Irish Guitar
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Tabs book (+ scores) with DVD |
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Volume 2 ![]() |
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Introduction
I've played the guitar since 1981 and I spend most of my time playing Irish traditional music. I quickly discovered a problem : Is there a way to have those particular "colors" without changing standard tuning ?
The reason is very simple : after having spent quite a lot of time to learn to play in standard tuning
(E - A - D - G - B - E),
to change the tuning nearly comes back to return 10 years backward : all fingerings are to learn again.
I don't want to enter in a sterile polemic on the advantages compared of the different tunings, it just seems possible to me (and interesting) to be able to preserve the standard tuning insofar as it permits to make a multitude of things in all keys.
I begun therefore to play Irish music with standard tuning, after what it was more simple and more satisfying to try other tuning (DADGAD, DADGBE). You will find therefore on this page, advices, tabs, scores and chords diagramms for these three tunings. Enjoy.
Manual
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If you are interested, mail me by clicking here !
At least 4 other methods exist on the Irish guitar :
* The first is written by the guitarist Sarah McQuaid. The title "Irish DADGAD Guitar book" clearly explain that the work is destined to those that want to explore the tuning of D sus4. However, numerous observations will remain valid in any tunings. It is a good book, even though it is necessary to specify that work is centered more on flat picking interpretation that on the principles of accompaniment (one finds some advices and some chords positions). A point to underline especially : the excellent resonance use of non fingered strings. Audiotape and videotape are also availables. Book in English. Ossian Publications Ltd. |
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* The second is written by Paul de Grae. The book is titled "Irish traditional Guitar" and studies several tunings (DADGAD, DADGBE and especially DADEAE baptized "Irish tuning" by the author). The book is relatively complete and homogeneous. Tunes are studied and the accompaniment is also landed. A very good work with an abundant documentation. Audio tape and CD are also available. Book in English. Ossian Publications Ltd. |
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* The third is written by Gavin RALSTON and titled "Irish traditional guitar accompaniment". A big number of pieces (27) and few commentaries. However, one finds interesting rhythmic diagrams there, and a processed of the evolution of the accompaniment of an air according to the reader's progress. The utilized tuning here is the Dropped D (DADGBE). It is published since 1998 by Walton Manufacturing. ISBN 1-857200780. The method is also available at Mel Bay. Available audio tape. Book in English.
Mel Bay Publications |
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The fourth work is from Chris Smith . It is titled "Celtic back-up for all instrumentalists". Very complete at a theoretical level, it is an excellent method that presents the particularity to address to all instruments accompanists. At the beginning, one can be disorientated a little because of total absence of chords diagrams and tabs, but this system obliges the author to search for the fundamental principles of accompaniment, arrangement and even learning of Irish tunes. Score reading needed.
The book is available at Mel Bay, or better, by Chris Smith himself. Language : English, CD available. Chris Smith |
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It's probably possible to find other books on the topic, but I can only speak of those of which I have !
Consult the category "News" of this site for possible new releases.
Picking & tabs
Inspired by listening to Tony McManus, I decided to try other tunings, trying to adapt of Irish music to finger-picking style.
How to download ?
This page permits you to download tabs and scores in various formats. If you don't know how to reach a tune, just read this description.
A real pain !
For the fast airs, the melody is going to monopolize the energy and the guitarist's attention, only letting few possibilities for the choice of the bass. Of this fact, it seems often preferable to use DADGAD tuning (or at least DADGBE) in order to simplify the work of the left hand.
To find a software that correspond to a file format, click here
TablEdit's file (.tef)
The most compete format. With this shareware, you can listen the tunes, see and print the tab, the score and the chords proression grid. All my tabs are made with this soft.
To save a TablEdit's file on your hard drive, click on the icon with the right mouse button, then click on "Save target as..."
JPG picture (.jpg)
JPG and GIF are two picture's format. So you can get tabs and scores as graphic files and read them on your Mac or PC, by loading the pictures with a graphic software. An inconvenience exists: one cannot listen...
To see the tab, click on the icon (one icon for each page) with the left mouse button. To save pictures on your hard drive, click with the right mouse button, then click on "Save target as..."
Midi file (.mid)
A midi file can be hear with many music softwares. Some of them can also show and edit the score. A little number of them can make a transposition in tab. TablEdit is the best of them...
Click on the icon with the left mouse button to listen to the music. To save the midi file on your hard drive, click with the right mouse button, then click on "Save target as..."
Abc file (.abc)
Abc is a language designed to notate tunes in text format(ASCII). Advantage : very small files. Disadvantage : no tab mode, no real polyphony. Only flatpicking tunes are available in this format.
To save ABC file on your hard drive, click on the icon with the right mouse button, then click on "Save target as..."
MP3 files (.mp3)
MP3 format is an audio file, but smaller than a wav file. It's impossible to transpose an MP3 file in score or tab.
To save an MP3 file on your hard drive, click on the icon with the right mouse button, then click on "Save target as..."
Windows media video files(.wmv)
Video file with a good sound quality.
To save an wmv file on your hard drive, click on the icon with the right mouse button, then click on "Save target as..."
Some students come to my courses during the year, and during the master class of Mydriase(usually at the end of august).
Tips and advices
In this category, you will find technical or stylistic advices on the use of guitar in Irish music : finger picking or flat picking work, solo or accompaniment and different tuning use...
Consult the Bouzouki section of this site: a comparable category should provide you easily transposable runs
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The example below (Joe Cooley's reel) show how it's possible to interpret a same air of several ways :
JPG picture file
Size : 36 ko
TablEdit file
Size : 5 ko
Midi file
Taille : 4 ko
If you have problems to see or to download, click Here
Don't forget that these fingerings are only propositions, and that numerous variations are possible. If you want to study this tune in its entirety, you can also download the corresponding tab (TablEdit's format). This one will propose you also some ideas of accompaniment
JPG picture files
TablEdit file
Size : 5 ko
Midi file
Size : 10 ko
Page 1 : 33 ko
Page 2 : 30 ko
If you have problems to see or to download, click Here
This idea is exposed below by another example in DADGAD tuning. The first picture shows a definitive version of the reel "Pigeon one the gate". The second exposes the first part of the reel using especially non fretted strings, then the same thing but with fingerings privileging tied notes...
JPG picture files
TablEdit file
Size : 3 ko
Midi file
Size : 6 ko
Page 1 : 35 ko
Page 2 : 30 ko
If you have problems to see or to download, click Here
Two exercises where scales are played while combining tied notes and non fretted strings (standard tuning, rythm of double jig)
JPG picture file
Size : 41 ko
TablEdit file
Size : 3 ko
Midi file
Size : 2 ko
If you have problems to see or to download, click Here
You can download a shareware version of TablEdit at this address :
http://www.tabledit.com/
Do you wonder what maybe the result of these techniques ? Among the various available formats below, you will find two small audio files (MP3 format) that will give you a small preview. The recording is not the highest quality, but the size of the files is reasonable (about 158 and 111 Ko in zip format).
TITLES
Composers
Arrangers
Instruments
Difficulty
Formats
Jessie over the bridge
Trad.
Jean Banwarth
DADGAD Guitar
The Connaughtman's rambles
Trad.
Jean Banwarth
DADGAD Guitar
If you don't have a player to read MP3 format, you can download " Winamp " while clicking below. It is a very good soft that permits to read many musical formats. And it's freeware !!!
Enjoy !
This chapter is in construction. You should be able to find other information in a near future (tunes in flat picking, finger picking and accompaniment). if you like irish music and guitar (standard tuning, DADGAD or DADGBE), come back from time to time...
Software
For this work, I needed a good tab software. I have found the best :
Click on this bouton to go to TablEdit's page.
This is a fabulous PC shareware. Almost everything you could want is available !
Define number of strings (from 3 to 12) and choose your tuning
Create and print chord dictionaries
Create and print chord progressions
Up to 9 tracks
Import and export Midi, ABC, ASCII.
and much more...
You can download a shareware version of the software at this address : http://www.tabledit.com/
You will be able to listen without any restriction to over 2000 tabs downloaded from TablEdit's page. Limitations are on printing (the software will print "Demo version" on your tab) and saving (only 16 bars can be saved in one file).
Clean installation (no polluting .dll), and minimal place on the hard disk (about 500 ko)
The tunes and exercices from my book are available in TablEdit's format. Just mail me
Links
No buttons on the left ? Click here to go to the main page
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