I am not being critical and I'm all for live music happening but I find traditional tune sessions, as in playing traditional tunes and all joining in the ones you know, hard to join in with if you aren't someone who has been brought up on the tunes.

The best way of learning session tunes is to go along to sessions and have a go, even if you can only manage one note a bar, following a basic chord sequence. That way you can get the tunes into your head. If you can manage a skeletal tune, so much the better. You can still have fun even if you never progress to the twiddly bits. Eventually you may get to the stage where you can start a tune and everyone joins in with you – a very satisfying experience. In the meantime you can enjoy the company and talent of those around you.

I've been playing fiddle for about five years but I tend to learn tunes on the mandolin and switch to the fiddle for tunes I already know. I'm now at the stage where I play for about half the time and listen for half the time.

At least in sessions there are others to cover your mistakes. Session are not nearly so scary as standing up and singing solo with my guitar which I have been playing for over 40 years.


Dáithí,

I wouldn't be able to be a regular but, if you manage to get your session going, I could be an occasional visitor.


DC