The Glasgow

reel

Key signature: Dminor

Submitted on August 23rd 2001 by Zina Lee.

This tune has been added to 914 tunebooks.

Also known as Ceilidh Funk, Drumshambo, Feet Of The Dancer, Glasgow, The Glasgow , Howling Wind, Indian Points, The Low , Night On The Titanic, Tam Lin, Tam Lin's, Tam Linn, Tam Linn's, Tam Lyn, Tam Lynn's, Tamblin, Tamlin, The Tamlin, Tamlinn, Tamlyn, Tamlyn's, Tammlin, The Titanic.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

25 Years Of Celtic Music (Disc 1) by Various Artists
Alternative Frequency by KODA
An Feochan by Philippe Barnes
Artistic License by Pendragon
At The Source by Celtic Spring
áthas by áthas
Before Dawn by Harmony Glen
Bruach An TSuláin by The Abbey Céilí Band
Bruscar Bán by The Culchies
California Celt by Jesse Autumn And Friends
Celtic Guitar Dreams by Iris Nevins
Champions Of Ireland: Harp by Various Artists
Clear The Dresser And Take The Floor by Emerald Ceili Band
Come Away To The Hills by Annwn
Dragon Reels by Roger Landes
Empty Pockets by Skip Healy
Flying On Home by Airdance
Free Spirit by Martin Donohoe
Full Steam Ahead by Give Way
Gaelic Storm by Gaelic Storm
Gander In The Pratie Hole by Carlos Plumley And Mike Herr
High Strung by Darcy Nair
In Your Ear by Seamus Egan
Just Being Me by Samantha Robichaud
Last Night's Fun by Last Night's Fun
Leahy by Leahy
Liege And Lief by Fairport Convention
Live From Gatineau, Quebec by Leahy
Live: Rough Around The Edges by Syncopaths
Long Distance by Nancy Conescu And Friends
On Safari by Keep It Up
Opus Blue by Catriona Macdonald And Ian Lowthian
Over The Straits by Fiddlehead
PJ Wallace And Friends by PJ Wallace
Sans Relache by Dominique Dupuis
Shatter The Calm by Dan Beimborn
Souvenir Of Scotland by Hamish MacGregor And The Blue Bonnets
Spirit Of The Isles: A Concert For Beltane by Various Artists
Step This Way by David Lindquist
Stepping Stones by Juniper
The Irish Experience by The Irish Experience
The Little Cascade by Ben The Hoose
The Music Makers by Geantrai
The Palomino Waltz by Phil Cunningham
The Road From Erin—Ireland's Musical Legacy by Dorian Recordings
This Side Up by Tania Elizabeth
Time by Steeleye Span
Traditional Irish Music From County Clare by Micho Russell
Tripping Down The Stairs by Spiral Seisiún
Turas Ceoil by Marcas O'Murchu
Twos And Threes by Murphy Roche Irish Music Club
Volume 3: The Rhythm Chapter by Fiddlers 3
Walking Stones by Ken Kolodner, Laura Risk, Robin Bullock
WhirlyGig by WhirlyGig

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Glasgow/Tam Lin

This is often played first in Dm a few times, then in Am a few times (many sessions feature a lot of whooping at the change, don't ask me why).

# Posted on August 23rd 2001 by Zina Lee

Changing Key

Changing from Dminor to Aminor is a bit of a cheap trick, isn't it? On the fiddle at least, all you have to do is move everything up a string.

Still, it does sound very impressive and I can see how you could elicit some whooping noises by "lifting" the tune up like that.

# Posted on August 23rd 2001 by Jeremy

By the way, lest anyone think I'm disparaging the tune with my "cheap trick" comment... I'm not. This tunes kicks rear end! I've added this one to my tunebook.

# Posted on August 23rd 2001 by Jeremy

Transposing

How cool!
It sounds very powerful on the flute if you transpose it to Bm, and it's a good tune to practice rolls. :-)

# Posted on August 24th 2001 by glauber

Heh

Actually, I agree with you, Jeremy -- I think it IS a bit of a cheap trick. I generally don't do the stair-stepping thing, and only play it in one or the other key. But it's a pretty simple tune to learn and sounds impressive, so it's great for a session when you're trying to keep everyone together -- changing the key up makes it sound a little more impressive, so it's great to motivate a beginner with.

But the tune itself is great. I prefer it in Aminor, actually, but that's probably because I hate my current set of strings on the low end, plus my fiddle has bad lower end response. It's also a great tune to dance to...it's one of our consistent favorites in dance class.

You'll probably not find anyone playing it in a session in Bm, glauber, although it'd be fun for a performance!

Zina

# Posted on August 24th 2001 by Zina Lee

Key

Hey, it's not my fault that whoever composed the tune didn't use the right number of sharps! :-)

I'm doing the macho thing now and using a keyless flute. I hope to graduate to a keyed one after i learn to play rolls (in 10 or 15 years, i hope).

# Posted on August 24th 2001 by glauber

Reel to Follow Tamlin

There's a reel that works very well when you run Tam Lin into it. I don't know the title, but I've posted it as "Reel to Follow Tamlin" until someone can come up with the name...

# Posted on August 30th 2001 by JeffK627

Reel to Follow Tamlin

...actually, it's posted as "Gan Ainm", reel in d minor.

# Posted on August 31st 2001 by JeffK627

Tam Lin, another version

I don't mean to play one-upmanship here, so please don't ban me from the site, but I'd like to share the version we play here in Helena. It has a slightly more developed melody line in the B part that I like.
Also, we usually go into Julia Delaney after Tam Lin, another great D minor tune.
Will

# Posted on August 31st 2001 by Will CPT

Or not...

So in Montana, that B part goes something like:
|d^cdA FA D2|d^cdA FA D2|cE (3EEE cEdE|cE (3EEE cBc^c| etc.
There are lots of other variations to throw in, and we also play Tam Lin three tines through, starting at slow air pace, and then speeding it up a notch each time round.
Will

# Posted on August 31st 2001 by Will CPT

Great dance tune!

I love the way this tune drives. With two fiddles you can get some great harmony on the "B" part. One fiddle going high while the other runs the melody.

I have had great success putting this tune in a medley with:

Cooley's / Glasgow / The Banshee

The dancers generaly get to whooping it up when you hit Banshee.

# Posted on January 16th 2002 by flyinfiddler

Tam Lin written by Davey Arthur

In the liner notes to the "Walking Stones" CD, Ken Kolodner credits Tam Lin as "written by Davey Arthur." Does anyone know who Davey Arthur is/was? Kolodner describes the set (The Green Gates/ Tam Lin/ The Silver Spire) as "three well-known Irish session reels." (It's a great set, by the way. I love the way the fiddle soars on the B part of The Silver Spire.)

I was trying to hit a few notes as the tune whizzed past on the CD(gotta get that slow-down software sometime!), and I think they were playing Tam Lin up a whole step from how it is transcribed here. That would make it E minor, switching to B minor. (So Glauber, you aren't the only one who plays it in B minor.)

Sarah

# Posted on May 10th 2002 by x

Davey Arthur

Hello HD Sarah

I have only just caught your question. Davey Arthur was, for a long time, with the Furey Brothers but is now following a solo career. He is a singer/songwriter from Donegal, but now lives in Scotland I believe, and has written loads of tunes. Check out www.daveyarthur.com.

My former band did Tam Lin at the end of a three tune Scottish set:-
Floating to Skerry/Islay Rant/Tam Lin (Glasgow Reel ...whatever you want to call it) and by the end was travelling at a fair lick and always went down well.

# Posted on August 20th 2002 by Geoff Pollitt

The Glasgow- a tip for the Belfast session player

half a year ago I had the great and unbelievable honor to sit next to John McSherry--lord of musical perfection--during an evening session at Molly Bloom's, our local (and only) Irish Pub. You see, I live in Israel, and John McSherry was a guest artist in our annual Irish Festival, and one evening he joined us to a session. I feared to touch my tin whistle, for I was paralysed with awe. At some point I asked one of the Israeli musicians to play The Glasgow reel, as it was my favourite. But John refused, for some reason, which we couldn't understand (utterance issues, I suppose...). After some time I asked him myself to play it. I could hardly pronounce the syllables, as English is not my mother tounge, but mostly because I feared to talk to His Lordship, and was amazed by his loveliness. You know, the regular stuff. He refused again (I was not too charming then, I believe). Why? Well, He played it thousands of times with his first band, the late Tamalin, and he has a trauma! Even the tune's title- "Tam Lin"- brings back dark memories... So, if one day one of you joins this sweet mind-twisted lad, don't menbtion this tune. Though, I must say, it is a great one. :-)

Netallica

# Posted on August 21st 2002 by Netallica

Different setting of A part

I learned this tune with, and have heard most players play, this on the A part:

A,D D/2D/2D A,DFD| B,2DB, FB,DB,|CE ~E2 CEGE| FcAF ~E2DC|...

Sounds much less repetitive that way (which helps it considerably, I think).

# Posted on May 20th 2003 by pchaffee

GPaddy O'Brian (Accordeon) gives himself credit for renaming the "Tam Lin" to The "Howling Wind" because of the sound of it..... Just having reread "great treads of the past" the Glasgow reel is mentioned as an example of a non-irish tune (Scottish). Is this tune within the established "irish repertoire" or would this tune be considered an outsider?

# Posted on October 9th 2003 by MrGanAinm

Tam Lin in Managble Key

could anyone possibly direct me to Tam Lin reel in the key of Bm. I really like the sound and pace of Tam Lin, but am worthless with transcribing.

Cheers
Simon Pratt

# Posted on December 8th 2003 by Rhymin_Simon

Guitar chords for The Tamlin

Can anyone suggest guitar chords to go with this reel? I'm referring to the Dm version posted by Zina. Is this not just the grooviest reel in the world?

# Posted on January 30th 2004 by sergeant fox

Paul was asking for some chords. I'm not an accompanyist but these might do.
Transposed into Am start works better, especially if barre chords take the F to G to Am moving up the neck (but it depends on what instrument you are playing of course).

|:Dm/// | Bb/// | C/// | Dm/C/ | Dm/// | Bb/// | C/// | C/Dm/ :|
|:Dm/// | Dm/// | C/// | C/// | Dm/// | Bb/// | C/Dm/ :|

# Posted on January 31st 2004 by len

Re: Guitar chords for The Tamlin

I have put some chords on the comments section of the first Tamlin tune that comes up on the search. I'm sure you will get better advice but at least it's a start.

# Posted on January 31st 2004 by len

Halldor, sorry, only just caught that question of yours -- yes, the Glasgow is firmly within that mythical "Irish repertoire" -- in most places. I *have* met some players who really dislike it because they think it's repititious and a cheap trick tune, but I quite like it myself, even if I don't play it that often.

# Posted on January 31st 2004 by Zina Lee

Len - As a confirmed pedant, I take it as my responsibility to point out a minor error in your chord sequence: you appear to have missed out one bar of Dm in the B-part. I presume, what you meant was:

||:Dm/// | Bb/// | C/// | Dm/C/ | Dm/// | Bb/// | C/// | C/Dm/ :||
||:Dm/// | Dm/// | C/// | C/// | Dm/// | Dm/// | Bb/// | C/Dm/ :||

Since much of this tune is based on arpeggios, the chords are pretty much laid out for the backer. But this also makes it more difficult to find alternative chords to prevent monotony. Without getting too 'experimental', this might work as a slight variation:

||:Dm/// | Bb/// | C/// | Dm/C/ | Dm/// | Bb/// | C/// | Am/Dm/ :||
||:Dm/// | Dm/// | C/// | C/// | Dm/// | Dm/C/ | Bb/Gm/ | Am/Dm/ :||

# Posted on January 31st 2004 by ragaman

Re: Guitar chords for The Tamlin

I don't know any guitar chords for it...but yes, this is one of the most rockin' reels out there. It's at the top of my favourite tunes list...followed closely by Catharsis.

# Posted on January 31st 2004 by Crysania

I've just caught up with this tune after sitting it out at sessions for a while. That's a sure sign it's about to go out of fashion :-) . The Scottish fiddlers kind of dirl the bow on the low string for the ascending bit - do you "ITM" crowd do that also?

BTW Davey Arthur is a cracking banjo player as well as singer-songwriter. I saw him live once (in Abu Dhabi!) and he fairly ripped up the Mason's Apron.

# Posted on April 4th 2004 by Bren

Using relative majors and minors as alternative chords will give you a more interesting bassline. You can also drop in optional 7ths if you want a more jazzy feel. For example you could do something like this for the A-part:
||:Dm/// | Gm7/// | C/Am7/ | Bb/C/
And start the B-part like this:
||:Dm/// | F/// | C/// | Am7/// ....

# Posted on April 4th 2004 by Dow

WANTED: notes for glasgow reel

cud someone please send me the tin whistle notes for the glasgow reel???

# Posted on October 30th 2004 by stiofán

Nice Variation

# Posted on January 10th 2005 by meri-lawes

While flicking through a nice new tunebook I found this tune whith a completely different B- Part -quite nice actually - in A minor. Since it was difficult to play all the F natural on the tin whistle I changed it into B minor. Others had this idea earlier on, obviously... When I wanted to play that tune in A and B minor during the last session I was told, it's in D minor!
I checked the seesion.org and see this 'awful' notes for tin whistle. But it's a real challenge to transfrom and play it in three different keys. Great tune!

# Posted on January 27th 2005 by craics90

Is there a particular story to this tune? ; when it was written and why and what about.

# Posted on November 10th 2005 by ecidralla

PJA,
I found this about TamLin's history
http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/TA.htm#TAM_LIN_REEL

Miki

# Posted on February 8th 2006 by nemethmik

Here is a version in Bm, for all of us Flute and Whistle players. If you play it using Bm fingerings on an F Flute or Whistle it sounds in the usual key of Dm.

# Posted on February 13th 2006 by Unseen122

Tune rocks

this is mt fav tune of all time along with Les Chicaneaux

# Posted on June 12th 2006 by h-coreviddle

Dark and menacing all at once.

I love this tune. I play it on a swing-tuned B/C buttonbox -- it sounds great with alto banjo! Usually segue into "Julia Delaney's."

# Posted on June 14th 2006 by WaltzingMattilda

like the tune but if anyone has a chord sequence then could they email it to me ~
mairijo@hotmail.com
thanks very much X

# Posted on June 18th 2006 by twinkle_toes_14

Bother to read the comments and you might find what you require.

# Posted on June 18th 2006 by Dow

The Glasgow reel - Johnny Murphy

Johnny Murphy plays a version of the glasgow reel which doesn't appear to be the same as the one on this site. Does anyone know the one which he plays?
Thanks!

# Posted on September 10th 2006 by Faerie Feet

3 parts ?

Have heard this played by a scottish fiddler at a folk festrecently, with 3 separate parts.. the 2 shown in tune posting being thefirst 2.
Just wondering if the there is an "official" 3rd part, and if anyone could point me in it's general direction.

btw, have looked thru' JC's abc, tho' I may have missed it, there is only 2 parters with lifted variations.

# Posted on October 4th 2006 by philmoz

Lyrics?

There are lyrics that are sung along with his tune that I am looking for (different from the ballad Tam Lin). I heard them on Scythian's CD Aidan's orbit. They sounded neat, but I am not able to find them anywhere. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

# Posted on January 14th 2007 by synaesthete402

Getting the sound right

I came looking for Tamlinn after I heard it on Gaelic Storm's self-titled album. I'm trying for the driving rhythm of GS's fiddle on my whistle but can't seem to get it right. Any tips or hints?

# Posted on January 31st 2007 by walrus

If you need to come looking for the sheetmusic then it means you're not listening closely enough. You'll find the driving rhythm on the recording, not on this webpage.

# Posted on January 31st 2007 by Dow

You're so hard 'Dow', ease up, just because you're suffering shock having returned to Oz is no reason to be a grumpy wizard... 8-)

# Posted on January 31st 2007 by ceolachan

'walrus' your quest for 'ways' with your instrument would be better met as a 'discussion', I would guess?

# Posted on January 31st 2007 by ceolachan

Tune to go into Tam Lynn's

Out of curiosity, I've been playing around with some tunes to put in a set with Tam Lynn's, does anyone have any suggestions?

# Posted on March 10th 2007 by Bryn

At my session we play Tamlin with Catharsis, and it's the highlight of the evening.

# Posted on March 20th 2007 by Tall, Dark, and Mysterious

Thanks for the idea, I like it. I never thought of that, and I even know Catharsis.

# Posted on April 3rd 2007 by Bryn

Above was suggested the key of Bm for flute & whistle, but I like to play it in Am, using a low G whistle to make it come out in the original Dm.
The version I learned (by ear at sessions) is somewhat different from the version given here, with more leaps.

# Posted on September 16th 2007 by Richard D Cook

Yes to play it in Am on the whistle you have to half-hole a few F naturals but this is not difficult to do.

# Posted on September 16th 2007 by Richard D Cook

Tamlin (reel)

Hey just woundering if anyone could tell me what key the tamlin is in???

# Posted on December 3rd 2007 by Newport Hughes

Re: Tamlin (reel)

Any quay you want.
I like the band Tamalin from Belfast though!

# Posted on December 3rd 2007 by eurbanjo

Re: Tamlin (reel)

http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/248

# Posted on December 3rd 2007 by domnull

Re: Tamlin (reel)

You can start off with a Dmin version of the tune in jig time, then over to reel time in the same key, then over to Amin (one string up), then to Bmin (one tone up). Would that do?

# Posted on December 3rd 2007 by Henk Bos

Henk - I'm not so sure about that :-)

http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/13417/comments

# Posted on December 3rd 2007 by domnull

Fiddle bowing for first couple bars of Tam Lin (The Glasgow)

This is probably one of those questions where everyone will have a different answer, but I'll ask anyway. I'm a beginning fiddler and I'm trying to learn Tam Lin (The Glasgow, Howling Wind, whatever). I am wondering if there is a "standard" way to bow the first couple of bars.

The first three bars have one quarter note and then six eighth notes each. If I bow each note separately, then the second bar is bowed the reverse of the first and third. Is this usual? Or is there a standard way to ensure that I start each of the first three bars on a downbow (i.e. which two notes do I slur together)?

Thanks in advance!

# Posted on February 14th 2008 by insomniac

Re: Fiddle bowing for first couple bars of Tam Lin (The Glasgow)

I slur the first two notes (down bow), then slur the next three (up bow), then the last two notes down - up.

# Posted on February 14th 2008 by Henk Bos

Re: Fiddle bowing for first couple bars of Tam Lin (The Glasgow)

insomniac
I'll put Tam lin on my u-tube vidios next the way I play it
anyway ,hope it good enough - it dose me for sessions in Ireland,,It will be put on Slow then Fast Then Fancy,,
jim,,,

# Posted on February 14th 2008 by FIDDLE4

FIDDLE4's version is very nice. And it sidesteps the technical
problem of bar three (in the Session's version)

See http://www.mediamax.com/fiddle4/

An Irish fiddler who's actually from Ireland - accept no substitutes

# Posted on February 27th 2008 by Hup

I'm amazed you all like this tune so much. I think its to jazzy but I suppose everyone has an opinion.

# Posted on February 27th 2008 by Walnut Box

glasgow / tam lin

what key is it best 2 play the tam lim / glasgow reel in on the piano accordian accordian.

# Posted on May 6th 2008 by accordian ace

Re: glasgow / tam lin

D min, and then change to A min after lots of shouting. It's equally easy to play in both keys.

# Posted on May 6th 2008 by mehitabel23

Re: glasgow / tam lin

thanks 4 that I no it in the key of d min so ill start transposing

# Posted on May 6th 2008 by accordian ace

Re: glasgow / tam lin

I didn't know that e.e. cummings was a member of this site.

# Posted on May 6th 2008 by dafydd

Re: glasgow / tam lin

Here's what The Fiddler's Companion has to say::

"Tamlyn.” AKA and see “The Glasgow Reel,” “The Howling Wind.” Irish, Reel. D Minor (Black): A Minor (Taylor). Standard tuning. AABB. The tune has been set in D Minor, E Minor and A Minor (for flute). Paddy O’Brien played it in D Minor. It is often heard in sessions played first in D Minor, then in A Minor for a variation. Composition credited to Dublin musician Davey Arthur (originally from Edinburgh, Scotland), "

# Posted on May 6th 2008 by Pirate-Fiddler

Re: glasgow / tam lin

whether or not e.e
cummings is a member of this site. or
not
is a matter that can discussed be
by anyone who chooses
to do so

# Posted on May 6th 2008 by mehitabel23

Re: glasgow / tam lin

tamalin, written by davey aurthur i believe??! who would have thought it!

# Posted on May 6th 2008 by S.Doherty

Re: glasgow / tam lin

Please, for the love of all that is sacred, don't play it in any key...

# Posted on May 6th 2008 by mcdevincabe

Re: glasgow / tam lin

Yeah, I hate the tune as well, and I'm *from* Glasgow.

# Posted on May 6th 2008 by Key Maniac Lad

Wrong

This tune is in Fmajor. F major has one flat aswell

# Posted on June 11th 2008 by jesusman

The Glasgow Reel

jesusman said, "This tune is in Fmajor..."

It looks like it's firmly in D minor to me, JM. Why are you saying F major?

# Posted on June 12th 2008 by nigelg

3 part version...

This version is played at our local sessions. Still not sure where it originated... looking into it. :o)

# Posted on August 21st 2008 by davydd