Bouzouki Workshops with Luke Ward - The Blacksmith - Andy Irvine's Version

Some time ago, I reported on the workshops that Luke Ward offers on Patreon. He offers two different series, one for beginners and a second for advanced players. He publishes a workshop twice a month. So far, he has devoted himself to various topics related to accompanying tunes. Mainly accompaniment in different keys. 

Now he has turned his attention to accompanying the song “The Blacksmith” in Andy Irvine's version. He sticks pretty closely to the version Andy plays live. He shows the intro and the accompaniment for the verses. Of course, there is also tablature for it. 

So if you've been hesitating to sign up, now there's one more important reason to do so. It's worth it!

Here's the link!

Here's a little excerpt of the tab, hope Luke doesn't mind.

Online Bouzouki Workshop: Less is More: Tasty Accompaniment Suggestions for Bouzouki and Guitar with Randy Clepper, Oktober 02, 2025

 

On Thursday, October 02,2025 there will be an online workshop for Bouzouki with Randy Clepper. 

If you want to improve your bouzouki playing or expand your possibilities, you should definitely sign up. 

Payment is based on the principle of pay what you can. The default amount is $25.50, but you are free to choose any amount you like. 

Perhaps you shouldn't just choose $1, because then there is a possibility that such workshops might not be able to take place in the future. 

You can enroll here or just click on the picture on the left.

And by the way, if you play any other instrument, there are lots more workshops on offer here.

Here's the announcement from the website:

Strumming away at chords certainly has its place, but there’s a whole gamut of options that can be employed in Irish music accompaniment. We’ll explore a palette of ideas including partial chords, countermelodies, how melodies inform accompaniment, rhythmic choices including minimal (the oft-quoted “music is the space between the notes” can be applied to accompaniment as well as to melodies). Demonstrations will be primarily on the bouzouki but the concepts apply to guitar and other forms of accompaniment. Instructor: Randy Clepper

Who's this for: Bouzouki, guitar, other accompaniment instruments

Level: Advanced Beginners/Intermediate/Advanced Will this class be taught by ear, with sheet music, or both? By ear Cost: Pay what it's worth to you. (The checkout page defaults to $25, but that's not the suggested price...choose what works for you. Thanks!)

Video: Registered students will receive the class recording immediately after the class, so feel free to sign up even if you can't attend live. ___________________________________________________________________ Instructor bio: Randy Clepper is an in-demand player of the Irish bouzouki, guitar, and tenor banjo. He performs and tours regularly with several artists including fiddler Bella Issakova and fingerstyle guitarist John Sherman. Randy performs and teaches at festivals around the country and has been called upon to accompany many well-known traditional players. Randy also hosts the popular Trad Nua Celtic concert series at Natalie's Live Music in Columbus, Ohio, where he has featured many of the scene’s finest traditional touring acts. Check out Randy's work here: www.randyclepper.com

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

New Bouzouki course for beginners - Luke Ward

 

Luke Ward, bouzouki player from Belfast just released a beginner's course on Patreon. It consists of 12 individual lessons where he covers first chords, some easy accompanyment ideas for the different modes (D, Dmix, Dm). After that he shows basic strumming patters to accompany reels, jigs and hornpipes. He finishes with 3 videos where he shows accompaniment ideas for each of the three tune types. Whereas the reel (Mountain Road) and jig (Humours of Glendart) accompanyments are very rudimental the hornpipe (Off to California) pattern has got an easy bass line and some more chords in it. 

If you are a beginner to the Irish Bouzouki you might consider taking a months membership for 16$ (without VAT). That's a fair price. It's easy to unsubscribe at any time. If you exercise every day you might be able to finish the course in around 4 weeks.

I hope Luke will consider to make a more advanced course like this in the near future.

Here's the link to the course:
https://www.patreon.com/c/IrishbouzoukiwithLukeWard

Bouzouki Tutorial - The Little Drummer, Daoiri Farrell live version

 Brent Matusik just published a new tutorial video on youtube. Here he shows how to accompany the song The little drummer as played by Daoiri Farrell. 

This are the lyrics I found here 

Little Drummer, The

Sheet Music (and more information about this song)

One fine summer's morning, both gallant and gay,
Twenty-four ladies went out on the quay,
And a regiment of soldiers it did pass them by,
A drummer and one of them soon caught his eye.

He went to his comrade and to him did say,
"Twenty-four ladies I saw yesterday,
Oh, but one of them ladies she has me heart won,
And if she denies me I'm surely undone."

"Go to this lady and tell her your mind
Tell her she's wounded your poor heart inside.
Go and tell her she's wounded your poor heart, full sore,
And if she denies you what can she do more?"

So early next morning this young man arose,
Dressed himself up in a fine suit of clothes,
With a watch in his pocket and a cane in his hand,
Saluting the ladies he walked down the strand.

He went up to her and he said "Pardon me,
Pardon me lady for making so free,
Oh my fine honored lady, you have my heart won,
And if you deny me I'm surely undone."

"Be off little drummer, now what do you mean?
For I'm the lord's daughter of Ballycasteen.
Oh, I'm the lord's daughter that's honored, you see,
Be off little drummer, you're making too free."

He put on his hat and he bade her farewell
Saying: "I'll send my soul down to heaven or hell.
For with this long pistol that hangs by my side,
Oh, I'll put an end to my own dreary life."

"Come back little drummer, and don't take it ill,
For I do not want to be guilty of sin,
To be guilty of innocent blood for to spill.
Come back little drummer, I'm here at your will."

"We'll hire a car and to Bansheer we'll go.
There we'll be married in spite of our foes.
Oh, but what can they say when it's over and done,
But I fell in love with the roll of your drum?"

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 - Jig Picking Techniques on youtube

 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.

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

Tutorial - How to play Creggan White Hare - Daoiri Farrell

 Brett Matusik shows how to accompany the Creggan White Hare in the style of Daoiri Farrell.

Here he shows the Intro:

And here's the tutorial how to play the verses:

Here's my page with lyrics and chords

Here's my humble attempt to tab the intro

 

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.

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

Fernando Barroso - Tips for playing Polkas

 Fernando Barroso published a new video, this time  tips for accompanying polkas. He concentrates on the right hand, so it is the rhythm. Have a watch, this is really helpful and thought out.

And right now he uploaded a video about Polka and PasoDoble melody playing!

Tips for Jigs 6/8 time by Fernando Barroso

 A new Tutorial video by Fernando Barroso. Some really helpful ideas how to accompany Jigs. Make sure, subtitles are enabled if you don't speak Spanish.

Kevin Elam - Bold Young Rover - Accompaniment

In this video Kevin explains how he arranged the song Bold Young Rover from his CD. It's a long and very informative video. So give it a go if you are interested in Song accompaniment.

 

 

In the next, actually the first video he gives some tips how to arrange the melody of the song.

 

You'll find some more videos of him on youtube. He also has a patreon page with additional content: 

https://www.patreon.com/kevinelammusic

Here's my tab of the chorus made with Tabledit:

Kevin Elam - The Rhythm of Reels

 Kevin Elam has posted some really good instructional videos on youtube which you might want to check out. Here are two videos about accompanying reels. He uses a guitar and piano, but it is worth looking at for bouzouki players as well. If you think these videos are useful you might consider joining his patreon site at: http://www.patreon.com/kevinelammusic

 

Here's part 2

Bouzouki Workshop at Minnesota Irish Weekend with John Coyne

 

 

 

This years Minnesota Irish Weekend brings us a bouzouki Workshop with Singer/Bouzouki player John Coyne. 

Just lately John released a fantastic album together with Kathleen Conneely and Séan Clohessy called "All Jokes Aside". You can listen to it and buy it here: https://srslylike.bandcamp.com/album/all-jokes-aside

Here's more info on the workshop:

http://www.centerforirishmusic.org/events/mim/

And here's the cover of the CD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's an older CD by John together with Larre Reeves, Bouzouki and Flute, a heavenly combination.

https://open.spotify.com/artist/5wbcIoFb57H4PK90oh9mn7/discography/all?pageUri=spotify:album:2sb3mbg3YpG01htpnFT6Zh

Kevin Elam - How to play Counterpoint (Jimmy Ward's)

Kevin Elam provides some really good tutorials on youtube and patreon. Here he shows his ideas to play counterpoint to the Jig Jimmy Ward's. 

You can also have a look at his patreon site: http://www.patreon.com/kevinelammusic

Using tabledit I made a tab for this which you can download here:https://www.dropbox.com/s/po73uq0pe7sgs4k/Kevin%20Elam%20-%20Jim%20Ward%27s%20Jig%20-%20Countermelody%20mit%20Melodie.pdf?dl=0

Some bouzouki Tutorials by Michael Holmes and Brian McDonagh (Dervish)

Jeffrey Forbes posted some tutorial videos he filmed at a workshop in the Roundhouse Celtic Festival, Evanston, Wyoming (USA) on youtube. Michael and Brian discuss several topics.

Right hand patterns

 

 Jig pattern

 

Backing rhythm on a trad. Irish Jig (I Buried My Wife)

 

 

Backing of trad. Reels

 Backing of a trad. Irish song (Hills of Greenmore)

Humours of Ballyloughlin Jig

 

 

3 Bouzouki courses at QuaranTune Virtual Dulcimer Fest 2022, Tutor Randy Clepper, June 2-5, 2022

Randy Clepper will give 3 bouzouki courses at this yeas Virtual Dulcimer Fest, June 2-5, 2022. Each course is $10.30, so this is very cheap and definitely worth it. I took part in his courses last year and he does a really good job. Topics of the 3 courses are:

- Right hand technique

- Creating Counter Melodies

- Non-D Keys With/Without a Capo

More information at:

https://www.virtualdulcimerfest.com/instructors-database/karen-ashbrook-5gx7j-f46sl-n5zem

and:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e99f4a608acf5376f521903/t/6275d1754fe7565e0cb5c140/1651888502254/QDF+7.0+Workshop+Descriptions.pdf

Here look for Randy Clepper.

Here's his website:

https://www.randyclepper.com/home