DADGAD Guitar Accompaniment
The aim of this course is to learn how to accompany Irish music on the guitar. MJ uses the alternative tuning system - DADGAD in his tutorials as this is particularly suited to Irish and other Celtic music genres due to it's modal nature. The first half of the course will examine the chords, chord structures and strumming patterns of some of the more typical tune types and keys in the Irish tradition; the Jig, Reel, Slip Jig and Hornpipe focusing on the keys of D, G, Em and Am. MJ then progresses onto other techniques; the use of sliding chords, inversions, bass runs, hammer-on technique and more complex strumming patterns. This course is an invaluable resource for the guitarist that wants to learn how to play using DADGAD tuning, or for the guitarist who is new to traditional music and would like to learn how to accompany Irish music.
'Introduction'
In this introductory lesson to the course 'DADGAD Guitar Accompaniment', Mj McMahon discusses the basics of this system of tuning and teaches a simple reel in D major using four basic chords.
In this lesson, MJ teaches the chordal accompaniment for the tune 'The Cuil Aodha Jig'in G major. He discusses the rhythm of the Jig and presents different strumming patterns that can be used when accompanying the tune.
This lesson will focus on the Slip Jig 'Fig for a Kiss'. MJ will discuss the rhythm of the Slip Jig and present some basic chordal structures to be used when accompanying in the key of E minor.
In this lesson, the accompaniment for the hornpipe 'The Plains of Boyle' will be taught in the key of D major. MJ will discuss the rhythm of the Hornpipe and present some alternative chordal structures to be used when accompanying in the key of D major.
The hammer-on technique will be the focus of this lesson. MJ will use the accompaniment of Sean Reid's Reel in G major to teach this technique.
The accompaniment of the A minor tune 'The Congress Reel' will be taught in this lesson. MJ will present a basic chord structure, but will then demonstrate alternative chords and moveable chords that could be incorporated into the accompaniment of the tune.
In this lesson, MJ will demonstrate how to accompany a Polka in A minor. He presents various different strumming rhythms that could be used in the accompaniment.
This lesson focuses on accompaniment for the key of B minor. MJ presents three different ways of accompanying the reel 'The Musical Priest' in B minor, with and without the capo.
In this lesson, MJ will teach the accompaniment of a jig in D major. He will introduce bass runs, inversions and the use of high chords into the tune's accompaniment.
In this lesson, MJ will teach the accompaniment of the reel The Boys of Ballisodare' in the key of E major. He will incorporate syncopation and up-strum accents into the tune's rhythmic accompaniment.
The accompaniment of the reel 'Fly Fishing' will be the focus of this lesson. MJ will be demonstrating how to incorporate 'jazzy' chords into the accompaniment; major and minor 7ths, diminished chords and dominant 7ths.
In this lesson, MJ will demonstrate how to incorporate sliding chords into the accompaniment of the E minor reel 'The Piper's Despair'.
In this lesson, MJ will teach some more advanced rhythms for the accompaniment of Jigs. He will use the jig 'Out on the Ocean' to demonstrate these rhythms..
- Reel
- Jig
- Slip Jig
- Polka
- Hornpipe
Tutor Info
MJ McMahon
Mj McMahon was born and raised in East Co. Clare. From an early age he played percussion and bódhran and later in his teenage years, developed an interest for the guitar. In 2001 Mj moved to Limerick where he studied traditional Irish music at University Limerick. Here, he learnt under the tutelage of guitar masters Steve Cooney, Ian Carr...[Read More]
