How I love Robin's lessons. Here's the latest: Beeswing by Richard Thompson. As always part 1 is free. You can buy part 2 from his website.
Here's a different approach on the bouzouki. I shot this video about 20 years ago at a workshop weekend in Bonn, Germany. Michael Lempelius on his Sobell bouzouki.
This is a live version of Michael together with Sabrina Palm I recorded at Fiddlers Pub in Bonn, Germany.
And another version by Andy Clarke on his Sobell.
And here is another Lesson from Robin Jones. A reel called MacArthur Road. This is part 1. You can buy part 2 from his website. You also can subscribe to get full content of his lessons which is a new feature. If Robin will still present one lesson per week this might be really worth it.
He offers three plans:
Folk Patron which costs £10/month
Folk Hero which costs £20/month
Folk Legend which costs £30/month
As a Folk Patron you have access to all paid lessons for free. As Folk Hero and Folk Legend you also can send monthly or fortnightly videos of your progress and receive a personalized video reply with detailed feedback.
Robin's latest lesson deals with Willie Coleman's Jig. Learn to play the melody together with ornamentations. Part 1 is free, you can purchase part 2 here.
I really like these lessons Robin publishes on youtube. Here's his latest one. He shows how to play Caledonia on the bouzouki. Part 1 is really basic. If you want part 2 you have to buy it from his website, which is really worth the money. You can get it here.
Robin is extremely busy at the moment. Here's his latest video lesson in which he shows how to play the Shaskeen Jig. This is part 1, you can buy part 2 from his website.
Robin is very busy producing Bouzouki lessons. They are well made and so useful. I love his way of teaching. Cannont recommend it enough. Check it out and buy part 2.
Here's the link to his youtube channel where you'll find more fantastic lessons.
Here's the tab I made:
Robin Jones released a new tutorial video on youtube. Part 1 is free, you can buy part 2 for just 10 pounds which it is really worth. You get lots of tips and exercises which help you to play and accompany jigs. Even if you know how to play jigs I think you can learn a lot from these videos. Here's the link where you can buy part 2.
Lots of sessions in Ennis last week at the Fleadh Nua. This one's from Cruise's Bar.
On May 28, 2024 Fleadh Nua 50 Riches of Clare at a crowded St. Columba’s Church featured Kieran Hehir, Kieran Kissane, Vincent Fogarty & James Duddy. Fantastic concert! I posted it on youtube unlisted, so you'll only find it here!
Playing melody on the bouzouki. Kevin Elam teaches how to play the Sally Gardens.
Kevin Elam posted a new video on youtube recently. He explains some ideas for counterpoint. As example he uses the Reel Sally Gardens. If you like it you might be interested in joining his patreon site.
I made a tab of some of his ideas. If you might want the whole tab as pdf just write me an email. You'll find the contact on the right side under "about me".
A new post by Robin Jones. This time a nice interpretation of Plains of Kildare which was made well known by Andy Irvine.
Unfortunately Robin deleted his video from youtube recently. :-(
Lyrics and chords from Ultimate Guitar:
[Verse 1] Dm C G Come all you bold sportsmen and listen to my story Dm C Dm It’s about noble Stewball that gallant racing pony Dm F/C C Arthur Marble was the man that first brought Stewball here F C G For to run with Miss Griesel on the Plains of Kildare. [Verse 2] Dm C G O the fame of his actions we’ve heard of before Dm C Dm But now he is challenged by young Mrs. Gore Dm F C For to run with Miss Griesel that handsome grey mare F C Dm For ten thousand gold guineas on the Plains of Kildare. Dm G [Verse 3] Dm C G And the cattle they were brought out with saddle whip and bridle Dm C Dm And the gentlemen did shout at the sight of the gallant riders Dm F C And in viewing the cattle just as they came there F C Dm O they all laid their money on the Monaghan grey mare. Dm G [Verse 4] Dm C G And the order it was given and away they did fly Dm C Dm Stewball like an arrow the grey mare passed by Dm F C If you had’ve been there for to see them going round F C Dm You’d’ve thought to your heart their feet ne’er touched the ground. Dm G [Verse 5] Dm C G And when at last they came to half way round the course Dm C Dm Stewball and his rider began to discourse Dm F C Says Stewball to the rider “Can you tell to me F C G How far is that grey mare this moment from me.” F G Dm [Verse 6] Dm C G Says the rider to Stewball “You run in great style Dm C Dm You’re ahead of the grey mare almost half a mile Dm F C And if you keep your running I vow and I swear F C G That you never will be beaten by the Monaghan grey mare.” F G Dm [Verse 7] Dm C G The last winning post, Stewball passed it quite handy Dm C Dm Horse and rider both called for sherry, wine and brandy Dm F C And they drank up a health to the noble grey mare F C G For she emptied their pockets on the Plains of Kildare. F/C: 5,3,0,0
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.
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.
Here's the website of Trials of Cato: https://www.thetrialsofcato.com/
Robin also gives lessons, if you are interested look at www.robinjonesmusic.com
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.
His youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Viimaheim
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
Herr Manneling Scandinavian (Swedish) folk song
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.
Lindsay on patreon:
You can listen to and buy her two albums on bandcamp:
And here is her website:
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!
The other chords you might need are Am and Dm which are:
Am: 2,2,3,0 | 2,2,0,2 | 5,7,7,0
Dm: 2,0,0,3 | 7,0,8,0 | 10,12,0,0
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.
