Banjo Hangout Top 100 Fiddle/Celtic/Irish Songs

TOTW 03/11/23: Waltz written by James Scott Skinner, also known as "The Rose Of Sharon Waltz" and "Rosebud Of Avonmore"

Trad reel in G played CH style.

TOTW for 2/5/2021. Played CH in G tuning on a Wildwood.

With a bit of guitar and mandolin too. A touch too slow perhaps.

TOTW 8/30/2019. A tuning. Clawhammer on a Wildwood Banjo.

TOTW 8/30/2019. A tuning. Clawhammer on a Wildwood Banjo.

Couple of traditional tunes here.

Couple of traditional tunes here.

The O'Reilly's of 17th century Ireland were amongst Turlough O'Carolan's supportive patrons as the blind harpist traveled far and wide. When O'Carolan wrote a tune in their honor it was given the label "planxty." Unable to play for several weeks due to my broken shoulder, I offer something recorded previously on my clawhammer banjo.

The O'Reilly's of 17th century Ireland were amongst Turlough O'Carolan's supportive patrons as the blind harpist traveled far and wide. When O'Carolan wrote a tune in their honor it was given the label "planxty." Unable to play for several weeks due to my broken shoulder, I offer something recorded previously on my clawhammer banjo.

This traditional air honors the Irish soldiers who left Ireland to fight for France. The last time they left marked the 1691 Treaty of Limerick , a momentous time in Ireland's history which ended the Williamite war and the reign of King James, who left, too, after the Battle of the Boyne (which has a namesake tune as well). When the Chieftains recorded The Wild Geese they were picturing women singing on shore while the soldiers sailed off forevermore to fight elsewhere. At the end of my recording listen for the geese flying off...

There was really a harper in Ireland called Maire Dhall (Blind Mary) who is known to have taught harp to friends of Turlough O'Carolan (1670 - 1738), so it's assumed he knew her, too. The melody is rather dramatic and you get a feeling of respect for this woman, who, like O'Carolan, must have traveled, played harp, and taught for a living.

This traditional air honors the Irish soldiers who left Ireland to fight for France. The last time they left marked the 1691 Treaty of Limerick , a momentous time in Ireland's history which ended the Williamite war and the reign of King James, who left, too, after the Battle of the Boyne (which has a namesake tune as well). When the Chieftains recorded The Wild Geese they were picturing women singing on shore while the soldiers sailed off forevermore to fight elsewhere. At the end of my recording listen for the geese flying off...

There was really a harper in Ireland called Maire Dhall (Blind Mary) who is known to have taught harp to friends of Turlough O'Carolan (1670 - 1738), so it's assumed he knew her, too. The melody is rather dramatic and you get a feeling of respect for this woman, who, like O'Carolan, must have traveled, played harp, and taught for a living.

Ed Ackerly and friends having fun with a cool fiddle tune. accordian/fiddle doubling , banjo and mando doubling.

Ed Ackerly and friends having fun with a cool fiddle tune. accordian/fiddle doubling , banjo and mando doubling.

This tune in 3/4 time is a rare find from Turlough O'Carolan (1670 - 1738). It's only found in one source dated in the early 1900's from Chief Francis O'Neill who had procured a rare notebook of old Irish tunes. The melody and title didn't sync well until I made a slide-show video (in the BHO archive) of people happy with tears. As several of my O'Carolan pieces, I've added cello banjo in the background.

Here's a clawhammered planxty from Turlough O'Carolan (1670 - 1738) in 6/8 jig time with cello banjo accompaniment.

This tune in 3/4 time is a rare find from Turlough O'Carolan (1670 - 1738). It's only found in one source dated in the early 1900's from Chief Francis O'Neill who had procured a rare notebook of old Irish tunes. The melody and title didn't sync well until I made a slide-show video (in the BHO archive) of people happy with tears. As several of my O'Carolan pieces, I've added cello banjo in the background.

Here's a clawhammered planxty from Turlough O'Carolan (1670 - 1738) in 6/8 jig time with cello banjo accompaniment.

Blackberry Blossom with some octave jumping

Blackberry Blossom with some octave jumping

Three Bluegrass tunes played in an Irish style. Tunes are Whiskey Before Breakfast/ Big Sciota/ Daley's

Three Bluegrass tunes played in an Irish style. Tunes are Whiskey Before Breakfast/ Big Sciota/ Daley's

recorded these before, but i re recorded them last night for my Soundcloud and Bandcamp page and thought the good folks at BHO would enjoy them.

recorded these before, but i re recorded them last night for my Soundcloud and Bandcamp page and thought the good folks at BHO would enjoy them.

A West Virginia tune from the Hammons family... which i (quickly) done learnt fer the Tune O' The Week! Played on a Vance tu-ba-phone, primarily in 2-finger style.

A West Virginia tune from the Hammons family... which i (quickly) done learnt fer the Tune O' The Week! Played on a Vance tu-ba-phone, primarily in 2-finger style.

A tune inspired by a recent trip to the Emerald Isle. In Double C. Thanks too to the folks who didn't comment but hit the like button. :)

A tune inspired by a recent trip to the Emerald Isle. In Double C. Thanks too to the folks who didn't comment but hit the like button. :)

This is a traditional tune from Scotland going back as far as 1549 in a published ballad format. Dave Hum played this tune and his videos are still on-line to view -- what an amazing picker he was! I'm playing on a Mac Traynham Whyte Laydie openback, but also enjoyed it played lower on the cello banjo. You can compare the two, as I've uploaded them both.

After hearing Dave Hum play this I wondered if I could, too. It's taken some effort, but here's what I came up with, thanks to banjukebox's tab and some further exploration. Though simpler than Dave's expressive, creative version, it's fun to play. I like the cello banjo's lower tone on Tam Lin compared to my Whyte Laydie openback, but you can compare them as I've uploaded them both.

This is a traditional tune from Scotland going back as far as 1549 in a published ballad format. Dave Hum played this tune and his videos are still on-line to view -- what an amazing picker he was! I'm playing on a Mac Traynham Whyte Laydie openback, but also enjoyed it played lower on the cello banjo. You can compare the two, as I've uploaded them both.

After hearing Dave Hum play this I wondered if I could, too. It's taken some effort, but here's what I came up with, thanks to banjukebox's tab and some further exploration. Though simpler than Dave's expressive, creative version, it's fun to play. I like the cello banjo's lower tone on Tam Lin compared to my Whyte Laydie openback, but you can compare them as I've uploaded them both.

I learned this version mostly from Hot Rize