Irish Bouzouki

Tempokeystudio - Webapp helps learning tunes - now with Youtube Import!

noreply@blogger.com (Irish Bouzouki) — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 13:14:38 +0000

Declan Plummer, the app’s programmer, is constantly working hard to improve the app. It has recently become possible to embed videos from YouTube. You can now loop clips and adjust the speed and pitch.

YouTube’s own tools are used for this. This means you can now not only listen to the music, but also watch the musicians and see exactly what they’re doing. Unfortunately, though, you can’t get a clean, continuous loop with this. Nevertheless, it’s an excellent way to learn tunes. It takes a bit of getting used to, but once you’ve got the hang of it, the work goes quickly.

I’m really looking forward to seeing what else Declan will add to this app in the future. And best of all: this app is completely free! And as it is a webapp it runs in the browser on all devices.

You can get the app here

Little Session App (iOS and Android)

noreply@blogger.com (Irish Bouzouki) — Sun, 01 Nov 2026 11:41:46 +0000

I just downloaded a (for me) new app to my iPhone and just started getting used to it.

Little Session is a specialized mobile app created by developer Sébastien Allie, designed to serve as a comprehensive pocket companion for players of Irish traditional music.

The app comes bundled offline with over 23,000 traditional tunes sourced from TheSession.org, covering reels, jigs, hornpipes, polkas, and more. It allows musicians to search tunes, display sheet music (with adjustable ABC notation playback and tempo control), organize sets, and recognize melodies in real time during live sessions. Its core highlight is real-time interactive fingerings and custom chord accompaniments for 19 different instruments.

For backing players—especially Irish Bouzouki musicians—Little Session delivers targeted playback and practice tools:

Real-Time Fretboard Visualization: Displays interactive fretboard diagrams tuned specifically for Irish Bouzouki, showing exact fingering positions and scales as the tune plays.
High-Quality Audio Packs: Includes dedicated downloadable sample packs for Bouzouki, producing authentic string playback instead of generic MIDI.
Tradition-Based Chord Accompaniments: Focuses on standard session-style open modal chords and modal modal-friendly voicings common in Irish backing rather than strictly formal music theory chords.
Chord & Rhythm Practice: Enables players to adjust playback speed, loop A/B sections, change key signatures, and practice rhythm and backing lines directly alongside sheet music.

Available on iOS and Android as a one-time purchase without subscriptions, Little Session bridges traditional tune learning with realistic string-accompaniment tools.

This is the link to the Little Session YouTube Channel

Whether you’ve been using this app for a while or are just trying it out for the first time, please do leave a comment to let us know what you think of it and what tips you can offer to bouzouki players. And if you come across any tutorials or videos about the app, please do share the link here.

Lowlands Of Holland - Ye Vagabonds - Lesson by Johannes Broborn

noreply@blogger.com (Irish Bouzouki) — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 08:48:24 +0000

Johannes Broborn is really busy these days. Here's a new lesson by him, another cover of a song played by Ye Vagabonds.

Here are the lyrics and the chords I use. They might be a little different from Johannes' chords.

{t:Lowlands of Holland}

{st:Ye Vagabonds}

The [D]love that I have cho[G]sen I there[D]with [A]be con[Bm]tent

The [D]salt sea shall be fro[G]zen be[D]fore that [A] re[D]pent

Re[D]pent it shall I [G]ne[D]ver un[G]til the [D]day I [Bm]die

But the [G]lowlands of [D]Holl[G]and has [D]twined my [A]love and I[D].

My [D]love lies in the salt [G]sea and [D] am [A]on the [Bm]side

en[D]ough to break a young thing's [G]heart that [D]lately [A]was a [D]bride.

But [D]lately was a [G]bonny [D]bride and [G]pleasure [D]in her [Bm]eye.

For the [G]lowlands of [D]Hol[G]land has [D]twined my [A]love and [D]I.

My [D]love he built a bonny [G]ship and [D]set her [A]on the [Bm]sea

With [D]seven score good mari[G]ners to [D]bear her [A]compa[D]ny.

But the [D]weary wind be[G]gan to [D]rise, the [G]sea be[D]gan to [Bm]rout

And my [G]love then and his [D]bonny [G]ship turned [D]with the [A]shins a[D]bout.

There [D]shall nae a quaff come on my [G]head nor [D]comb come through my [Bm]hair

There shall [D]neither coal nor candlel[G]ight shine [D]in my [A]bower [D]mair.

Nor [D]will I marry a[G]nother [D]one, un[G]til the [D]day I [Bm]die

For the [G]high winds and [D]stormy [G]seas have [D]twined my [A]love and [D]I.

Oh [D]hold your tongue my daughter [G]dear, be [D]still and [A]be con[Bm]tent.

There's [D]men enough in Gallo[G]way, you [D]need not [A]sore la[D]ment.

Oh there's [D]men enough in [G]Gallo[D]way, a[G]las there's [D]none for [Bm]me

For I [G]never had a [D]love but [G]one and he's [D]drownded [A]in the [D]sea.

Donal Lunny, Róisín Elsafty and Máirtín O’Connor perform ‘Pota Mór Fataí’., 2005

noreply@blogger.com (Irish Bouzouki) — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 14:43:13 +0000

Checking my harddisk I found an old tab I made years ago but never posted here. It's the bouzouki accompaniment to the song Pota Mor Fatai, sung by Roisin Elsafty.

This is the tab I made. You can download it here.

Please comment if you download and maybe think of buying me a pint?

Planxty (Donal Lunny) - Junior Crehan's Favourite Tab

noreply@blogger.com (Irish Bouzouki) — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 14:30:23 +0000

Today I listend once again to the Black Album by Planxty and I just had to try to play Donal's backing to Junior Crehan's Favourite. Usually the tune is listend as ADorian with chords A5, G, E5, but Donal plays it in D!

Here's the tab I made. You can download the full pdf here.

But please comment, if you download it, and maybe think of buying me a pint?

Farewell Donal Lunny

noreply@blogger.com (Irish Bouzouki) — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 13:26:24 +0000

Is there a bouzouki player in the world who hasn’t been influenced by Donal Lunny and his style of playing the bouzouki? When I heard the news of his death yesterday, I was deeply saddened. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to meet him in person; I only saw him perform live once with Planxty (Bremen, 1980). The internet is now full of tributes to him and his life’s work, so there’s nothing more I can add. What remains is the memory of a wonderful person with a deep love for traditional Irish music and a curiosity to constantly discover and nurture new, up-and-coming talent.

There aren't many tabs on my blog that try to explain Donal's playing style. I find it difficult to analyze and write down his playing style. If any of you have tabs or lessons that explain his bouzouki playing, I'd really appreciate it if you'd be willing to share them here.

Here's at least a link to the tabs I've posted here on the blog.

Here's an interview with Donal from 2004

I'm A Rover - Lesson by Johannes Broborn

noreply@blogger.com (Irish Bouzouki) — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 09:29:24 +0000

Next lesson by Johannes Broborn. He seems to be a big Fan of Ye Vagabonds. So this is his take on the song I'm a Rover.

First the recorded version by Johannes:

And here is his lesson:

Here's the lyrics and chords which I use (there may be some variations to Johannes' chords)

{title: I'm A Rover}

Capo on 3rd fret

{soc}

[D]I'm a rover and[G] seldom so[D]ber

I'm a rover, o' high de[A]gree;

And when I'm[D] drinking, I'm [A]always [D]thinking

How to [G]gain my love's[A] compa[D]ny.

{eoc}

Though the [D]night be [G]dark as [D]dungeon,

not a star to be seen a[A]bove

I will be [D]guided with[A]out a [D]stumble,

into the [G]arms of me [A]only [D]love

I went up [D]to her [G]bedroom [D]window,

kneeling gently upon a [A]stone

Oh, I [D]rapped on her [A]bedroom [D]window

My darling [G]dear, do you [A]lie a[G]lone?

{soc}

[D]I'm a a rover and[G] seldom so[D]ber

I'm a rover, o' high de[A]gree;

And when I'm[D] drinking, I'm [A]always [D]thinking

How to [G]gain my love's[A] compa[D]ny.

{eoc}

She raised her [D]head up from her [G]feather[D]pillow

Raised her arms up around her [A]breast

Saying [D] at me [A]bedroom [D]window,

disturbing [G]me at me [A]long night's [D]rest?

It's only [D], your [G]own true [D]lover,

open the [Bm]door and please [G]let me [A]in

For I have [D]come on a [A]long night's [D]journey

I am near [G]drench - ed [A]to the [D]skin

{soc}

[D]I'm a a rover and[G] seldom so[D]ber

I'm a rover, o' high de[A]gree;

And when I'm[D] drinking, I'm [A]always [D]thinking

How to gain my love's[A] compa[D]ny.

{eoc}

She opened the [D]door with the [G]greatest [D]pleasure

Opened the [D]door and she let me [A]in

We both shook [D]hands and em[G]braced each [D]other

'Til the [Bm]morning we [A]lay as [G]one

Well now me [Bm]love, I must go and [D]leave you

Though the [F#m]mountains be [Em]high a[A]bove

Well, I will [D]climb them with [G]greater [D]pleasure

That I have [G]been with me [A]only [G]love

{soc}

[D]I'm a a rover and[G] seldom so[D]ber

I'm a rover, o' high de[A]gree;

And when I'm[D] drinking, I'm [A]always [D]thinking

How to [G]gain my love's[A] compa[D]ny.

{eoc}

The Foggy Dew - Ye Vagabonds - Lesson by Johannes Broborn

noreply@blogger.com (Irish Bouzouki) — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 16:01:06 +0000

Here's a new lesson by Johannes Broborn. Another song recorded by Ye Vagabonds. This is not the famous rebel song!

There's another lesson to this song by Jasper Kaye, which I posted here. You can also find the lyrics and chords to the song there.

So you can compare these videos and decide which one suits you best.

Here's Johannes' recorded version of the song

2 lovely cover versions by Wyn Oran - The Lakes of Pontchartrain and The Hare's Lament

noreply@blogger.com (Irish Bouzouki) — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 13:08:23 +0000

Just found these 2 beautiful versions of Folk Songs. I love the singing and playing of Wyn. Have a listen and get inspired.

Blue is the Eye (Ye Vagabonds) - Irish Bouzouki Lesson by Johannes Broborn

noreply@blogger.com (Irish Bouzouki) — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 07:50:47 +0000

Yesterday I posted the cover version Johannes posted on youtube, today he is offering the lesson on how to play it. So take your chance to learn a beautiful little song. Lyrics and chords you can find in my other post here.

As the tab which is in the video is a bit difficult to see I made a tab in Tabledit. You can download it here.

Kevin Elam - How to Accompany a Strathspey (Highlander's Farewell)

noreply@blogger.com (Irish Bouzouki) — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 07:40:18 +0000

Kevin Elam just released a lesson on how to rhythmically accompany a strathspey on his Patreon page. He kindly set this one for free for 14 days so hurry and have a look. And maybe bekome a member of his site.

You can watch the video here

Blue is the eye by Ye Vagabonds - Cover by Johannes Broborn

noreply@blogger.com (Irish Bouzouki) — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 09:28:22 +0000

This is a lovely cover by Johannes Broborn played on bouzouki and mandolin.

These are lyrics and chords:

{t:Blue Is The Eye}

{st:Ye Vagabonds}

Capo 1

A [D]crack in the [G]sky lends a [D]light to the [A]dark

The [D]wind blows the [G]ember of [A]coal from the [D]hearth

You [D]carry it [G]proudly through [D]ditches and [A]trees

And [Bm]cross the hor[G]izon to [A]lie down and [D]sleep

{soc}

[Bm]Lie down and [G]sleep, [A]sleep well my [D]darling

[Bm]Blue is the [Bm]eye watches [A]over the [D]sea

[Bm]Lie down and [G]sleep, [A]sleep well my [D]darling

[Bm]Blue is the [G]eye that [A]looks after [D]thee

{eoc}

[D]Over the [G]ocean tow[D]ard a new [A]world

The [Bm]city, the [G]island, the [A]tear and the [D]pearl

A [D]boat on the [G]water casts [D]out a clear [A]еye

The [Bm]darkness bе[G]neath us is [A]teeming with [D]life

{soc}

[Bm]Lie down and [G]sleep, [A]sleep well my [D]darling

[Bm]Blue is the [G]eye watches [A]over the [D]sea

[Bm]Lie down and [G]sleep, [A]sleep well my [D]darling

[Bm]Blue is the [G]eye that [A]looks after [D]thee

{eoc}

[D]Under the [G]fire from the [D]hearth on the [A]hill

The [D]coal and the [G]ember, they [A]glow away [D]still

[D]Songs to the [G]stranger, fa[D]miliar and [A]clear

[Bm]Ring out in [G]chorus for [A]all you hold [D]dear

{soc}

[Bm]Lie down and [G]sleep, [A]sleep well my [D]darling

[Bm]Blue is the [G]eye watches [A]over the [D]sea

[Bm]Lie down and [G]sleep, [A]sleep well my [D]darling

[Bm]Blue is the [G]eye that [A]looks after [D]thee

{eoc}

A [D]flash in the [G]dark glimmers [D]silver and [A]blue

[Bm]Breaches the [G]waves for a [A]moment or [D]two

[D]Moves away [G]slowly back [D]into the [A]deep

[Bm]Blue is the [G]eye watches [A]over the [D]sea

{soc}

[Bm]Lie down and [G]sleep, [A]sleep well my [D]darling

[Bm]Blue is the [G]eye watches [A]over the [D]sea

[Bm]Lie down and [G]sleep, [A]sleep well my [D]darling

[Bm]Blue is the [G]eye that [A]looks after [D]thee

{eoc}

Johannes uses following chords:

D: 7,0,0,0

G: 12,9,0,0

D: 11,12,0,0

A: 9,11,0,0

D:7,7,0,0

G: 4,5,0,0

A: 6,7,0,0

D: 7,0,0,0

G: 12,9,0,0

D: 11,12,0,0

A: 9,7,0,0

In the refrain he plays Bm instead of G in the first line, but I prefer the G there.

Bm: 4,4,0,0

G: 4,5,0,0

A: 2,2,0,0

D: 2,0,0,0

Kitty Bawn O’Brien composed by Allister MacGillvray, played by George White

noreply@blogger.com (Irish Bouzouki) — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 08:49:17 +0000

A lovely song composed by Allister MacGillvray. The story is set in a small village on the southern tip of Ireland during the 1800s and was composed for a project on Celtic emigration that was being prepared by Denis Ryan.

Lyrics and chords:

{title:Kitty Bawn O'Brien}

{subtitle:Allister MacGillivary}

[D]Soft blows the [G]wind both [D] sweet and warm

From the [G] peaks called [A7] Knockmeal [D]down,

The [D]songbird [G] sings his [D] weary [Bm]notes a[Em]bove Blackwater [A7]Sound;

From [A7]my heart no [D]joys de[A7]part‘s, no beauty can en[Bm]thral.

My[D]Kitty Bawn O'[G]Brien's [Em]gone to [A]far off Montre[D]al.

I met her at the Mallow Fair where lovers sport and play.

I watched her feet move lightly while the piper droned away.

She sang a song so lilting there, her hands beneath her shawl.

Now Kitty Bawn O'Brien's gone to far off Montreal.

I followed her to Waterford the day the ship set sail.

Her mother let the teardrops fall. Her father's face was pale.

I kissed her ere I lost her there, and sorely I recall,

My Kitty Bawn O'Brien's gone to far off Montreal.

And far across the ocean wide, a world from Knockmealdown,

My Kitty shines like silver in some gold Canadian town.

She'll charm some young French soldier there; to blame him I've no call.

My Kitty Bawn O'Brien's gone to far off Montreal.

TempoKey Studio by Declan Plummer - Free WebApp

noreply@blogger.com (Irish Bouzouki) — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 14:24:55 +0000

This free web-app by Declan Plummer lets you import Audio files, slow them down, pitch them up or down etc. So it's a nice tool for learning tunes. I just tried it and have to say, it has all the features you need. As it it a web app it works on Mac, PC, iOs and Android.

You can try it for free here and maybe have a look at his other apps and his bouzouki courses as well.

Finger practice - independence of the fingers, left hand

noreply@blogger.com (Irish Bouzouki) — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 08:31:49 +0000

This is in German, but easy to understand. At first it is really difficult, but it might help to place the fingers more individually on the fretboard.

Red Haired Mary - Lesson by Johannes Broborn

noreply@blogger.com (Irish Bouzouki) — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 08:42:51 +0000

A new lesson by Johannes Broborn. The Song Red Haired Mary was written by Sean McCarthy. The song is also played by Dervish. Johannes teaches the version he plays.

The lyrics:

[Verse 1]
As I was goin' to the fair of Dingle one fine mornin' last July
A fine young man come up behind me "Red-haired Mary," he did cry
"Will you come with me my red-haired Mary, the donkey, he can carry two"
I looked at him, my eyes did twinkle, me cheeks they were a rosy hue
"Thank you kindly sir" I answered, then I tossed me light red hair
Says I, "Will you hold the donkey and I'll ride with you to the Dingle fair"
When we reached the town of Dingle, he caught me hand to say goodbye
When a tinker he pulled up behind him and hit him right in his left eye

[Refrain]
"Take your hands off red-haired Mary she and I are to be wed
We were with the priest this very morn, tonight we'll lie in our marriage bed"

[Verse 2]
Well, he was feeling very peevish, his poor eye was sad and sore
He kicked the tinker with his hobnails, knocked him through Tom Murphy's door
He galloped off to meet his father, the tallest man you e'er did see
He tapped him gently with his knuckles and now he's missin' two front teeth
Oh and I the happy cailín, "Man, with you I'll go," I said
"Never mind the priest this very morn, tonight we'll sleep in Murphy's shed"

[Verse 3]
Around the corner came a peeler, told him I had broke the law
The donkey kicked him on the kneecap, he fell down and broke his jaw
To the fair we roved together, his black eye and my red hair
Gazing gaily at the tinker, weren't we the happy pair?

[Refrain]
"Take your hands off red-haired Mary she and I are to be wed
We were with the priest this very morn, tonight we'll lie in our marriage bed"
"Take your hands off red-haired Mary she and I are to be wed
We were with the priest this very morn, tonight we'll lie in our marriage bed"

Robin Jones - New Lesson - 3 Polkas in ADAD tuning

noreply@blogger.com (Irish Bouzouki) — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 08:28:39 +0000

Robin Jones just released a new lesson. This time in ADAD tuning. 3 lovely well known polkas in a beautiful arrangement. To get the lesson go to his website here

Planxty played these Polkas in a set you can listen to it here.

The Complete Irish Bouzouki App by Declan Plummer

noreply@blogger.com (Irish Bouzouki) — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 09:04:04 +0000

Declan from Top Score Music Academy made a new web-app. In this video he shows how it works and what it can do. Have a look for yourself. If you tried it please comment what you think about it.

What is an Irish Bouzouki, Video by N.K. Forster

noreply@blogger.com (Irish Bouzouki) — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 08:59:53 +0000

Nigel Forster is a well known Luthier who lives in New Zealand. For a long time he worked with Stefan Sobell and he learned a lot at that time. In this video he tells lots of interesting things about the Irish Bouzouki. Afterwards you can see some videos where musicians play his instruments.

This video covers:
— Where the Irish bouzouki came from, and is it really English?
— The Sobell design: carved arched top, curved back, long scale
— Tonewoods: what works best for the instrument?
— The common tunings.
— Cheap vs expensive: why most affordable bouzoukis never sing, and what to actually buy if you're starting out

Lesson Beeswing by Johannes Broborn

noreply@blogger.com (Irish Bouzouki) — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 14:10:46 +0000

Johannes Broborn made a new lesson on how to play the Richard Thompson song Beeswing. This song is often heard in sessions.

Here are the lyrics to the song:

I was nineteen when I came to town, they called it the Summer of Love
They were burning babies, burning flags, the hawks against the doves
I took a job in the steamie down on Cauldrum Street
And I fell in love with a laundry girl who was working next to me

Oh she was a rare thing, fine as a bee′s wing
So fine a breath of wind might blow her away
She was a lost child, oh she was running wild
She said "as long as there's no price on love, I′ll stay
And you wouldn't want me any other way"

Brown hair zig-zag around her face and a look of half-surprise
Like a fox caught in the headlights, there was animal in her eyes
She said "Young man, oh can't you see I′m not the factory kind
If you don′t take me out of here I'll surely lose my mind"

Oh she was a rare thing, fine as a bee′s wing
So fine that I might crush her where she lay
She was a lost child, she was running wild
She said "as long as there's no price on love, I′ll stay
And you wouldn't want me any other way"
We busked around the market towns and picked fruit down in Kent
And we could tinker lamps and pots and knives wherever we went
And I said that we might settle down, get a few acres dug
Fire burning in the hearth and babies on the rug
She said "Oh man, you foolish man, it surely sounds like hell
You might be lord of half the world, you′ll not own me as well"

Oh she was a rare thing, fine as a bee's wing
So fine a breath of wind might blow her away
She was a lost child, oh she was running wild
She said "as long as there's no price on love, I′ll stay
And you wouldn′t want me any other way"

We was camping down the Gower one time, the work was pretty good
She thought we shouldn't wait for the frost and I thought maybe we should
We was drinking more in those days and tempers reached a pitch
And like a fool I let her run with the rambling itch

Oh the last I heard she′s sleeping rough back on the Derby beat
White Horse in her hip pocket and a wolfhound at her feet
And they say she even married once, a man named Romany Brown
But even a gypsy caravan was too much settling down
And they say her flower is faded now, hard weather and hard booze
But maybe that's just the price you pay for the chains you refuse

Oh she was a rare thing, fine as a bee′s wing
And I miss her more than ever words could say
If I could just taste all of her wildness now
If I could hold her in my arms today
Well I wouldn't want her any other way

Tradtab.com - Tabs, Tuner, Chords for Irish Bouzouki and other stringed instruments

noreply@blogger.com (Irish Bouzouki) — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 10:56:39 +0000

A website with thousands of tabs for tunes. Comes with a tuner and chord shapes, abc-converter and scales. Just put this on your homescreen on your phone and you have instant access to these features.

You can find it here.

This is the tuner

and some scales

Jig Picking Technique: Lesson by Guy Millward

noreply@blogger.com (Irish Bouzouki) — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 11:59:38 +0000

This is a lesson for beginners how to play Jigs. He leads you through a lot of well thought exercises. You might want to look for his other videos on youtube too.

The Gander In The Pratie Hole - Irish Bouzouki Lesson - Part A by Guy Milward

noreply@blogger.com (Irish Bouzouki) — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 11:54:12 +0000

Guy Milward is a new name to me. Here's a lesson how to play the A-Part to the Jig The Gander In The Pratie Hole. He learned it from Macdara O'Faolain. The Tab and notation can be found on his website

His free lessons can be found here

Lesson: Andy M. Stewart-The Rambling Rover by Johannes Broborn

noreply@blogger.com (Irish Bouzouki) — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 11:43:40 +0000

Johannes Broborn uploaded his second lesson, this time he shows how he plays the Rambling Rover, a well known song written by Andy M. Stewart, the former lead singer of the Scottish band Silly Wizard.

Andy also recorded some solo albums which are worth listening to. He was ill for a long time and died some years ago. He left us a lot of beautiful songs. If you can get hold of one of his songbooks (I think there are two out there) don't hesitate buying them.

Here's Johannes' video:

Here are the lyrics and the chords I play, might be different from the ones Johannes uses

{t:The Rambling Rover}

{st:Andy M. Stewart}

{soc}

[D]Oh, there're sober men aplenty,

[D]And drunkards barely twenty,

There are m[G]en of over [D]ninety

That have [Em]never yet kissed a [G]girl.

But give m[D]e a ramblin' rover,

A[D]nd fair Orkney down to Dover.

We will r[G]oam the country [D]over

And togeth[G]er we'll [A]face the[D] world.

{eoc}

I[D]'ve roamed through all the nations

T[D]a'en delight in all creation,

And I've tried a[G] wee sensation

Where the c[D]ompany, did prove[Em] kind.

And when p[D]artin' was no pleasure,

I[D]'ve drunk another measure

To the go[G]od friends that [D]were treasure

For they a[G]lways are[A] in our [D]minds.

{soc}

[D]Oh, there're sober men aplenty,

[D]And drunkards barely twenty,

There are m[G]en of over [D]ninety

That have [Em]never yet kissed a [G]girl.

But give m[D]e a ramblin' rover,

A[D]nd fair Orkney down to Dover.

We will r[G]oam the country [D]over

And togeth[G]er we'll [A]face the[D] world.

{eoc}

T[D]here's many that feign enjoyment

F[D]rom merciless employment,

Their am[G]bition was this de[D]ployment

From the [Em]minute they left the [G]school.

And they s[D]ave and scrape and ponder

W[D]hile the rest go out and squander,

See the w[G]orld and rove and [D]wander

And are [A]happier as a rule. [D]

{soc}

[D]Oh, there're sober men aplenty,

[D]And drunkards barely twenty,

There are m[G]en of over [D]ninety

That have [Em]never yet kissed a [G]girl.

But give m[D]e a ramblin' rover,

A[D]nd fair Orkney down to Dover.

We will r[G]oam the country [D]over

And togeth[G]er we'll [A]face the[D] world.

{eoc}

I[D]f you're bent wi' arth-i-ritis,

Y[D]our bowels have got colitis,

You've gallopin'[G] with bollockitis

And you're[D] thinkin' it's ti[Em]me you died,

If you bee[D]n a man of action,

T[D]hough you're lying there in traction,

You will [G]get some satisfa[D]ction

Thinkin', [G]"Jesus, a[A]t least [D]I tried."

{soc}

[D]Oh, there're sober men aplenty,

[D]And drunkards barely twenty,

There are m[G]en of over [D]ninety

That have [Em]never yet kissed a [G]girl.

But give m[D]e a ramblin' rover,

A[D]nd fair Orkney down to Dover.

We will r[G]oam the country [D]over

And togeth[G]er we'll [A]face the[D] world.

{eoc}

Luke Ward - Irish Bouzouki Lessons - The Congress Reel in different Capo positions

noreply@blogger.com (Irish Bouzouki) — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 11:20:07 +0000

This is a really helpful lesson by Luke Ward. Oftentimes you have to accompany a set of tunes where you have to change capo positions. To avoid this you might want to be able to play in different keys. The Congress Reel is in A-Dorian. You can play it without capo, with Capo at 2nd position playing in G-Dorian, with Capo at 5th position playing in E-Dorian and in 7 position playing in D-Dorian.

Luke shows necessary chords and how to accompany the Congress Reel using these shapes.
By becoming a patreon on his site you'll have access to all his fantastic lessons.

You might also have a look at the website of his band Tempest here

Here's a short snippet from the lesson: