Traditional Irish Fiddle | Intermediate

Acquiring the skills needed to master the unique sounds of Irish music takes time, practice and instruction from an experienced tutor. This free online Irish fiddle course is designed to help the beginner develop those techniques that give authentic Irish fiddle playing its distinctive flavour. It is ideally suited to students who have completed our Beginner 1 and Beginner 2 courses and want to progress, or to any beginner who can play basic tunes by ear or by following notes. The methods that distinguish Irish fiddle playing from classical violin have survived for centuries through Irish music’s oral tradition and here, professional performer Doireann Ní Ghlacáin builds on those basics and teaches you some new tunes. In each segment, she teaches the first part of the tune, then the second part, then the third lesson sees her focus on where and how to add ornamentation. The main techniques in this course include the addition of grace notes or 'cuts', triplets and bow 'slurs', where multiple notes are played during one sweep of the bow.

The lessons begin with the jig, 'The Connacht Man's Rambles'. Doireann breaks the tune down into parts and whilst the notes are provided in the resource section of the course, she encourages you to play by ear which is the traditional way of learning. She demonstrates where and how to add grace notes or ‘cuts’ once you have learnt both parts of the tune. The next tune you will learn is another popular jig, 'The Geese in the Bog'. As with every tune, Doireann plays the jig through at the proper speed so that you can hear how it should be played before breaking it down into manageable segments and going through it slowly, finally demonstrating how and where you can add ornamentation. With all Irish music, you are free to add grace notes wherever you think best and that freedom adds a unique quality to the expression of the tune. The final section of this easy-to-follow fiddle course is the reel, 'The Lilies in the Field' and once Doireann has taught both parts, she plays the tune through, identifying notes that lend themselves to ornamentation, from grace notes and triplets to slurs.

If you are relatively proficient in the Irish fiddle and want to broaden your repertoire and learn how to recreate authentic Traditional Irish sounds, this free online fiddle course provides the perfect training. Our tutor, Doireann Ní Ghlacáin is a recording artist, performer and tutor who has toured internationally from her home in the west of Ireland, the hub of Irish traditional music. Doireann also presents live coverage of Irish music programmes for the national Gaeilge TV station TG4. A native Irish speaker, Doireann’s heritage is steeped in Irish music with her paternal family immersed in fiddle playing. On her maternal side, her grandfather was the esteemed composer Seán Ó Riada. By completing this course, you can learn those all-important techniques that are fundamental to developing as a fiddle player. You can also gain certification by passing the end-of-course assessment. Complete this course and with practice, you will master the deftness of playing that has been setting Irish music apart for centuries. Rosin at the ready? It’s time to begin adding colour to your fiddle playing!