Buy me a coffee or a pint

Several people have asked me how they can support my work and my blog. Well, now it's very easy: you can buy me a pint or a coffee. Just click on the beer on the right and you will be redirected to the ‘Buy me a coffee’ website. There you can enter the amount you wish to donate. 

Alternatively, you can scan this QR code.

Many thanks in advance to everyone who would like to support me with a small donation.

Guitar to Bouzouki conversion

It seems that many people are interested in converting a guitar into a bouzouki. This does not appear to be particularly difficult. To get around the problem of string suspension with the pins, you can, for example, attach a new tailpiece. Of course, two additional holes have to be drilled in the head of the guitar. You can either simply drill two holes at the top of the headstock. Or you can go to the trouble of filling in the six existing holes and drilling eight new ones, which certainly looks much better.

Then the bridge insert and saddle need to be converted to 8 strings. Particular care should be taken when working on the saddle.

In any case, it should be noted that the fingerboard is very wide compared to a bouzouki, which will certainly not appeal to everyone. Personally, I would find it too wide. I am also not a fan of the sound of the gizouki, or whatever you want to call it. But that is all a matter of taste.

Here's a website where a guy called Keith Hempsey shows his conversion of two guitars. 

Robin Jones - The Lakes Of Pontchartrain Lesson

This is a lesson that many musicians have surely been waiting for. A classic Irish folk song. I think the most famous version is by Paul Brady. But there are many other fantastic recordings of the song.

In the first part, Robin introduces the song and shows the chords and a basic pattern for accompaniment.

In the second part, which you can buy on his website, he shows you the intro, interlude and a few more nice tricks. 

If you like it, you might want to consider registering for a monthly subscription. This will give you access to all his workshops and support Robin in his work. I hope he will continue to offer more workshops for some time to come.

Here's the link to his website

TradChords - Website to find chords to accompany tunes

Just found this website. It might be of interest if you are looking for chords to accompany a tune. Sometimes you can find chords on thesession, but not too often. So this is a website where you can find chords to lots of tunes. Also you can contribute the chords you use to help others.

On this website you'll find the dots for the tunes, also a player which is able to play the tune with and without chords.

So have a look at the website at: https://tradchords.org

 

Robin Jones - The Cliffs Of Moher - Tutorial

I cannot recommend Robin Jones' workshops highly enough. Over the past few months, he has created some fantastic workshops on mostly well-known tunes. His latest workshop covers the jig ‘The Cliffs of Moher’. He teaches the melody step by step and shows various embellishment options. But I particularly like the intro. This is also well explained. Similar intros can now be worked out with slight changes and used for other tunes. Take a look at the video. The second part is available to purchase on his website. You might also consider becoming a member, which would give you access to all the workshops produced so far.

Oh, and he has recently started offering tabs for each workshop. This means you can practise at any time without having to watch the video.

Here you can get part 2:

Luke Ward - Bouzouki Lessons on Patreon

It's now a half year that Luke Ward started his Workshop series on Patreon. First he offered a course for beginners, I wrote about that some time ago. In January he startet his second Tiers for intermediate players. As I had a bit time lately I enrolled his second Tiers and am really impressed. So far I looked a 3 Workshops. 

He starts with the Jig "Banished Misfortune". No explanation about Jig Rhythm here because it is explained in the first Series. He follows the melody of the tune with the chords. Not too difficult but sometimes a bit challenging.

The second Tune he offers is the reel "The Boys of Malin". This time a different technique, a plucking technique. This leads a bit in direction of Eoin O'Neil or even Alec Finn. It gives an easy start to learn this technique. I hope there will be more workshops to come to develop this technique.

In another Video  he talks about "Relative Pitch" and offers some exercises to bring chords to a scale. A very basic technique which helps a lot find good chords for accompanying tunes.

Now I'm curious what else is to come.

If you want to learn to play the bouzouki better try these lessons by Luke. At the moment there seems to be an offering for half the prize in the first month, so better try soon. 

Check it out here:

On youtube you can find some short clips as introduction. For example here: https://youtube.com/shorts/IslhBtBTfSM?si=plu9T-PCU18-0ZIz

Piaras Ó Lorcáin - talented young bouzouki player and Singer

Piaras Ó Lorcáin is a 22 year old bouzouki player and sean nos singer and farm worker.  I just recently discovered him. What a voice he has! He did not make any recordings as far as I know but there are some videos on youtube and instagram.

The Valley of Knockanure live from Kinsale

Tijn Berends - Bouzouki learning material

 I once met Tijn at a workshop weekend in Texel, Netherlands. He's a fine bouzouki player and teacher. A few weeks ago he started posting some videos of tunes which he plays through, but without any explanation. So you have to figure out everything by yourself. This might be useful for advanced players.

Tbh I prefer instructional videos like those by Robin Jones where he teaches the tune bit by bit and then gives tips for ornamentation. But it might help to slow down the videos and watch them bit by bit to learn the tunes.

This is Calliope House

The Sally Gardens

The Kesh Jig

The Silver Spear

 

The Kerfunken

The Wind that Shakes The Barley

The Humours Of Glendart

The Bucks Of Oranmore

Daoiri Farrell - Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore Tab

Recently Daoiri gave a live concert on Facebook. One of the songs he played that evening was Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore. I tried to tab the Intro and first verse of his arrangement. Capo 1st fret.

Here's the video:

This is what the tab looks like. If you like the whole tab as pdf or .tef-file just write me an email.

{t:Paddy’s Green Shamrock Shore}

{st:Daoiri Farrell}

From [D]Derry quay we sailed a[G]way [D]on 

the [C]twenty-[G/B]third of [D]May

We were [G]taken on [Am]board by a [D]pleasant crew, 

bound [Am]for A[G]meri[C]kay

Fresh [G]water [Am]there we did [D]take on, 

five [C]thou[G]sa[D]nd [G]gal[D]lons or [C]more        

In [D]case we’d run short going to New [G]York 

[D]far a[C]way from the [G]shamrock [D]shore. 

So fare thee well sweet Liza dear and likewise to Derry town,
And twice farewell to me comrade boys who dwell on that sainted ground
If fortune it ever should favour me or I to have money in store
I’ll come back and I’ll wed the wee lassie I left on Paddy’s Green Shamrock Shore

Well we sailed three days and we were all seasick, not a man on board was free
We were all confined unto our bunks with no one to pity poor me
No father dear nor mother kind to hold up me head when t’was sore,
Which made me think more on the lassie I left on Paddy’s Green Shamrock Shore

Well we safely reached the other side in three and twenty days
We were taken as passengers by a man and led round in six different ways,
We each of us drank a parting glass in case we might never meet more,
And we drank a health to Old Ireland and Paddy’s Green Shamrock Shore

Brent Matusik - Comparism Bouzouki vs. Octave Mandolin

Brent Matusik tries to compare both instruments. This is a discussion which is often heard. And what is the difference between Octave Mandolin and Short Scale Bouzouki? Well ...

Look at the video and maybe afterwards you might be a little bit more confused? 
In my opinion it is all about the tuning you use. Call it whatever you want.