Have you ever wondered how Irish guitarists get such a charming sound? Or how their guitar sounds so unique in accompanying traditional Irish music? Well fret not! Today we’ll explore one of the most valuable secret weapons that these guitarists have in their repertoire; the DADGAD Tuning.   What is DADGAD Tuning? DADGAD Tuning is an alternative guitar tuning that has each of the six strings tuned to D,A,D,G,A,D. This contrasts the standard tuning quite a bit from the EADGBE that most guitarists are familiar with. The low and high ‘E’ strings are tuned down a full step as well as the high ..read more

Traditional Irish music has always had a certain complexity to it, making it a rather unique style of indigenous music. All of its melodies seem to be constantly shifting and changing, adding notes and extra rhythms here and there. But why do these changes happen? And how do musicians know what notes to add or change? Well, friends, let me introduce you to the wonderful art of ‘ornamentation’ in traditional Irish music! Ornamentation is the process of embellishing a melody by adding extra notes and rhythms to vary the melody and make it more interesting. Ornamentation allows the musician to pu ..read more

Irish Music Mastery: Faster, Smoother, More Precise Have you ever felt like you’re running in place, increase playing speed flute in hand, but your tempo’s just not breaking through? You’re playing along, comfortable with the notes, yet when you try to quicken the pace, it’s a tangle of errors and frustration. This is a common plight in our musical journey, one that I’ve seen and discussed countless times with fellow musicians, and have experienced myself. It’s the speed hurdle – a tricky obstacle where your desire to playing faster on wind instruments leads to more mistakes. But fret not, fo ..read more

What Type of Musical Instrument is a Bodhrán? The Bodhrán is a circular frame drum most commonly found in Irish traditional music. It gained significant popularity during the great folk music revival of the 1960s and has continued to evolve ever since. Today a complex, modern playing style has emerged which fully explores the musical scope of this versatile Irish drum. What’s the Meaning of the Word Bodhrán? While the etymology of the word is often disputed, the word bodhrán originates from the Irish word ‘bodhar’ which means deaf. This word exists in similar forms in many Celtic language ..read more

Embarking on the journey of learning a musical instrument is more than just a physical challenge; it’s a mental and emotional adventure too. In this essential guide, we’re diving into the heart of what it truly takes to excel in music. Discover the pivotal role of mindset and motivation, and how these elements can dramatically elevate your learning experience. From the powerful growth mindset to the art of setting achievable goals, we’re unpacking the psychological strategies that will transform your practice sessions. Learn to relish the process, not just the final performance, and find out h ..read more

Cultivating the Right Mindset and Motivation Introduction: The mental and emotional aspects of learning an instrument are as crucial as the physical ones. This group focuses on psychological strategies and motivational techniques that are essential for effective learning. Embracing a growth mindset, setting realistic goals, focusing on the learning process, cultivating internal motivation, and being patient and persistent are foundational elements that shape a learner’s attitude and approach towards mastering a musical instrument. These strategies are grounded in psychological research, emphas ..read more

Are you looking for some Christmas gift ideas for the musician in your life? I’m firmly of the opinion that there’s no better way to put a smile on someone’s face than to give them the gift of music. So, in order to help you find the perfect gift for that special someone – be they a total beginner or a master of their craft – I’ve put together this list of my favourite Irish music gifts for Christmas 2032. I’ve included options for all ages, abilities and budgets. So if someone in your life lives and breathes music or you want them to, why not surprise them with one of my suggestions below? ST ..read more

Learn Your First Traditional Irish Reel in 4 Easy Steps Are you ready to learn your first Irish reel and take your playing to the next level? No experience necessary! There is a powerful trick to forming habits of which many of us are completely unaware. This blog post is especially for beginners of a traditional Irish musical instrument. I hope to help you get started and set up with the best music practice regime I know. A regime which will have you playing a simple traditional Irish reel within one month, with minimal effort. Step 1 – Surf Your Motivation First and foremost, I will assume y ..read more

According to a number of sources, it seems that left-handed/left hand dominant people make up roughly between 10-12% of the population. That may not seem like a lot, but since it’s 2023, the world population is currently at over eight billion people. That means that there are roughly eight hundred million left handed people in the world. That’s more than the population of North America, Russia, the UK and Ireland combined!  With that said, it’s only natural that we should talk about a common issue for so many people… finding a playable banjo as a left-handed individual! What’s Different A ..read more

Eager to learn about the banjo? Wondering what makes a banjo ‘the best’? Well check out this guide to the banjo and all things banjo related as I’m sure I’ll try to answer any questions you’re sure to have. Which is better? A Four String, or a Five String Banjo? Let’s start with the obvious. There is no such thing as the ‘best banjos’ for one thing. The reality is that the question you’re wondering is ‘which banjo is the best for me’? Well then, let’s start with the basics.  There are two types of acoustic banjos most commonly used in various styles of music today. These are the five stri ..read more