SPEECHLESS - 10 Celtic Guitarists You NEED to Hear! ★ Acoustic Tuesday 178

Listening to Celtic guitar and Irish guitar can introduce you to a whole host of new sonic experiences and principles that you may not be aware of. In this video, I'm diving into 10 must-hear Celtic guitarists that have left me speechless and my mind BLOWN! 🤯
One of the best ways to learn a new genre or style of music is to find the most inspirational players and listen to them. So, in honor of St. Patrick's Day, I'm highlighting 10 inspirational Celtic guitarists that just absolutely blew me away.
I've learned a ton about Irish and Celtic music in preparation for this episode, and I'm excited to share with you some of my discoveries about the rich musical history and tradition of these genres.
In addition to celebrating St. Patrick's Day with you, I want to revisit a topic we talked about a few weeks back: practicing 10 minutes a day. I have an exciting story to share with you that should help dispel any doubts about the TAC Method.
Last but not least, I've got my weekly picks of the acoustic guitar news you can use!
#stpatricksday #celticguitar #irishguitar
00:00 - Intro
01:41 - 10 Inspirational Celtic Guitar Players
09:59 - 10 Minutes - TAC Family Story
11:40 - Guitarsenals & Featured Comments
18:26 - Gibson Factory=Hotel?
22:17 - ‪@julienrbaker‬ New Album
24:15 - ‪@AlanGogoll‬ World Record Harmonics Holder

[@Acordim]

How did you miss Stephen Wake? Without a doubt, he's the champion of the modern Celtic world. Phenomenal guitarist!

[@EmrystheCelt]

love stephen wakes work

[@Themadcelticshoe]

I wish this comment was from Stephen wake

[@robertables1761]

Agree!!! I came here to ask the same question. Steven Wake is so remarkable!!!

[@jeffhatcher6778]

Someone else brought him up...but I will second it. Stephen Wake has some really solid fingerstyle work, and makes his transcriptions available for a reasonable price. His original composition "Loch Ness" is a truly beautiful piece.

[@terrymattingly6843]

DUDE. Salute the late, great master of them all -- John Renbourn! Black Balloon and Nine Maidens are touchstone CDs. Also, how can you miss the range and influential work of Al Petteway?

[@robertbarker5105]

My wife and I spent 4 months in Ireland in 2014, until we basically got kicked out for staying a little too long. There is nothing like sitting in a pub, Guinness, or Murphy’s, in hand and listening to local talent. Slainte!

[@Morten_Nielsen1979]

Kicked out of Ireland! Why?

[@timwhistler5882]

great video tony.some celtic guitarists old and new: J.P Cormier , Bert Jansch , John Renbourne, Clive Carrol, Davy graham {he's the dude that kind of brought DADGAD as a celtic/folk Tuning to the Fore} Steve Baughman ,Duck Baker, pierre Bensusan,Martin Carthy , Tom Long, El McMeen .There are a few there. Check out Stephan grossman's Series of Instruction materials.Hes got books and or DVD instruction videos by many of the above mentioned.

[@michaellaverty1844]

Richard Thompson, even when he’s rocking out it sounds Celtic to me. He’s one of my all time favorite Guitarist.

[@stephenbouchelle7706]

He’s a whole ‘nother level.

[@sesa1076]

Fuckin awful voice. Never understood the opinion.

[@tomeisenmenger7048]

There's definitely a Celtic flavor to Richard's work (and I, for one, think his voice is magnificent as it well suits his music). I noticed that Paul Brady's picking here is very similar to Thompson's hybrid picking - pick held by thumb and index finger for picking bass notes and last three fingers for fingerpicking the higher notes.

[@herkhaston1915]

??

[@herkhaston1915]

He has a great voice it must be your ears

[@skentmar105]

Tuesdays are always good with this show. Thanks, Tony!

[@made_in_scotland]

I'll go with recommendations of Martin Simpson, Bert Jansch, Dougie Maclean, Ewan McLennan, Martin Cathy, Kris Drever, John Renbourn, Nic Jones, Blair Dunlop, Davy Graham, Jim Malcolm, John Martyn, Nick Drake. I'll leave it there 😂.

[@judithriggs4230]

Rory Gallagher does some Celtic style.. with his acoustic, his 1932 National Resonator, mandolin, banjo. Listen to "Will ye go Lassie go" . Such beautiful delicate playing from this beautiful Irishman. Gary Moore has also done some Celtic 🎵 music.. he's a fantastic guitarist from Ireland (like Rory)

[@abrahamtomahawk]

One awesome celtic guitarist would be Pierre Bensuson. Aslo, as you appear to have done already, check out music from the Celtic Connections festival which is shown on BBC Alba (Scotland's Gaelic language tv station).

[@stephenbouchelle7706]

Nice approach to exploring a genre. I hope you do it with many other genres.

[@gibby230079]

great show as usual ! :D

[@malcolmbrewer]

Thanks for introducing us to some amazing talent

[@jacksharmonoquinn572]

Absolutely loving this

[@keithwoznek3429]

Very interesting Tony!

[@CitizenKained23]

Happy St. Patricks Day from Ireland! Love the video as always but felt I had to add a couple more players for your inspirational Celtic players! Two of my favourites, Pierre Bensusan and Stephen Wake, well worth checking out both of these guys

[@CitizenKained23]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqa6p5ivop5jq6c

[@CitizenKained23]

A couple of examples below ;)

[@davidroberts6810]

Great show

[@toddspianoservice2374]

Nice show guys.

[@dimelfi1]

Jim Malcolm. Great guitar work and amazing vocals.

[@garymelnyk7910]

I am surprised only comment mentions Steve Cooney. He’s subtle, and a catalyst, the Ry Cooder of Celtic Guitar. Just breathtaking live.

[@dennism7532]

The absolute most fun of our 2017 trip to Ireland was sitting in the pubs, listening to the guitar/accordion duos. It was an unexpected delight.

[@carlcurtis]

Great to see your choosing John Doyle. My wife, daughters, and I saw him live in Southside, VA nine years ago and talked with him after the show. A very gracious, friendly man and, in my view, the best acoustic rhythm guitarist in "Celtic" music. Plays a good lead too!

[@russstotyn2193]

Daithi Sproule has been on the Irish music scene for over 50 years, including the band Skara Brae with Michael O’Domhnaill (pronounced “Donnell” BTW).

[@ariakiss]

(Pronounced mee hawl O Donnel

[@septimiusseverus165]

Very happy to see Soig Siberil in there, he’s from my region and one of my idols. Yermat! (Cheers in Breton)

[@Deebemc]

Great vid, Paul. Some brilliant exponents for sure. Davey Graham who went and championed DADGAD tuning, drove “ Celtic” guitar amongst other things. He wanted to be able to delve into Irish and Scottish bagpipe tunes. His album The Compleat Guitarist album is worth a listen. Pierre Bensusan must be on anyone’s list to listen to. Irish and Scottish music sound similar but like their Gaelic, wonderfully different……..but all very danceable! Thanks for posting.

[@jbcarseiii]

Dick Gaughan has a record “Coppers & Brass” it’s all flatpicking and is absolutely 🔥 and one of my favorite records of all time.

[@amritawhitman8112]

Thanks for mentioning it. I'm listening to it now! Amazing! I have to buy a copy. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2OYq3p_h9aZlcU

[@beatriced8184]

Nice episode Tony! more names come to mind but i'll give 2 for now, John Doyle and Declan O'Rourke

[@saoirsepaddy]

El McMeen fingerpicker plays in CGDGAD French Pierre Bensusan finger picker does some some Celtic tunes I saw him in Ann Arbor , Mich at the Ark Pierre Bensusan is smoking jaw dropping , Duck Baker finger picker. John Renbourn & Stefan Grossman finger pickers

[@iceminer3699]

Al Pettiway - American phenomenal finger picker in DADGAD Celtic style! E.g. Sligo Creek, Banish Misfortune

[@adrianred236]

Hi from Ireland. Belated happy st Patricks. Yea you are very much correct about the guitar prominently being a back up instrument in traditional music. Over here it's referred to as "Trad Guitar". Interesting point about Paul Brady, he wrote "Paradise is Here" which Tina Turner covered.

[@ryanknuckles8747]

Great show as always Tony! I joined TAC a few months ago, and I have been recently experimenting with DADGAD (Celtic) alternative tuning. I have been mostly playing my Blueridge BR-341 parlor guitar for this tuning. In your opinion what tone-wood combinations, guitar body types, and brands have you found are best for alternative tunings?

[@RjBenjamin353]

Thank you sir. I’m an ex-Tejano music musician who has always enjoyed and playing Celtic music.

[@rustythoughts]

Stephen Wake is worth a listen, originally from Scotland, lots of recordings and transcriptions on Bandcamp, elegant delicate player with immaculate tone and technique in the same line as Tony McManus. The Spanish band, La Musgaña, is mostly flute and whistle led, but features Carlos Beceiro who is a master of Celtic guitar style in accompaniment that is both beautiful and very pragmatic, and he breaks out some great stuff when he takes the lead. Also a good place to hear how much the music tradition of the north of Spain has in common with Irish and French folk music. Check out the album Entre Dos, (also has some lovely moments featuring a baritone guitar, which is a really interesting voice). Pierre Bensusan, particularly his early stuff, features lots of tradition Celtic material, including some less common Breton stuff. Great to see him play live, he'll push himself and take risks and has played a great show every time I've seen him. (The Michael Hedges piece, Bensusan, is named for Pierre.)

[@bosmith2587]

SOOOO happy to see Paul Brady mentioned on here!! Imo, there's no one better in all of Trad. Yes, that's a bold statement, and I'll die on its' hill!! lol seriously though, when i first Mary And The Soldier (which is really even more difficult than Arthur McBride to play well) I could not get it out of my head. I listened to just the guitar part over and over over. Same with Arthur McBride, and then the Lakes of Pontchartrain as well. I sat down and learned those sings painstakingly, for hours and hours, and I STILL can't play them as fluidly as him. In addition, his flatpicking with Matt Molloy and Tommy Peoples is absolutely sensational, and I honestly haven't heard a tighter right hand that can do as much as his. He's an absolutely amazing, one of a kind artist, and it always bugs the hell outta me that he never gets mentioned among great guitar players, singers, or songwriters. So thanks Tony, for mentioning him! I hope more people discover him and become entranced just like i was, and still am.

[@pauljenkins2501]

Thanks for including Tim Edey in your top 10. He is an amazing player, both on guitar and melodian. And a lovely man as well. Interestingly, he generally plays Yamaha nylon strung electro acoustic guitars, in "straight from the crate" configuration. No changes of pickup or special edition guitars. I attended a workshop where he talked about going on tour, in Canada. The airline mislaid his guitar. He had a concert to do that night. What was he going to do? Answer - walk into a music shop in downtown whichever big city he was in, buy a Yamaha nylon strung electro acoustic straight off the wall of the shop, and go ahead and play the concert.....

[@helenstephens9746]

Hey Tony... get on board totally with the Celtic thing!... become a Boston Bruin fan!

[@guitarzana688]

Love the Celtic music and musicians. I hope the Gibson/Hard Rock Hotel goes great. I am glad something is being done with the current building and not just demolished and new whatever being built in its place.

[@aldenwilkins]

Gaelic Storm.is a personal favorite. Super fun live shows.

[@kleinmankj]

Martin Simpson does many many fingerstyle things amazingly. His most Celtic album is When I Was On Horseback. John Renbourn is here already, so throw in his Pentangle partner Bert Jansch.

[@DjNikGnashers]

Thank you for showcasing this music. I play acoustic fingerstyle folk music, and also find it the most beautiful of all guitar music. I play music by Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Nick Drake, John Martyn, Dave Evans, as a few examples, and would love to hear you showcase this English folk style. The 10 minute rule is great, and I always try to play for 15minutes every day even if I don't feel like playing. Usually after a couple of minutes I think 'glad I picked it up, I'm enjoying it now', and play for longer, but even if I don't, the 15 minutes usually is enough to reinforce the learning connections in my brain and muscle memory.

[@tonysturgill6624]

Tony, you need to hear Stephen Wake from the Orkneys in Scotland. Mind blowing tone and technique.

[@ScottRandall31]

That's a cool way to preserve the Gibson heritage! And it will expose it to more people.

[@ScottRandall31]

It would definitely make me consider visiting Kalamazoo!

[@BobPerrone]

Regarding William Coulter - check out his "The Road Home" album. Very pleasing collection and terrific performance. Enjoyed the Irish/Celtic theme of the show! I have to also make a shout out to Rory Gallagher - Irish legend who also was a acoustic legend along with his expertise on the Stratocaster - just sayin'.... ;0)

[@lindasmith6316]

Yes, thank you for mentioning Rory!

[@tonysturgill6624]

Martin Simpson is a primo Celtic guitarist as well

[@guitardude4700]

Love the long hair bro. You rock it!

[@grace-4072]

bro ru psychic... yesterday my best friend was just like dude you need to listen to celtic music... i think this might be a sign

[@saoirsecameron]

Owen Wilson is such a good contemporary player this side of the pond. I particularly love his backing in the Creggan White Hare.

[@sbolfing]

Lindsay Straw is not only an awesome fingerstyle guitarist (often guest plays with The Music Emporium), she focuses primarily on Celtic music. She also plays Irish Bouzouki and sings. (Her preferred guitar is a Collings OM1 AT)

[@1colerock]

Happy saint patty’s. Day great episode

[@stormthepitbull]

GR8 Vid Bro 🇮🇪 ☘☘☘

[@l8sk8r86]

Love this, thank you! Also like black licorice, and thought you might like to check out some Salmiakki. Fair warning, it’s strong and salty!

[@maximilianbehrens4101]

Stephen Wake plays some clean celtic fingerstyle

[@TiagoGalleli]

cool!!

[@davymactube]

You could add some contemporary Belfast guitarists to your list: Gary Lutton, Gavin Ferris, Colin Reid, David Browne Murray, Jackie Rainey and Davy Watson. They're all magnificent.

[@dongadal2686]

Tony one artist that has to be looked at who crosses into the Celtic, folk, bluegrass genre is J.P Cormier... you actually have seen him performing for a Boucher guitars.. He has something on KZbin with him and Tim Edey... wow.

[@CBBluesman]

His KZbin Channel has a Covid Concert "Primary Color Live From Gingers Barn" which is absolutely incredible.A must watch.

[@Keep-on-picking]

Hi Tony I’m the listener from Japan you introduced in the last program. Regarding Gibson Kalamazoo plant which is going to be renewed as hotel and visitors place. I want the project owner to consider to set up a guitar related showroom or hand-on premises, where the craftsman show their work on making inlays on guitars, building guitars or repairing. If they realize it, I want to visit there in the future.

[@roberthogg324]

Having grown up in the Kalamazoo area, I too am a little torn on the idea of turning the old Gibson guitar factory into a hotel. I was fortunate enough to tour the factory on a field trip back in the 70's when I was a middle school student. One of the most memorable experiences from my childhood. It will be hard to see it modernized but on the other hand the old factory is definitely in need of repairs. This may be the only way to save what remains.

[@carolinecorman1716]

What do you think of Hawaiian slack style guitar music! I fell in love with it and Irish guitar music.

[@johneckstein6912]

Another nod to Daithi Sproule post Sara Brae. He currently lives in the Minneapolis St. Paul area. He continues to be one of the two guitarists in Altan and tours with them in their American tours. He has several more recent solo CDs of both playing and singing. Most of his accompaniment with Altan is in DADGAD. Altan is worth checking out on its own with two fiddles, two guitars, bouzouki, button box and great vocals.

[@gerardoconnor7148]

Steve Cooney , Jim Murray , also Arty McGlynn was Van Morrison’s guitar man check out Vans huge selling albums Avalon Sunset,

[@guitarvicg]

The former Gibson factory in Kalamazoo, MI was not actually vacant in the last 10 years but rather was occupied by ex-Gibson employees building handmade Gibson-esque guitars under the name Heritage Guitars. I was happy to know that guitars were still being built in that factory but the news of it being converted into a hotel actually saddens me a little for a "golden" time gone by. My hope is that the HR hotel will pay appropriately due respect to the "heritage" of iconic guitar building in that location. Allow me to add a plug for the book "Kalamazoo Gals" by John Thomas who wrote about the amazing women who built the Banner Gibson acoustic guitars in that factory during the early 40s in place of the men who fought in WW II.

[@linjicakonikon7666]

Phil Keaggy, Richard Thompson, Nick Drake, John Renbourn, Bert Jansch, John Paul Jones, Ian Anderson, Martin Simpson, Pete Townsend and of course, Luka Bloom.

[@jonathanmeyer1164]

If i had to pick one celtic guitarist you should check out, its definitley Mick Moloney. His song Regular Army O always gives me chills.

[@BillyBluesGuitar]

I use to live in Kalamazoo and many were unhappy that Gibson moved. The hotel would be a nice addition to the community and enhance a visit to the city. Perhaps it would heal and pay respect to the history that was created. Bell's brewery is also a great place to visit.

[@bobhunter5237]

Jenn Butterworth is a simply amazing Scottish Trad guitarist who teaches in Glasgow at the Scottish Conservatoire. And, her voice is butter.

[@TommySG1]

What’s up Tony! 🍀

[@johngreene7130]

Louis Stewart, Irish jazz guitarist. Sonny Condell, Leo O Kelly, Christy Moore, and the legend John Martyn.... I have had the great fortune to have met and listened to these men.

[@danielriccabona-guitar]

Clive Carroll, not exlusively a celtic player but when he does play celtic he absolutley destroys it! Definitely one of my favorites...

[@MrStradia]

Ever since I became aware of Emerald guitars, I've been listening to Celtic folk music.

[@rpmartin1886]

Daithi Sproule (Irish), Tony Cuffe (Scots)

[@magnusisyomomma]

Martin Simpson, mad English guitar player that sings heartfilled stories but has a celtic/Old blues feel to all the songs he plays. His songs will make you ponder...

[@neilmchardy9061]

You should look for BBC Alba, particularly a program called Seirm, it’s a Gaelic language program but it’s full of some astounding music.

[@mikehogan2657]

Dáithí Sproule is one who has been my favorite for years.

[@SY-nq3qp]

Stephen Wake! He is phenomenal

[@texhaines9957]

There are a lot more than 10. I try to just do the rhythm with bass notes for the dance classes, but I also lead the singing.

[@kimrichert4991]

As I saw alluded to below, some of the ex-Gibson employees that did not want to relocate (so the story was told), stayed on and made the Heritage line of guitars in part of this structure. While I never owned one, I played several, and they were quite nice! I currently hail from N'awlins and I can only hope that the outcome of this "remodel" is less troubled than the one HR tried to do in our fair city!

[@paullanier8280]

Who dat ?

[@CBBluesman]

J.P Cormier.as Don Gadal mentioned is truly a virtuoso.His KZbin Channel has a Covid Concert "Primary Color Live From Gingers Barn" which is absolutely incredible.A must watch.

[@p2us1000]

Thomas Leeb. He is an incredible player who plays Lowden guitars.

[@richardkilgore8922]

Kingston trio! Was my first Celtic introduction 1960s

[@sbolfing]

Question - is Celtic/Scottish (Scot-Irish) music dominant in Appalachia and didn't bluegrass evolve from it? I've wondered about this for a while - they do seem so similar. Loved this episode!

[@garymiller7597]

While Bill Monroe is credited as the founder of Bluegrass music, the music was in the Appalachian area for a long time as many Scot-Irish highlanders found the hills of Appalachia a reminder of home and settled in this area. I think Bill took what he heard and made it popular adding his own interpretation of the music in Appalachia. appalachiaonline.appstate.edu/mountain-music-classroom/topics/migration-appalachia

[@sbolfing]

@@garymiller7597 Thanks! Great info!

[@spikejones7450]

👏👏👏

[@josephwozniak8072]

Heritage guitars are made at 225 Parsons street ,the old Gibson location, in Kalamazoo,Michigan,since Gibson moved out

[@vwbeetle72jellybeen]

Ireland is on our bucket list for good food, great people, and amazing music. Seeing these phenomenal artists just energizes us to make the plans and execute! Oh and that harmonics world record is just incredible! Last comment - DO NOT GET RID OF THE BEARD! It‘s your signature, Tone, so keep it growing. Just pull it up in a bun while you‘re with the little tike! ;-) Stay safe, stay healthy, and guitar geeks unite!

[@Melvorgazh]

ps: Nicolas Kemener is also excellent in Irish trad. He played with Arcady.

[@erikferry6500]

Check out Seamie O'Dowd and Sean McGowan (not the American acoustic jazz guitarist). Good show and thanks --

[@ralphrounds709]

I, too would be cautiously optimistic about a Hard Rock on the old Gibson site in Kalamazoo. If they honor the Gibson legacy, great!

[@helenstephens9746]

Like the shamrock on your shoulder...but not the 'Blackhawk' on the front !!! lol.

[@thomasmcculey7942]

My favorite blues/ Celtic guitarist is Rory Gallagher. Listen to his acoustic version of "Out on the Western plain"".

[@nixternal]

You diggin' this young group we have on the Hawks right now? Center will be interesting with the return of Dach. Also, Kaner 4 Captain? I will be honest, I was expecting early late 90s, early 2000's, performance this season after the losses, but wow the youngsters are killing it. Honestly, if this is the coaches doing, he has earned some respect from me, who has disliked him from day 1.

[@Jess_Jones]

Anybody have some insight into Atkin Guitars? I saw some up on reverb. Made in England I thinks.

[@michaeljoyce3674]

Atkin Guitars are handcrafted near the City of Canterbury, in the county of Kent, United Kingdom. They have been making guitars for 25 years and seem to specialize in creating vintage models. They 'bake' the tops before jointing, and, once the guitar is complete (sans hardware) it is put in a freezer to enhance the aging process. Hope this helps!

[@Jess_Jones]

@@michaeljoyce3674 thank you! I listened to a few and fell in love with them.

[@zayneunderwood1488]

I just asked the kid working at McDonald's if the shamrock shakes were made with fresh shamrocks? He went to ask the manager... ☘️☘️☘️

[@judithriggs4230]

Omg. That is hilarious 😆. Wonder what that kid's SAT score is!! 😂

[@andrewdunn6793]

And!?

[@tracystover4329]

Ask the guy/girl at your local market if the chicken legs are front legs or back legs sometime.

[@johnb4871]

Pierre Bensusan was a trailblazer in DADGAD Irish guitar tunes. Another young player who follows in the style of John Doyle is Canadian Quinn Bachand. Check out his recent KZbin with Allison DeGroot and lots of videos going back years when he was a young kid.

[@maidenrulz73]

JP Cormier.....Dave mac Isaac.....John Allen Cameron......Ray Legere.....Gordie Sampson

[@fireonmcginnis]

Bill Coulter teaches Celtic guitar techniques at the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop in Washington state.. Just FYI 😎

[@texhaines9957]

Ahh, Tony remembered to wear green. Now any green acoustic guitars?

[@marcodewaal7370]

Michal Hromek has beautiful celtic songs.

[@nicgundy]

From Bloomington/Normal?? Eyyy Repping!!!

[@PaulRocheGuitar]

I would add Steve Cooney and Jim Murray to the list for sure.

[@duffermod1]

Hi Tony great show as always. How about Damien Rice a fantastic Irish singer songwriter who Totally influenced Ed Sheeran.

[@LexingtonDaniel]

Not really a guitarist but Daoiri Farrell. He sometimes plays guitar but mostly he's on bouzouki. Amazing player!