Welcome to Beginners Traditional Irish Fiddle

All of our tunes are easily explained, and progress gradually to incorporate new bowing patterns and techniques.  After watching / hearing a tune being played you will learn it in easy to follow phrasing and bowing patterns, which you can then practice before moving onto the next phrase.  Rónán has taught these tunes to many people around the world using these very methods - we hope you find them easy to use and enjoyable.  Please feel free to ask questions as you go.  Your feedback is very welcome and will enhance your learning experience.  Bain sult as do chuid cheol.  

Twinkle Twinkle

Twinkle Twinkle is a great starter tune.  It is played on the two middle strings, D and A and has a span of 5 notes, which will get you started and familiar with the fingering of some of the notes on the D scale. Remember you can also click on set up and techniques  to get help with fingering and bowing tips. Good luck and enjoy!

Breakdown of Twinkle Twinkle

Parts 1

The first part of the tune involves a legato triplet on the low G.  Also there is scope to use some forth finger technique.  The tune is an AA BB structure.

Parts 1 & 2 Together

Lets slowly practice the first part, break and then practice the second part of the tune.

Part 2

The second part of the tune allows us to learn a nice cross-bowing pattern which will come in very useful later for your reel playing.

Is Féidir Linn practiced slowly

Now you can practice the full tune slowly.  Be sure to ask if you've any questions, difficulties or idea's.

Is Féidir Linn © Rónán Regan

'Is Feidir Linn' was composed by Rónán Regan around the time President Obama visited Ireland in 2011. He began composing this tune during the Dali Lama's visit to Ireland earlier the same year and put the second part to it during Obama's trip. The essence of their speeches were very similar. In terms of the North and in terms of our present economic difficulties, we are resilient and if we pull together 'yes we can' succeed! 

Breakdown of Is Féidir Linn

Parts 1

The first part of the tune involves a legatto triplet on the low G.  Also there is scope to use some forth finger technique.  The tune is an AA BB structure.

Parts 1 & 2 Together

Lets slowly practice the first part, break and then practice the second part of the tune.

Part 2

The second part of the tune allows us to learn a nice cross-bowing pattern which will come in very useful later for your reel playing.

Is Féidir Linn practiced slowly

Now you can practice the full tune slowly.  Be sure to ask if you've any questions, difficulties or idea's.

An Spiorad Naomh © Rónán Regan

Scríobh Rónán an port seo ar an 23ú Éanair 2014 le haghaidh ranga 6, Scoil Eoin Pól II a bhíodh ag déanamh a gComh Neartú i mbliana.  Bhí sé ag sheint ceol le Eanna Ó Mainín agus tháinig an port air.  Rónán wrote the tune 'An Spiorad Naomh' for 6th Class, Scoil Eoin Pól II who received their Confirmation this year.  He composed it after a few tunes with his good friend Enda Mannion from Dunmore.

Breakdown of An Spiorad Naomh

Parts 1

Here you will learn the first part of the tune.  Be careful of the C notes!  It's a C# leading into the d' and C natural in the rest of the tune

Part 1 & part 2 slowly

This will give you a chance to practice the first and second parts of the tune slowly.  

Part 2

The second part of the tune starts on a high b, a nice stretch of the little finger and has a pulsing bow for it and the high g note. 

Both parts together

Now you can practice both parts of the tune together slowly.  There is the option to fill in the extra notes triplets the second time around, which is a bit more difficult.  Enjoy the tune!

Ar gCéad Chomaoineach © Rónán Regan

Port a chum Rónán i 2011 nuair a bhí sé ag múineadh ranga 2 i nGaelscoil Liatroma, Cora Droma Rúisc agus iad ag déanamh a gCéad Chomaoineach.  Written by Rónán in 2011 for 2nd Class, in the local Gaelscoil in Carrick-On-Shannon 2011.

Breakdown of Ar gCéad Chomaoineach

Parts 1

Part one starts on a third finger G note on a down bow and then jumps up to the high g octave on an up-bow.  Both parts are repeated. 

Parts 1 & 2 Practiced individually

Here there is a practice of both the first and second parts of the tune individually, to refresh our memories before tackling the full tune together.

Part 2

The second or high part of the tune starts on a high F note, there is a repeat of a phrase that we learnt in the first part.  Again the high part is repeated. 

The Full Tune Slowly

Here you will hear the full tune played slowly and have a chance to practice it.  The structure of the tune is AA BB.  Please feel free to ask any questions...enjoy!