The Irish Mandolin Book
By Padraig Carroll
Does anyone know anything about this tutor? Do they use tabulature in it, or just the dots?
Any other commentary?
Thanks.
I have a copy, plus the CD. It was the first specifically Irish Tutor I got for any instrument. As I read music, and was familiar with the necessary fingering from playing fiddle as a kid, I just used the dots. I’ll have to look at my copy to tell you if there’s tablature. If there is, it’s only in the early chapters.
There are several original compositions of Padraig’s in there, I particularly recall Vincent Breandan’s Favourite, and An Fear ina Ainear (or something close to that, my Irish isn’t great) as being lovely tunes, which I would like to introduce people to. Unfortunately the tunes are not all well known session tunes, so I never felt confident to start them in a session.
I thought it was a well-paced book, clearly laid out. Some of the tunes I first tried on mandolin from this book (The Star of Munster, My Darling Asleep, The Silver Spear, Tripping up the Stairs, Farewell to Erin, to mention a few) I still play (or try to) on Fiddle now.
If you would like more detail, send me a private message and I’ll dig out the book to take a gander tonight.
cheers, Martin
Thanks, Martin.
You shouldn’t bother digging out the book, as it’s doubtful that I’d buy it based on the lack of popularity of the tunes and lack of tabs.
Thanks again,