Fiddlers love the keys of D and G but not so much the key of F. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because D and G are some of the first scales we learn early so we train our fingers and it sticks with us. Or maybe it’s because we just don’t like those damn … More What the F?
Every good sessioneer has a list — a running tab of all the tunes you’ve heard at a session and plan to learn for future sessions. Sometimes it’s just a tiny piece of paper you keep in your instrument case. Sometimes it’s a whole notebook. Other times, it’s just an imaginary collection of tunes to … More Sporting Paddy: Tune 24 of 52
In the last 14 weeks I’ve been diligent about either learning new tunes or dusting off old ones. I can’t say whether or not I am actually sounding better, but I can say I’m listening better. I’m listening to myself and listening to others with a keen ear. And I’m noticing things I’ve never noticed … More Stop, Look and Listen
This tune (also known as the Glasgow Reel) has haunted me since I’ve been playing the fiddle. I first learned it on the mandolin many years ago and even though the mandolin is strung like a fiddle, I couldn’t seem to transpose it to the fiddle and make it sound good. Bowing this tune is … More Tamlin: Tune 12 of 52
We’re at week 6 of my 52 week goal of learning a tune a week. This week’s tune is called Alice’s Reel and was written by the great Irish fiddler, Frankie Gavin. I hope you like it:
Learning tunes is the easy part. Giving them life is the challenge. Read more on how to give life to your music. … More Music that Make the Dancers Dance
One of the best ways to work on mastering your instrument is to immerse yourself completely in the music as much as you you possibly can. Music is just like a language and the more you hear it and are surrounded by it, the more you pick up. Coming up next month, you’ll have an opportunity … More Winter Cape Breton Fiddle and Dance Camp
You just learned a new tune and you play it over and over in your living room when no one is home. Each time you play it, it gets better and better. At some point it sounds so good that you think of quitting your day job and taking it on the road. You envision yourself … More Play like you have nothing to lose
Thank you all for your continued support of both Irish music and my blog. Please feel free to write me if you have a topic you’d like me to write about or if you’d like to be a guest blogger for Session Obsession. I hope you have a safe and happy new year! I’m looking … More 2013 in review
Being from Boston I can spot a Boston accent a mile away. And not only that, I can tell from what part of Boston someone is from solely by their accent. For example there is a difference between a south Boston accent and an East Boston accent. Irish music is much the same in that … More The Music of West Limerick
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