Please recommend some Slow Airs

[OneChordTrick]

Any recommendations for Slow Airs for someone who’s “just past the beginner” stage?

I can’t read music so will need tabs I’m afraid 😟

Thanks

[Nigel Gatherer]

• The Yellow Haired Laddie [TAB]
• Pentland Hills [TAB]
• Donald MacPherson's Lament [TAB]
• The Cradle Song [TAB]
• Camasunary [TAB]
• Braigh Loch Iall [TAB]
• Ae Fond Kiss [TAB]
• My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose [TAB]
• Ye Banks and Braes [TAB]
• Blind Mary [TAB]
• Planxty Irwin [TAB]
• Danny Boy [TAB]
• Down by the Salley Gardens [TAB]
• Star of the County Down [TAB]
• The Silvery Vow [TAB]
• Da Auld Resting Chair [TAB]
• Suo Gan [TAB]

More to explore: Nigel Gatherer's Tune Index

[OneChordTrick]

Thank you, that should keep me going for a while!

[John Kelly]

Tom Anderson's lovely Da Slockit Light and other Shetland airs such as Ronnie Aim's beautiful The Heroes of Longhope. Many slow airs by Niel and Nathaniel Gow or James Scott Skinner.

Here is a link to a version of Ronnie's tune I posted on YouTube about 6 years ago:



and to Da Slockit Light, from around the same time:

[CelticDude]

I consider slow airs to be somewhat tricky on a mandolin, as opposed to a wind instrument or fiddle. My favourite Irish air is Mna ha'Eirinn (Women of Ireland), which works really well on a whistle, but I would find less effective on the mando. Seems like you'd need to use arpeggio fills and/or tremolo to get the "continuous" sound you need for an air.

Having said that, da Slockit Light does seem made for the mandolin.

[Caleb]

I play mostly slower music - simple melodies, lullabies, airs, etc - because I just happen to enjoy them. Allan Alexander's books have a lot of very accessible tunes, and many in the same key so they can be ran together and made into longer and unique-to-you arrangements. Here are some books you might enjoy:

https://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Music-...c+for+mandolin

https://www.amazon.com/Airs-Scottish...sance+mandolin

[Jill McAuley]

Slán le Máigh is a good 'un. Here's Joannie Madden playing it on the whistle, and then a fiddle version from Na Filí:

[mrmando]

Get Simon Mayor's books if you can find them. Try "Maple Flames" or "Dark and Slender Boy."

https://www.amazon.com/Simon-Mayor-C...sap_bc?ie=UTF8

[John Kelly]

Slán le Máigh is a good 'un. Here's Joannie Madden playing it on the whistle, and then a fiddle version from Na Filí:

For some reason the two videos are coming up as "Not Available", Jill. Maybe because I am in the UK?

[OneChordTrick]

I’m having the same problem so guess you’re right John

[Nigel Gatherer]

Mr Mando said, "Get Simon Mayor's books if you can find them. Try "Maple Flames" or "Dark and Slender Boy."..."

Simon's material is really good, and he's a wonderful player, but "Dark and Slender Boy" is definitely NOT for someone who is "just past the beginner stage". His Celtic Mandolin book is good, but it's not for new players.

[Jill McAuley]

For some reason the two videos are coming up as "Not Available", Jill. Maybe because I am in the UK?

Hmm, must be some kind of licensing thing - how disappointing!

[mrmando]

Taimse im Chodladh