Search:

I think Amanda's last paragraph sums up a good approach - namely attend the session without your instrument to see what tunes are played at it (and see if it's even a session that you have an...

I thought that might be the case, just wanted to clarify it in the event anyone else reading who wasn't aware of that assumed Ireland was in the UK.

During the summer we have all the summer schools happening so there's lots of music about. In the winter I wouldn't say there are "limited opportunities" for people to do other things - it's the 21st...

Are ye on Facebook? if so they have a Facebook page so maybe you could send them a message that way.

Paul hits the nail on the head: not all sessions in Ireland are alike - some are advertised as "sessions" but are actually paid performances aimed at attracting tourists and others are actual...

Just heard about this week long event happening down in Ennis from May 20-24th, some great instructors lined up, including Marla Fibish for mandolin and Angelina Carberry for tenor banjo. The...

Just a heads up to the OP - we don't call them "jam sessions" over here, just sessions (ye might get a funny look if you walked in somewhere and asked if they had "jam sessions" there ), also...

In addition to all the great advice above re: economy of motion and the importance of relaxation and playing with a light touch, another thing to be aware of is not to rush the notes as you play them...

My Girouard! And for ones I don't own: A great F2 in a shop once, a Gilchrist Model 1 that was the business, a lovely Collings MT2V that I was sorely tempted to buy but didn't.

Ah that was the business Colin and the mandola really suits it! I know that tune as The Princess Royal - learnt it off an Angelina Carberry album years ago, think her version was done on a tenor...

In the cheap and cheerful category of picks my favourites are the Jim Dunlop Delrin500 picks, especially if you use the shoulder end of the pick to play with, rather than the pointy end. I like how...

Lovely stuff Mike!

The other video does indeed show a tenor banjo player, Angelina Carberry (my former banjo instructor from back in the day!) and the fella in the video with her is her now ex-husband Martin Quinn, who...

I bought a second hand Fletcher Tenortone from a cafe member here about 12 years ago. I'd been wanting one for ages as I'd read about them here on a cafe thread and then had gotten the chance to meet...

Someneck Guitars in Dublin sometimes gets in vintage and/or high end mandolins - I played an old Gibson A there back in 2019. Just outside of Galway Clareen Banjos down in Clarinbridge has mandolins...

The tune name is spelt as "Glynn" here in Ireland, it's a surname you come across here a fair bit. I've never seen the tune spelt as "Glin".

Another vote for tenor banjo, though of course I'm biased as I'm a banjo player! Maybe your mandolin playing friend is listening to the wrong banjo players - lots of wonderful players out there who...

This Sierra Hull video has some great tips on getting good tone. The instrument itself is just part of the equation:

-tCoGGcsi0I?feature=shared

I wouldn't be quick to write off buying a mandolin online. I've bought all the mandolins I've owned online, from reputable dealers, the benefit being that if you go through a shop like The Mandolin...

Back in the early 2000's I was flying back to San Francisco after spending 10 months back home in Ireland. I was traveling with my '57 Gibson J50 acoustic guitar and my '68 Gibson Trini Lopez...

@journeybear - Reading Franc's comment I don't think he's trying to rebuke you, seems like he's just expressing surprise, innocent enough reply I would think - how would he be expected to know that...

To this day, anytime I drive over a bridge crossing the Shannon I say "The Broad Majestic Shannon..." out loud, it's always the first thing that comes to mind when I see that expanse of water!

that was mighty Kevin!

The tune archive over on the Wellington Sessions page is a great resource - loads of tunes and the ability to loop parts of them and/or slow them down:

https://irish.session.nz/tunes-archive/

Cheers for posting those Kevin, great stuff altogether!