It seems that Robin is very busy doing tutorials at the moment. Here he shows his approach to the well known song Wild Mountain Thyme. The crosspicking pattern he shows can be used to accompany lots of more songs in 3/4 time. Even Daoiri Farrell uses it a lot, e.g. in his song Creggan White Hare.
This is part 1 of the tutorial. If you want to go further you can get it here.
Edit: I bought part 2 yesterday. I think, it's really worth it. You get 11 videos in which Robin shows and explains the arrangement line by line. Some of them are really short, where he plays one line, others are longer where he gives some tips for playing. In the last video he shows how to play this arrangement to a metronome, which is important to play in time. So I'd really would like to encourage you to buy this tutorial if you are interested in accompanying songs.
Another video Robin Jones posted on youtube. The classic song Black is the colour. He uses the arrangement of James Fagan. If you want to learn to play like this you might consider taking classes with Robin, he has some free slots at the moment.
This is how James Fagan plays it:
Now I tried to tab the Robin Jones version. Here's the intro. If you would like the pdf including the first verse please write me an email and I will gladly send it to you.
This blog now has 600 000 views. Thanks a lot for your interest in the Irish Bouzouki.
I'm still looking for someone who would like to help me with this blog. Do you have any content, tabs or whatever has to do with the irish bouzouki please get in touch with me.
Robin plays a wonderful arrangement of the tune Old Hag... I tried to tab the first time round, hope I did a good job. If you want the whole tab please send me a email and I'll gladly send it to you for free.
I haven't covered much medievial music on my blog. Mostly I'm into celtic music. This man captured my attention because I like his rhythmical style of playing. He tunes his bouzouki in ADAD, which I think most players of medievial music do.
Hej, Sokoły! (AKA Na zielonej Ukrainie)
Slavic folk song
Originally music by Maciej Kamieński
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Drink Up, There's More!
Game: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (CD Project RED, 2015)
Originally music by Marcin Przybyłowicz, Mikołaj Stroiński and Percival
Lindsay has started her patreon page a few weeks ago. Now she released her first video on that platform. Her beautiful version of the well known song Wild Mountain Thyme. A lovely accompaniment with nice minor chords. On her patreon site you can download an audio version and a chordsheet. She also made a tab as far as I know. But you have to be a paid member. As far as I know this is her first content of bouzouki playing. Hope there will be lots more in the near future. But she also is a fantastic guitar player, so you might check her albums.
This video is 8 years old, but I just found it on youtube. Box and Greek Bouzouki at their finest. 19 minutes pure joy. If you know the names of the tunes please comment!
Three possibilities to fret the chords C,F, G. This might be useful if you have the capo on 2nd fret and the next tune is in D. It's always good to know chord shapes which are placed together near, so they are easy to fret. It also sounds better if the accompaniment does not contain such large leaps in pitch.
The other chords you might need are Am and Dm which are:
Another tune I tabbed some time ago and just found on my harddisk. Alan Murray is one of the bouzouki players that inspires me a lot. I really enjoy his accompaniments. I can't remember where I found the abc to the tune, it seems it's not on thesession. The video is part of Colin Farrell's Tune a Day 2022 and it's Day 308
Here's my tab. First line Accompaniment, second line melody. If you would like the full pdf version please write me an email (look on the right: about me)
Currently there are 3 handmade bouzoukis for sale on the German market. I don't know the luthiers who built them. If you know anything about them please comment.
Another Tab I found on my harddisk. I tried to tab the intro to the Song Sir Patrick Spence released on his album "It's cold by the door" released in 2021. I think he plays it on a greek bouzouki.
This is a list of the most viewed posts in Jan 24. If you have missed one... It seems that most visitors just look for the latest posts and don't click on the links on the right. Might be a mistake (?) There are lots of things to discover if you have the time to browse through the older ones.
Just found an old tab on my harddisk. Unfortunately I can't find a video or audio on the internet of the recording from Nuadan. So I had to upload it by myself. I uploaded it as unlisted, hope that's ok and Nuadan don't mind. This is from the first album by the band. It's not on spotify, apple music or bandcamp, so it might be difficult to get it, but it is definitely worth it.
I always loved the Toormore Slide. Now I tried to collect some chord possibilities and I found a lot of them. Some are obvious, some might sound a bit strange. If you want try them and tell me which are your favourites.
Lindsay is a folk singer, guitar and bouzouki player based in Boston. She has released two solo albums and one album with The Ivy Leaf. Here's a video of her singing the trad song Lurgy Stream.
When [G]to this [C]coun[G]try [C]I first [G]came, my [F]mind from [C]love being [G]free ‘Til the [C]beauty of a [G]female [D]fair it [C]so en[F]ticed [G]me Her [C]cheeks were like the [G]roses [D]red her [C]breath it [F]smelled per[G]fumed Her [G]golden [C]hair [G]waved [C]in the air, most [C]comely [F]to be [G]seen.
It being a Monday evening, my love I chanced to meet
I took her in my arms and gave her kisses sweet
I asked her if she would marry me or single would remain
And if she’d cross over the seas with me and leave sweet Lurgy Stream.
If I would cross over the seas with you, I might be much to blame
If I’d cross over the seas with you, and leave sweet Lurgy Stream
Young men are false and general, perhaps you are the same
You might leave me there to rue the day I left sweet Lurgy Stream.
Oh, that the sun it may withdraw, no more to show us light
And that the moon it may refrain, no more to rule the night
That the twinkling stars they may fall down and never more be seen
The day or the hour that I’d prove false when far from Lurgy Stream.
Farewell to Letterkenny, it’s a place of sport and fame
Likewise to Kilmacrennan that stands near Lurgy Stream
Farewell awhile to sweet Errigal, likewise to Swilly shore
Where I spent many’s a happy day, will I ever see you more?
By the way, here's another video of Lindsay playing "The bonny light horseman"
A reader of my blog, Robert Johnson, wrote to me that he was inspired by my arrangement of the Beautiful Goldfinch. When researching the net he found the version with Josh Dukes on bouzouki on youtube. He sent me a self written tab of his arrangement. Unfortunately I did not understand what he wrote down and he told he didn't understand either ;-). So kindly he sent me a recording of him playing to the video and I tried to tab this. So first here is his handwritten tab.
Here's the video on youtube:
This is what my tab looks like. First line accompaniment, second line melody from thesession. If you want the whole tab please write to me or comment. (Click on the right side on "about me" and you'll find a contact link.)
There's a new course on OAIM: Bouzouki Skills. Tutor Alan Reid teaches a lot of right hand techniqes. Yesterday I subscibed again and in the next weeks I'm going to watch the movies. Seems to be very interesting.
So if you are looking for some new input have a look at the free video introduction and subscribe to watch the course in total. You'll also have access to all the other courses as well, so come on, why don't you do it?
These are the most watched post in the last month. Have a look an be inspired. Maybe look at the keywords on the right side to find more interesting posts. And keep commenting!
Someone named Cruel Folk compares a Fylde and a Sobell bouzouki. Can't tell what my favourite is. I only once played on a Sobell. I'd really like a comparism of these two with my Foley. Or better not, cause I love my Foley.
A few days ago Daoiri Farrell posted a new video of him singing Blackwater Side, also known as "The Bonny Irish Maid". This is a lovely video in a fantastic landscape. Unfortunately I couldn't find exactly the words he sings.
Now I tried to tab the intro and first verse of the song. If you want it in printable form please write an email and comment here.
As I roved out one morning fair, so early I strayed, It being all in the month of June the birds sang in the shade. The sun shone down right merrily and billowing with pride Where primroses and daisies grow down the Blackwater-side.
I had no gone but half a mile when there by chance I spied Two lovers talking as they walked down by the Blackwater-side. And as he held her in his arms these words to her did say: 'When I am in Amerikay I'll be true to my Irish maid.'
'This when you are in Amerikay those Yankee girls you'll find, And you'll have sweethearts all your own more pleasing to your mind. Do not forget the promises and the vows to me you made, Oh stay at home, love, and do not roam from your bonny Irish maid.'
'This when I'm in Amerikay those Yankee girl I'll see But they have to be very handsome to remind my love of thee, There's not a bloom in yonder grove nor a leaf in cry My love's gone to Amerikay and quite forsaken me.
I went on the church last Sunday, my love he passed me by, I knew his mind was changing by the roving of his eye. I knew his mind was altering to a girl of high degree, Oh Willie lovely Willie, your love has wounded me
Last night I lay in my bed, so sick and sad was I, I called all for a napkin around my head to tie. Was he as much in love as I, then perhaps I'd mend again, O love it is a killing thing, did you ever feel the pain?
I wish I was a butterfly, I'd fly to my love's nest, I wish I was a linnet, I would sing my love to rest. And I wish I was a nightingale, I would sing my song so clear, I would sing it all for you, false love, whom once I loved so dear.
