Liam O'Brien, Ciara Ní Bhriain & Macdara Ó Faoláin - Stone of Destiny

Macdara is one, if not the best bouzouki player of the younger generation. He also builds bouzoukis and other instruments. Here he is with  Liam O'Brien and Ciara Ní Bhriain. The tunes they play are The Stone of Destiny (written by Maurice Lennon), The Liffey Banks & Music in the Glen.




I tried to transcribe the first tune. Here it is for your pleasure (hopefully)

You can download the tab as pdf here.

West Coast Of Clare - Intro

Just found this really old post of mine. The video link did not work anymore. The link to my tab either. So here is the re-post, 12 years after the first one. Now I added the tab on the page.

I'm playing my old Stevens Bouzouki here, trying to play the intro of West coast of Clare, one of the best songs by Andy Irvine. I tried to copy the arragement he once played live on his bass bouzouki. I restringed my zouk for this to achieve that bass bouzouki sound.


Here's the tab for this intro,  I made it with Tabledit

 

You'll find lots more tabs for tunes and songs on this blog here:
https://irish-bouzouki.blogspot.com/search/label/Tabs%20for%20GDAD

Ceird an Cheoil - Bouzouki, TG 4

This fantastic RTE-Programme about the bouzouki is not available on youtube anymore as far I know. But I just found it on Dailymotion. Here's a lot of information on this lovely instrument. I mentioned this programme before, but it's always worth to look at it again.

Si Bheag Si Mhor - Turlough O'Carolan

Si Bheag Si Mhor is one of Turlough O'Carolan's (1670-1738) waltzes. Translated into English it is called "Little hill, big hill". It is said to take inspiration from folklore surrounding two hills in which lie to mortal remains of ancient warriors.



Niilo Sirola made a recording with some more instruments.

He also made a tab for this tune. You can find it on his website:
http://irish.muualla.net/waltz/si-bheag-si-mhor/


Here's fine arrangement on the zouk by Carol Murgue.




And another one by Eamon Coughlan




Here's a very differnent approach by someone who calls himself CW, a multi instrumentalist. He has lots of videos on youtube, there are some more with bouzouki.

He writes on youtube:

"It is usually played at a slow and leisurely pace by most musicians; I had the melody in my head one day, and it started morphing into a Planxty-esque jam in 4-count rhythm (as opposed to 3 count as it's usually played), and sitting down with my zouk last night, this is how it came out. I like it a lot, and I'm still practicing it/smoothing it out, but I think this video turned out well! Tuning: FCGC - capo 5th fret"

Updates

Over the last few days I updated or deleted several sites on the blog which were outdated. Since I started the blog more than 10 years ago there are lots of videos which are not available anymore on youtube. It takes a lot of time to look at all the old posts. I found out that youtube changed links to videos, so all the older movies are not available anymore. I looked up some of the old videos, but this is hard work. So I decided to delete a lot of old videos.

If you come across dead links on the blog please report them to me or leave a comment. It's a lot of work to review all the pages on this blog so I would appreciate your help.

Also if you come across any good information regarding the Irish Bouzouki feel free to inform me and I will put them on the blog.

Many thanks in advance!

Chords Am and G - Matt & Shannon Heaton: Reels in the Heaton Kitchen - Flute and Bouzouki [Leaving the Station, Rollin, Maud Millar]

A lovely video made in the Heaton's kitchen.




In the first tune Matt plays Am C G chords (Capo7, so it's Em)

In the second tune he plays G C D chords (so it's D with capo 7th fret)

I did not check the third tune yet.

I made a chord sheet with these chords:

Here's a short video where I play these chord progressions slowly.

The Greene Tunebook

While updating some of my entries I found that the link to this tune book had changed.


By accident I found this tunebook on the web.
https://www.ceilidhsoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CeilidhSoc-Favourites-Book-1-20181024.pdf

Here's the original one, the link has changed since I last looked at it:
http://old.ceilidhsoc.org/music.pdf?Special=23&Type=Group

42 pages with lots of tunes, most of them with chords. A great learning base.

Julie Fowlis & Eamon Dooley - Live Webstream for Lindblad Expeditions

What a pleasure: Julie and Eamon together, just the two of them. A livestream made for Lindblad Expeditions on April 23rd, 2020 as part of the Virtual Music Lounge concert series.

Páraic Mac Donnchadha with Mac Dara Ó Faoláin

While looking for videos featuring Mac Dara Ó Faoláin I found this beautiful video of Páraic Mac Donnchadha with Mac Dara Ó Faoláin. Beautiful music with banjo and bouzouki. Páraic Mac Donnchadha released an album some time ago which you can get on bandcamp or at Custy's in Ennis.

https://paraic.bandcamp.com

https://custysmusic.com/products/h3-paraic-mac-donnchadha-not-before-time-thar-am-h3

Yvonne Casey & Macdara Ó Faoláin

Some videos of Yvonne Casey & Macdara Ó Faoláin. Macdara is one of the finest bouzouki players of the young generation. He also is a Luthier and he builds fantastic Bouzoukis, Mandolins and Ukuleles.
Look here: https://ie.locale.online/macdara-o-faolain-musical-instruments-610515195.html

He plays with Band Nuadan:
https://nuadantrad.bandcamp.com/releases
https://www.facebook.com/nuadantrad/


The Oliver Plunkett - 40th Cork Folk Festival, 06.10.19

" Eanna’s Dance"  - 40th Cork Folk Festival

 "Tune For Yvonne Casey" composed by Tommy Peoples. Cork Folk Fest

and just for the fun of it, here's a very old video of young Macdara


Macdara Ó Faoláin Dungarvan from TRTÉ on Vimeo.

Daoiri Farrell - Tipping it up to Nancy

This is a song from Daoiri's first CD. I first heard it from Planxty, but there are many versions of the song out there. In this version from youtube Daoiri plays it with such power...

You'll find lots more tabs for tunes and songs on this blog here:
https://irish-bouzouki.blogspot.com/search/label/Tabs%20for%20GDAD

{title:Tipping It Up To Nancy}

{subtitle:}

O there [G]was a woman in our town, 

a woman you aught know well, 

she [C]loved her husband dearly and 

an[D]other man twice as well. [C]Oh

{soc}

With me [G]right finnickinairio, me tip fin nick a wall

With me [C]right finnicki[G]nairio, We’re [D]tipping it up to [G]Nancy

{eoc}

Well, she went down to the chemist shop some remedies for to buy

"Have you anything in your chemist shop that'll make me old man blind?"

"Well, give him eggs and marrowbones and make him suck them all

And before he has the last one sucked he won't see you at all."

So she gave him eggs and marrowbones 

and made him suck them all

Before he had the last one sucked 

he can't see her at all

"If in this world I cannot see, 

it's here I cannot stay, 

I'd rather go and drown myself; 

Come on says she "I'll show you the way."

She led him to the river 

and she led him to the brim

But sly enough of Martin 

it was him that shoved her in

She swam through the river, and 

she swam through the brine, 

"Oh Martin, dear Martin 

don't leave me behind!"

"Yerra shut with that you silly ol' fool. 

You know poor Martin is blind!"

With me right finnickinairio, We’re tipping it up to Nancy

I've nine in me family, 

and none of them is me own, 

oh I wish that each and every man,

will come and claim his own

Niilo Sirola Livestream on youtube

Niilo Sirola just made a livestream on youtube. Many tunes and a few songs. He plays in the band "Greenrose Faire" You can find them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/greenrosefaire/about/

Website of the band: http://greenrosefaire.com/en/

Lovely playing.

Good Morning To Your Nightcap - Bill The Weaver or Cheer up old hag

This is the second Tune of the first Set from the album "Good Morning to your Nightcap"
The tune is also called "Cheer up old hag". It took me a while to find out the name. At thesession.org this tune was connected to a polka of the same name. I corrected it now.

As always, don't expect the tab to be totally correct. ;-). This is only thought for learning purposes.

Btw. I can't find out why tabledit always puts the chord boxes over the second headline. Does anyone know how to avoid this?

Good Morning to your Nightcap - The Furze in Bloom

Got this CD from Custy's Website because I liked the cover photo. Nice bouzouki playing by Ryan O'Donnell on an Abnett Bouzouki. 

This is my attempt to write down the bouzouki part of Furze in Bloom (Capo 3rd fret)

Daoiri Farrell - Sweet Portadown chords

A wonderful love song from Daoiri's latest album.


 

You'll find lots more tabs for tunes and songs on this blog here:
https://irish-bouzouki.blogspot.com/search/label/Tabs%20for%20GDAD 

 Intro:

 

{t:Sweet Portadown}

{st:Daoiri Farrell}

{c:}

As [Dm]I went out [C]walkin' one [Gm]morning in [Am]June,

I [Bb]spied a fair [Am]damsel in the [Bb]sweet summer [C]bloom,

Her [Dm]cheeks they were [Am]rosy, her [Gm]hair it hung [Am]down

And she [Gm]came from Black[Am]water near to [Bb]sweet Porta[Dm]down.

I [Dm]stood in a[C]mazement as the [Gm]breezes did [Am]blow,

And the [Bb]blood in my [Am]veins like a [Bb]river did [C]flow

I [Dm]thought her the [Am]fairest in all [Gm]Ireland was [Am]found,

The [Gm]day when I [Am]met her, near to [Bb]sweet Porta[Dm]Idown

Says [Dm]I my we [C]lassie, I [Gm]don’t know your [Am]name,

She [Bb]answered me [Am]shyly, I’m a[Bb]fflicted the [C]same,

Says [Dm]I mine's O’[Am]Connor, a [Gm]name of re[Am]nown,

She [Gm]says mine's O’[Am]Driscoll from [Bb]sweet Porta[Dm]Idown,

I ex[Dm]cused myself [C]kindly, I [Gm]said if you [Am]please,

We will [Bb]both take a [Am]ramble in the [Bb]Blackwater [C]breeze

I’m [Dm]sorry she [Am]said, but I [Gm]can’t go to[Am]day, 

For I’m [Gm]searching for [Am]young lambs, that [Bb]have gone a[Dm]stray.

Then [Dm]I will go [C]with you, in [Gm]search of your [Am]flock,

And the [Bb]sun it did [Am]dazzle on her [Bb]dark amber [C]locks,

We [Dm]searched the [Am]whole day, till the [Gm]sun it went [Am]down,

And at [Gm]length we lo[Am]cated them near to [Bb]sweet Porta[Dm]down,

As we [Dm]made our way [C]homeward, we [Gm]sat down to [Am]rest,

And we [Bb]watched the rock [Am]thrush on the [Bb]Blackwater [C]cress,

I t[Dm]old her I [Am]loved her, as the [Gm]sun went [Am]down,

Be[Gm]hind the [Am]green hills near to [Bb]sweet Porta[Dm]down,

She [Dm]said if you [C]love me, you [Gm]must be ex[Am]cused

For [Bb]I am a [Am]poor girl, so you [Bb]must be re[C]fused,

I [Dm]work hard for a [Am]living, the [Gm]whole year a[Am]round,

And be[Gm]sides I would [Am]never, leave [Bb]sweet Porta[Dm]down,

I won’t [Dm]ask you to [C]leave it, the [Gm]place of your [Am]birth,

For [Bb]I know it’s the [Am]grandest and [Bb]fairest on [C]earth,

But if [Dm]you’ll con[Am]sent for to [Gm]be my own [Am]bride,

It’s [Gm]married we’ll [Am]be by the [Bb]Blackwater [Dm]side,

We [Dm]went to her [C]parents, they [Gm]considered a[Am]while,

Her [Bb]mother looked [Am]on me, and at [Bb]length she did [C]smile,

If [Dm]Flora con[Am]sents, so [Gm]we’ll consent [Am]to

And it’s [Gm]married we [Am]were on the [Bb]18th of [Dm]June

Come [Dm]all ye fair [C]maidens, as[Gm]semble to[Am]night,

And [Bb]marry your [Am]first love, even [Bb]though at first [C]sight,

Don’t [Dm]marry for [Am]riches or [Gm]fame or re[Am]nown,

For [Gm]we living [Am]happy near to [Bb]sweet Porta[Dm]down.

Dm: 7000
C: 5500 or 5530 or sometimes 0230
Gm: 0010 or 0550
Am: 2202 (A5) or 2230
Bb: 3010 or 3013