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!
On January 21st Virtual Guided Session Matt and Shannon played the Set "Maid behind The Bar" and "Sally Gardens". The Set starts approx. at 46:35.
Today I made a little tab for the bouzouki accompanyment. I did not try to tab all the high notes correctly, but concentrated on the bass notes. If you listen to what Matt plays you'll get it, I think.If you want the whole tab just write me an email and comment here. (Melody is in the second line!)
You also can practice the scales with some Beats as background or with a metronome.
You'll find some more information here
A lovely Jig which reminds me of another Jig called Rolling Waves. Absolutely beautifully played by Brid and Eoin.
Here is my attempt to tab the accompanyment. Be careful, Eoin plays in ADAD but I tabbed it for GDAD. Upper line is melody from thesession.org, second line is bouzouki accompaniment.
If you want the tab in printable form just write me an email and comment.
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.
Fernando Barroso, a fantastic bouzouki player from Spain has recently published some videos on youtube and instagram where he shows some tips for beginners of the bouzouki. They are all in Spanish but you can get subtitles in English.
You can find him on instagram
This is his youtube channel where you'll find lots more videos of his playing. Highly recommended!
First Video about picks:
Second video how to get a better sound:
Third video use of capo - how to build chords
A recent video of Colin Farrell featuring Alan Murray, at the moment one of my favourite Bouzouki players.
This first SlipJig is also called Na Ceannabháin Bhána, An Ceannabhan Ban, Bog Cotton, Cannabhan Ban, Ceannabhan Ban, The Cotton Grass Flowers, The Cottongrass, The Little Fair Canavans, Little Fair Cannavans, The Little Fair Cannavans, Na Ceannabain Bana, Na Ceannabáin Bhána, Na Ceannabh, Na Ceannabhain Bana, Na Ceannabhain Bhana, Na Ceannbháin Bhána according to https://thesession.org/tunes/612
Colin mentions that he learned the tunes from Cormac Braetnach. They can be found on the album "Music for Whistle and Guitar" Spotify link
So this are the most watched posts on my blog during the last 12 months. Interesting that most people are looking for chords or information on building a bouzouki.
Please tell me, what are you looking for, what information do you need for your playing the bouzouki. Any questions, any hints what you would like me to post here?
Do you know of any hidden treasures on the web which I haven't covered here? Please let me know and I will try to post it.
Some time ago I found this beautiful video on youtube. Today I came across it again an tried to make a tab of the accompaniment.
By the way, Dylan released a CD not long ago, you can find it here:
https://dylanpearse.com/
Unfortunately this song is not on the album.
This is his site on bandcamp where you can listen to the album:
https://dylanpearse.bandcamp.com/album/songs-from-the-north-country
{t:The Sun's Coming Over The Hill}
{st:Karine Polwart}
[G]Six rain-ridden [D/F#]summers and she [C/G]still had an [G]eye for me
She [C/G]kissed me each [G]evening and she [Am]told me she'd [D]die f' me
She [Em]ran off the [G]road, for [C/G]whisky and [G]irony
[C/G]She always [D]meant what she [C/G]said
So [G]{soh}I{eoh} took to [D/F#]whisky that I [C/G]I might re[G]call
The [C/G]taste of her [G]mouth on my [Am]lips and that's [D]all
And I [Em]tried the same [G]trick with a [C/G]truck, but it [G]stalled
The [C/G]engine was [D]better off [C/G]dead
{soc}
[C/G] Oh [G]oh the [C]nights are so l[G]ong
But [C/G]life is [G]longer [D]still
[C/G]Oh [G]oh the [C]nights are so [G]long
But the [G]sun's coming [D]over the [C/G]hill
{eoc}
The [G]taste never [D/F#]left me, and I [C/G]don't think it [G]will
And it [C/G]caused me to [G]supplement [Am]whisky with [D]pills
But there was [Em]something in[G]side that [C/G]I couldn't [G]kill
Be[C/G]lieve me, I [D]really did [C/G]try
Now there's [G]some say you [D/F#]get what you de[C/G]serve, but they're [G]wrong
You [C/G]get what you're [G]given, and [Am]then it's all [D]gone
And you're [Em]lucky if [G]you are suf[C/G]ficiently [G]strong
To [C/G]daily de[D]cide not to [C/G]die
{soc}
[C/G] Oh [G]oh the [C]nights are so l[G]ong
But [C/G]life is [G]longer [D]still
[C/G]Oh [G]oh the [C]nights are so [G]long
But the [G]sun's coming [D]over the [C/G]hill
{eoc}
Well I [G]can't say there's [D/F#]many things [C/G]I wouldn't [G]change
There's [C/G]better days [G]gone than [Am]those that [D]remain
But [Em]I can find [G]joy in the [C/G]sound of the [G]rain
You [C/G]have to find [D]joy where you [C/G]can
{soc}
[C/G] Oh [G]oh the [C]nights are so l[G]ong
But [C/G]life is [G]longer [D]still
[C/G]Oh [G]oh the [C]nights are so [G]long
But the [G]sun's coming [D]over the [C/G]hill
{eoc}
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:
Matt Heaton made another one in his great Backer Corner series. This is a hornpipe you really have to know before backing it.
While watching I thought about how I would back it on the bouzouki. The tune is in A, not my favourite key on the bouzouki, but I wanted to try it anyway. All I wanted to do was to find the chord shapes Matt uses on the bouzouke. So I figured out two ways of accompanying and made an answer video to Matt's.
Here's Matt's video:
And this is my answer bouzouki video. Please be kind to me, this is my very first instructional video and I did it without any practicing beforehead. Hope this is helpful.
A few days ago I posted another version of this lovely jig. Here's the version of Mary Bergin with Alec Finn. I tried my best to tab the acompaniment, but there may be some mistakes in it. So please let me know if you find them ;-)
If you want the whole tab in pdf form just write an email and comment.
A well known jig here played by Willie Kelly & Mike Rafferty accompanied by Donal Clancy. Donal plays lovely countermelody on this one.
You can download the whole tab here.
If you download please comment!
Matt just posted another video in his Backer Corner series. This time he talks about backing polkas. I think his series is definitely one of the best tutorials available at the moment. So have a look at it.
If you are not familiar with Matt Heaton up to now look for Matt & Shannon Heaton on google and youtube. You'll find plentyful of good music and information. They do Slow Sessions on youtube and Shannon published some fine books on Irish Music. https://shannonheatonmusic.com
Kevin Elam sings a song from his debut album "If I were a small bird". Check out his album at:
https://www.kevinelammusic.com/debut-album
You might also check his patreon page where he offers tutorials for bouzouki and other topics at:
https://www.patreon.com/kevinelammusic
The melody is very similar to "The Granemore Hare" Colleen Raney's Version can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow5kNq2vPZY
