A Fig For A Kiss - Bouzouki Arrangement By Matt Heaton - E Minor

Matt and Shannon Heaton broadcast a regular slow session during the lockdown. They play mostly well known session tunes. It is always a pleasure to listen to both of them and to play along with them. The sessions are saved on youtube so one can watch thCaem everytime. So if you missed one of the sessions, they are still on youtube. This is the link to Shannon's youtube-channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/ShannonHeatonMusic/videos

On August, 1st 2020 Matt and Shannon Heaton had another Online Session. As warmup they played this lovely version of A Fig For A Kiss. Tune starts at 2:36

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

 

 

I tried to write down the arrangement Matt plays. Capo at 2nd fret. Here it is:

 

 

Shane McGowan - Rhythm Tutorial - Jigs and Reels

South Sligo SummerSchool gave us two tutorials with Shane McGowan. He's one fine guitar player and has worked with so many famous musicians. I saw him several time live and I think his style is very lively. As it is all about rhythm it should be of interest to bouzouki players as well.

The first Workshop deals with jigs:

The second Workshop deals with Reels:

Essential Hand Stretches For Guitarists or Any Instrumentalist

Some tipps from GuitarLessons365

Lenghten your fingers

An exercise by Brett Ridgeway that might help to lengthen your fingers. I think it's also an exercise to warm up your fingers.

The Storms Are On The Ocean

A lovely song I first heard from the group Bohola. The Carter Family made it popular, I think. I play nearly the same arrangement as Pat Broaders does on the self titled CD. Sorry for the mistakes. Also I forgot the 3rd verse and sang it as last verse.;-) Shit happens.

Some information about the song is to be found here:
http://www.lizlyle.lofgrens.org/RmOlSngs/RTOS-StormsOcean.html

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



Here is my chord sheet for the song (Capo 7)

{t:The Storms are on the Ocean}

Capo 7

I'm [D]going a [G]way to [D]leave you, love

I'm going a [A]way for a [D]while

But I'll re [G]turn to [D]you sometime

If I go ten [A]thousand [D]miles

{soc}

The [G]storms are on the [D]ocean

And the [Bm]heavens may [A]cease to [D]be

This [G]world may lose its [D]motion, [Bm]love

If [D]I prove [A]false to [D]thee

{eoc}

Oh [D]who will [G]dress your [D]pretty little feet

And who will [A]glove your [D]hands

And who will [G]kiss your [D]rosy cheek

When I'm in a [A]faraway [D]land

Oh [D]Poppa will [G]dress my [D]pretty little feet

And Momma will [A]glove my [D]hand [G] 

And [D]you will [G]kiss my [D]rosy cheek

When you re [A]turn a [D]gain

Oh [D]have you [G]seen those [D]mournful doves

Flying from [A]pine to [D]pine [G] 

[D]Mourning [G]for their [D]own true love

Just like I [A]mourn for [D]mine

{soc}

The [G]storms are on the [D]ocean

And the [Bm]heavens may [A]cease to [D]be

This [G]world may lose its [D]motion, [Bm]love

If [D]I prove [A]false to [Bm]thee [G] 

If [D]I prove [A]false to [D]thee [G]  [D] 

{eoc}

Josephine Marsh

Josephine March, composer, box and fiddle player. Her brother, Pat, plays bouzouki on these videos.

Geantraí 1998. 
All's Well That Ends Well (Jig 00:00) Jigermyster (Jig 01:27) a set of jigs composed by Josephine Marsh.


Tunes: Lad O'Berine's (Reel 00:00) Phyllis' Reel ( 01:54)
Josephine Marsh, (button accordion) Eithne Ní Dhonaile, (harp) John Weir, (fiddle) + Pat Marsh (bouzouki ) recorded in Ennis, Co. Clare in 1998.








Gradam Ceoil TG4 2020 - The Finale: 

Tá an Coileach ag Fógairt an Lae (Song 0:00), Paddy Fahy's (Reel 1:02), Jig For The One Row (Jig 1:39) & Lead The Knave (Reel 2:38)

Fingertraining exercises

This post is in German, but I think it is easy to understand. Some exercises to warm up your fingers. It is always a good idea to warm up fingers before playing. But oftentimes I forget to do it because I just want to play ;-)

Matt Heaton - Intro to Jig Rhythm

For some weeks now Matt Heaton offers workshops how to accompany Irish Music on Guitar. This week he offers the first Rhythm Workshop. He concentrates on Jigs. No chords this time, so this workshop is useful for Bouzouki players too.

Accompaniment in Bm/D - Jig "The Humours of Glynn" - Karl Nesbitt

Karl Nesbitt gives a little introduction to accompany a jig in Bm/D. This is a nice presentation for beginners. Karl also provides some introductional videos for Bodhran, Whistle and Flute on youtube.

Tim Browne - Down By Blackwater Side

A lovely song here sung by Tim Browne, a singer and bouzouki player from Kanturk, Ireland. He just sent me his CD he made called Where Treasures Lay by his Duo called Cosamar. What a lovely CD. I really enjoy listening to it. So I searched for his other CDs at my home and found this song, which can be found on youtube too.

Tim can be found via this website: https://www.mosesbridgemusic.com
and here: https://www.reverbnation.com/timbrowne

 

I found the words of the song in his book"Stories in Song Vol. 1" which is available here:
https://www.mosesbridgemusic.com/store/p17/Stories_in_Song_Vol.1.html

I made a chord sheet to accompany the video:

{t:Blackwater Side}
{st:Tim Browne Version}

As [D]I roved [D/F#]out one [G]morning fair,
being [D]early [G]as I [D]strayed                             - Hammering-On over "early" D-String 0-4
It [D]being all on the month of [G/B]June,
the [D]binds sang in the [G]shade                             - Hammering-On over "birds" D-String 0-4
The [D]sun shone down right merri[G5]ly
and the [D]waters did gently [G]glide
Where [D]primroses and [G]daisies grow
down [D]by Black[A]water[D]side

I scarce had gone but half one mile when then by chance I spied
Two lovers talking as they walked down by Blackwaterside
And as he embraced her in his arms these words unto her did say
When I'm in America, I will be true, to my bonny Irish maid

When you are in America, those Yankee girls you'll find
And you'll have sweethearts of your own more pleasing to your mind
But do not forget the promises and vows you made unto me
Oh stay at home love and do not roam from your bonny Irish maid

When I'm in America those Yankee girls I'll see
But they'll have to be very pretty love to remind me of thee
There's not one bird in yon green bush or a flower in yonder glade
Which does remind me love of you, my bonny Irish Maid

It's many's the foolish youth she said has gone to a distant shore
Leaving behind his own true love perhaps to see no more
It's in crossing of the Atlantic foam their graves are sometimes made
Oh stay at home love and do not roam from your bonny Irish maid

And so these two young lovers, so fondly did embrace
Like honey drops all on the dew the tears ran down her face
Saying there'll not be a day while you're away but I'll visit still these green glades
Until you will return here once more to your bonny Irish maid

[D]: x000
[D/F#]: x400
[G]: 0520 or 0500?
[G/B]: 4550 or 4500
[G5]: x550

Finger practice in G and D

Oh, my brain, where did I find this idea on the web? Can't remember. The idea is to exercise the scale of G and D. These are 3, or exactly 2 exercises for G and D.

You have to do the exercise once forward and then backwards. I only wrote the forward part of it.

Finger Practice - Spider walk

What an exercise. My goal for the coming weeks. Everyday for a few minutes. The Video is made for guitar, but it can be exercised on bouzouki as well. Seems my ring finger needs a lot of practice.

More finger practice

Some more finger practice I found somewhere.

First an easy one, but watch your ring finger:

Take care of the rhythm And where to change finger positions

Easy one. Leave the first finger always on fretboard

This one is a bit harder. Maybe practice one bar after another

Finger warmups for Mandolin and Bouzouki - Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien speaks about Mandolin Warmup Exercises. What works on mandolin must work on bouzouki also. So have a look at it and decide for yourselves.

By the way, some years ago Tim produced a DVD where he explains some of his techniques on Mandolin and Bouzouki. If you don't know it already have a look at it. You can order it from his website:

https://timobrien.net/video-dvd/mandolin-and-bouzouki-dvd




I tried to translate this concept to bouzouki in G-Major. It would look like this:

In D it could look like this, first D chords from D-string on, second line D chords inversed from G-string on:

Here are some short videos as introduction to his DVD:

Folk Friend - Learn to strum Irish/Scottish Hornpipes and Reels

Nye Farley (Folk Friend) has published a new instruction video for guitarists. As he explains some strumming patterns it is interesting for bouzouki players also. In this video he focuses on Hornpipes. He shows a straight and a swung pattern.

If you don't know him already check him out on youtube. There are some interesting videos to be found on his channel.

On his website you can find some tips for practicing:
https://finaleguitar.co.uk/top-celtic-irish-guitar-practice-tips-to-make-the-corona-virus-lock-down-more-productive/

You might also have a look at his book which I really like:
https://finaleguitar.co.uk/shop/ Or here in paperback: https://amzn.to/3asBlwl

Dolores Keane - Craigie Hills - Chords

Craigie Hill performed by Dolores Keane and Reel Union.

I posted this video many years ago. Now I added some lyrics and chords to it.

John faulkner - Bouzouki
Mairtin O'Connor - acordion
Sean Keane - flute
Eamonn Curran - whistle

Unfortunately you can't see too much of John's zouk playing. Nevertheless a real gem.

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

{t:Craigie Hill}

It a [Bm]being in [D]spring, when the [G]small [A]birds  were [Bm]singing,

Down [Bm]by yon [A]shady [G]arbour I    [D]careless[A]ly did [G]stray;

Where the [Bm]thrushes [A]they were [G]warbling, The [D]vio[A]lets they were [Bm]charming:

To [G]view fond [D]lovers [Bm]talking, a [G]while I [A]did de[D]lay.       

She said, „My dear don’t leave me all for another season,

Though fortune does be pleasing I'll go along with you.

I'll forsake friends and relations and bid this holy nation,

And to the bonny Bann banks forever I'll bid adieu.“     

He said, „My dear, don’t grieve or yet annoy my patience.

You know I love you dearly the more I’m going away,

I’m going to a foreign nation to purchase a plantation,

To comfort us here after all in Amerikay.

Then after a short while a fortune does be pleasing,

It’ll cause them for smile at our late going away,

We'll be happy as Queen Victoria, all in her greatest glory,

We'll be drinking wine and porter all in Amerikay.

If you were in your bed lying and thinking on dying,

The sight of the lovely Bann banks, your sorrow you'd give o'er,

Or if were down one hour, down in the shady bower,

Pleasure would surround you, you'd think on death no more.

Then fare you well, sweet Cragie Hill, where often times I've roved,

I never thought my childhood days I 'd part you ever more,

Now we're sailing on the ocean for honour and promotion,

And the bonny boats are sailing, way down by Doorin shore."


Please don't forget to comment!

Andy Irvine - Bonny Woodhall - Chords

What a wonderful song by Andy Irvine. From his album "Rainy Sundays, Windy Dreams" released in the 70s.




Here's a version from the Celebrating of the 40th anniversary of the Paul Brady/Andy Irvine album.
Andy Irvine, Paul Brady, Donal Lunny, Kevin Burke, Vicar Street Dublin. 21 May 2017




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

 

{t:Bonny Woodhall}

{st: Andy Irvine}

Down [D]by yon green bushes near [G]Calder’s clear [D]stream

Where [G]me and my [D]Annie so [G]often have [A]been

When the [Bm]hours that flew [D]past us, right [G]hap[D]py [A]were  [G]we

It was [D]little she [G]thought that a  [D]sol[G]dier I’d [D]be

But it’s [D]farewell to Annie and [G]I must a[D]way

For the [G]King he needs [D]soldiers and [G]I must o[A]bey

But if [Bm]providence prove [D]kind love un[G]til [D]I [A]re[G]turn

I will [D]wed with my [G]Annie near  [D]Cal[G]der’s clear [D]burren.

On the [D]fourteenth of August our [G]regiment was [D]lost

And a [G]ball from the [D]enemy our [G]lines came a[A]cross

O it [Bm]struck me in the [D]temple and the [G]blood [D]trick[A]led [G]down

I [D]reeled and I [G]staggered and I [D]fell to [G]the [D]ground

Come [D]here, says our captain, come [G]here with good [D]speed

For I [G]fear by this [D]bullet young [G]Dinsmore lies [A]dead

Two [Bm]men with a [D]stretcher did [G]quick[D]ly [A]pre[G]pare

And they [D]carried [G]me a[D]way to a [D]hospi[G]tal [D]there

Cold [D]water and brandy they [G]poured out so [D]free

They [G]turned me all [D]over my [G]wounds for to [A]see

But if [Bm]I had my [D]Annie to [G]bind [D]up [A]my [G]wounds

One [D]kiss from her [G]sweet lips would soon [D]deaden [G]the [D]stoun 

{c:stoun - sting}

And it’s [D]when I am weary and [G]think on lang [D]syne

When [G]I was a [D]miner and [G]wrought in the [A]mine

O the [Bm]tears they do [D]trickle and [G]down [D]they [A]do [G]fall

Like the [D]roses that [G]bloom around  [D]bonnie [G]Wood[D]hall 

Julie Fowlis - Song from Fonn Mo Bheatha - Bouzouki Arrangement Eamon Doorley

Julie is one of my favorite female singers in trad music. With her husband Eamon by her side she even gets better. I once found this recording of a song which I can't find on CD (if I am wrong please let me know) on youtube and managed to download it at that time. Lucky me, because it isn't available there any more.

For this entry I uploaded it again, but made it not searchable, because I'm not sure if I am violating any laws or rules by posting it again.

Here it is. Listen to the intro, it is so easy but so lovely:




Now that I had the time I tried to manage to tab the intro and the first two verses of this recording. Here is my Tabledit file:

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

Chordhouse - Find notes on the fretboard

I posted this more than 10 years ago and still like it. Too good to be forgotten. So here it is again.

A site for guitarists, but you can use the advanced guitar room for bouzouki, too. Custom tunings are possible. Look for scales, notes etc on the fretboard.

http://www.looknohands.com/chordhouse/



Example for Bouzouki D major scale. Now you can figure out possible chord shapes.



I made a helper with a little help from chord house which you can find here:

https://irish-bouzouki.blogspot.com/2019/11/update-chords-and-positions-for-bouzouki.html

Fretmaster App - iPad - Learn notes on your fretboard

Some years ago I mentioned this app. I found it again and think it is really worth to try it.

Fretmaster can help to lern the notes on the fretboard. It's Easy to use and it's free.





To use it for bouzouki select mandolin and then click on the tune fork icon and alter the tuning to GDAD.

Then click on the play button. You will hear a note and see where it is on the fretboard. Now you have to tip on the correct note name on bottom of the page.

Here's a short video about the app:

Accompanying Tunes in Am with Gm-Chords Capo 2 - The Castle Jig

A nice way of accompaniment for A Dorian tunes (Am) is to put the capo in 2nd position and play in Gm. This way you can use the G-string and or the D-string as drone (with capo then A and E).

I made a chord chart with lots of chords for this occasion:

As an example here are some possible chords for the tune Castle Jig. Your ears have to decide what sounds good for you:

I found this nice version of the Castle Jig, so this one might be used to try to accompany.




This is Kevin Burke teaching the Castle Jig. I cut out his performance and looped it, so I could play along with him. I used some of the chords shown above in the chord sheet. I had lots of inspiration from the Guitar Course at OAIM which is well worth a look at, even for players of the bouzouki. https://www.oaim.ie




Here's a second video with some slightly different chords:

Dennis Cahill Style - Tutorial Video by Folk Friend - Nye Farley

Today Nye Farley published a video in which he explains a bit the style of Dennis Cahill. It's a video for Guitar, but maybe some of the parts could be interesting for bouzouki players as well. Example tune is approx. 107 BPM.




I tried to find chords for bouzouki which might be suitable for this style. Here is my chord sheet, G-Drone on the Bass String:

A selection of strumming patterns - Nye Farley

Nye Farley (Folk Friend) offers a series called Folky Fridays where he talks about several techniques for Irish Guitar. In No 3 he talks about different strumming patterns. So this might also be interesting for bouzouki.




The sound quality is really bad, but the content make it worth having a look at it.

Nye also has written a book which I can really recommend called Backing techniques for Celtic Traditional Music which is available on his website:

https://finaleguitar.co.uk/product/backing-guitar-techniques-for-celtic-traditional-music/

Planxty - Live at Vicar Street 2004

The legendary concert on youtube. Buy the CD and DVD if you haven't got them already.

Paul Brady - Wearin' The Britches - Chords

Paul plays greek bouzouki and sings this ode to traditional values with Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny in the Embankment, Tallaght in 1976.






And here he is solo with greek bouzouki from 1977.



Here's lyrics and Chords: Paul plays capo at 2nd fret

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

{t:Wearin’ The Britches}

{st:Paul Brady}

[Dm]Come all young men where e'er you be and listen to me lamentations

[Dm]I courted a girl beyond compare and I loved her with admiration

[Dm]At length in time she became my wife, 't was [C]not for beauty [E]but for [Am]riches

And [C]all the time it [F]causes strife, to [Dm]see which of us will [Am]wear the [Dm]britches

[Dm]O Paddy Kane it is my name, me height it is five foot eleven

[Dm]and Me wife is nearly not so big, she only measures four feet seven

[Dm]The hedges I have oft times stripped, [C]I've left them bare of [E]rods and [Am]switches

[C]Her skin with blows sure [F]I’ve turned black, but [Dm]still she says she'll [Am]wear my [Dm]britches

[Dm]Well I am a tailor to my trade, at cutting out I am quite handy

[Dm]But all the money that I make, she lays it out on tea and brandy

[Dm]Now sometimes I do shout and ball with [C]nothing going with [E]rogues and [Am]witches

[C]Her head goes oft times [F]to the wall, [Dm]still she says she'll [Am]wear me [Dm]britches

[Dm]One morning at the tea and eggs, content and sitting by the fire

[Dm]Well She broke the teapot on my legs, and left me leapin to retire

[Dm]How often do I shout and moan, as [C]I go hopping [E]on my [Am]crutches

[C]I wished I'd broke her [F]collar bone, the [Dm]day I let her [Am]wear me [Dm]britches

[Dm]So come all young men where e'er you be, don't marry a wife if she's enchantin

[Dm]For if you do, you'll be like me, with other men she'll go gallanting

[Dm]Now my advice it is to you, to [C]marry for love and [E]not for [Am]riches,

[C]And be sure of a wife with a [F]civil tongue, who'll [Dm]give you leave to [Am]wear your [Dm]britches.

Chords which might be used:

Dm  7000
Dm  2003
C     0232
E     0220
Am  2202
F     2300 or 2330