100 Vital Irish Session Tunes Book

by Dave Mallinson

Also available on this website the CD alone and a Book and CD together package.

Many of the tunes found in 100 Vital Irish Session Tunes might be described as "old hat" and would be shunned by many seasoned players. However, it's absolutely vital that you are familiar with these tunes, as you'll find them cropping up time and time again.

They are the foundation on which Irish music sessions are built. You could say that these tunes are even more essential than those in 100 Essential Irish Session Tunes. Every type of dance tune is represented: reels, jigs, hornpipes, polkas, slides, slip jigs, marches, set dances, waltzes, mazurkas, flings, a varsovienne, a barn dance, a single reel, and a single jig

The tune settings in this book are all ‘session friendly’, i.e. you can learn them exactly as written and know that you will have a perfectly acceptable version. However, I consider it unwise to learn a tune from only one source and I would suggest strongly that, when learning a new tune, you pay heed to other books, recordings, and live performances.

 It is important to note that the settings in this book are greatly influenced by the instrument Dave Mallinson plays, the D/G melodeon (an accordion system rarely found in Irish music circles - B/C and C sharp/D are the norm). Dave Mallinson made a conscious effort to allow this to happen in order to give the book its own unique character.

The list below would constitute an excellent nucleus towards forming a valuable Irish music library. When choosing books, take care not to be put off by the title; some of the best sources of tunes are from tuition books. Just because the book cover says ‘Learn to Play the Banjo’, don’t think it’s of no use if you play the tin whistle.

Books will only help you to learn the notes of a tune. To pick up the rhythm of Irish music you must devote a large amount of time listening to both recordings and live musicians. Of greatest importance, you must practice; the value of this book is directly proportional to the number of hours a day you spend practising.

Chord arrangements are more or less as played on the soundtrack, but nevertheless, are only suggestions. The dominant chords (i.e. D in the key of G, A in the key of D and E in the key of A, etc.) throughout this book are noted as plain major chords, whereas many musicians prefer to play the seventh (D7, A7, E7, etc.).

Feel free to play either type of chord as the mood takes you.

100 Vital Irish Session Tunes Book only or Book and CD or CD only by Dave Mallinson