Irish Music Materials

Playing Manuals, CDs, DVDs and VHS videos for learning to play Irish musical instruments; also tunebooks and songbooks.

Do you still play VHS tapes? We have a few of these left, on sale at only $15 each, for the following instruments: Penny whistle (Kilduff), bodhran (Hayes), guitar (Ralston). These are described below under the instrument categories.

Irish Tunes for Session Players

A session is a group of Irish musicians; these books of tunes have been developed especially for group playing.

IM10. 110 of Ireland's Best Session Tunes with guitar chords. The most popular and enduring session tunes everywhere in the world, according to the publisher. Suitable for all melody instruments. Jigs, reels, hornpipes, polkas, slides, airs and more. Book only, $15
IM10A. 110 of Ireland's Best Session Tunes with guitar chords. Book plus accompanying pair of CD's: All 110 tunes are played on the CD's at moderate tempo for easy learning and are individually tracked for instant access. Book plus 2 CD's $34

IM11. 110 of Ireland's Best Session Tunes, Vol. 2. With guitar chords, suitable for all melody instruments. Reels, jigs, hornpipes and miscellaneous tunes. Compiled by John Canning. Book only, $15.
IM11A. 110 of Ireland's Best Session Tunes, Vol. 2. With guitar chords, suitable for all melody instruments. Book plus accompanying pair of CD's: All 110 tunes are played on these CD's, making the music come alive. Tunes are individually tracked for instant access. Book plus 2 CD's $34

New! IM12. 110 of Ireland's Best Session Tunes with guitar chords. Vol. 3. Tunes collected by John Canning. Book only $15
New! IM12A. 110 of Ireland's Best Session Tunes with guitar chords. Vol. 3. Tunes collected by John Canning. Book plus CD(s) with all the tunes played on them. $34 These are available, but have not yet arrived here.
 

Irish Slow Tunes for Melody Instruments

IM20. 110 Ireland's Best Slow Airs. Ireland's most beautiful and haunting melodies including laments, airs from old Gaelic songs, and O'Carolan compositions. Two or three lines of history or other information is given for each tune. Book only $15
IM20A. 110 Ireland's Best Slow Airs. Ireland's most beautiful and haunting melodies including laments, airs from old Gaelic songs, and O'Carolan compositions. Two or three lines of history or other information is given for each tune. Book plus double CD $34

Irish Books, DVDs and Video for Penny (Tin) Whistle

IM30. The Irish Whistle by Clare McKenna. A comprehensive method for the serious player of the penny whistle. Starts at the beginning and goes on to advanced techniques: holding the tin whistle, using whistle diagrams, staff notation, notes on the whistle, the D scale, G scale, treble clef, key signatures, exercises for reading music, time and rhythm/barlines/time signatures, phrasing/breathing, slurring, tonguing, ornamentation, cut (grace note), triplets, the double cut, long rolls, short rolls, articulation, slow air playing. A large collection of tunes is included, some sprinkled throughout the pages of techniques, and the rest at the back of the book. The tunes on the early pages are diagrammed.  Also included is historical and other information on the penny whistle itself, photos and biographies of some well-known whistle players, and a list of whistle recordings.  Book 96pp, plus 2 CDs that play all the exercises and tunes in the book "as they are meant to be played. $37

IM31. Waltons Irish Whistle Book. A six-language instruction book for the complete beginner, with 27 fully diagrammed pieces to play (this means that there is a six-hole diagram for every note in the pieces). The playing instructions and fingering chart are given in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian and Japanese. $7

IM32A. Soodlum's Irish Tin Whistle Tutor by Pat Conway. An instruction book for the beginning tin whistle player, plus 28 fully diagrammed tunes to play (largely Irish, but there are a few Scottish and others). $7

IM32B. Soodlum's Irish Tin Whistle Tutor: Irish Music and Ballads for Tin Whistle. Volume 2. By Pat Conway. 37 more tunes for tin whistle. $7

IM33. DVD. Learn to Play the Irish Tin Whistle by Vinnie Kilduff. Ireland's greatest tin whistle player shows you the inner secrets of tin whistle playing on this 50-minute video. Each technique is demonstrated and then featured in tin whistle solos accompanied by other band members. Techniques demonstrated include piping techniques, triplets, rolls, cuts, vibrato, solos, hammer-ons, crans and more. $27

IM33A. SALE! VHS version of the above Irish Tin Whistle video by Kilduff. Was $34, now only $15.

IM34. Ireland's Best Tin Whistle Tunes with guitar chords. 110 of the best tunes in any tin whistle player's repertoire, specially chosen and arranged by one of Ireland's top players and teachers. Graded by difficulty for everyone from the beginner to advanced player. Compiled by Claire McKenna. Pub. Waltons. Book only. $15
IM34A. Ireland's Best Tin Whistle Tunes: Book plus 2 CD's that play all of the tunes. $34

IM35. Ireland's Best Tin Whistle Tunes with guitar chords, Vol. 2. 110 more of the best tunes in any tin whistle player's repertoire. Also includes examples of more unusual traditional forms such as mazurka, waltz, barndance and strathspey, as well as music from Brittany, Galicia and Scotland. Book only $15.
IM35A. Ireland's Best Tin Whistle Tunes with guitar chords, Vol. 2: Book plus 2 CD's that play all of the tunes. $34

Irish Low Whistle Manual with CD

IM40. This book is a must have for every aspiring low whistle player! Written by Steafan Hannigan and David Ledsam, the book promises "all you need to know about how to play the low whistle featuring ornamentation, history and fantastic tunes." The chapters cover the following topics: getting started (this is quite extensive, including some pages on how to hold this whistle), playing and controlling notes, first tunes, ornamentation and rolls, common mistakes, low whistle history and transposition. There are tunes throughout to play, photos, drawings, and some cartoons to lighten things up. The accompanying CD plays marked tracks of the exercises and tunes from the first half of the book. 114pp. Book/CD set $32 Out of stock.

Irish Bodhran Books, DVDs and Videos

Tutor book and DVD by Steafan Hannigan.

IM54A. The Bodhran Book promises to "tell you all that's worth knowing about the intricacies of traditional bodhran playing." The beginner is guided slowly and carefully with many examples and exercises. Included are sections on the various types of traditional Irish dance music, care and maintenance, music help, discography, bodhran history and manufacture. There are 34 tunes in the back of the book. Illustrated throughout, 96 pages. $23

IM54B. The Bodhran DVD starts by showing the beginner how to hold the instrument, and moves on to tell you "everything you need to know about playing the bodhran." Choosing drums and sticks, good stick technique, reels and jigs, hand styles, hornpipes, marches, slip jigs and polkas. For the more experienced, he shows  how to progress from traditional Celtic dance accompaniments to more contemporary rock or world music rhythms. Includes 20 minutes of music featuring a full Irish band that you can play along with. $33 Out of stock.

IM50. The Bodhran, book by Micheal O Suilleabhain. An easy-to-learn method for the complete beginner showing the different regional styles and techniques. Introduction and history, basic playing techniques, more advanced techniques and contemporary developments. Published by Walton's. 25pp. $10

IM51. Absolute Beginner's Bodhran Tutor, by Conor Long. Set of book and CD, published by Waltons of Ireland. Includes introduction, choosing and care of the bodhran, holding the stick, playing position, how to read bodhran tablature, accents, reels, jigs, session playing, playing exercises and a few tunes. Book 30pp. CD: bodhran tablature explained, plus all the exercises and tunes in the book played by Conor. A whistle player plays on the CD as well.  $13 for the set.

IM52. DVD. Absolute Beginner's Guide to Playing the Bodhran by Conor Long. A great teaching video for beginners by the author of the book/CD set above . Teaches how to play your first basic strokes and accompany tunes. Complete with live stage performances featuring Gavin Ralston on guitar, Paul McNevin on fiddle and, of course, Conor Long on bodhran. $27


IM53. DVD. Bodhran, Bones & Spoons by Tommy Hayes. An action-packed 1 3/4-hour video featuring all the great styles and techniques, plus some amazing ones shown here for the first time. The master player teaches you everything step by step in an easy, friendly manner. Includes live stage performances with Steve Cooney (guitar), Charlie Lennon (fiddle), Gerry O'Connor (banjo) and Cormac Breathnach (whistle). $27

IM53A. SALE! VHS video of above Tommy Hayes video. Was $34, now only $15.

Books for Irish Flute

IM60. Timber: The Flute Tutor by Fintan Vallely. A self-teaching book for beginners and learners on the wooden, simple-system six-hole flutes, such as the Irish flute above; which have the same fingering as tin whistles. Includes basic instruction for total beginners, tips on Irish-style ornamentation of tunes, how to get chromatic notes, tunes to play, care of the instrument, and history. An interesting book to read! $13

IM61. The Turoe Stone. A collection of traditional tunes composed by the renowned Galway fluter, Vincent Broderick. Includes 68 tunes, photos, and notes on Broderick. $13

Special: Buy both the Timber and Turoe Stone books for $24.

IM62. Mel Bay's Complete Irish Flute Book by Mizzy McCaskill and Dona Gilliam. 192pp. $25

Uilleann Pipe Manuals

IM70. The Davy Spillane Uilleann Pipe Tutor by Davy Spillane and Tommy Walsh. This book, by Ireland's best-known and most innovative uilleann pipe player, is designed for complete beginners on this ancient instrument. History, parts of the pipes, reeds, notation, hints on playing, and tunes to play. $19

Irish Fiddle

IM80. A Complete Guide to Learning the Irish Fiddle by Paul McNevin. Everything you need to know about the Irish fiddle, from playing your first notes and tunes to advanced solos and ornamentation. Includes special chapters for beginners, Key Points throughout, highlighting of essential aspects of fiddle technique, a comprehensive guide to traditional ornamentation, and over 80 carefully chosen tunes. The CD lets you hear how the Irish style of fiddle playing sounds. Book plus accompanying CD: $31

IM81. DVD. Irish Fiddle: Complete Techniques. A superb video  by Charlie Lennon, one of the most well-known and respected musicians in Ireland. Learn all the great styles and techniques: bow and finger ornamentation, cuts, rolls, runs and regional styles. Complete with live stage performance featuring Steve Cooney, Tommy Hayes, Gerry O'Connor and Cormac Breathnach. $27

IM82. 110 of Ireland's Best Fiddle Tunes with guitar chords compiled by Paul McNevin, one of Ireland's top players and teachers. Includes a special feature on rolls, cuts, triplets and other ornamentation. Book only $15
IM82A. Book plus accompanying pair of CD's: All 110 tunes are played on the CD's at moderate tempo for easy learning and are individually tracked for instant access. Book plus two CD's  $34

Irish Guitar Accompaniment

IM90. Irish Traditional Guitar Accompaniment by Gavin Ralston. A course on how to accompany traditional Irish music on the guitar. Featuring alternative chords, rolls, keychanging and bass runs. Gavin has performed with many of Ireland's top traditional players and now shares his amazing skills with you. Book with accompanying CD: $30

IM91. DVD. Irish Traditional Guitar Accompaniment by Gavin Ralston. A great 50-minute teaching video on how to accompany Irish traditional music on guitar. Alternative chords, flamenco rolls and  capo slide key changing are just a few of the techniques that you will learn with this acton-packed video. Features live performances with Gerry O'Connor on banjo and Paul McNevin on fiddle. $27

IM91A. SALE! VHS version of the above guitar accompaniment video by Ralston. Was $34, now only $15.

Four Irish Songbooks

IG16. The Very Best of Irish Songs and Ballads.  Words, melody line of notes, and guitar chords. Old tinted photos of Irish people and scenes throughout.
$9 each.

IG16A. Vol. I: 50 songs. Includes: The Rose of Tralee, The Mountains of Mourne, I Know my Love, The Last Rose of Summer, The Shores of Amerikay, My Cavan Girl. $9

IG16B. Vol. II: 50 songs. Includes: The Wild Rover, I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen, The Meeting of the Waters, She Moved Through the Fair, Oft in the Stilly Night, The Wearing of the Green. $9

IG16C. Vol. III: 50 songs. Includes: The Harp That Once, Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms, The Water is Wide, Whisky in the Jar, Three Lovely Lassies, The Galway Shawl. $9

IG16D. Vol. IV: 50 songs. Includes: The Bonny Boy, Danny Boy, The Lark in the Morning, When You Were Sweet Sixteen, Rosin the Bow, Never Wed an Old Man. $9

Irish Wedding Songbook

Sale! IG17. The Wedding Songbook. Four popular pieces for Irish weddings: The Irish Wedding Song, Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod), Ave Maria (Schubert), and Panis Angelicus. Music and lyrics. Was $8, now $5.

Christmas Songbook for All Irish Instruments

IM12. Christmas Songs for Bagpipes, 100 songs arranged by Paul Fehrenbach. This book is listed here because each song appears twice, first with an arrangement for standard bagpipes, but then with a second simple arrangement of melody in either key of D or G with chords for guitar or other accompaniment. This means that the second arrangement of each song can be played by whistles, flutes, fiddles or uilleann pipes. These are mostly carols, but some are not ("There Was A Pig Went Out to Dig"). The author's description of the songs is as follows: "Some of the songs are traditional Christmas songs, others are found in collections of Celtic music, and others from other European sources. Some are modern and others very ancient. Plastic comb binding, lies flat. $21

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IM71. The New Approach to Uilleann Piping by H.J. Clarke. This course, considered to be the best one available, teaches the learner to play the uilleann pipes to an advanced level in the traditional Irish way. Starts easy, with illustrations, and progresses through carefully graded lessons. Contains a large number of tunes, some throughout the lessons, and a collection of tunes at the back of the book. The accompanying CD plays most of the exercises and pieces in the book. Book and CD set. Out of stock.