How to pick Irish guitar chords by ear for complete beginners PART 1- tunes in major keys

[@TheGavranatar]

Dammit man i needed this video like 10 years ago. I tried and failed over the years to do backing but always got frustrated, this really is a revelation today! Now, where did i leave that bouzouki..

[@folkfriend]

I do give lessons over Zoom too if you'd like to fast track!

[@TheGavranatar]

@@folkfriend good man, i might do in the future. Time is limited these days with a 2 year old!

[@josephr3374]

This is perfect. Took me way too long in life to find this but so happy when I did. Thank you.

[@folkfriend]

@@josephr3374 fantastic, glad to hear you're having fun with it 😁

[@martoneill]

Wonderful- thank you. These types of fundamentals are so valuable. Looking forward to a lot of experimenting!

[@folkfriend]

Thanks for watching!

[@Melvorgazh]

@Folk Friend Hi, mate. Is this a re-edition of some old videos? The sound is really good here :) Cheers 😉

[@folkfriend]

Yes indeed, I'm working my way through updating the early ones. Thanks for watching!

[@Melvorgazh]

@@folkfriend My pleasure. The quality of sound and even the lesson is even better 👍🏻😼

[@keith7945]

Always enjoy these videos, as well as the live stream. The theory is great to know and the mode wheel is a must have.

[@folkfriend]

Thanks Keith! I'm really glad you're getting something out of them :)

[@eoghanoreilly74]

Many thanks for explaining that. What chord substitutions could I use for Am tunes?

[@folkfriend]

Am can be replaced with C or F. However, really you need to know whether the tune is in the dorian or aeolian mode as if it's dorian you need D/F# (an inverted D major chord) instead of F. I suggest watching the music theory for Celtic music video on my channel or getting a copy of my book Backing Guitar Techniques for Traditional Celtic Music if you'd like to learn more about how the modes work :).

[@buttonsstrings5517]

Many thanks for your lightning response. I grew up playing Irish music by ear from musicians who had no musical training and only came to guitar accompaniment later so my approach has also been mostly intuitive. Your explanations are much appreciated but concrete examples of alternative chord progressions would also be helpful. Keep up the good work!

[@folkfriend]

@@buttonsstrings5517 There are three different sets of options in the playalong video. You can also find a complete guide to loads of different options on the complete playalongs pack available on the Folk Friend website :).

[@buttonsstrings5517]

Thanks for that. I loved your videos on Shetland style accompaniment and I remember how as a kid I was blown away by Titch Richardson´s accompaniments in Boys of the Lough. Could you show us his accompaniment to the Star of Munster?

[@folkfriend]

@@buttonsstrings5517 Ooh yes I'd love to! Kevin who plays fiddle with the band currently has guitar lessons with me too so we'll have all the insider information! I'll get something up on that in the next few weeks :)

[@mikemccabeguitar]

Thank you, Nye! Is it possible to buy your book in physical, paper form, such as the one you were holding at 23:15 in this video?

[@folkfriend]

Hi Mike. It is indeed! You can order it directly from me by emailing [e-mail] or get it on Amazon here: www.amazon.co.uk/Backing-Guitar-Techniques-Traditional-Celtic/dp/1702149951/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=backing+Guitar+Techniques+for+Traditional+Celtic+music&qid=1612342394&sr=8-3

[@mikemccabeguitar]

@@folkfriend Thanks Nye!

[@folkfriend]

@@mikemccabeguitar No problem.

[@Docsailor1]

Really really wish the moment you say something that is teaching something musical, you demonstrate it. The whole tappy foot thing in this or that beat to resolve is nonsensical to me. You are asking the verbal parts of the brain to "imagine" the musical bound rhythm of something you are not hearing. For me, I am instantly lost in the sauce.

[@folkfriend]

That's a good point, I'm not sure why I didn't put more audio demos into the first few minutes of this video really. I usually do, perhaps I felt it was too long. If you'd like to drop me an email at [e-mail] then I'll be happy to give you half an hour on Zoom to run through it properly.

[@Docsailor1]

Verbal, auditory, and musical processing areas of the brain utilize different neural networks simultaneously. All you musical teachers have wonderful good stuff -- you feel your craft -- and the better-educated amongst you "know" your craft as well. Unfortunately, all of us, irrespective of our fields, rely on verbal explanations. And that is where communication in music fails and stalls: You are literally using words to explain colors and the relationships between colors to the proverbial blind man. Verbal analytics can explain a theory, but they can neither convey feeling nor the resonant auditory experience of rhythmic "resolution." I am sorry my earleir frustration bubbled over -- I understood your words and "felt" there was deep meaning in them, but they were perpetually out of my grasp. Apologies

[@folkfriend]

@Docsailor1 no worries at all! I'm always pleased to see that my videos have such civil and well educated comments sections!