A Tune a Week
  • Tunes
  • About
  • Submit a Tune
  • FAQs
  • Links

Welcome

Come learn a trad tune every week, with others doing the same!

Mulqueen's Reel

3/17/2020

0 Comments

 
Name: Mulqueen's Reel
Type: Reel
Key: D Major 
Level: Intermediate
Music: https://thesession.org/tunes/66 (the third setting is closest to the version taught here)
As I write this,  we are in the midst of a global pandemic. As we all do our best to self-quarantine, what a great time to practice our instruments and learn some new tunes! Hey, we do what we can with what we have, right?

It's also Saint Patrick's Day, and although the pubs are closed and parades cancelled, at least we can share music online and raise a glass to our collective health. So to all, a great big sláinte! 

Elise Kress, what would we do without you and your enthusiasm for this project? Elise is back with another tune: Mulqueen's Reel. Come, let's learn it together. 

About this tune, Elise says: "A great reel that's not too hard to learn. It's played a lot around the DC metropolitan area, particularly at Dennis Botzer and Marc Glickman's Sunday session at McNamara's pub in Arlington. I've attached a gorgeous version by De Danann."

So let's give it a listen:

​​​​​​​Slowed down for learning

​​​Click below to download the file.
mulqueens_moderate.mp3
File Size: 750 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File

​​​​​At a moderate tempo

mulqueens_fast.mp3
File Size: 625 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File


Elise Kress is a teacher and performer in the metropolitan Washington, DC area of the United States. She offers online lessons on whistle and flute. Click here to get in touch with her directly.
0 Comments

Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part

2/23/2020

0 Comments

 
Name: Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part
Type: Jig
Key: G Major 
Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Music: thesession.org/tunes/1154
Tabs: click here
Elise Kress is back with another tune for us! "I first learned this tune from the delightful CD Happy to Meet by P.J. Crotty, Carol Cullinan and James Cullinan," she says. "It's a CD I play often, filled with lovely tunes. I've not heard this tune played around [the DC area] much, but I'm hoping to change that! I'm attaching a beautiful version by Frankie Gavin, Joe Derrane and Carl Hession. And what a great name: Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part."

Indeed 'tis! So let's first give a listen to this version of the tune, the first in the set of this recording: 

​​​​​​Slowed down for learning

Let's learn the tune together. It follows a familiar A-B pattern. Here's the slow version:
​​Click below to download the file.
happy_to_meet_slow.mp3
File Size: 2671 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File

​​​​At a moderate tempo

Once you've learned it at a slow tempo, try playing along with this faster version.
​​Click below to download the file.
happy_to_meet_fast.mp3
File Size: 856 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File

Find out more about Elise’s Irish music for weddings and events at www.celticweddingmusic.com
0 Comments

Be Right Back

2/17/2020

0 Comments

 
Taking a quick break while I find some more folks to teach tunes. If you or someone you know would like to teach a tune, please go to the "Submit a Tune" link at the top of this page to do it. The instructions and guidelines are all right there. Meanwhile I'm learning a few more tunes myself so I can teach them in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!--Dan
0 Comments

The Reel of Rio

2/10/2020

0 Comments

 

Before we begin...

Before we get started this week, I wanted to send out an appeal to teach us a tune. If you've got a favorite tune, or you know a good teacher or good amateur player in any melody instrument, I encourage you to submit a tune! It's really easy to do, and then you'll be famous. Or famouser. And you'll have the satisfaction of having given back to the community, which is always a great feeling. Trust me.

​And now:  ​
Name: The Reel of Rio
Type: Reel (surprise!)
Key: G Major 
Level: Intermediate
Music: thesession.org/tunes/575
Tabs: click here
Elise Kress is back this week to teach us The Reel of Rio. "I don't have anything brilliant to say about it," says Elise. "It's just a great reel to play." That's good enough for us, Elise! 

Let's give it a listen. I found this recording of Dylan Foley and John Whelan rocking (reeling?) out the tune here. This is what music is all about: the pure joy of playing and sharing. It doesn't get much more fun than this.

​​​​​Slowed down for learning

​​Click below to download a file.
reel_of_rio_slow.mp3
File Size: 518 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File

​​​At a moderate tempo

​​Click below to download a file.
reel_of_rio_fast.mp3
File Size: 331 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File

Find out more about Elise’s Irish music for weddings and events at www.celticweddingmusic.com
0 Comments

O’Donnell’s

2/3/2020

0 Comments

 
Name: O’Donnell’s
Type: Hornpipe
Key: G Major 
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Music: https://thesession.org/tunes/7139
Tabs: click here
This week we're being treated to a tune taught by Andrew Caden of the Washington, DC, area of the United States. He is a student of Brian Conway, and the 2017 All-Ireland fiddle champion (15 to 18) at the Fleadh Cheoil in Ennis, Co. Clare. O'Donnell's is a hornpipe he learned from button accordion player Billy McComiskey. [Ed. note: There's more talent in that paragraph than one should rightly be able to contain.]

So first let's have a listen to Billy's playing.

​​​​Slowed down for learning

​Click below to download a file.
o’donnell’s_slow.mp3
File Size: 1168 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File

​​At a moderate tempo

​Click below to download a file.
o’donnell’s_at_tempo.mp3
File Size: 1654 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File

0 Comments

The Jolly Beggarman

1/27/2020

0 Comments

 
Name: The Jolly Beggarman
Type: Hornpipe
Key: A mixolydian 
Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Music: https://thesession.org/tunes/566
The version we're playing here is probably closest to the 2nd setting on The Session.
Tabs: click here
This week I'm teaching The Jolly Beggarman, which I learned as The Red Haired Boy. I probably learned it because it was called The Red Haired Boy. But I digress. It's a nice hornpipe whose A part is similar to its B part, making it easy to pick up pretty quickly. It's played in bluegrass jams probably as much as it is in Irish sessions.

--Dan

Let's give it a listen. I like this version played by Emmett Cooke, who also calls it Red Haired Boy.

​​​Slowed down for learning

Click below to download a file.
jolly_beggar_man_slow.mp3
File Size: 1483 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File

​​At a moderate tempo

Click below to download a file.
jolly_beggar_man_at_tempo.mp3
File Size: 830 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File

0 Comments

The Honeymoon

1/20/2020

0 Comments

 
Name: The Honeymoon
Type: Reel
Key: G Major
Level: Intermediate
Music: https://thesession.org/tunes/2064
GDAE tabs: click here
Diana Havlin, from the Washington, DC area of the United States, shares: 
This is a lovely little tune that I learned from a recording on the concertina player Edel Fox's solo CD, Chords and Beryls. The melody is simple but holds a lot of interest.

So let's give a listen to a performance of the reel, with the awesome percussive sound of a couple of step dancers thrown in for good measure:

​​Slowed down for learning

​Click below to download an audio version.
the_honeymoon_reel_-_slow.mp3
File Size: 1858 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File

​​At tempo

Dina Havlin is a Washington, DC-based tenor banjo and concertina player. Known by the alias ‘Diana the Goddess,’ she can be found around the greater DC/Baltimore area promoting #concertinatakeover
0 Comments

The Humours of Glendart

1/13/2020

2 Comments

 
Name: The Humours of Glendart
Type: Jig
Key: D Major
Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Music: ​https://thesession.org/tunes/45
The second setting on The Session is closest to the version being taught here, but note that for some reason the A part is inadvertently listed twice on that site.
Tabs: click here
A couple of years ago I started a Spotify playlist called "Tunes to Learn," and this tune was one of the first to be added to the list. It's got an easy, accessible pattern to it, and it's just lovely to play. I hope you enjoy it, too.

I like this version by John Whelan on his album ​Celtic Roots (Spirit Of Dance).

​​Slowed down for learning

humours_of_glendart.mp3
File Size: 1383 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File

​At tempo

2 Comments

Barney Bralligan's

1/6/2020

3 Comments

 
​Name: Barney Bralligan's
Type: Slip Jig
Key: D major
Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Music: ​https://thesession.org/tunes/1429
Tabs: click here
Elise Kress, a trad musician in the Washington, DC, area of the United States, sent us this lovely slip jig. First, let's give a listen to her favorite version by the late, great Eugene O'Donnell. It's in a different key than we'll learn it in, but it's Eugene O'Donnell, folks.
Now here's a version in the key we'll be learning it in, played by Andy McGann and Paddy Reynolds, with Paul Brady on guitar:

​Slowed down for learning

Now let's learn the tune. As a reminder, the sheet music is available in the Session link at the top; the first setting is what's being taught here. But if you can learn it by ear without "the dots," give it a try!
barney_bralligan_learning_tempo.mp3
File Size: 1171 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File

At tempo

barney_bralligans_at_tempo.mp3
File Size: 990 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File

Find out more about Elise’s Irish music for weddings and events at www.celticweddingmusic.com
3 Comments

Christy Barry's

12/26/2019

1 Comment

 
Name: Christy Barry's
Type: Jig
Key: G major
Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Music: ​https://thesession.org/tunes/843
​
Tabs: click here
When I first began searching for tunes to learn, Christy Barry's was one that tickled my ears a lot. The version I heard is played by Kevin Crawford. It's on his 'd' flute album. Let's learn it together!
--Dan Kaufman, Arlington, Virginia, USA

First, listen to Kevin's version. It's just the first tune on this set:​

Slowed down for learning

Now let's learn it. If you learn best by reading the music ("the dots") you can download the music from thesession.org. The second version at the link is probably closest to the one we'll learn here. That said, as most teachers will tell you, you'll pick up tunes a lot faster over time if you learn to play Irish music by ear. So I encourage you to give this a try.

​Click below to download it.
christy_barrys_slow.wav
File Size: 3832 kb
File Type: wav
Download File

At tempo

1 Comment

    Sign Up

    Want to get an email reminder when a new Tune is added? Click here to sign up.

    Archives

    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019


    Categories

    All
    Hornpipe
    Jig
    Reel
    Slip Jig

    RSS Feed


    This site is sponsored by
    Picture
This site is maintained by volunteers who have a love of traditional irish music and culture. Got a question or suggestion? contact us here.
  • Tunes
  • About
  • Submit a Tune
  • FAQs
  • Links