The Boys of Ballycastle is a traditional Irish hornpipe in the key of Em. In this fun arrangement for the intermediate picker, we’ll cover various ornaments & rhythmic variation within the melody; plus it’s a great exercise for the left-hand using all four fingers on the open position. Jump into the lesson & we’ll break down the tune together. Go to lesson...
Trip To Sligo has a beautiful, yet haunting melody and in this lesson we’ll take a look at an arrangement on the mandolin in the key of Em. In 6/8 time (Jig), there are some challenging right-hand picking combinations, plus some great arpeggio & scale movement, making this lesson suitable for an intermediate picker. Go to lesson...
Riding On A Load Of Hay is a fun polka (2/4) in the key of Em (Dorian Mode), played at a fast tempo, and suited to the intermediate picker. There are two parts to the tune, with the rhythm structure well suited to the intermediate picker in helping to develop speed, without the need to play too many notes. Go to lesson...
Southwind is a traditional Irish waltz, played in the key of G (standard tuning). It has a very beautiful melody that we’ll first learn in its basic form using the melodic technique, then spice it up with a chord melody arrangement that ventures up the neck. While the basic melody is very simple, I’d suggest the more advanced variation of the tune is suited to the intermediate picker. Go to lesson...
Southwind is a traditional Irish waltz, played in the key of G. It has a very beautiful melody that we’ll learn in a fingerstyle arrangement, in 2 different variations. First, we’ll first learn it in its basic form, with minimal support from the bass notes found in the harmony. Then we’ll spice it up with a more advanced arrangement that features more support and embellishment around the melody. Go to lesson...
The Three Sea Captains is a traditional Irish jig, played at a medium tempo, in the key of G (standard tuning). With a jolly melody, both the A & B parts are longer than the usual fiddle tune, making for a more substantial tune to pick. I’d suggest that you need to be comfortable with the jig structure, as this tune takes it up a notch with a variety of rhythmic variation featured throughout, making this tune more suited to the advanced intermediate picker. Go to lesson...
Sailor’s Hornpipe is a well known, traditional hornpipe, played at an up-beat tempo, in the key of G. With a jolly melody, the tune features arpeggios, some great scale movement, modulation and movement up & down the neck of the guitar. If you’re familiar with the open G major scale, it will help you get started, as I’d suggest this tune is suited to the advancing intermediate picker. Go to lesson...
Sailor’s Hornpipe is a well known, traditional hornpipe, played at an up-beat tempo, in the key of G (standard tuning). With a jolly melody and a focus on the melodic technique, the tune features arpeggios, some great scale movement, modulation and movement up & down the neck of the banjo. If you’re familiar with the melodic G major scale, it will help you get started, as I’d suggest this tune is suited to the advancing intermediate picker. Go to lesson...
The Three Sea Captains is a traditional Irish jig, played at a medium tempo, in the key of G. With a jolly melody, both the A & B parts are longer than the usual fiddle tune, making for a more substantial tune to pick. I’d suggest that you need to be comfortable with the jig structure, as this tune takes it up a notch with a variety of rhythmic variation featured throughout, making this tune more suited to the advanced intermediate picker. Go to lesson...
Sailor’s Hornpipe is a well known, traditional hornpipe, played at an up-beat tempo, in the key of G. With a jolly melody, the tune features arpeggios, some great scale movement, modulation and full use of the open fingering position on the mandolin. If you’re familiar with the open G major scale, it will help you get started, as I’d suggest this tune is suited to the advancing intermediate picker. Go to lesson...