Saturday 30 December 2023

More than 550 000 views, but nearly no comments and no interaction! - Thinking about deleting my blog :-(


I run this blog now since January 2007, that's 17 years. What began as a resource for myself, in which I wanted to collect interesting videos, articles etc. all about the irish bouzouki has become a good knowlege base, I think. 

One thing I hoped for did not come true after all these years. I hoped, people who visit my blog would contact me and maybe prepare content just as I do. This never happened. Also nearly no one did comment or say thank you. Because of this I more than one time thought about deleting all this whole blog and I asked myself, why do I give away all my efforts for free when no one gives anything back? I am not talking about money, I gladly give my tabs etc away for free. 

I think most of you readers work on songs, tunes etc. Why don't you record videos, tab your playing and send it to me so that I can offer it here for other learners? This could be a fantastic learning base for other players.

Also I'd like to suggest, if you would like to join me and run this blog together, please contact me and I can give you access so you can write and post information too.

For now I decided, that I will not post links to my tabs anymore. If you are interested I will still give them away for free, but you have to write me an email and a comment. So I will delete all these links in the near future. Let's see if there will be more interaction, which I hope so.

I wish you all a happy New Year. May the zouk be with you!

Thursday 23 November 2023

Tureencahill Summer School Concert - Brian Mooney

Just found these videos from a concert 2 years ago. Bouzouki player Brian Mooney alongside Bryan o'Leary, Aine  Francis O'Connor. 

Bryan's CD can be found on bandcamp

Here's Part 2:

Tuesday 21 November 2023

Andrew Finn Magill and Alan Murray - Full Live Concert

 I'm a big fan of Alan Murray's bouzouki playing. Here's a full concert of him and the Fiddler Andrew Finn Magill. Wonderful playing here. Check out their CD at bandcamp


Sunday 19 November 2023

Randal Bays and Dave Marshall

 Just found these few videos of Randal Bays and Dave Marshall playing some tunes 2012 at Vancouver BC house concert. Enjoy.

John Murphy's, Last Night's Joy, The Beauty Spot reels

 

Paddy Fahey Reels

 

Pipe on the Hob - The Gallowglass - Clancy's jigs

 

 Molly Bawn and Cuilcaigh Mountain reels


Humours of Carrigaholt, McGreevey's, Toss the Feathers


Planxty Charles O'Connor / The Shaskeen Jig / The Floating Bridge

 


Sunday 12 November 2023

Jon Antonsson practices some songs

 I knew Jon primalary as a flute player. He has a fine website for learners which includes Bodhran Metronome and Drones to practice. 

Jon on Bandcamp

 

Now he posted a video where he practices some songs. Well, practice? It sounds fantastic to me. Have a look:

00:00 Mary and the Soldier 02:57 My Paddle / Land of Silver Birch / En Fork i Sin... 06:10 Welcome Poor Paddy Home 09:08 Nu Är Det Synd Om Det Döda 11:14 Om Du Ville Människa Heta
 

Wednesday 1 November 2023

Donal Lunny at Custy's Music Shop - Unknown Jig Intro Tab for GDAD

Just found this video of Donal Lunny and Mary Custy playing two Jigs. Unfortunately they don't remember the name of the first tune. The second one is Bucks of Oranmore. I like the intro Donal plays, so I tried to tab it. 


So this is the tab.



Sunday 29 October 2023

Pat Rainey Lesson 2 - Brent Matusik - Daoiri Farrell

 This is lesson No. 2 how to play Pat Rainey by Brent Matusik. Great way to learn song accompaniment.

 Here's a link to my page with chords and lyrics from 3 years ago:

https://irish-bouzouki.blogspot.com/2020/04/daoiri-farrell-pat-rainey-chords.html

And here a link to my tab for the Intro:

https://irish-bouzouki.blogspot.com/2019/07/daoiri-farrell-pat-rainey-intro.html



 

G
M
T
Y
Die Sound-Funktion ist auf 200 Zeichen begrenzt

Wednesday 18 October 2023

The Beautiful Goldfinch, a waltz written by Marcus Hernon


This is a beautiful waltz written by Marcus Hernon. It is commonly played in lots of sessions. Here is a very easy tab to accompany this tune.














 If you want the whole tab incl. B-Part just write me an email and comment.

 

This is how it could sound like. 

 


I used a youtube video from Bryony Quainton, which you might use to play along




G
M
T
Y
Die Sound-Funktion ist auf 200 Zeichen begrenzt

Tuesday 17 October 2023

How to accompany a reel in D major - The Merry Blacksmith

Eamon Coughlan posted a video how to accompany a reel in D. As example he uses the Merry Blacksmith.  First you can learn the melody, he implemented a tab for the tune.

After that he shows examples for accompaniment.


Pat Rainey Intro in the style of Daoiri Farrell - Lesson

Brent Matusik posted a new lesson on youtube. This time he shows how to play the intro of Daoiri Farrell's version of Pat Rainey.

It's three years ago I did a tab for the intro. You can find it here on my blog. I also posted chords for the song here.


 

It might be a good idea to check my older posts as well. You also could have a look at the keywords on the right. 

Maybe you could look for Daoiri Farrell, Tabs for GDAD, Workshops or Lessons

But there are lots of other things you might find interesting like Helpers, Right Hand, Finger Practice or just look for some great musicians like Andy Irvine, Eoin O'Neill, Donal Lunny etc. 

And if you're looking for chords like most of the people that visit my blog (is this really so important for you guys?) look here. Chords or here Chord Charts

Tuesday 26 September 2023

Niilo Sirola - The Blacksmith

 What a wonderful version of the old Planxty classic. On vocals is Salla Rimmi. They are from Finland and play in a band called Greenrose Faire. You can find them on bandcamp:


Here's a live homerecording of them:

 

Thursday 20 July 2023

Eamon Coughlan - Basic Chords for Folk Music

 Here's some chord theory basics from Eamon Coughlan. He explains how chords are built and gives some tips for playing chords on the bouzouki.


Friday 16 June 2023

Bouzouki tutorials in Russian Language

 Here are some bouzouki tutorials in Russian by Роман Стансков. Maybe it helps if you turn on translation. But tbh the translation into German is really shit.

Video about Arpeggios:

Video about strokes:


Left hand:


Simple chords and their reversals


Sound production:


Counterpoint and bourdons






Some bouzouki lessons from Роман Стансков

 Just found some bouzouki lessons on youtube by Роман Стансков. First you see him play, afterwards he plays the tunes slowly and you can see the tab. Some of the tunes sound somewhat medieval.

Here you'll find all of his videos: https://www.youtube.com/@stanskov1/videos






Sunday 21 May 2023

Fernando Barroso - Accompanying in 4/4 - Tam Lin/The Glasgow Reel

In this video Fernando shows several possibilities to accompany the Reel Tam Lin. It's all about the right hand. Very interesting video! He starts with accents in different places and moves on to things like dampening and arpeggio. 

By the way, check out his album on spotify and his channel on youtube.

Sunday 14 May 2023

The Music of John Dwyer, A Celebration -

 Text from YouTube:  

Following the passing of our great friend John Dwyer this past August, this concert will celebrate the man and his music. The entire concert will feature tunes from the repertoire of John himself and will be performed by a selection of musicians who are based in the South East. Jimmy O’Brien Moran - MC. Macdara, Pax agus Cárthach Ó Faoláin (bouzouki, fiddle, accordion) Caoimhín & Seán Ó Fearghail agus Paddy Tutty (Flute, uilleann pipes, fiddle, bouzouki) Edel Fox & Neill Byrne with Lia Byrne (concertina & fiddles).

So there's lots of fantastic bouzouki playing in this video!


Ben Williamson - Greek Bouzouki with Grace Broadhead Fiddle

Some fine videos from Grace Broadhead and Ben Williamson. Check their album at bandcamp:

https://gracebroadheadandbenwilliamson.bandcamp.com/album/tipping-the-scales






 

And here he is together with Robbie Marion on guitar, fiddle and Mandola.
Kingsfield Courtiers Session #2 - "The Millstream/The Pearl Wedding (Reels) | The Jolly Beggarman"

Friday 5 May 2023

Bouzouki Tricks - Ornamentation - Fernando Barroso

 Fernando Barroso made a new video in which he shows some ornamentation tricks. Very informative!


Tuesday 18 April 2023

I Will Set My Ship In Order - Scottish Song

Dominik Haerinck sings this beautiful folk song with a lovely bouzouki accompaniment. 

 It can be found on a recording by Caipercaille called Choice Language from 2003. Ossian plays the song on their best of recording with a slightly different melody. More versions by June Tabor andGareth Davies-Jones and Calum Stewart, both with slightly different melody.

Lyrics:

Oh [C]I will set my ship in [G]order
[Em]I will sail her on the [D]sea
[C]I'll go far over yonder [G]border
To [Em]see if my love [D]minds on [G]me

[Em]And he sailed east and [D]he sailed [G]west
[Em]He sailed far, far seeking [D]land
Un[C]til he came to his true love's [G]window
[Em]And he knocked loud and [D]would be [G]in

"Oh who is that at my bedroom window?
Who knocks so loud and would be in?"
"'Tis I, 'tis I, your ain true lover
And I am drenched untae my skin

So go and go and ask your faither
And see if he'll let you marry me
If he says no, come back and tell me
And it's the last time I'll trouble thee"

"My father's in his chamber writing
Setting down his merchandise
And in his hand he holds a letter
And it speaks much in your dispraise

My mother's in her chamber sleeping
And words of love she will not hear
So you may go and court another
And whisper softly in her ear"

Then she arose, put on her clothing
It was to let her true love in
But e're she had the door unlockit
His ship was sailing on the main

"Come back, come back, my ain dear Johnny
Come back, come back and marry me"
"How can I come back and marry you, love?
Our ship is sailing on the sea"

The fish may fly, and the seas run dry
The rocks may melt doon wi' the sun
And the working man may forget his labor
Before that my love returns again

She's turned herself right roun' about
She's flung herself intae the sea
Farewell for aye, my ain dear Johnny
Ye'll ne'er hae tae come back to me

 

Lyrics from Mudcat

I WILL PUT MY SHIP IN ORDER

I will put my ship in order
And I will set her on the sea
And I will sail to yonder harbor
To see if my love minds on me

I drew my ship into the harbor
I drew her up where my true love lay
I drew her close up to the window
To listen what my true love did say

"Oh who is that at my bower window?
That raps so loudly and would be in?"
"It is your true love that loves you dearly
So rise, dear love, and let him in"

Then slowly, slowly rose she up
And slowly, slowly came she down
But before she had the door unlocked
Her true love had both come and gone

"Come back, come back, my own true love
Come back, come back, come to my side
I never grieved you nor yet deceived you
And I will surely be your bride"

"The fish shall fly, the seas run dry, love
The rocks shall melt with the sun
The laboring men shall forget their labor
Before that I return again"

C: x232
G: 0025
Em: 99910
D:


Here's a discussion about the song on Mudcad.org

http://mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=2893