Declan Plummer of TopScore Music Academy has launched a new helping tool. There is a similar feature available on youtube, I think I wrote about it some time ago, but Declan tries to take the idea a little bit further. His tool is not finished yet and within the next 5 days or so you can get it for free. After that period you'll have to pay 5 Pound for it.
You'll get it for free if you subscribe to TopScore Music academy and write an E-Mail to Declan.
Declan writes:
A quick reminder that the App is free for you guys in the community only until 27 June, so if you're interested let me know, and also encourage anyone else to join the community and they'll get it free too, but only if they ask within the next week!
Here's a quick demonstration video I made just a minute ago.
OK, in this video there is no bouzouki at all. But I'm pretty sure every bouzouki player can benefit from what Enda is showing in this video. It's all about learning in chunks. Have a look and you'll know.
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)
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
