Daoiri Farrell - Farewell to the gold

Daoiri plays a song from the Four Winds album called Farewell to the Gold. If you don't know him already check out his two CDs!

His website:
http://daoiri.com/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/DaoiriFarrell/
Four Winds:
http://fourwindsirishmusic.com/ 

Daoiri Farrell talks about his bouzouki and plays Pat Rainey

Daoiri Farrell, in my opinion the best new traditional Irish singer at the stringdom. He talks about his bouzouki and sings a song: Pat Rainey.

Andy live 22.10.2008 Kuckucksei Nürtingen

Part 1

Erin Go Bragh
The Girl I left behind
Kellswater
The Close Shave
Reynardine
My Heart Tonight's in Ireland
You Rambling Boys of Pleasure
Arthur McBride
The Highwayman

Part 2

Never Tire Of The Road
Oslo
Baneasa's Green glades
O'Donoghues
Time Will Cure Me
Mother Jones
The Wind Blows Over the Danube
The Blacksmith
West Coast Of Clare

Andy Irvine - Kirchheimbolanden, Germany 2004

This was the first concert from Andy I had the chance to film. At first I didn't dare to take out my camcorder, but during the break a friend of mine who knows Andy asked him for permission. He also asked him to play "Baneasa's Green Grass" for me. I was overwhelmed when Andy dedicated the song to me.
Although Andy played together with Rens van der Zalm I only filmed Andy, because I hoped to have the chance to figure out some bits of his playing. Well, more than 10 years passed and I am still struggling with it.

Somebody asked for "West Coast Of Clare" this evening. I think, Andy hadn't played this song for ages. He had some problems with his Bass Bouzouki. But the next shows I saw him this song was on his playlist.

So enjoy this video.

Andy Irvine - Live Sudhaus Tübingen, Germany, April 29. 2004

Another great concert I had the chance to put on video. This one is from a Tour Andy made with and Rens van der Zalm in 2004. Enjoy!

Tracklist:

Only A Miner (Only Finale)
The Girl I left Behind
Lintheads
The Close Shave
Suleman Horo
Never Tire Of The Road
The Highwayman

My Heart's Tonight in Ireland
The Blacksmith
Baneasa's Green Glades
The Trip We Took Over The Mountain
Thousands Are Sailing
West Coast Of Clare
Gladiators

Rambling Boys Of Pleasure
Plains Of Kildare

Andy Irvine - Live 2006 Kall-Steinfeld, Germany

This is a concert, Andy gave in Germany in October 2006. I drove nearly 4 hours to see him there. As the location is a bit hidden and with no Navigation System at that time I had lots of trouble to get there. When I finally arrived the concert had just begun. Luckily I found a free seat in the third row. More luckily the seat was on the left of the stage so I had a good angle for filming. You have a good view of his left hand.

I just came across this old video and thought it might be a good idea to share this one with you. So enjoy! Unfortunately I was too lazy to create a Tracklist. So feel free to post it in the comments ;-)

Chords in the Key of D and G

This is by far the most visited blog entry. So it seems that most people are looking for chord-shapes. There are a lot more blog entries which deal with chord or chord shapes. Maybe you could have a look at the labels on the right side. There you'll find some chord charts and some more information and videos about the topic chords.

 

Bob Gooday has released two videos on youtube which deal with Chords in the key of D and G. If you are a beginner this could be really helpful. As these are beginner tutorials he does not all possibilities on the fretboard. So this can only be a starting point.

Basic Chords in D


These are the basic chords he uses in this video:


Chord symbols - low to high string. 0=open string, x=do not play

D5 x000 or 2000 or 7000
A5 2202 or 2200 (with a D drone)
G5 0555

D Major x400 or 7400
A Major 2242
G Major 0020 or 0520 or 0025

B Minor 4420
B5 4424

E Minor 0222
E5 x222

Basic chords in G




Here are the chord shapes he uses in this video:

Chord symbols - low to high string. 0=open string, x=do not play

G Major 0020 or 0520 or 0025
G5 0555

D5 x000 or 2000
D Major 7400
C Major 0232 or 5232

A Minor 2232
A5 2202

E Minor 0222
E5 x222


To give you a lot more information here are chord charts I made for the key of D. They are in useful combinations. So every line shows one possible chord combination. There are lot of 2-Finger chords which let the open A and D string ring to give a drone Sound which is so special to the bouzouki.

And here is my video which shows how these chords sound like.

Dónal Lunny, Craiceann Bodhrán Festival 2016

Here are some vids I found on youtube featuring Dónal Lunny on Bouzouki. Not many Videos on the net in such high quality.

More Maids

More Maids is a German Folk Group which plays Irish Folk for many years now.

Barbara Coerdt, Marion Fluck and Barbara Hintermeier are all well known musicians in the German Folk Scene. Until now they produced three CDs.

More information at: http://www.moremaids.de


Here is a video which contains two of the songs from their latest CD.






Here's another video from 2011

Elmstein Summer School 2017 - Bouzouki Workshop with Tobias Kurig

This year Elmstein Summer School will take place from July 31 to August 6th. Look at all the workshops that will take place. And as a special guest Paddy Keenan will give a MasterClass for Uilleann Pipes and Whistle.

The teacher of Bouzouki Workshop is Tobias Kurig, like last year. So take the chance and subscribe here:

http://irishmusicschool-elmstein.eu/summer-school-2016/#

Tijn Berends Solo Gig @ Gluren Bij De Buren, Utrecht

Tijn is a multi-instrumentalist from the Netherlands. He plays with the band/Duo "Itchy Fingers". Don't confuse with the German Band of the same name.

I already postet some of his videos before. Here is a live gig filmed in a living room somewhere. Tijn plays Bouzouki, Guitar and sings. If you search for him on youtube you'll find lots more videos.




Here's another video from Tijn:




He writes about this tune:

Here's a tune I learned some time ago called "Escapade in A minor". I don't play it in A minor because of reasons. Suzanne created a really awesome bodhrán part to go with it and it sounded so cool that we decided to record it. So here you go!

Hans Eckert Luthier, Mühltal, Germany near Frankfurt

Today I visited a Luthier near Frankfurt in Germany. Hans Eckert is a relatively new Luthier in Germany. heckertguitars.de

I first met him by chance at a session 2 years ago. I did not know he was a luthier, then. Just heard about his profession a few weeks ago. As he lives not too far from my hometown I thought it would be a good idea to visit him at his workshop.

We met at his workshop in a little town called Mühltal where he lives. He builds stringed instruments for some years now. In 2015 he regularly worked with Heiner Dreizehnter at his workshop in Allgäu, Germany. Heiner is a famous German Luthier who made Guitars and Bouzoukis for many famous musicians. http://www.irish-bouzouki.de

Now Hans has got his own workshop where he builds Guitars, Mandolins, Bouzoukis and Banjos. He also repairs all kinds of stringed instruments. I brought an old Böhm Waldzither and he will restore it for me. He also will do some repair work on my Dreizehnter Guitar Bouzouki.

We talked a lot about his efforts in building instruments, the difficulties to get good tone wood and building techniques. He has a good knowledge of building instruments and I really think about ordering a 10 string bouzouki from him.

After a long conversation about the restoration of my Waldzither we sat together and played some tunes on Mandolin and Bouzouki. I really enjoyed the afternoon with him and hope to see him soon at a session somewhere.

Here are some more photos from his workshop

Michael Chapman and Rino Eriksen

Lovely playing here by Michael and Rino on Cittern and Flute. Old Maid of Galway and The Green Mountain. Hope you enjoy it.

Beginner Tutorial Position of the Left Hand Fingers

Duncan Ross Cameron shows some basics for playing the bouzouki in this video. A good starting point for beginners.

Irish Bouzouki Tutorial by Declan Plummer

Declan Plummer is a musical teacher of classical and irish music and an amateur website designer. You can find his website here:
http://www.declanplummer.net/
There you'll find some lessons for the bouzouki, chord charts and handouts.

Here are two videos from his youtube channel: