Chord Finder

You want to know how to shape a special chord on your instrument? Well, let's have a look at the chord finder at
http://4stringchords.com/
You specify the tuning and there you go.

ABC Convert-A-Matic

This is a fine online converter. Just paste ABC-Files into it and you'll get notation or midi files out of it.
http://www.concertina.net/tunes_convert.html

Zoukfest Raffle

Zoukfest takes place from June 10th to 16th,2007 at the College of Santa Fe, New Mexico. You'll find all the info you need at
www.zoukfest.com
Every year there's a chance to win a bouzouki. This year there are two bouzoukis to be won. First a Herb Taylor Flattop Bouzouki, here are two videos on which Roger Landes plays this great instrument:



The second Bouzouki is a G.D. Armstrong Resophonic Bouzouki, looks and sounds like a Dobro-Zouk and played with slide by Chipper Thompson:



Until now I don't have any information about classes. I'm so sorry, that I can't go there.

Improvising Melodic Accompaniments

Kieron, a musician from China http://www.chinatogalway.com has published an article written by Chris Smith about this topic on his website:
http://www.chinatogalway.com/Bouzouki%20style%20countermelodies.htm

By the way, his website is a goldmine if you are looking for informatin about Andy Irvine or Planxty. Have a look!

Chris Smith published a book called: Celtic Backup for All Instrumentalists. His website:
http://coyotebanjo.com/

String tension calculator

If you want to experiment with new sets of strings it will be useful to have the advantages of a string calculator. I found one specialized in Bouzouki tunings at Greenmanhumming:
http://www.greenmanhumming.com/html/StringCalc/Multistringcalc.html

There are two applets available: easy and expert.

Dervish Live Videos

It took some time, but here are two live Videos from one of my favourite Groups, Dervish.

Aaron Jones, Claire Mann and Tom McConville

A video shot in Hexham, Feb. 2007 in which you can see Aaron's new Bouzouki made by NkForster. He posted the videos to show his fantastic instrument. Look at his website:
http://www.nkforsterguitars.com/

Here is a blog article about Aarons bouzouki:
http://nkforsterguitars.blogspot.com/2007/02/new-aaron-jones-model-3-bouzouki.html

Here's another one:



and another one, a great song called: Across the western ocean:

Andy Irvine - Mother Jones

A live recording made in October 2006 in Germany. Andy was performing solo in a small village called Steinfeld. It was very hard to find the location. Andy told, he had the same problem, too.

This song is a tribute to Mother Jones, the "angel of the miners". More info:
http://www.kentlaw.edu/ilhs/majones.htm






A German review of the concert:
http://www.hjk-steinfeld.de/index.php?id=233

Roger Landes - Radio Interview

Roger Landes is a well-known american Bouzouki player. He began playing the instrument in 1981. He co-founded the Celtic band Scartaglen.
Recordings:
Dragon Reels (1997)
The Janissary Stomp (2001)
House to House (2004)

On his website you'll find more information and a 30 minute radio interview.
http://www.rogerlandes.com/

Link to interview:
http://www.rogerlandes.com/audio/art_of_the_song.mp3

Alec Finn, Jackie Daly & Frankie Gavin

'The Monaghan Jig' played by this three fantastic musicians.