Tutorial 82! West Mabou Reel.

Heyo everyone! We’ve got the “West Mabou Reel” for ya, a classic Cape Breton tune 🙂 I’ve been hearing this tune forever because it’s been recorded many, many times and it’s a corker reel! It’s hard to have a jam or dance out here without hearing this tune, so I’m glad to have a tutorial…

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Tutorial 81! Memories Of Herbie & Agnes Cheverie.

I remember hearing this for the first time in my Dad’s living room after he wrote it and I knew it was a special tune, because it gave me goosebumps! I also know how much Herbie and Agnes meant to Dad, so it makes the tune even more special (straight from the heart). This is…

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Tutorial 80! La Belle Catherine.

A Quebecois anthem! I’ve always loved this tune (I believe the first person I heard play it was Andre Brunet), because it’s so happy and cheery! And with the French “feet” (which I attempted in the preview recording), it’s a toe tapper for sure. This is a tune for all levels (ambitious beginners included), but…

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Tutorial 77! The Mystery Inch.

I’ve been meaning to learn (+ teach) this tune for AGES (at least 2 years) since I stumbled across it. It’s one of the coolest tunes on the go, in my opinion (which means it’s a little tricky, so use your patience on this one)! It was written by David Kosky and first recorded on…

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Tutorial 76! Reel de Nez Piques.

In honour of 6 Hearts upcoming tour to Louisiana (taking off tomorrow ????), I thought I’d take a crack at teaching this boppy lil Cajun tune! It’s so great and makes me smile (and the folks you play it for too :)). It was written by Michael Doucet (legendary Cajun player + composer) and I…

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Tutorial 75! Flash Away The Pressing Gang.

“Flash Away The Pressing Gang”, “Slash Away The Pressing Gang”, “Road To Lisdoonvarna”… I’ve found a few different names for this tune – do you have anymore solid info than me?! 😉 I learned this tune from my cousin Elmer, who learned it from a Solas album (Sunny Spells and Scattered Showers – great album),…

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Tutorial 74! Dusky Meadow.

Finally, another strathspey! We really dive into this one 😉 I couldn’t find much about this tune, other than it’s a trad Cape Breton strathspey. I believe I first heard it on “Fine, Thank You Very Much” (Ashley MacIsaac). There’s a bunch of other great recordings; Andrea Beaton, Beolach, Troy MacGillvray + Shane Cook, and…

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Tutorial 73! L’Air Mignonne.

A Quebecois tune for ye’s! I love this one. Funny enough, I first heard this Canadian tune from my IMAR pals in the UK (that’s just the way it goes sometimes). If you haven’t heard their version, please go and listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFalXoDhurA It’s a tune for all levels (especially because it was written slow, like…

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Tutorial 69! Farewell To Whalley Range

“Farewell To Whalley Range”, written by Michael McGoldrick has to be one of the coolest jigs
 A slip jig in F# minor ??  I first heard this tune on “Upside Down”, an album featuring Sharon Shannon, Michael McGoldrick, Dezi Donnelly & Jim Murray—so friggen good (the tune was probably recorded on a hundred other albums
) …

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Tutorial 67! The Triangle

I had a number of requests to do a tutorial for “The Triangle” (written by Jake + Koady, recorded in the “Pour Over” set on The East Pointers “What We Leave Behind” album) ?  I remember hearing Koad’s banjo ringin’ backstage (which we heard often — did you know he warmed up for at least…

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