Sorry if this topic has already been brought up in the past, but I couldn’t seem to find anything.
I’m looking for new tunes to play, but some that aren’t extremely difficult. As of right now I have been focusing on polkas (Egans, Britches Stitches, John Ryans, etc.). I really enjoy playing John Ryan’s because of the fast pace of the song and the quick finger movement. I have looked at some jigs, although I’m not sure if I can handle some. I have been trying to play The Kesh for some time now, yet am still struggling with certain areas. And I’m not even looking at reels yet, for they seem to be the most difficult.
I guess my main question here was if anyone had any suggestions on tunes that may be a good transition from what many may call “easier” songs to more difficult tunes.
I have some whistle books, and for the most part listen to the tunes online. Thanks for the link, they have some good songs I never heard before.
I found this also a while back. Some songs I try and play along with and listen to mistakes, others I’m still struggling to learn. It may be helpful to some of you tho
It’s Karen Tweed’s collection of 46 session tunes. If you’re a music reader there is a book to buy, too.
The back-up isn’t first rate, but her playing of the session tunes is plenty of fun. (She’s a piano accordion player - and a great one)
Here’s a list of the tunes - which, I think is somewhat accurate,
The Watchmaker
The Milliner’s Daughter
Merrily Kissed The Quaker’s Wife
Untitled
Going To The Well For Water
The New House
Boys Of The Town
The Rambling Pitchfork
Brid Harper’s
Dennis Langtou’s
The Cuckoo
The Tara Brooch
The Smell Of The Bog
The Broken Pledge
Paddy Lynn’s Delight
Untitled
Captain Byng
An Gallope
Tommy Peoples
The Scotsman Over The Border
Corney’s Coming
The Fairy
Andy McGann’s
Siobhan O’Donnell’s No 3
The Silver Spire
The Bush On The Hill
Conway’s
Miss Thornton’s
The Humours Of Tulla
The Reel Of Mullinavat
The Congress
Spellan The Fiddler
Smith’s Favourite
Vincent Campbell’s
The Hare In The Corn
The Kilfodda
Christmas Eve
Ailbe Grace’s
Art O’Keeffe’s
Connie O’Connell’s
The Flowers Of Spring
The Maid On The Green
Munster Bacon
The Bunch Of Roses/Seamus Meehan’s/The Return To Miltown
The tunes are graded in difficulty from easy ones at the start to more difficult at the end. Available in a pack with 2 cds from lots of places other than that shown above which has been picked for illustrative purposes only.
Go for some slow airs. You can play them at your own pace. As you gain confidence you can speed up or use more articulation.
I’m thinking of the O’Carolan tunes,
Planxty Miss Frances Power (“Fanny Power”)
Planxty Miss Eleanor Plunkett
Planxty Hewlett
Planxty George Brabazon (“Twa Bonnie Maidens”)
Planxty Captain O’Kane (“The Wounded Hussar”)
The names may sound strange but it’s likely you will recognise the tunes.
By week eight he moves into some easier reels and shows you how to play the silver spear at slow speed. Ryan is a thorough teacher and I would recommend starting at the beginning just to build your confidence that by week seven you will be able to progress to some more difficult tunes.
Thank you - I’d not heard of that before! Ace musicians to play with, too: including the most wonderful Ms Tweed on piano accordion. I get to play with her in real life sometimes; she’s a great musician and a lovely person.
