How to strum Irish reels like John Doyle

Welcome to the fourth and final part of my mini series on the legendary Irish guitarist John Doyle. In this section I'll be looking at the many ways he creates variation within a very simple 4/4 strumming pattern to accompany Irish reels.
You can watch the series in it's entirety, free of charge, on the folkfriend website here:
folkfriend.co.uk/john-doyle-g...
Of course, the best and most efficient (and fun!) way to learn is one on one with a dedicated professional teacher. I offer tailor-made folk guitar lessons over Zoom and currently teach pupils from beginners to advanced, from ages 8-85 and from all across the globe! Contact me NOW to book a 1-on-1 guitar lesson via Skype, Zoom or Whatsapp: folkfriend.co.uk/contact/
Find all my free videos at folkfriend.co.uk/
If you are looking for a complete guide to learning to back Celtic music on the guitar, with chord diagrams, music theory instruction, audio examples and much much more, then you'll want to check out my book Backing Guitar Techniques For Traditional Celtic Music.
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My invention The Amazing Mode Wheel can show you all the notes and chords which fit in any scale used in Celtic music.
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[@chonkypixel1006]

Holy crap! Only half way through and I can feel a massive improvement!

[@folkfriend]

Magic! :D

[@Melvorgazh]

I missed last Friday again 😭 One day I won't 😎 Yep, he is awesome! Especially with flaming Master Liz Carrol. I also love how he nails the jig- ríl shift in the same set called Glad Eye. Thanks a lot Nye 😉👍

[@folkfriend]

No problem, hopefully we'll see you on a stream before too long haha

[@briandwi2504]

Very interesting. Thanks Nye, really super series that.

[@folkfriend]

No problem Brian! I've got Frank Kilkelly on next week's edition so that should be an interesting one too!

[@briandwi2504]

@@folkfriend It all just keeps getting better! Now, don't burn out on us! 🤯

[@rickydejoyco7776]

Thanks Nye..it's amazing how slight changes to the strumming adds quite a lot. I have tried to match my strumming to the tune but unfortunately I had a tendency to get "pulled by the tune" and my strumming would wander off into the rhubarb. Guess I need to find the right balance. I have your book so I'll focus on the faith pattern and see what trouble I can get into with that...

[@folkfriend]

Yes, they're simple modifications but it has a huge impact... So long as you always keep the DUDUDUDU going you can't go far wrong! Best of luck :)

[@terilamarco515]

Thanks for all your videos! Can you please demonstrate 9/8 rhythm?

[@folkfriend]

Hi Teri. No problem! I have a free guide to slip jig strumming which you can watch here: folkfriend.co.uk/how-to-strum-slip-jigs-and-add-strummed-triplets-for-beginner-irish-backing-guitarists/ You can also find more in-depth information in my e-book, Backing Guitar Techniques for Traditional Celtic Music, available here: folkfriend.co.uk/product/backing-guitar-techniques-for-celtic-traditional-music-e-book-edition/

[@briandwi2504]

I believe that you are holding a note on the B string when you play your G and A chords. In your book these strings are left untouched (in the drop D section of the book). Interesting, it is a nice chord. Just re watching some of your videos and noticed this. Hope all is well with you.

[@folkfriend]

Hi Brian. Yes, I tend to hold the third fret on the B string between all chords in the key of D if playing in the open position. It sounds nice and makes it easier to anchor your fingers at speed! Things are very well with me, I've finally finished the inversions book and hope to release it next week... Then I can get back to making some videos! Watch this space :)

[@briandwi2504]

@@folkfriend Great stuff, an early Christmas present for me then! I will buy the physical copy so hope you charge enough to get something useful for the sale! Let me know the best way to buy it from you. Glad all is well with you.

[@Melvorgazh]

ps: Not long ago I discovered a very interesting Scottish guitar player, Jenn Butterworth 😽 She has a funny way to nod her head. Excellent flatpicker too. But I still prefer 🌹Tia 💖 Files🌺

[@Werkschatz]

reels go along reely fast

[@Melvorgazh]

Nye, what plectrum you use usually? I use mostly the 0.60 Nylon Dunlop but I wish there were something slightly tougher. But the next tougher one in that collection is the 0.73 Nylon which I find not bright enough. Then I bought a pack on orange 0.67 but it's still too thick for my tastes. Ideally a 0.62 or 0.63 would be perfect. Do you know any plectrum that would be equivalent to that in another brand perhaps? Cheers! Iechy da! Sláinte 😉

[@folkfriend]

Hello! My preference is the yellow Tortex plecs or cheap 0.6 (ish) celluloids. I find I drop plectrums made of other materials thanks to my dry skin, and I'm not a fan of the nylon ones as I find them too bendy- it's like you move your hand and the string twangs a few seconds afterwards!

[@Melvorgazh]

@@folkfriend I know what you mean with the twangle of s too souple Nylon Dunlop for flatpicking. I haven't had a Tortex in a long time. Shall try one again. When I started the guitar I had done jelly Dunlop's, worjed well on a classical nylon-string guitar. And where do you find those cheap celluloid 0.60 plectrums? You got some at your shop? I don't like when they are slippery either. A few years ago at the Marsine Folk Festival in Belgium I saw wooden plectrums. Interesting sound, but too thick for me 😛 Kinda a rabbit hole. But a true artist's quest never rest.

[@folkfriend]

Yes I stock them! I don't bother listing them on the website as they're such a small thing but if you'd like to drop me an email ([e-mail]) then I can post you a bag out :)

[@Melvorgazh]

@@folkfriend ps: I suppose that twangle effect is stronger in lighter gauge strings, maybe? I use Elexir medium-light. Shall try cutom-light perhaps for my Guid D-25. What do you find better for flatpicking? Light? Medium? Cheers, pal. Greetings from Brussels 🙂

[@Melvorgazh]

@@folkfriend Heyo Nye, grant! I shall e-mail you later soon about plectrums, then you can send me a few pictures of what you've got. 😺