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basic repertoire songs to start off with

basic repertoire songs to start off with

hello iv been playin bluegrass banjo for nearly a year now and tenor banjo a little and know a few songs fairly well. im from belfast but have absolutely no exposure to irish music apart from washerwoman and so on...im really wantin to get into tenor banjo playin but could someone suggest a list of 10 to 20 songs which anyone playin trad needs to know, and which arent too difficult, comments will be greatly appreciated.

# Posted on June 24th 2008 by SPEGGY

Re: basic repertoire songs to start off with

Try members > tunebook. What you get is

'Most Popular Tunes
These are the tunes that members of The Session have added to their tunebooks, listed in order '.

Good luck !

# Posted on June 24th 2008 by Henk Bos

Re: basic repertoire songs to start off with

You have good timing! Our man Will CPT here made lists recently and they are linked in his bio, enjoy:

http://www.thesession.org/members/display/58

# Posted on June 24th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler

Re: basic repertoire songs to start off with

Fine lists by Will, but in this case a bit discouraging, for someone asking for 10 or 20 tunes........

# Posted on June 24th 2008 by Henk Bos

Re: basic repertoire songs to start off with

Hey Speg:

Henk's suggestion is a obviously a good one. I'd add that if your intent is to eventually play in your local sessions, I'd suggest showing up as a punter and asking for tune names, etc. Write them down. I still take notes at sessions from time to time. That way you'll avoid learning a bunch of the chestnuts that don't get played locally. You'll also get to know who the locals are (and they, you), and will learn a bunch, if you ask good questions. And listen, listen, listen.

You're going to have a great time. Enjoy the ride!

# Posted on June 24th 2008 by tomw

Re: basic repertoire songs to start off with

Oops, a bit of a cross-post. Will's lists are good, too.

# Posted on June 24th 2008 by tomw

Re: basic repertoire songs to start off with

Well Henk, depending on how many times you hit "Next" after going to "Members" and then "Tunebook", you could pretty much have a never ending list... :-P

I was going to give him the 'members' too, but you were quick on the draw.

# Posted on June 24th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler

Re: basic repertoire songs to start off with

Not to mention the (in)famous "Dow's List". Speg: Once you have your 10 or 20 tunes picked out, be sure to look them up in the tunes section here and read the comments. There's a real treasure trove of knowlege there.

# Posted on June 24th 2008 by tomw

Re: basic repertoire songs to start off with

Dow's list:
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/13056/#comment268197

# Posted on June 24th 2008 by Ramiro

Re: basic repertoire songs to start off with

All these honourable respondents have written "tunes" not "songs."

These traditional tunes don't have words, they're not songs.

# Posted on June 24th 2008 by TomB-R

Re: basic repertoire songs to start off with

Well said TomB-R! I go crazy every time I see tunes referred to as songs.

# Posted on June 24th 2008 by Bannerman

Re: basic repertoire songs to start off with

So easy to remember too:

You sing a song and you play a tune. You don't sing a tune! Well, unless you're lilting. Uh-oh. I'm going to close that can of worms back up right now.

# Posted on June 24th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler

Re: basic repertoire songs to start off with

The old bog road
The green fields of Antrim
The rose of Aranmore
Danny Boy

# Posted on June 25th 2008 by gooseinthenettles

Re: basic repertoire songs to start off with

http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/2462/comments#comment46566

# Posted on June 26th 2008 by oldstrings

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