The Mountain Top - Learn Irish Music

Learn Irish Music provides some nice tunes to learn. First a version with Flute only, then one with backing, mostly bouzouki.

 

Here's the tab of the bouzouki accompaniment I tried to make. You can download the full tab here.

2 new lessons from Luke Ward on his Patreon

 

Luke Ward released two new Lessons on his Patreon page yesterday. Accompaniment to the song "Reconciliation" from the album of his band "Tempest" and an accompaniment to the tune "Molly Ban". If you join his Patreon, you will also have access to many more lessons. These top class lessons are intended for advanced players who already have some basic knowledge of accompanying tunes. But there are also lessons available for beginners.

https://www.patreon.com/c/IrishbouzoukiwithLukeWard/posts?vanity=IrishbouzoukiwithLukeWard

Air Tune written by Liz Carroll played by Fuar

A lovely version of this Liz Carroll tune here played by Fuar. I can't find any information about the band online. They released an album called "Music in the glen" which you can find on Spotify and Apple Music. 

This is what my tab of the bouzouki part looks like. If you like you can download the full tab here:

Tab with melody

Tab without melody

Anders Lillebo - The Waystone

 Anders Lillebo (Piano Accordion) plays his own composition "The Waystone" beautifully accompanied by an unknown 10 string Bouzouki player. If you know his name please put him in the comments.

Here's a link to the dots: https://thesession.org/tunes/22813

Liam O'Brien (Concertina) & Killian Shannon (Bouzouki), Tribute to Larry Reynolds

 A lovely video of Concertina and Bouzouki. Liam and Killian playing a Maurice Lennon composition "Tribute to Larry Reynolds". https://thesession.org/tunes/12406

Irish bouzouki lesson, strumming patterns for jigs, plus different chords

Another beginner lesson on youtube. If you already watched other beginner lessons you won't find lots of new information here but it's worth a look.

Online Workshop with Daoiri Farrell tomorrow, Sun. 25

 I know, I'm a bit late with this. Daoiri Farrell will be holding a workshop where he is teaching his version of "The Foggy Dew". He writes about this:

What we’ll cover: 40 minutes — the foundations of the tune Approach, rhythm, accompaniment ideas, and structure. 20 minutes — live Q&A. This workshop is aimed at players who want to deepen their understanding of accompaniment and song-based bouzouki playing in an Irish traditional context. It's going to be online (Zoom). There are unlimited places so please get in touch (on my Facebook music account) to secure a place.

If you don't have Facebook and want to take part just contact me and I'll help.

UCC TradSoc Lunchtime Concert - Áine Teape & Evan Ó Cualáin

Bouzouki and Flute, my favourite combination, here in a lunchtime concert for UCC TradSoc. Would be great if someone has the time to post the names of the tunes in the comments.

Sheep in the boat - Jig accampaniment by Tom Oakes

 I found this recording on my harddrive. Tom Oakes sent it to members of a flute workshop some time ago. I love his bouzouki accompaniment here. So I tried to tab it.

My tab looks like this, it starts really easy. 

You can download the pdf here.

Online Workshop with Tijn Behrends on Feb 21!!!

Tijn Berends will be online with a bouzouki workshop soon. Here's some info from the website of Tune Supply:

The bouzouki is a highly versatile instrument, suitable for energetic, rhythmic backing, for subtle counterpoint, and even for melody. Good backing is sculpted to the contours of the rest of the music, adding energy to lift up the tune, leaving room where it is needed, and generally building a framework for the melody instruments to latch on to. In this workshop, we’ll use a few pre-recorded tunes to hone our listening skills, identifying what kind of flow the tunes have, what twists and turns they suggest in the harmony, and where they call for accents, hops, and other funky ornaments. Instructor: Tijn Behrends Who's this for: Bouzouki Level: Intermediate Will this class be taught by ear, with sheet music, or both? Both Cost: Pay what it's worth to you. (The checkout page defaults to $25, but that's not the suggested price...choose what works for you. Thanks!) Video: Registered students will receive the class recording immediately after the class, so feel free to sign up even if you can't attend live.

About Tijn:

My name is Tijn Berends. For those lacking in Dutch fluency: 'Tijn' vaguely rhymes with 'tine' (the thing at the end of a fork). If you make it rhyme with 'pidgeon', I will do my best to smile through the tears. I started playing the harmonica some twenty years ago, but a bunch more instruments have accumulated in my house since then; a concertina (which to me is basically a harmonica with an artificial lung), and a big family of string instruments, the Irish bouzouki being their pater familias. I play trad music in different settings, ranging from the weekly sessions to a big, Riverdance-like theatre ensemble. I also compose my own tunes, which has the big advantage that I can invent my own names for them ('Bacon Pancakes Are The Most Tastiest Food In The Entire World' is one of my favourites, though the translation doesn't really do justice to the poetic Dutch original).

Here's the link to register

OAIM - First Month Free offer -Ends on Christmas Eve!!!

 I think/hope you all know OAIM - The Online Academy Of Irish Music. They offer lots of lessons for various instruments in Irish Music. All that for a monthly fee of around 20€, that's a fair price. And you can cancel your membership at any time.

Once a year they offer a month free of charge. So this might be your chance to get into it and have a look at all the lessons they offer, and that's a lot. And if you cancel your membership within the first month they won't charge you anything. Ain't that a fair offer. So hurry and subscribe!

Just go to the website, select monthly plan. To get the free offer use the promotional code 

👉 XMASOFFER2025

Caroline Keane - Kickstarter Project for new Album

This is not a complete Bouzouki CD, but there will be some bouzouki playing to be heard on this second Album by Caroline. I met her several times on my visits to Dingle in the pas years. She's a fantastic concertina player. If you don't know her first CD please give it a listen.

Now she is on her way to the second Album which might be even better. So please consider backing her project on kickstarter. Here's the link:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/carolinekeanemusic

Here are two videos of her and Tom Delaney which I recorded in Dingle last summer.

This is what Caroline writes about her project:

Hi everyone,
I’m so excited to share my new solo album with you and invite you to be part of it through this Kickstarter. This collection means a lot to me. Each piece represents a pivotal moment in my journey as an artist, a chance to pause, reflect, and think about what’s ahead.
I feel incredibly lucky to be working with some of the most talented and generous musicians in the traditional music scene. Their creativity and passion have lifted this project in ways I couldn’t have imagined, and I’m deeply grateful for their contributions.
It’s been five years since my debut album SHINE. Life has been full, marriage, the birth of our two little ones, Chloe and Turlough, and everything in between. Musically, I’ve been exploring new paths too. Supported by Údarás na Gaeltachta, I’ve been researching and responding artistically to music from the place I now call home, Corca Dhuibhne. A Traditional Arts Bursary kindly bestowed by The Arts Council also allowed me to dive into the concertina’s potential as an accompaniment instrument. Both projects contribute material to this new collection.
Motherhood has brought its challenges but also a huge burst of energy, creativity, and passion. I feel more driven than ever to make art, collaborate, and share music that’s honest, creative and plain old giddy.

This album explores themes close to my heart: strong women, family, resilience, self-advocacy, stepping into my voice as an artist, and leading by example for my kids. I hope it will take you on the journey with me through moments of laughter, elation, loss, and resilience.
I’m lucky to be collaborating with amazing creatives: musicians Steve Cooney, Ryan Molloy, Conal O’Kane, Edwina Guckian, Tom Delany, and Eamonn Murray; videographer Mickey Kelly; artist Karen Sherwood; graphic designer Ross Curran; and sound engineer Donogh Hennessy. Their dedication and creativity inspire me every day. I’m still shaping the artwork and can’t wait to share it with you.
By backing this project, you’ll get early access to the album, limited-edition merchandise, and even a chance to attend a private concert. It’s also the perfect opportunity to grab a gift for the music lover in your life: Albums, collector’s items, original compositions, or even concertina lessons. Most importantly, you’ll be helping an independent artist bring this project to life.
Thank you for listening, coming to shows, and supporting independent music. You make this possible, and I’m endlessly grateful.

Caroline x

Gary Curley & Stephen McKee - Rollicking Boys Of Tandragee Tab

 

This is my humble attempt to tab the nice bouzouki backing of the tune by Ryan O'Donnell.

You can download the whole tab here.

As you can't listen to only one tune of the album on bandcamp I uploaded the first part of the jig to youtube so you can have a listen to what it sounds like.

Gary Curley & Stephen McKee - Chunky Business CD out on Bandcamp

 

This is actually a banjo/Box CD, but on some of the songs there is a tasty bouzouki backing to be heard. 

You'll find 12 sets of tunes, some old, some new. I especially enjoyed listening to some of the well known tunes again.

So you might give it a listen. You can listen to all tracks on bandcamp, so you have enough listening time to decide whether to buy or not. 

I tried to  tab one of the bouzouki arrangements and will post it here within the next days.

Here's the link to the album:

Daoiri Farrell - The Unquiet Grave - Lyrics and Chords

“The Unquiet Grave” is a centuries-old ballad, believed to date back to at least the 17th century, and catalogued as Child Ballad 78 and Roud 51. Deeply rooted in the British and Irish folk tradition, it explores themes of grief, love beyond death, and the danger of clinging to the past.

The song tells the story of a mourner who sits at the grave of a lost lover for “a twelve-month and a day.” On that final day, the ghost of the deceased speaks, asking the mourner to move on, warning that excessive grief “will not let me sleep.” The mourner asks for one final kiss, but the ghost replies that such a kiss would be fatal. The song ends with a bittersweet truth: even the strongest love must yield to death and decay.

Daoirí Farrell recorded this haunting ballad on his 2016 album True Born Irishman. His version features a sparse, atmospheric arrangement with pipes, whistle, cello, and banjo, capturing the ethereal tone of the lyrics. Farrell’s expressive voice brings emotional depth to the ancient dialogue, offering a powerful meditation on mourning, memory, and the limits of love across the boundary between life and death.

I couldn't find a live version of Daoiri singing this song with only bouzouki backing. So here is the album version.

 {t:The Unquiet Grave}

{st:Daoiri Farrell}

 

Oh, the [D]Wind doth [G]blows [Em]today my [A]love

[G]A few small [D]drops of [A]rain

And [D]never have I [A]had but [D]one true [G]love

Now In [D]cold clay [A]she is [D]lain[D/G]     [D] 

 

And I'll [D]do as [G]much for my [Em]own true [A]love

[G]As any [D]young man [A]will

I'll [D]sit all [A]on my [D]true loves [G]grave

For [D]twelve months [A]and a [D]day [D/G]     [D] 

 

At [D]twelve [G]months and a [Em]day being [A]gone

A [G]voice it [D]spoke from the [A]deep

"Who [D]is it [A]sits all [D]on my [G]grave

And [D]will not [A]let me [D]slee[D/G]p?"  [D] 

 

Oh, tis [D]I, tis [G]I, my [Em]own true [A]love

That [G]sits all [D]on your [A]grave

I [D]crave one [A]kiss from [D]your sweet [G]lips

And [D]that is [A]all I [D]crav[D/G]e    [D] 

 

"Well if you [D]had one [G]kiss from my [Em]clay cold [A]lips

My [G]breath it is [D]earthly [A]strong

And [D]had you but one [A]kiss from [D]my cold [G]lips

You're [D]time on [A]earth would soon be [D]done[D/G]"    [D] 

 

Oh my [D]time being [G]long, or my [Em]time being [A]short

[G]Tomorrow [D]or to[A]day

[D]May God in [A]heaven take [D]all of my [G]soul

For I'll [D]kiss your [A]lips of [G]clay

 

See [Em]down in [A]yonder [G9]garden [A]fair

[Em]Where we [G9]used to [A]walk

Oh, the [D]sweetest [A]flower that [D]ever did [G]grow

Is [D]withered [A]to the [D]stal[D/G]k    [D] 

 

And that [D]stalk is [G]withered [Em]dry now my [A]love

[G]And so our [D]hearts they must de[A]cay

So [D]make your[A]self con[D]tent, now my [G]love

Until [D]God takes [A]you aw[D]ay."[D/G]     [D] 

 

Oh, the [D]wind doth [G]blow t[Em]oday my [A]love

A [G]few small [D]drops of [A]rain

And [D]never have I [A]had but [D]one true [G]love

Now In [D]cold clay [A]she is [G]lain [D]

If you copy these lyrics and import them into an lyrics and chords app like Songbook you can see the chords above the lyrics, transpose etc. In the Songbook app you can define Bouzouki as instrument and it has chords implemented so you can see how to play them. You even can define your own chords, which is really handy sometimes. The app is available for most platforms.

Here I have collected some videos how this app works.