Busking can be a fun way to play music, get outside, and interact with people. It can also be a great way to make money. In the right location, a couple good hours of busking a day can bring in enough in tips to support you full-time. Or, it can be the perfect side hustle … Read more
Traditional Tenor Banjo Tuning: CGDA The tenor banjo first gained popularity in jazz. The punchy, loud sound could cut through back in the days before amplification, and provided a nice rhythmic backing to early jazz bands. CGDA tuning is the most popular jazz tuning for the tenor banjo, and is usually what people mean when … Read more
The Chieftain “mezzo*” high D whistle is one of the more popular tin whistles on the market. It’s made by Phil Hardy, who also makes the “Kerry” brand low whistles. He learned from the great Bernard Overton, and his early designs were very similar to Overton’s own whistles. Nowadays, Chieftain whistle designs are based on … Read more
The banjo has gotten a lot of well-deserved attention recently, as more and more players trade six strings for four or five. While you won’t find banjos for sale on every street corner, there are plenty of places to get your fix, both online and in person. If you’re just starting out, brands like Deering, … Read more
Hurdy gurdies have been played since Medieval times. For centuries, hurdy gurdy players entertained everyone from royals to peasants. Nowadays, the instrument has a small but passionate fanbase in early and folk music circles. Even with that fanbase, though, they’re niche instruments. You can’t just go to your local Guitar Center and expect to find … Read more
So, you want to learn the tin whistle. Great choice! It’s a fun instrument, with a lot of expressive possibilities packed in. Tin whistles are relatively inexpensive, and easy to find for sale online or in a shop. No wonder the whistle is one of the first instruments a lot of Irish musicians pick up. … Read more
The concertina is one of the most unique sounds in Irish music. It’s particularly associated with Co. Clare, where concertina players were once almost as plentiful as sheep in the Irish countryside. While concertina playing declined during the middle of the 20th century, it has come roaring back. Today, there are plenty of brilliant young … Read more
Music is one of Ireland’s greatest exports, and there are many Irish folk bands active around the world. Whether it’s singing, instrumental music, or a combination of both, there’s plenty to draw from in the Irish tradition. Many bands have taken that a step further, weaving the sounds of other musics and traditions into the … Read more
Drums like the bodhran have been played in Ireland for centuries. But it’s only recently that an explosion of new interest in the instrument has taken off. Nowadays, you can find bodhrans for sale all over the world, by a wide variety of makers. When you’re looking for a bodhran, be aware that there are … Read more
The tin whistle is often one of the first instruments a player picks up on their journey through Irish music. Because of this, many people don’t quite take it as seriously as they should. Listening to these tin whistle players is a perfect cure for any such snobbery! The tin whistle has been played in … Read more
