Hello!
(I posted this at TheSession.org recently, too, but thought it might be of interest to post here, as well.)
I’ve recently published https://irishchords.com/, an interactive guide for better understanding the process of choosing chords when playing backing instruments such as guitar or bouzouki.
As a guide, it’s meant to be very applied rather than theoretical. It covers an approach that I’ve found useful for quickly figuring out the key and mode of a tune, including memory aids for the Circle of Fifths and some patterns within it. It uses a new, custom Circle of Fifths widget to help walk through the process, and also tries to consolidate links to videos and guides by others whose work helped me as I was first learning.
It’s meant especially for players who are generally comfortable with their instrument, but are new to playing in this genre. The approach it describes definitely isn’t the only way to think about choosing backing chords, but it was helpful to me, and so I thought to write it up. And it’s also possible to use the same approach when playing flute or whistle in order to help a new backing musician diagnose which chords are “in-scope” for a tune.
I hope it’s of use, and thought to share it here!
