Mother Hold the Candle While I Shave the Chicken's Legs is my favourite test piece, but to fully explore the sonic possibilities of a new instrument I usually run through the Mason's Apron in the style of Barney McKenna, finishing with The Flight of the Bumble Bee.

(I normally wake up at this point.)

If I'm trying out a guitar, and not a Bombarde or Ocarina, I play Planxty Irwin, The Siege of Delhi, and 'The Athol Highlanders' in open G tuning.

Fanny Power by good old Turlough is a great tune played on any instrument. I'm not surprised its been adopted by so many Women's right's movements.