Music Books by Region of Origin

Musick’s Delight on the Modern Cittern is intended for the beginner seeking a collection of simple yet attractive tunes that are enjoyable to play; the more intermediate player desirous of widening their repertoire; and any player in want of a collection of tunes upon which they can build further. 

All tunes are presented in both notation and tablature, together with chords for an accompaniment, in GDGDG for cittern and GDAE for mandolin and octave mandola, plus two hundred and fifty chords each for GDGDG and GDAE. Bouzouki and tenor mandola players can also play these tunes via the tablature. 

From the age of knights, castles and courtly love; from the palaces and gardens of Renaissance Europe; and from the assemblies, playhouses and noisy streets of seventeenth and eighteenth-century London: Musick’s Delight on the Modern Cittern presents a repertoire spanning 600 years – as delightfully playable and addictive now as it was then.

Although the cittern has a history spanning 500 years and several countries, like its cousin the Irish bouzouki, it is a relative newcomer to contemporary traditional music. Doc Rossi, a well-known citternist in both traditional and early music, has created this book for intermediate to advanced players who want to improve their technique, develop ideas and learn new repertoire. Guitarists can play all of the tunes in this book on the guitar by tuning C F C G C F, low to high, and putting a capo at the second fret. The lowest line in the tablature then corresponds to the fifth string. The CD features all the tunes played at a medium tempo.

Popular session tunes in Scotland. This latest volume comes by popular demand. Great tunes from new composers and old tunes that have stood the test of time to add to your Horo Gheallaidh collections 1, 2 and 3. This book is an essential addition to all fiddlers' Scottish repertoires.

Many of the tunes such as Aly's Watz, Doorus Mill, The Strayaway Child, The Cape Breton Fiddler's Welcome, Innisheer Milltimber King of the Mountains and many more, recorded on the best of Scottish albums.

While one of a kind is a hard rating to achieve at Mel Bay Publications, Kevin Allison has done it with The Ceilidh Dance Book. A ceilidh is a traditional Scottish gathering where people share songs, stories, music, and dancing that is very much alive today. In Scotland, there are hundreds of ceilidh bands, each of which has their own trademark tune sets, making it possible for a man in a kilt to make a living as a performing musician. This book not only provides 85 Scottish tunes in sets as they might be used in a ceilidh event ”it also offers detailed, beat-by-beat descriptions of the dance steps for twenty-four dances! From The Highland Scottish to The Mooncoin Jig, with this book in hand, you'll be able to both play in the band and step to the music with the locals. The kilt is optional. Arranged for mandolin or fiddle with suggested chord backup, in standard notation only.

This 4-volume teaching series continues to be enormously successful and popular. It aims to stimulate young players in particular, with all the new technical and musical ideas introduced one by one in a lucid and logical fashion.The light hearted illustrations by Peter Nuttall and Gerald Garcia are another attractive feature of the series.

Progressive Guitar Method For Young Beginners: Book 3 continues on from Method Book 2.

Progressive Guitar Method For Young Beginners: Book 3 extends the range to cover all the naturalnotes on all six strings in the open position and introduces Bb and another F# note. The C major scale is also explained.

Progressive Guitar Method For Young Beginners: Book 3 contains very easy arrangements of over 20 songs, using 6 simplified chord shapes (G, D7, C, G7, D and a new chord, F).

Songs include Humpty Dumpty, Polly Put the Kettle On and Diddle Diddle Dumpling.

It's now over 30 years since Shaskeen first formed and are still going strong. Over the years they have made many albums; more session tunes from 2 of them can be found in this book. With chords, photographs, copious notes etc..

Twenty one of your favourite Irish songs, arranged by Gary Meisner for accordion.

This book is the ideal primer for anyone wishing to participate in an "Irish session". This musical gathering is apparently quite different than a blues, jazz or bluegrass jam session in that it is customary at Irish sessions to play in tight unison with the other musicians, adapting appropriate tempos, rhythms, and ornaments in an attempt to fit in with the "groove". The "Irish Session Tune Book" features 300 reels, hornpipes, polkas, slides, and slip-jigs written without chord symbols for the

Accurate and extremely clear guitar transcriptions, comprehensively notated in tablature from ex-Albion Band guitarist Keith Hinchliffe, taken from his album of 19 tracks of tunes by the renowned Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan. Soundtrack available.

The Whistle and Sing! handbooks were designed by the author, Eamon Jordan, with a dual purpose; to offer modern arrangements of the more tuneful songs, airs and dance music of Ireland and to write these down from actual players in a simple setting which beginners could approach with confidence, and the more experienced players would elaborate upon.

A treasury of 100 airs and dance tunes suitable for all instruments selected on sheer melodic strength. All forms of Irish music are represented here in roughly equal proportions - a reflection of the fact that most musicians will want to try their hand at any Irish piece and most performances will usually include a mix of dance music, ballads, slow airs, Carolan tunes etc..

A further selection of 100 airs and dance tunes suitable for all instruments selected on sheer melodic strength.

25 of the very best Irish songs and dance tunes including Sheebeg and Sheemore, Danny Boy and Slievenamon arranged for easy piano, keyboards, harp, accordion and most melody instruments.

61 new Irish traditional compositions with chord arrangemnts by renowned tin whistle player L. E. McCullough, suitable for all instruments. In 1976 McCullough's original Irish folk compositions won first place in the All Ireland New Dance Tune Competition. Soundtrack available.

110 of the best tunes in any tin whistle player's repertoire, specially chosen and arranged by Claire McKenna, one of Ireland's top players and teachers. Graded by difficulty for everyone from beginner to advanced. Soundtrack available.

110 classic tunes attributed to the legendary Irish harper and composer, Turlough O'Carolan. A must for every traditional musician's repertoire. Suitable for all melody instruments.

110 of the most popular session tunes in Ireland and around the world. Join in wherever you go with this session friendly collection of jigs, reels, hornpipes, polkas, slides, airs and more. Suitable for all melody instruments.

110 of the best tunes in any fiddler's repertoire, specially chosen and arranged by Paul McNevin, one of Ireland's top players and teachers. Includes a special feature on rolls, cuts, triplets and other ornamentation. Soundtrack available.

Karen's mastery of the piano accordion defies belief. She has prepared a beautiful selection of Irish session tunes, suitable for all instruments, with chords, tips and anecdotes. It includes her own versions of several of her favourites along with a healthy selection of session standards.There are two C.D' s available to accompany this book ' Drops of Springwater' and ' The Silver Spire'.

Extend your repertoire with this handsome selection of popular Irish tunes. Unlike other books of this nature the emphasis is away from reels; here you'll find slip jigs, hornpipes, slides and an abundance of popular jigs. "Session Friendly" settings: You can learn the tunes as written and be confident of having accurate versions. Chords are included.

Another 100 "session friendly" tunes with chords to enhance your repertoire. This time the book follows the format of a typical Irish session, lots of reels, some jigs and a few hornpipes. As in all the books in this series, a comprehensive list of alternative titles is included.

The title says it all, a book crammed with juicy polkas to get your teeth into. Why not give yourself a break from the reels and jigs occasionally? Chords are included. Besides being a must for polka lovers, this book is particularly suitable for novice musicians and those looking for easier tunes to increase repertoire quickly.

Fifty new tunes of Irish dance music composed by Tomás O Canainn, suitable for all traditional players. Many of the tunes in this book have already entered the repertoire of musicians in Ireland and further afield.