and mandolin.

These are lyrics and chords:

{t:Blue Is The Eye}

{st:Ye Vagabonds}

Capo 1

 

A [D]crack in the [G]sky lends a [D]light to the [A]dark

The [D]wind blows the [G]ember of [A]coal from the [D]hearth

You [D]carry it [G]proudly through [D]ditches and [A]trees

And [Bm]cross the hor[G]izon to [A]lie down and [D]sleep

 

{soc}

[Bm]Lie down and [G]sleep, [A]sleep well my [D]darling

[Bm]Blue is the [Bm]eye watches [A]over the [D]sea

[Bm]Lie down and [G]sleep, [A]sleep well my [D]darling

[Bm]Blue is the [G]eye that [A]looks after [D]thee

{eoc}

 

 

[D]Over the [G]ocean tow[D]ard a new [A]world

The [Bm]city, the [G]island, the [A]tear and the [D]pearl

A [D]boat on the [G]water casts [D]out a clear [A]еye

The [Bm]darkness bе[G]neath us is [A]teeming with [D]life

 

{soc}

[Bm]Lie down and [G]sleep, [A]sleep well my [D]darling

[Bm]Blue is the [G]eye watches [A]over the [D]sea

[Bm]Lie down and [G]sleep, [A]sleep well my [D]darling

[Bm]Blue is the [G]eye that [A]looks after [D]thee

{eoc}

 

 

[D]Under the [G]fire from the [D]hearth on the [A]hill

The [D]coal and the [G]ember, they [A]glow away [D]still

[D]Songs to the [G]stranger, fa[D]miliar and [A]clear

[Bm]Ring out in [G]chorus for [A]all you hold [D]dear

 

{soc}

[Bm]Lie down and [G]sleep, [A]sleep well my [D]darling

[Bm]Blue is the [G]eye watches [A]over the [D]sea

[Bm]Lie down and [G]sleep, [A]sleep well my [D]darling

[Bm]Blue is the [G]eye that [A]looks after [D]thee

{eoc}

 

A [D]flash in the [G]dark glimmers [D]silver and [A]blue

[Bm]Breaches the [G]waves for a [A]moment or [D]two

[D]Moves away [G]slowly back [D]into the [A]deep

[Bm]Blue is the [G]eye watches [A]over the [D]sea

 

 

{soc}

[Bm]Lie down and [G]sleep, [A]sleep well my [D]darling

[Bm]Blue is the [G]eye watches [A]over the [D]sea

[Bm]Lie down and [G]sleep, [A]sleep well my [D]darling

[Bm]Blue is the [G]eye that [A]looks after [D]thee

{eoc}

Johannes uses following chords:

D: 7,0,0,0

G: 12,9,0,0

D: 11,12,0,0

A: 9,11,0,0

D:7,7,0,0

G: 4,5,0,0

A: 6,7,0,0

D: 7,0,0,0

D: 7,0,0,0

G: 12,9,0,0

D: 11,12,0,0

A: 9,7,0,0

In the refrain he plays Bm instead of G in the first line, but I prefer the G there.

Bm: 4,4,0,0

G: 4,5,0,0

A: 2,2,0,0

D: 2,0,0,0