How to comp a reel in D major - The Merry Blacksmith (Irish Bouzouki)

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  • Опубліковано 11 лип 2024
  • A tutorial on how to go about finding chords for an Irish reel, using the traditional tune 'The Merry Blacksmith' as an example. Note that though the specifics (tabs etc.) are for Irish bouzouki, the general concepts and techniques can be used for comping on any instrument.
    I don't have a patreon but if you want to support the content you can tip at my ko-fi page here: ko-fi.com/eamonc
    00:00 - Intro
    00:17 - Melody
    01:01 - Starting comp - Drones
    02:28 - Demo
    02:49 - Basic chords (I, IV, V)
    05:12 - Demo
    05:33 - Adding melodic movement
    06:19 - Demo
    06:40 - Chord Substitutions (relative minor)
    07:37 - Demo
    07:57 - Chord Substitutions continued
    09:31 - Demo
    09:52 - Following / working off the melody
    11:06 - Demo
    11:29 - End
    #irishbouzouki #irishmusic #irishreel #folkmusic #lesson

КОМЕНТАРІ • 41

  • @davidmcgowan103
    @davidmcgowan103 10 місяців тому +5

    By far the best video I've seen for explaining Bouzouki accompaniment. I think I'm finally getting it. Thank you

    • @EamonCoughlan
      @EamonCoughlan  10 місяців тому +3

      Thanks David, glad it's been useful!

  • @Whatzzzz999
    @Whatzzzz999 Місяць тому

    Nice playing. Great advice.

  • @EamonCoughlan
    @EamonCoughlan  10 місяців тому +5

    In case anyone is wondering, I haven't actually become proficient in left-handed bouzouki over the past month! My new phone mirrors the video and I didn't realise until it was too far into the editing process to correct (since presumably nobody wants to read mirrored tab). I should be back through the looking glass for future videos.

  • @otherwisedm7027
    @otherwisedm7027 8 місяців тому +1

    Great nvid - love the "forbidden" accompaniment 🤣

    • @EamonCoughlan
      @EamonCoughlan  8 місяців тому +1

      Thanks! Now I know at least 2 people watched to the end 😂

  • @alastair6356
    @alastair6356 7 місяців тому +2

    Great ideas for playing bouzouki . I tuned my 12 string the first 4 sets of strings and drop the d sounds brilliant and so Celtic. Keep the tunes and ideas coming .🤩👍

    • @EamonCoughlan
      @EamonCoughlan  7 місяців тому +1

      Sounds similar to cittern / 5 course bouzouki tuning! Hoping to get one of those eventually.

  • @doodeen
    @doodeen 10 місяців тому

    Hi Eamon, Thanks for the mention!.This is the best lesson on bouzouki on youtube bar none.I'll start working on this tomorrow.I'll be glad to donate as well.Keep the lessons coming brilliant!.Cheers Jim.

  • @terilamarco515
    @terilamarco515 2 місяці тому

    Thank you Eamon for the instructions!

  • @LochTalamh
    @LochTalamh 2 місяці тому

    well done , thx so much

  • @jonathonhunt935
    @jonathonhunt935 4 місяці тому

    Thanks Eamon such a helpful dive into understanding transposition of traditional Irish reels. Very much appreciated 🤩

    • @EamonCoughlan
      @EamonCoughlan  4 місяці тому +1

      You're welcome! There's a more theoretical approach in my 'Folk music theory' video too!

    • @jonathonhunt935
      @jonathonhunt935 4 місяці тому

      @@EamonCoughlan cheers Eamon I’ll have a look

  • @leonardovelazquez1029
    @leonardovelazquez1029 10 місяців тому

    Excellent video, just what I’ve been needing and looking for. Thank you Eamon! Hope to hear more songs and rhythms later on (jigs, hornppipes, waltz etc)

    • @EamonCoughlan
      @EamonCoughlan  10 місяців тому +1

      Thanks Leo! Definitely have plans for more along those lines but might be a little while as I'm moving soon. I do have a video on simple jig rhythm already, it's mostly right hand patterns though rather than chord choice.

    • @leonardovelazquez1029
      @leonardovelazquez1029 10 місяців тому

      ​@@EamonCoughlan excellent I'll check that one out as well. Good luck with the move!

  • @batlin
    @batlin 4 місяці тому +1

    I must admit to throwing in a minor 9, a dim7 and some fourth voicings when accompanying on piano when my kids used to play the Munster Cloak... sometimes you can't resist trying something a bit jazzy!

    • @EamonCoughlan
      @EamonCoughlan  4 місяці тому +1

      Most of these tunes must have been played millions of times by now, it won't hurt them to have a few extended chords thrown in every once in a while 😄

  • @WWS322
    @WWS322 Місяць тому

    I bought an Irish bouzouki and it's a really good one. I don't have trouble playing any chord. But I am so busy with mandolin and guitar I rarely touch the bouzouki. I have only found one book for it and it doesn't have much information.

    • @EamonCoughlan
      @EamonCoughlan  Місяць тому

      What kind of information are you looking for?

  • @erisch8983
    @erisch8983 9 місяців тому

    Thank you so much for sharing your knowlege and talent ! Greetings from germany :)
    (The End is really funny, too 😎😆)

    • @EamonCoughlan
      @EamonCoughlan  9 місяців тому

      Thanks, glad it was useful! And good to know at least one person made it to the end 😂

  • @George_Carter
    @George_Carter 5 місяців тому

    Wonderful video, thanks! I'm just finding my feet with more interesting accompaniment so this was perfect. And while your jazz bonus wouldn't get you kicked out of the session, you'd receive some bemused WTF looks! 🤣

    • @EamonCoughlan
      @EamonCoughlan  5 місяців тому +1

      Great, glad it's useful! I think it depends on the session. If you're the only chord player and know the room you could get away with it, but if you have other people playing different chords it could go very badly!

  • @hludovicus4478
    @hludovicus4478 4 місяці тому +1

    Excellent ! So, I guess i can also apply those advices on minor keys tune : looking for ambiguity and such ?

    • @EamonCoughlan
      @EamonCoughlan  4 місяці тому

      Yes - Drones, Substitutions, Melodic movement, and Following the melody should all work equally well in a minor key! But instead of I IV V, you can usually use I VII in the minor key as your 'starting chords' (eg. Dm and C major in D minor). I will try to do the same thing for a minor tune at some point! In another video I talk more generally about chord building (ua-cam.com/video/RjATunYrU5g/v-deo.html) though that one uses major keys as the starting point as well.

  • @petterfuhre17
    @petterfuhre17 9 місяців тому

    Excellent tutorial. Since tunes are typically played three rounds, it's so important to gradually vary and develop chord progressions, runs and counter melodies. And if it's the last set of the night, why not don a beret and a scarf and go full jazz.

  • @JosMorn1
    @JosMorn1 2 місяці тому

    New to your videos. Love them and they are helpful. May I ask what is the make of your bouzouki?

    • @EamonCoughlan
      @EamonCoughlan  2 місяці тому +1

      thanks, glad it’s been useful! The bouzouki was made by Daniel Hoban in melbourne dhobanguitars.com

  • @isaaccastillo8628
    @isaaccastillo8628 10 місяців тому

    Hello, what wood used your instrument? The sound is really very bulky and deep, I really like it. God and LORD Jesus bless you dear friend, greetings from Chile, South América 🙋🇨🇱

    • @EamonCoughlan
      @EamonCoughlan  10 місяців тому

      Hello! It's rosewood back and sides and spruce top.

  • @shreepadgandhi6739
    @shreepadgandhi6739 8 місяців тому

    What's the tuning of your instrument?
    Can I play the Irish Bouzouki by tuning it like mandolin i.e GDAE?
    Many thanks in advance from Pune city, India

    • @EamonCoughlan
      @EamonCoughlan  8 місяців тому

      Hi! Mine is tuned in GDAD. You can definitely play bouzouki in mandolin tuning, but a lot of the techniques I cover in these videos won't work as well, because they rely on the open D tuning for drones

  • @duelchristian1566
    @duelchristian1566 5 місяців тому

    Are you in GDAD tuning?