Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by HOGS GRUNT on November 24, 2009 at 9:52am

I played a lot of Irish music when I lived in Ireland during the 80's but haven't played much since except when I am jamming with my son.
I will get round to trying some on the CBG but I am rather busy at the moment. I'll let you know when I have mastered less strings than a 12 string.
Hogs.

Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on November 24, 2009 at 9:57am

I'm playing the Ballydesmond Polkas and the Rakes of Kildare these days. Probably others, American old time tunes are usually from somewhere else, once.

And there is this, on a 3 string mountain dulcimer:

http://www.youtube.com/user/dulcibard#p/a/u/2/l75TP17kA9E

http://www.youtube.com/user/dulcibard#p/u/4/tQb-EIob56M

Permalink Reply by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker on December 7, 2009 at 3:21am

Tam:

I started off playing tunes primarily and have now gotten more into songs, since the primary session I go to has switched leadership and changed focus from the traditional tunes to songs. I've uploaded a couple of vids of me playing some tunes on a CBG, and I still grab one once in a while for plunking out one of the old rebel or drinking songs.

Gitty

Permalink Reply by Larry McInnes on March 2, 2010 at 12:09pm

I'm learning stuff by the Poques. Maybe not traditional (yet) but definitely Irish.

Permalink Reply by Rob on March 3, 2010 at 8:56am

Tam do you have the Fields of athenry on video?

Permalink Reply by Tam Givens on March 23, 2010 at 8:14am

Hi Rob, sorry for not replying earlier, I haven't been on for a while.
I Do not have a vidioe camera yet.
The Fields of Athenry is easy enough, if you know the tune in your head you should be able to knock it out.
Tam

Permalink Reply by Wild Rover on June 17, 2010 at 9:46am

Most of the Irish songs I play are done the mandolin, Irish tenor banjo or tin whistle. All for me grog, Fields of Anthenry, Jug of Puch, Wild Rover are some of my favorites. I just built my cbg (3 string) a short time ago. I haven't set to learning Irish songs on it yet.

Permalink Reply by uncle Lou on June 17, 2010 at 4:10pm

rocky road to dublin. finnigan`s wake. wiskey in the jar all r pretty easy to do

Permalink Reply by Rand Moore on July 17, 2010 at 7:07pm

Hi All.

Two of my favorite groups are the Dubliners and the Clancy Brothers (& Tommy Makem) whose records I bought back in the 80s and have listened to a lot. I have also purchased their song books a long time ago, and for some of their simpler songs I have done some simple tabs for ukulele and stick dulcimer. Most of my work is on my PC in China, so you'll have to wait a couple months before I get back there. But, I think it would be cool to create some kind of archive for Irish tunes / songs, with lyrics and tabs done for various stringed instruments commonly implemented with cigar boxes (e.g. guitars, 3-stringers, ukes). I know there are lots of places on the Internet that have Irish music, tabs, and lyrics, but often it's not in a format that we can easily use. Most of the time when I research a song, I have to collect several versions of the song, pick the music and lyrics I like best, and then find a key to transpose it to that works well for Ukulele and stick Dulcimer (but usually it's a different key for each instrument because the notes available on the fret boards are so different). I like to write a simplified version of music notation coupled with lyrics and tabs, one version for uke, and another for stick dulcimer. I use MS Paint for this as I am (in my later years) extremely technology challenged, it you know what I mean. But, I'd be happy to share what I have. Some of my tabs are also of Scottish, English, Australian and Appalachian mountain music. So, maybe we shouldn't limit it the music archive to Irish Music, or even folk music.

-Rand.

Permalink Reply by Andy Dolan on June 17, 2011 at 12:51am

Hi Tam.

Ive just about to make my first 3 stringer. I usually play either 6 or 12 string folk/country music.Irish and American.The Dubliners,Furies,Neil Young etc. Do you use a fretted CBG for the Irish songs? Ive been toying with the idea of a Dulcimer type CBG. Only because the chords would already be set out. What is the general feeing on this?

I apologise in advance for my ignorance.

Slainte mo chara.

Permalink Reply by rodger moore on May 18, 2018 at 2:20am

Songs are one thing Tunes are another.

Irish Traditional Music (ITM) is mostly dance music (tunes) that are played in Sessions.

The usual forms are reels, jigs, slip jigs, Irish polkas, and a few others.

It generally gets played at fast tempos and people who do it seriously (on stringed instruments) 

prefer short scales that allow two octaves to fit under your hand.

Mandolins, and tenor banjos (19" scale) seem to be bog standard.

If you don't play with others speed is not important and you can play anything you want.

I play standard instruments for ITM and I still haven't worked up to session speed after 7years.

Probly never will. Its a tough genre, if your not born to it.

Permalink Reply by Aaron Green on March 5, 2024 at 3:08am