Beginner reels

Whistle
1

I’m looking for suggestions for good beginner reels.

2

Rolling in the Rye Grass
Primrose Lass

Try some polkas, too. They are lots of fun.

3

Bag of Spuds is fairly easy

4

Good suggestions so far!

I’d add Handsome Sally, the Sailor on the Rock, and the Otter’s Holt.

Best wishes,

–James
http://www.flutesite.com

5

I have whistle tab versions of rolling in the rye grass and bag of spuds, if you want them let me know.

the sheet music for little bag of spuds that I got from http://www.tinwhistler.com has it starting on a B but it’s MUCH easier to play if you start on F.

6

On 2002-09-16 15:44, Mark_J wrote:
Primrose Lass

Hmm, Primrose Lass? I don’t have the tune memorized myelf, but I’ve played it by sight, and it didn’t strike me as an easy beginner tune. To many quick octave changes(if I recall correctly). Also, The Otter’s Holt doesn’t have anything really hard in it, but isn’t a very simple melody, either. It’s got a lot of little twists and turns, in my view of it, anyway.

I would recommend going to bbc.co.uk/radio2/folk/acoustic_club/launch.shtml. Requires Flash, though. They’ve got recordings there of some musicians(Mike McGoldrick!) playing tunes in a rock-solid, session-like manner that is very easy to learn from. The sound is accompanied by sheet music. Some of the sets are played quite slowly and are easy to keep up with and learn from. I recommend this as a good way to learn some new tunes. The slowest reel sets are:
Donegal Reel/Sally Gardens/Salamanca
Mountain Road/McMahons/Gravel Walk(which I wouldn’t recommend as an easy tune)

The Old Concertina Reel is a simple tune that is easy to learn. There are only three unique phrases to it(once you know them you know the whole tune) and they are all very easy.

True Believer
Nate

[ This Message was edited by: energy on 2002-09-16 16:39 ]

7

On 2002-09-16 16:35, energy wrote:

On 2002-09-16 15:44, Mark_J wrote:
Primrose Lass

Hmm, Primrose Lass? I don’t have the tune memorized myelf, but I’ve played it by sight, and it didn’t strike me as an easy beginner tune. To many quick octave changes(if I recall correctly).

It just seems to be an analog having a common ancentry with the Balladeers song “Bog Down in the Valley-O” which a lot of people might know. Most of the quick octave changes have pivot notes to make the transitions easier. I think of those kind of tunes as ones that promote quicker development in playing by doing some thing.

It might not be easy, I just think it is a good one to try.

8

Rolling in the ryegrass followed by Anything for Johnjoe gives you an easy set, and if you’re passing by Brussels you can play the two together at our session.

I’d leave the Otter’s holt for a little later, I wouldn’t regard it as all that easy.

9

Silver Spear was my first, Maid Behind the Bar and Star of Munster.

10

The Ashplant; Man of the House; Dan Breen’s Reel