Conor Connolly and Ruairi Mcgorman - Downing's house, Prosperous Music festival

 This video is 8 years old, but I just found it on youtube. Box and Greek Bouzouki at their finest. 19 minutes pure joy. If you know the names of the tunes please comment!

Accompanying in C-Major

Three possibilities to fret the chords  C,F, G. This might be useful if you have the capo on 2nd fret and the next tune is in D. It's always good to know chord shapes which are placed together near, so they are easy to fret. It also sounds better if the accompaniment does not contain such large leaps in pitch.

The other chords you might need are Am and Dm which are:

Am: 2,2,3,0  | 2,2,0,2 | 5,7,7,0

Dm: 2,0,0,3 | 7,0,8,0 | 10,12,0,0

Colin Farrell and Alan Murray - The Penny Coin Jig

Another tune I tabbed some time ago and just found on my harddisk. Alan Murray is one of the bouzouki players that inspires me a lot. I really enjoy his accompaniments. I can't remember where I found the abc to the tune, it seems it's not on thesession. The video is part of Colin Farrell's Tune a Day 2022 and it's Day 308

Here's my tab. First line Accompaniment, second line melody. If you would like the full pdf version please write me an email (look on the right: about me)

Three fine Bouzoukis for sale in Germany

Currently there are 3 handmade bouzoukis for sale on the German market. I don't know the luthiers who built them. If you know anything about them please comment.

https://www.kleinanzeigen.de/.../irish.../2682134343-74-3223

https://www.kleinanzeigen.de/.../iris.../2654143222-74-12653

https://www.kleinanzeigen.de/.../irish.../2646951293-74-3260

Gordon A Jackson - Sir Patrick Spence Intro

Another Tab I found on my harddisk. I tried to tab the intro to the Song Sir Patrick Spence released on his album "It's cold by the door" released in 2021. I think he plays it on a greek bouzouki.

Most viewed posts in January 2024

This is a list of the most viewed posts in Jan 24. If you have missed one... It seems that most visitors just look for the latest posts and don't click on the links on the right. Might be a mistake (?) There are lots of things to discover if you have the time to browse through the older ones.

Nuadan (Macdara Ó Faoláin) - The Beautiful Goldfinch

Just found an old tab on my harddisk. Unfortunately I can't find a video or audio on the internet of the recording from Nuadan. So I had to upload it by myself. I uploaded it as unlisted, hope that's ok and Nuadan don't mind. This is from the first album by the band. It's not on spotify, apple music or bandcamp, so it might be difficult to get it, but it is definitely worth it.

Macdara's website: http://www.macdaraofaolain.com

But this is the tab I made some time ago. If you want the whole tab write me an E-Mail and comment.

Toormore Slide, An Chóisir, The Wedding Feast, The House Party - One tune, many names - Lots of chord possibilities

I always loved the Toormore Slide. Now I tried to collect some chord possibilities and I found a lot of them. Some are obvious, some might sound a bit strange. If you want try them and tell me which are your favourites.

Here's a version with whistle: Athas

A very slow Fiddle take by Mossie Martin

And a fast one by The Press Gang

Lindsay Straw - Lurgy Stream (Traditional Irish Song on the Bouzouki)

 Lindsay is a folk singer, guitar and bouzouki player based in Boston. She has released two solo albums and one album with The Ivy Leaf. Here's a video of her singing the trad song Lurgy Stream.

Her website: https://lindsaystraw.com

Bandcamp: https://lindsaystraw.bandcamp.com/album/the-fairest-flower-of-womankind

Lyrics and Chords:

When [G]to this [C]coun[G]try [C]I first [G]came,
my [F]mind from [C]love being [G]free
‘Til the [C]beauty of a [G]female [D]fair
it [C]so en[F]ticed [G]me
Her [C]cheeks were like the [G]roses [D]red
her [C]breath it [F]smelled per[G]fumed
Her [G]golden [C]hair [G]waved [C]in the air,
most [C]comely [F]to be [G]seen. It being a Monday evening, my love I chanced to meet I took her in my arms and gave her kisses sweet I asked her if she would marry me or single would remain And if she’d cross over the seas with me and leave sweet Lurgy Stream. If I would cross over the seas with you, I might be much to blame If I’d cross over the seas with you, and leave sweet Lurgy Stream Young men are false and general, perhaps you are the same You might leave me there to rue the day I left sweet Lurgy Stream. Oh, that the sun it may withdraw, no more to show us light And that the moon it may refrain, no more to rule the night That the twinkling stars they may fall down and never more be seen The day or the hour that I’d prove false when far from Lurgy Stream. Farewell to Letterkenny, it’s a place of sport and fame Likewise to Kilmacrennan that stands near Lurgy Stream Farewell awhile to sweet Errigal, likewise to Swilly shore Where I spent many’s a happy day, will I ever see you more?

 

By the way, here's another video of Lindsay playing "The bonny light horseman"

Daoiri Farrell - Bouzouki chords for beginners

 Daoiri shows some basic chords for beginners. Just the basic chords, that's all, but helpful for starters.

The Butterfly Slipjig, different chord settings

 I collected some chord settings for accompanying the slipjig The Butterfly. Here's my listing:

Beautiful Goldfinch - Arrangement Josh Dukes

 A reader of my blog, Robert Johnson, wrote to me that he was inspired by my arrangement of the Beautiful Goldfinch. When researching the net he found the version with Josh Dukes on bouzouki on youtube. He sent me a self written tab of his arrangement. Unfortunately I did not understand what he wrote down and he told he didn't understand either ;-). So kindly he sent me a recording of him playing to the video and I tried to tab this. So first here is his handwritten tab.

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the video on youtube:

This is what my tab looks like. First line accompaniment, second line melody from thesession. If you want the whole tab please write to me or comment. (Click on the right side on "about me" and you'll find a contact link.)

Now course on OAIM - Bouzouki Skills

There's a new course on OAIM: Bouzouki Skills. Tutor Alan Reid teaches a lot of right hand techniqes. Yesterday I subscibed again and in the next weeks I'm going to watch the movies. Seems to be very interesting. 

So if you are looking for some new input have a look at the free video introduction and subscribe to watch the course in total. You'll also have access to all the other courses as well, so come on, why don't you do it?

oaim.ie

By the way, Alan also is on patreon, where he posts lots of instruction videos for bouzouki. 

https://www.patreon.com/alanreid/posts

Here are the details of this course:

Last month most watched post

These are the most watched post in the last month. Have a look an be inspired. Maybe look at the keywords on the right side to find more interesting posts. And keep commenting!

Comparism of a Fylde and a Sobell Bouzouki

 Someone named Cruel Folk compares a Fylde and a Sobell bouzouki. Can't tell what my favourite is. I only once played on a Sobell. I'd really like a comparism of these two with my Foley. Or better not, cause I love my Foley.