Luke Ward - Man Of The House Reel - Lesson

 A new Lesson by Luke Ward on YouTube. The Man Of The House in Em played with Capo on 2nd Fret.

I posted more of his videos here if you might want to have a look

The tabs can be found on his patreon site here.

Luke Ward - Lesson on how to play "Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore"

Luke Ward has published a lot of fantastic videos on his Patreon Site. If you haven't checked them you should do it now. 

Now he has shared another video on youtube for free. If you want the notation you can find it on his patreon.

This is my chordsheet which I shared here some time ago, not the one Luke plays. I added 2 verses Daoiri sings sometimes.

{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 [D]fare thee well, sweet Liza [G]dear [D]

and like[C]wise unto [G/B]Derry [D]town

And [G]twice fare[Am]well to my [D]comrade boys 

that [Am]dwell on that [G]sainted [Am]ground

If [G]fortune shall [Am]ever [D]favor me, 

and [Am]I do have [G]money in [C]store

I’ll go [D]back and I’ll wed the wee lassie I left 

on [C]Paddy’s green [G]shamrock [D]shore. 

Oh at [D]six o'clock on that [D]morning fair 

our [C]anchors [G/B]we did [D]weigh,

The [G]sun shone [Am]down on Ben[D]evassa’s rocks, 

how [Am]splendid [G]he did [C]play,

And green [G]castles, [Am]ancient [D]fort and church, 

oh it [Am]made my [G]heart so [C]sore,

But these [D]memorys still I will hold very dear 

when I‘m a[C]way from the [G]Shamrock [D]Shore.

And then at [D]12 o'clock on that [D]evening fair 

we [C]passed out [G/B]Malin [D]Head,

And then [G]Inishtra[Am]hull far [D]on to the right, 

it [Am]rose of the [G]ocean [C]bed.

But a [G]grander [Am]sight we [D]all did see there, 

that I [Am]never had [G]seen be[C]fore

It was the [D]sun going down between sea and sky, 

far [C]out from the [G]Shamrock [D]Shore.

We sailed three weeks, we were all seasick, 

not a man on board was free

We were all confined unto our bunks 

and no-one to pity poor me.

No father dear nor mother kind 

to lift up my head, which was sore

Which made me think more on the lassie I left 

on Paddy’s green shamrock shore. 

We safely reached the other side 

after fifteen and twenty days,

We were taken as passengers by a man 

and led round in six different ways,

Then each of us drank a parting glass, 

in case we might meet no more

And we drank a health to old Ireland 

and Paddy’s green shamrock shore. 

Matt Heaton - Thoughts on using a capo

 In this video Matt shares his thoughts on using a capo, which is an essential helper when playing the bouzouki.

Pigeon on the Gate Reel - Practice Irish Traditional Music With Me - Tuesday 10 March - Declan Plummer

 This weeks tune in Declan's "Practice with me" series is the reel "Pigeon On The Gate", in E-Dorian. Watch Declan finding an arrangement for this tune. By the way he shares some tips and tricks on finding counterpoint melodies.

The Otter's Holt Reel - Practice Irish Traditional Music With Me - Declan Plummer

 Declan Plummer offers regularly practice videos where he shows his approach to accompanying tunes. They usually last for about two hours, a long time watch. But worth it. He also shows the software he uses and gives a lot of insights. This time he uses the Reel "The Otter's Holt", a well known session favourite.

As audio he uses a video by Olivia Barret, who kindly gave him permission to use her videos. Maybe you want to have a look at her bandcamp site.

Declan's Top Score Music Academy can be found here

At 1hr 14sec he tries out some countermelodic parts

When watching the video I found a passage where he is reminded of the song "Hotel California" and shows some chords for the song. Here they are:

Matt Heaton - New Bouzouki Lesson on YouTube: Break the First Position Habit

Now this is an important lesson not only for newbies on the bouzouki. Lots of possibilities to play chords up the neck. Now let's practice! You'll find most of these and lots more on this blog here:

Robin Jones - 2 new Lessons available on YouTube

Robin Jones recently released 2 new Lessons on YouTube. First a beginner video in which he explains some tips for achieving a more full sound while playing melody. 

The second video shows a nice melody playing example for the well  known Slipjig "The Butterfly".

As always: Part one is free to watch on YouTube. If you want to get access to part 2 you have to buy it from his website or subscribe to get access to all of the videos he released so far. This might be a good option if you haven't downloaded any videos or just a few so far.

Robin Jones - New lesson „The Butterfly“ online

 Robin Jones‘ new lesson is online now. A wonderful arrangement of the Slipjig „The Butterfly“. Part 1 is available on YouTube, part 2 can be bought from his website. 

Matt Heaton - Accompanying Tunes in A-Dorian - My answer video A-Dorian on the Irish Bouzouki (GDAD)

 This morning I put together a little video in which I tried to explain my transitions of Matt Heaton's approach to accompanying tunes in A-Dorian. I hope this helps understanding my writings in the previous post.

Once again the script I made yesterday:

Main Chords: Am, G  also Em and C

Main Chords: 

Am: 2,2,0,2

G: 0,0,2,0 or 0,0,2,5 or 0.5.5.0

Em: 4,2,2,5 or 4,2,2,2 or x,2,2,2

C: 5,5,3,0 or 0,2,3,0

A: Part: 

Am | G | Em | Em-G

Am | G | Em | G-Am

or

Am | G | C-G/B | Em |

Am | G| C-G/B | Em-Am |

Run C, G/B, G

C: 5,5,3,0

G/B: 4,5,5,0 oder 4,5,2,0

G: 0,0,2,0 oder 0,5,5,0

Higher chords:

Am: 5,7,7,7

G: 0,5,5,0 oder 4,5,5,5 oder 4,5,5,0

connect with C and Em

more chords:

Am: 9,10,0,7

G: 0,9,10,0

Em: 9,9,10,0

they fit together well

Run C, G/B, G

C: x,10,7,0

G/B: x,9,10,0

G: x,5,5,0

Run: C, G, Am:    

C: x,10,7,0

G: x,9,10,0

Am: x,7,7,0 oder x,7,7,7

Tip for B-Part:

Start with D instead of Am! (D5!) - does not work always!!!

D: 7,7,0,0 

G: 0,5,5,0 oder 0,9,10,0

It works because D also includes A which is in the melody as well.

F-Chord

this works sometimes. In this tune there is no F in the melody. But you may use it in the B-Part, maybe in the repeat. 

Am | G | Em | G |

Am | G | Em | G-Am|

F | F | G | G |

Am | G | Em | G-Am |

F: 2,3,3,0

G: 4,5,5,0

Am: 2,2,3,0  oder 5,7,7,0

Another way of playing Am:

Am: 5,7,7,0

you might want to play it together with G: 4,5,5,0 and Em: 4,2,2,2 or 4,2,2,5 or maybe 0,2,2,2

So these are the tricks I found out while watching Matt's video. If you have other ideas I would be glad if you could send them to me. I would really appreciate your thoughts and would love to post them here on my blog.

Declan Plummer - Workshop in Accompanying the tune "Scatter The Mud"

 Declan Plummer runs the "Top Score Music Academy" where he hosts a course for Irish Bouzouki. I mentioned it here before. Maybe you want to have a look at it here.

A few days ago he made a live session for his contributers on YouTube. He chose a YouTube video of a fiddler playing the tune and works out an accompaniment on the go. 

It's a really long video. If you only want to look at the results start at approx. Minute 43. Before that he listens to the tune, works out the key, transposes it to ADor and tries out some chords.

He uses a lot of apps I don't know, which I have to find out if they might be helpful for me. 

He always uses the actual played chord names which makes it a bit difficult to understand. In my opinion it would be easier to use the chord names of the chord shapes which are used. E.G. when capo is on 7th fret the chord you hear is Aminor, but the shape is that of Dminor. So if you know the chords which are usually used for Dmin it it much easier to follow. But that's only my point of view.

Here are some of the riffs Declan found out:

2 new lessons from Luke Ward on his Patreon

 

Luke Ward released two new Lessons on his Patreon page yesterday. Accompaniment to the song "Reconciliation" from the album of his band "Tempest" and an accompaniment to the tune "Molly Ban". If you join his Patreon, you will also have access to many more lessons. These top class lessons are intended for advanced players who already have some basic knowledge of accompanying tunes. But there are also lessons available for beginners.

https://www.patreon.com/c/IrishbouzoukiwithLukeWard/posts?vanity=IrishbouzoukiwithLukeWard

Irish bouzouki lesson, strumming patterns for jigs, plus different chords

Another beginner lesson on youtube. If you already watched other beginner lessons you won't find lots of new information here but it's worth a look.

OAIM - First Month Free offer -Ends on Christmas Eve!!!

 I think/hope you all know OAIM - The Online Academy Of Irish Music. They offer lots of lessons for various instruments in Irish Music. All that for a monthly fee of around 20€, that's a fair price. And you can cancel your membership at any time.

Once a year they offer a month free of charge. So this might be your chance to get into it and have a look at all the lessons they offer, and that's a lot. And if you cancel your membership within the first month they won't charge you anything. Ain't that a fair offer. So hurry and subscribe!

Just go to the website, select monthly plan. To get the free offer use the promotional code 

👉 XMASOFFER2025

Top Score Music Academy - Bouzouki course got new freebies!

 I mentioned the TSMA some time ago. Declan Plummer offers a Bouzouki Course for beginners and intermediate players. It's a one-off payment of 150 Pounds. Every now and then he plans to create new content which will be free for subscivers. 

As a freebie they now released a free starter pack which contains 3 videos and some pdf files. So now you can have a look at some content before deciding to buy the whole course.

Here you can get access to the free videos and pdf-files.

Here you can join the community.

Here you can have a look at the curriculum. (Lots of AI generated pictures ;-)

Declan Plummer is a Belfast-born music teacher, lecturer and musicologist specialising in nineteenth-century musical life in Britain and Ireland. Encouraged from childhood in classical and Irish traditional music, he studied piano and theory at the Ulster College of Music and later learned uilleann pipes with Tom Clarke, also taking up several traditional instruments. He earned a BA in Music at University College Cork, completing a dissertation on Irish traditional piping, and went on to gain an MA and a PhD at Queen’s University Belfast, where his doctoral research focused on conductor Sir Hamilton Harty. Declan has published several scholarly articles and co-authored The Musical Life of Nineteenth-Century Belfast (2015).

Alongside research, he has extensive teaching experience across schools, universities and music organisations, delivering classes in theory, aural skills, music history and traditional instruments. 

Daoiri Farrell - The Creggan White Hare - Lesson by Luke Ward

 

Luke Ward has released a new lesson on his patreon site. This month's lesson deals with Daoiri Farrell's accompaniment to "The Creggan White Hare". It comes really close to what Daoiri plays.

 If you're interested you could join his patreon, if it's only for a month or so. He has planned to offer two lessons per month. As this is the first lesson for October there might be the possibility that he might offer another lesson soon.

By the way, here's a link to a live video I filmed a few years ago at a workshop weekend in Texel, Netherlands.

Luke Ward - New Bouzouki Lesson - Princess Royal

I have already introduced Luke Ward's lessons here. Today, Luke has published a new lesson. This time, it's about playing melodies. He teaches us the reel Princess Royal. A beautiful melody. He shows us how to play with the capo on the 7th fret. This has the advantage that we can reach the high notes better without having to change position. If you play an instrument in GDAE tuning, you can play the top three strings just like on a mandolin or banjo.

Here's the link to the lesson. 

Of course you have to be a member to watch the lesson.

Here's the version from the album by Luke Ward and Aaron O'Hagan

Here's an abc-file from thesession

X: 3
T: The Princess Royal
R: reel

M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Ador
|:ed|c2 Bc A2 e=f|edcB A2 (3efg|f2 d^c defd|edcB c2 BA|
B2 g2 B2 AG|ABAG E2 ed|c2 (3ABc BAGVB|(3ABA GB A2:|
|:cd|eaag a3 b|aged e2 ^cd|(3efg fa gfge|dcBA G2 AB|
c2 Bc d2 ^cd|ef (3gfe a2 ag|f2 A2 f2 gf|e^c (3ABc d2 ed|
c2 Bc ABcd|e2 E2 E2 ed|c2 (3ABc BAGB|(3ABA GB A2:|

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

Declan Plummer - Course for Irish Bouzouki

Just got the information that there is a new course out there. It's 12 hours of lessons which cost 150 pounds, which sounds great to me. 

There's a sample video available here which gives a little inside what to expect. He explains very well and the pace is not too fast and not too slow. Unfortunately sound and video is a little bit out of sync which might be a problem when he plays a bit faster, so it is not easy to really see what he is playing.

!If you buy this workshop please let me know what you think about it!

Here's what the homepage says:

Tutor Summary
Declan Plummer plays bouzouki, tin whistle, Irish flute, bodhrán, uilleann pipes, and DADGAD guitar. He has a BMus, MA, and a PhD in music and is an expert in online tuition. All handouts, audio files and video files, have been carefully designed and organised by him to give students the best possible experience in home learning! He can be contacted anytime through email: info@topscoremusicacademy.com

🎵 Learn the Irish Bouzouki with Our Comprehensive Online Course – From Beginner to Advanced! 🎵  

Hi everyone, Welcome to the Online Irish Bouzouki Course!
My name is Declan Plummer and I’m the creator and teacher of this course, which I’ve designed to explore the unique and soulful sound of the Irish Bouzouki. Whether you're just starting out or aiming to elevate your skills, this course is the perfect guide for players of all levels! Our detailed, step-by-step lessons will take you from complete beginner to advanced level, helping you develop the skills you need to play Irish traditional music with confidence and authenticity.

What’s Included?

🎥 Over 12 Hours of High-Quality Video Lessons 
Currently there are over 12 Hours of High-Quality 4K Video spread across 17 lessons. Our video lessons break down every essential technique, ensuring you have a solid foundation. Each lesson is designed to be clear and easy to follow, providing you with practical demonstrations and insightful tips. You’ll learn everything from the absolute basics to advanced techniques in a structured format that’s easy to follow and fun to practice.

🆕 Constantly Updated with New Material   
The course doesn’t stop after the initial 12 hours! We regularly add fresh material to keep your learning journey going. Whether it's new tunes, tips, or techniques, you'll always have something new to dive into.

🎶 Dozens of Audio Examples 
There are dozens of Audio Examples, including backing tracks with me playing tunes on the tin whistle and bodhran at different speeds, which you can download to practice offline and accompany on bouzouki. Understanding rhythm and melody is crucial in Irish music, so we've included numerous audio examples to guide your ear. These examples reinforce the techniques you learn, helping you connect theory with practice, and giving you a feel for how the Bouzouki should sound in real Irish traditional music.  

📄 Downloadable Handouts and Sheet Music 
Similarly there are also dozens of downloadable handouts and sheet music to help you with your practice and understanding. Each lesson is accompanied by handouts and sheet music that you can download and keep. These include chord charts, tunings, progressions, traditional tunes, understanding music theory and Irish dance types, and other valuable resources, giving you something to practice offline and use as a reference.  
 
💬 Answers to Your Questions in Future Videos 
Got questions? We’ve got answers! Submit your queries, and we’ll address them in upcoming video lessons, making sure you’re never stuck or left wondering how to master a concept.  

Topics Covered

🎸 How to String and Tune an Irish Bouzouki 
To start with the basics—our pre-lesson videos cover everything you need to know about setting up your Bouzouki for the perfect sound. You’ll learn how to tune, and how to string your instrument to ensure it's always pitch-perfect, and you’ll learn the technical names of the different parts of the bouzouki.

🎵 Playing Chords, Popular Progressions & Understanding Dance Types
In Part I of the course our first six lessons demonstrate how to play chords. Chords are the foundation of Irish music accompaniment. We’ll teach you the essential chords and show you how to play the most popular chord progressions for different dance types, particularly for the fast-paced jigs and reels that are so recognisable in Irish traditional music. By the end, you’ll be able to accompany traditional Irish tunes like a seasoned player.

🎶 Playing Polyphonically with Flat-Picking Countermelodies 
In Part 2 of the course, we cover playing polyphonically with flat-picking countermelodies. This part of the course is for more intermediate and advanced players. We delve into flat-picking techniques that will allow you to play countermelodies alongside traditional tunes. This technique adds depth to your playing and gives you the ability to perform polyphonically-perfect for making your Bouzouki sound full and rich during a session.

📖 Playing Tunes and Reading Music 🎼
In Part 3 (the final part of the course), you will learn how to read Irish Traditional Music in standard notation (and bouzouki tab), and turn these basic symbols into in real living music. Learning how to play real Irish dance tunes like this will foster independent learning, allowing you explore more music you want to learn. We’ll take notated tunes and show you how to turn them into authentic-sounding Irish music, complete with ornamentation, phrasing, and feel. You'll also learn techniques to make these tunes your own. This is key to playing authentically and developing a true Irish sound.

Why Choose Our Irish Bouzouki Course?

- Learn at Your Own Pace: With lifetime access to all materials, you can practice whenever it suits you, anytime and anywhere!
- One-Time Purchase for Only £150: No subscriptions, no hidden fees—just a single payment for lifetime access. That’s less than £9 a lesson – and all of these lessons will always be recorded and waiting for you when you are ready to practice!
- Regular Updates: Keep learning with new lessons, tunes, and tips added frequently. If you have questions or need help, you will get expert personal feedback and answers from me, and it may even be a good topic to cover in a future video!

🌍 Embrace the Spirit of Irish Music! 🌍  
Start your journey today and become part of a rich tradition. With this course, you’ll be able to play at sessions, join in with other musicians, and develop your own voice on the Bouzouki.  

🛒 Get Started Now – Enrol for Only £150!  
Don’t wait to explore the magic of the Irish Bouzouki. Sign up today and unlock over 12 hours of video lessons, dozens of audio examples, downloadable handouts, and more!

Robin Jones - Irish Bouzouki Lesson - همّا مين واحنا مين (Who Are They and Who Are We?) Part 1

And here's a new Lesson from Robin Jones. A tune he learned while staying in Beirut. It has an interesting scale which makes a lot of fun to play around. D,D#,F#,G,A,B,C,  which is called the Phrygian Dominant Scale. This is Part 1, you can get Part 2 here

Robin Jones - Lesson how to play Beeswing by Richard Thompson

 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.