Celtic Guitar Sheet Music and Tabs
When I first started arranging celtic tunes I found it very insightful to study and learn arrangements by other players. In that spirit, here are a handful of my arrangements, with links to audio files, notation, and a youtube video if there is one. I hope that they may help some of you interested in playing and arranging celtic tunes. I think the real fun happens when you take techniques and styles learned from other players and apply them to your own arrangements.
Some of these tunes do not have accompanying YouTube video. I will work on adding those in the future.
Have you enjoyed listening to my music or found these TABs helpful? The best way to support me is to buy some of my music on Bandcamp or perhaps consider buying me a coffee.
O'Carolan's Welcome
Tuning: CGDGCD - Capo II
A wonderful haunting harp tune by Turlough O'Carolan
Noone Lasses
Tuning: CGDGCD
A fun reel in G i learned from the playing of Chicago flute player John Kreaven. This tune ended up being the title track of my first album.
The Isolation Waltz
Tuning: CGDGCD
A waltz I composed that became the title track of my second album.
Granny In the Corner
Tuning: CGDGCD
A fun tune I heard Steve Baughman play one night as we were hanging out with a bottle of scotch. I made a mental note to arrange myself one day. He said he got it from Martin Hayes.
Tobin's Jig
Tuning: CGDGCD - Capo II
This is a standard jig that you can hear at almost every irish session.
Father Kelly's Reel
Tuning: CGDGCD
Another popular reel that you can hear at almost every irish session.
The Drunken Gauger
Tuning: CGDGCD
I first heard this tune on the Grey Larsen and Paddy League cd, Dark of the Moon. Apparently a gauger was someone who would go around with a ruler and make sure everyone got a fair pour when they ordered a pint. I could see how that line of work could lead to drunkedness.
Conset Y Peipar Coch/Erddigan Y Pibydd
Tuning: CGDGCD
These were some of the earliest celtic tunes I arranged. I came across them on a compilation album of Welsh music I found in the music library at Florida State University.
O'Carolan's Receipt
Tuning: CGDGCD
One of the first tunes I arranged by the blind harper Turlough O'Carolan. I heard it on an album by the harpist Derek Bell.
The Kesh Jig
Tuning: CGDGCD
Another popular session jig
Princess Royal
Tuning: CGDGCD
Another beautiful tune by Turlough O'Carolan
Bobby Casey's
Tuning: CGDGCD
A slow reel i heard on Kevin Burke's album, If the Cap Fits.
The Windmill
Tuning: CGDGCD - Capo II
This is a reel played by Altan and composed by one of their band members i believe. I first heard it played on fingerpicked guitar by Tallahassee, FL musician Fred Slade.