Celtic Fingerstyle Guitar An Introduction Tony McManus

[@bobthabuilda1525]

I can't understand how anyone would think using open tunings was "cheating." Standard tuning only came about because some people thought it was easiest for what they wanted to do, same with every tuning. No one invented a tuning to intentionally make things more challenging, and there is no law or commandment that a guitar has to be tuned a certain way. The things people come up with absolutely blow my mind.

[@derekcosten1136]

Stephen Forbes ya you get totally different sounds out of different tunings i love using them maybe a little too much

[@bobthabuilda1525]

Derek Costen No such thing as "too much" in art. If alternate tunings are how you best express yourself, go all out with it.

[@henriksthr8865]

Joshua Caleb Agree. You can't "cheat" on a guitar. Either it sounds good, and you' re doing it right, or it doesn't, and then you are doing something wrong. BTW Those PRS Angelus guitars are great bang for the buck.

[@samuelconnolly347]

Joshua Caleb Completely agree. I can spend hours exploring different tunings, to the point where I've forgotten what I've tuned my strings to, and enjoy the different sounds you can produce. I've found I particularly enjoy Dm7 tuning (I think) - D, A D, F, C, E. I also enjoy tuning the D up to an E so I can play in E major a lot easier. I don't consider it cheating, it just opens up other musical possibilities by allowing me to play the D string open. Guitars are tuned to perfect fourths (with a major third) because fifths were the tonal interval favourites of western music for centuries (parallel fifths still sound vaguely 'medieval', to me). The modern tuning was established to allow those perfect fifths to be played easily while also allowing to play to fret chords and play scales as easily as possible. At least that's what my old music teacher told me... Tony McManus was the guy who really got me into guitar properly (i.e. beyond Smoke on the Water and House of the Rising Sun). I saw him in 2008 at The Brook in Southampton, UK, with Andy McKee - stunning performance. I don't think his use of DADGAD makes his playing style 'easier' (any more than Andy McKee's use of it...).

[@j.d.o5709]

Joshua Caleb Couldn't have said it better myself. All kinds of music around the world wouldn't exist without these tunings. Even bluegrass banjo relies almost solely on open tunings guitarists commonly use.

[@eddielee6490]

Ah reminds me of my pretty Irish Colleen with her blue eyes and freckles .We were married 52 years now she walks with the angels...

[@glenb4887]

God bless you man

[@Dennzio1]

Probably flys with them bless her

[@thestraynetwork]

Glad you two shared so much love.

[@Gongasoso]

One can't imagine what it must be like... I hope you are doing well

[@njgl2010]

Nah man, her Spirit is with you at all times.

[@DwenzaLaSenza]

I have only just discovered this and I am wondering how on earth I’ve missed this tune and this lovely guy. I have been playing and composing music for my own pleasure for over 40 years. I have always used open strings in standard tuning and I hear so many echoes of the chords I have “discovered” in this approach. Such a beautiful tune played from the heart. Such a talented yet humble man.

[@richtfingers]

Tony has such a beautiful touch. Often these days people are easily blind sighted by technique and miss that music is the transportation of emotion.

[@robertcanedo7607]

Someday, I hope to see the land of my forefathers; so in the meantime, a bit of Celtic songs to learn, will make my visit all the more enjoyable. Thank You!

[@752brickie]

Thank you so so much Tony for the beautiful music !!!! Someday when the LORD lets me we want to go to Ireland !

[@hansvandermeulen5515]

I love how these fingerstyle guitarists play the same tunes (whether it's rags or irish), often (but not always) in the same tuning and all those versions are quite different, yet recognizable as the same melody.

[@mirllewist3086]

Yeah, kind of similar in jazz and also all of that American songbook vocal music. Interesting that rock grew in a different direction - while there are some great covers out there, it seems like rock bands rarely play tunes by other bands.

[@EmanuelePietro]

A very beautiful Celtic song. I had never played a Celtic song. Thanks to your tutorial I also learned this. thanks

[@Cirocoleman]

Gorgeous!! Having just read some of the comments below it seems someone has a wasp up their trousers about open tuning. Who gives a tinker's cuss? Music is music and if it touches you inside who's to argue the toss?? Love this styling and the sound it produces. It's mellifluous and evocative and you can escape to some other place where the dipsticks of this world don't exist!! Many thanks for sharing Tony!!

[@porcoddiogesubastardo9669]

Pathetic

[@petercharles53]

This has inspired me to move on from my alternating base! I love the arrangement Tony and the playing is exquisite.

[@scottfishkind5335]

Thank you Tony! You were the first one who really introduced me to DADGAD I now use that along with several other open tunings and it's really opened up a new world for my playing!!

[@olafec]

This is the best arrangement of this song i've ever heard, hands down!

[@sixmilebridgeandsf]

The best version of this tune that I have ever heard. Thanks!!

[@roberthopkins7984]

Possibly one the most beautiful pieces I have heard for guitar.

[@michellebrady1966]

Thanks Tony, first time after playing hard rock for 30 years and picked it right up, that is great share !!!

[@abmbarry]

Thank you for a beautiful performance, ..... Talent is quite rare on YT but very refreshing.

[@fredwise3216]

Thank you so much! I was totally paralized by the idea of just trying to play open tuning... Two lessons, a bit of history to explain the origins, and plenty of ideas to enrich melody lines... It sounds so fluid. My old guitar has got a new life :-)

[@djad54]

If this is just an introduction Id hate to try and learn something harder.. lol Hes just blown my mind.

[@univuniveral9713]

he is not actually teaching it here. I think it is simpler than it appears, if he teaches the shapes and the finger-style.

[@jonathonmcferrin4486]

leo lion kkoooloo

[@astronomy7911]

leo lion I don't get playing guitar. People must practice all the time or something.

[@tedpeterson1156]

I tried not practicing and that doesn't work very well.

[@zorbanongreco]

@@tedpeterson1156 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🐂💨💨💨💨💨💨💨💨

[@telboy1966manu]

A lesson from a real master, a privilege and joy to listen to and learn from, thank you 👍

[@steelydan1242]

I am learning this song from tabs and watching your video really helped me to fine tune nuances of this beautiful piece. Thank you for sharing.

[@russclayton7844]

I have been playing around with DADGAD for a long time. Thank you very much for the wonderful instruction. It opens up a lot. It's a beautiful song and arrangement..

[@Rikk303]

Best tutorial I've seen so far on open D. You're calm and passionate Tony (rare emotions together). I've been playing DADF#AD since I started 40 years ago, no lessons and precious little interaction with other tuned players. As soon as you started playing, I was right in there with you albeit a little bit madder economy-wise. You have a great way about you Tony. Thanks m8

[@Flatlandish]

+Rikk303 I think this is not the open D-tuning (DADF#AD) but the DADGAD tuning. Very close , but the DADGAD tuning is a modal tuning, so you can play major and minor and modal. Great tuning, that I use a lot. Have fun with this great tutorial! Cheers.

[@Rikk303]

Never too old to learn huh? I've been playing dadfad since I started 45 years ago. I've always tuned down a semi and capo'ed the 2nd fret to bring it up to pitch....slackens off the strings....I know.. I 'm a wuss. Recently, I've used a 2nd capo on the 4th fret (a Schubb with some rubber cut away to leave the high B&E strings unaffected). Looks weird having 2 capos on the neck but give it a try. I'm certain it's a new way of playing. There probably are inversions of the chords but I'm not good enough for the stretches. I'd be interested in your thoughts. All the best Jan.

[@Saigenji_guitar]

All I can say is… Just beautiful!! Thank you from Japan!!

[@plunderclat221]

why the shite would someone dislike this? does that mean 15/1000 people are arse holes? it must! thanks for this tutorial! its so well done. a fine teacher indeed

[@meaninglessabu8231]

I'm sure Tony doesn't let it go to his head

[@adamhill3107]

They are jealous!

[@MilesBellas]

freedom of choice

[@simpeable]

Talking about tabs, so far best tabs for me are good clear videos, having visual&audio. So, if anyone wants to play and practice this particular song cover, arranged by Tony take your guitar, tune it, watch the lesson, listen, practice . You have all what you need, best tabs ever... Tony is fine artist and great player. His signiture model PRS is over 10.000$ , oh my god..

[@jamescoughlan8193]

What a beautiful guitar , sound and playing, such nonsense about open tunings being cheating, same applies to the use of the capo or even having frets on the guitar really, what ever works and sounds great is all good , Must look up more Tony McManus stuff. TY for the post.

[@tedpeterson1156]

Until I picked up the guitar a little bit I thought the same thing. A capo is sometimes called a "cheater", but hundreds of popular tunes were written and performed with a capo. To sound like the recording means using a capo. Alternate tunings and open tunings add interest and variety, but most people still enjoy Cowboy chords too. "No money above the fifth fret." May be some truth to that.

[@davidlamont6228]

I love this tuning. This video has opened up an entirely new path for me to explore using this D tuning. Great video! Many thanks!

[@Kieranb1972]

How can anyone give a guitar player this good, a thumbs down??? .............really?

[@davidmcmahon7463]

Thats the ukulele players-----only kidding!

[@mjbminer8381]

I just can't get enough of this music. Definitely going to learn it !

[@josephmcardle9637]

Thank you for this helpful instruction and your beautiful playing!

[@B.Pilgrim]

Such gorgeous music, I would love to learn how to play like this. Simply magnificent!

[@brendandunne4401]

You're a good teacher Tony!

[@marcmywords1546]

I stayed away from open tunings for so long, but having played with open c for the last few months its been so fun and refreshed playing a lot. DADGAD next...

[@martinbolt6906]

Really Nice song to play. Thanks Tony

[@lummers12dub]

Amazing teacher. Great tutorial thank you

[@johnmccann8319]

Absolutely beautiful playing of a beautiful Irish tune.Planxty(the group) do a beautiful version.

[@PERONOSPORAHYOSCYAMI]

Really impressive. McManus has such a light dance-like touch to his fingerstyle. I suspect the tone folks are asking about comes more from his fingertips than the particular gauge of strings.

[@bstrange666]

Both have equal value, long nails help with tone but so do good acoustic strings

[@emlyngriffith5846]

A lovely song beautifully played......

[@brianmi40]

Very nice. Found this for a bit of inspiration that my brother wants me to try some Celtic guitar for recording a song he's written. I'm inspired!

[@brucehanover890]

Just came across this by luck. Beautiful tune. Tabs or no tabs I think there's enough here to learn it. I think the play count will likely increase exponentially in the next few weeks! Lol, Thanks Tony!

[@GradyElla]

Hey Tony, to help alleviate your guilt, Jimi Hendrix played the bottom string with his thumb too! Tommy does it, Pat Methany does it, even George Benson does it. My classical teacher threatened to tape my thumb down the first time he saw me do it! Continue to teach this technique please. If I had to guess at what percentage of guitarists play their instruments as purely classical to the exclusion of other styles, that number would be pretty low. I am classically trained but I am here today to learn how to pay Celtic music in the style that best articulates it on the instrument. There is no shame in that.

[@sagecreekwitt3301]

Tony is a great guitarist and performer. thx

[@adrianabrambila3908]

¡Que melodía tan Preciosa! Muchas Gracias.

[@neilnayar]

Thanks so much. You're lessons are amazing!!! I've learnt my first Irish tunes...

[@adams2531]

Sounds so nice.

[@MsMusicman56]

1600's and the bloke was blind. Bloody hell. Im going to learn this

[@tedpeterson6999]

Medieval Doc Watson

[@charlesk.sarles3166]

Love this comment! Man do I miss Doc!

[@Jakk54]

I would love to get the tab of this - I have seen tabs, but Tony's looks like the best. I had the privilege to hear him in concert at a tiny venue in the Scottish Borders some years back. He was amazing. I immediately rushed out and bought two of his albums.

[@CelticMandolinsGinnyAitchison]

As a mandolinist - that sounds incredible on the guitar !!

[@Theweeze100]

Eh... enough with the tuning, let’s hear about that Guitar!!! It sounds like magic...and let’s not forget to appreciate the genius of Tony McManus! Now, as we say here in the South...”Go’n inside and get cleaned up for supper”

[@jdpb63]

Terrific video - clear, helpful, well done.

[@zachmcmanus8358]

Very beautiful playing

[@evadedshadow1506]

I've been playing guitar for a few months (officially). All I can really do is watch this and be quite jealous. I'd give anything to be able to play like this.

[@mikedunn5633]

+Evaded Shadow I've been playing for over 45 years, and I'm still learning new things. Keep going and be inspired - there's a fantastic journey ahead for you. :-)

[@philoshaughnessy906]

You can. Practise, practise, practise. (And happy playing.)

[@collj86]

You can Put on a long black trench coat. A red plumed top hat. And your guitar Next step summon the devil and be ready to sign your john hancock in blood lol

[@onlybugwit]

What a beautiful sounding guitar 😍

[@andrewbeattieRAB]

EXCELLENT VIDEO I already play finger style acoustic blues. Oh hell, I’m in!

[@kennethlund4165]

Thank You Tony! For a while now I've looked for ways to take my rock and blues playing into the celtic. I think you have opened the door. Thanks again.

[@ccirishgal]

Absolutely beautiful.

[@amazingvideos8841]

this is soooooo beautiful

[@Vocela]

He's a beautiful player. Love his PRS. I wonder which one it is.

[@11000038]

Just beautiful. Thank you.

[@deFunkyMofo]

masterful and beautiful ...

[@jonathanzachariah6593]

Awesome! Thank you Tony!

[@DSteinman]

Irish tunes are very very often in modes of D and G, because those are strong fiddle keys. Most of the other trad instruments are designed for those keys too. DADGAD captures elements from both fiddle and harp tunings - open D and A strings, low bass D, and ability to easily play major and minor seconds on adjacent strings like harps can.

[@kylehiatt3004]

Amazing sounding finger picker and guitsr

[@Sallodeus]

Literally just watching this I’ve absorbed so much ability to play in dadgad, like he opened my eyes. People who think this is a cheat are the ones who haven’t realized you need to rewire your brain to play articulately in this tuning. Basically forget about your level of knowledge in terms of phrasing and progressions. These are new grounds. Makes me feel like a noob kinda

[@e1ay3dme12]

Highly trained, pro-bass convert to acoustic guitar here an I must confess, woefully ignorant when it comes to different tunings. It's a derp rabbit hole well worth exploring. That is just lovely.

[@MrNudie1]

Beautiful version Tony. I wish I could play like that. Has anyone heard Ed Gerhard's version? Also very beautiful. Done a lot slower.

[@barbhartle7438]

Thanks so much for sharing this. Would love to see you play in Vancouver sometime.

[@arturosilvester1930]

Gracias, mis genes ordenan mi sentir. Cada melodía me lleva a través de los siglos.

[@TashHag108]

Thanks Tony, nicely explained and i couldn't take my eyes off the seagull

[@juanvaldez5422]

thats a PRS

[@juanvaldez5422]

Paul Reed Smith

[@Hashashin710]

coming from conventional guitar playing in standard and open tunings, i decided to jump right into this. it's been tedious and repetitive to learn without knowing any phrases or vocabulary of the dadgad tuning, but it's been worth it to learn such a beautiful song.

[@jaypond4368]

Can you play it like Tony does here? It all goes so fast Its hard to pick up on all the subtle details as hes playing. Especially the part where he does those shapes to get the bass sound

[@banacek60chord43]

Shi Bhig Shi Mhor [not what I heard it as, She begs frae more] beautifully played on a beautiful guitar,thank you so much!

[@DavidMarshall-scrybler]

Sí Bheog, Sí Mhór, I think, - it's little it's big. But I understand it might be short for Fáinne sí bheog, fáinne sí mhór, meaning little fairy ring, big fairy ring, and is supposed to be the story of the war between the two, in music.

[@DavidMarshall-scrybler]

Hmmm doesn't like my accents: Si Bheog, Si Mhor - probalby short for Fainne si bheog, fainne si mhor - little fair ring, big fairy ring... as the tune is supposed to have been written as a challenge to put to music the story of the war between two fairy rings.

[@banacek60chord43]

'Faer' is for: 'Frae' is from. Unlikely 'she begs from more'.

[@DavidMarshall-scrybler]

It's a poem, in Irish - Turlough O'Carolan, I believe only spoke Irish, and wrote this music for it sometime around 1700 in response to a challenge. I think the opening lines are: Imreas mór tháinig eidir na ríoghna, (There came a big quarrel between the queens), mar fíoch a d'fhás ón dá chnoc sídhe (because of anger grew from the two fairy hills)... or roughly that. Notice the last word "sídhe", it's an alternative spelling of "sí" which in this case means "fairy" and not the pronoun "she". It's title is well documented, so anything after 1700 is just a bit of problem of Chinese whispers ...

[@DavidMarshall-scrybler]

For anyone not familiar, it should be pronounced (as it it were written in English) as "She vee-og, , she wore" (though in some parts they'll say "she vore").

[@davidgreenhalgh3946]

Thanks Tony. Beautiful lesson.

[@davidweaver4882]

I like the way you played it straight, close to the original Some of these Guys on KZbin are like look at me!! Trill's, harmonics, backstepping, jazz chords, give me a break.

[@Hogi-Music]

Thanks a lot for posting this! It ́s really very helpful and sounds beautiful!

[@davidhosie]

I'd forgotten how much my father's Celtic roots affected my appreciation for Celtic music! Thanks Tony for this great tune!!

[@tonyparatore888]

Beautiful music

[@JDubbins92]

Beautiful Playing!

[@sleddy12345]

Very beautiful

[@Seazer009]

Very nice, so pretty , thanks...

[@raymatthews7237]

...a very pleasant style or playing...

[@thegusglynnband]

Thanks for this arrangement, very very satisfying to play :)

[@SlickD217]

I’ve written songs in this style since I was a teenager. Only recently discovered this style as a genre so I feel very much at home. Just a lovely feel and genuine emotion.

[@declanroberts6054]

terrific teacher

[@7daze432]

This is great, when you tune a guitar to a chord without finger placement you can do sooo much and have awesome sound...even when you mess it up.

[@sundialsoft]

The PRS guitar is one of my shortlist (the cheapest too). I bought a second guitar just for open tunings but then decided I wanted a guitar in each of my children's homes so it went to one. Not a tuning I have tried before so will have to give it a go. ps: I wrap my thumb round all the time.

[@juanvaldez5422]

I snagged a PRS SE acoustic a few years ago on black friday for 650 marked down from 999, I compared it side by side with my friends Martin 2500 buck guitar. The Martin sounded no better and the PRS played MUCH better...I was shocked honestly

[@GradyElla]

Paul Reed Smith also has a lovely parlor guitar in his line that is very reasonably priced and plays like a dream. They come very well set up and are ready right out of the box with almost no set-up work. I play a Taylor GS Mini Koa which is a little more money but also a wonderful instrument for this style of playing. And the Taylor comes with an onboard tuner and great electronics. PRS guitars deserve your attention however. They are wonderful.

[@shekharsharma1490]

Very nice !!!

[@mxyptlk]

I have arrived....at last beautiful playing style that I have been looking for... I am going to enjoy this... huge thanks...🙏🏻 I'd love to be able to play "Leaving Brittany going to Ireland" from "Irish reels, jigs, hornpipes & airs" any chance 🤔 🙏🏻

[@mjbminer8381]

Thanks brother. This is F in great !!

[@nils8584]

wow, thanks so much. this runs deep!

[@donwhitmire978]

beautiful

[@pluckerpick]

When I was first introduced to open tuning I considered it be cheating, when I discovered Martin Simpson's playing I realised how wrong I was. It is almost impossible to imitate Martin Simpsons melodies. Anyone who says it takes no skill have never immersed themselves in open tunings. Give it a try and come back in a year and tell us its easy.

[@TroppiSilente]

Magic guitarist, thanks! :)

[@andyaustin4868]

Thank you for this lesson.

[@CelticMedievalGuitar]

greetings from celtic italy

[@spiritandsoulareone]

Link to a tab of this vid - tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/tony_mcmanus/si_bheag_si_mhor_tabs_1870974

[@Dragon-od5fl]

beautiful💖

[@locksh]

Good god do PRS acoustics sound like heaven

[@snook377]

Wonderful !

[@douglasmaliszewski8959]

Check out the guitar book "Celtic" by David Ernst. He gives a good primer into the style giving this man his due respect and contribution.

[@piranc4593]

wowee thats beautiful