Irish Flute Tunes

The Maid on the Green (jig)

Here's a great tune for the flute.  It's melodic, easy to play, easy to remember and other people know it (and it's in 'G', which always helps).

Mayor Harrison's Fedora

Here's a 3 part E minor reel which is popular in sessions.

The Swallow's Tail

Here's a very popular reel.  Sorry about the abrupt ending.  I just remembered I was supposed to be doing something else and ...

The Geese in The Bog (Jig)

More Geese

The Boys of The Lough / The High Reel

Here are 2 reels. The first one is very common and I used to hear the second one a lot but haven't heard it for years.  I'm not sure why it cropped up in my mind.  I've played G sharps in the first part but F sharps would do fine.  They might even sound better.

The Cuckoo Hornpipe

While I'm on an ornithological theme I might as well play this tune. It has high C naturals in the second part. They're probably easiest to get here by half covering the top finger hole. (16th May 2012 - the original cuckoo seems to have flown off so I've recorded another one).

The Gander In The Pratie Hole

Here's a piping jig which suite the flute OK.  I don't know much about it but I always liked its name.

The Bucks of Oranmore (quicker)

Here's "The Bucks of Oranmore" again. This time it's played at a slightly more aggressive rate.

The Bucks of Oranmore (slowish)

Here's a standard reel of any instrument.  It goes well on the flute.  I've played it as a fairly gentle pace here.  Hopefull this should make it easier to pick up.

Devaney's Goat

Here's a reel named after a goat.  I suppose it's as good a think as any to name a reel after.  It's a popular tune and nice to play on the flute.  There are plenty of recordings of this.  As far as I remember Frankie Gavin has it on his flute record "Up and away" / "Croch Suas é".  The same goat is also to be found in lots of other places too.  It might even be a "Coat" in some of them.

Alex Kerr's Hornpipe

Hello, I'm not sure where I picked this tune up but I recently noticed that a version very like this one os in Ceol Rince na hÉireann Vol2,  number 313.  It's attributed to a musician called Alex Kerr.

The Bird in The Bush

Here's a very popular reel. (PS.  I don't know much about the internet.  Does having so many tunes on one page make it very slow to load if you don't have broadband?  I could change the settings to only have 50 tunes per page if that would help.)

The Maids of Mount Cisco

Here's a well known 3 part reel which works well on the flute.  I think I only played the bits once each first time round when I was playing it slowly.  It should be more or less OK after that.

The Queen of The Rushes

Here's a very common jig.  I think it was made popular by being on a Planxty record at some stage.

Marry When You're Young

Here's a reel which John Doherty from Donegal used to play on the fiddle. As with the previous tune, it has been lying about on the server for a while. I can't remember why I didn't post it. I'll listen to it when I get home and replace it if it sounds too dodgy. (I've just listened to this one too and know why I didn't put it on before.  Bad and all as it sounds, you should still be able to learn the tune.)

Johnny McEljohn's Reel

Here's a fairly straightforward reel. I think it comes from Fermanagh. I recorded it a while ago and can't really listen to it from where I am now. I'll give it a listen when I get home and if it sounds too embarrassing then I'll replace it. (I've now listened back to this.  It sounds pretty bad.  I played it on a flute that had fairly horrible things lurking in its foot joint.  The tune's still OK, though, so I'll leave it where it is.  The foot joint has since been exorcised of its "stuff").

The Sailor's Bonnet

Here's the third tune of "The Tarbolton Set".  As I said, hunt around for other recordings of these tunes as well. I'd imagine there are lots of them, all based on Michael Coleman's effort.  It's always good to hear more than one version of a tune or tunes.

The Longford Collector

Here's reel 2 of the 3.  I think the title refers to a rent / tax collector from Longford rather than someone who hoards Irish midland counties.

Tarbolton

Here's a good reel for the flute. Playing it without playing "The Longford Collector" and "The Sailor's Bonnet" is a bit like putting a fruit pastille in your mouth without chewing it, so I've recorded the other 2 reels as well. (Hope the fruit pastille reference isn't too parochial). This tune, plus the next two, were immortalised (were they ever alive in the first place?) by a recording of Michael Coleman. I'd recommend finding a copy of that for a good version. My versions are based on a combination of laziness and amnesia; never an ideal combination, but I've yet to be actually kicked out of a session because of them. They'll probably suffice until you can get hold of other ones.

The Wild Irishman

This is probably the commonest of the several tunes bearing this name.  I can't for the life of me think why there are so many.  Anyway, it and flutes are reasonably at ease in each other's company.

The Walls of Liscarroll

Here's a popular jig which isn't too painful in the flute.  It has a sort of insistent rhythm about it which I think might be why people like it.  I'm sure it has other nice points about it as well, I'm just nor up to the task of describing them at the moment.

The Ships are Sailing

Here's a good, common tune. I'm sorry about playing it with a mouth filled with nettles but it should be OK for learning.  I took a sort of notion that I'd already put this tune on but I don't see it on the site anywhere.  Maybe it's the nettles.

The Huntsman's Chorus

Here's a reel that I don't know too much about (as you'll hear).  It might actually be called "The Huntsman's Course", or is he coarse??   Anyway, I think it's a nice tune.  I hope you do too.

My Love is in America / The Templehouse Reel

Here are two reels which are common in sessions and hopefully suit the flute. You can also find a nice version of this tune, along with a wealth of music and information at Greg Bacon's music site http://www.baconworks.com/ It's definitely worth a visit.

Andy Dickson's Reel / Gorman's Reel

The first one is also called "The Cedars of the Lebanon".  The second one is fairly common but deserves a bit more of a airing (despite the dodgy start here).

Up and About in the Morning

Here's a fairly common jig. I hope someone likes it.

The London Lasses (2)

I'm not referring to the number of lasses but to the number of tunes.  This one's maybe a bit more common than its namesake.

The London Lasses

Here's a reel with the same name as another common reel.  I'll put the other one on soon.

The Pride of Cloontia

Here's a reel that was made for the flute. It's a real South Sligo thing, even though Cloontia is in Mayo.  There's a version of this tune in Ceol Rince na hÉireann, Vol 2, number 195, transcribed from Sonny McDonagh's playing.

The Bride's Favourite

Here's a jig which is very popular with flute players all over Ireland.  I hope someone out there likes it too, whether they be in Ireland or elsewhere.

Touch Me If You Dare

Here's a tune which just occurred to me.  I think it's usually associated with pipers (Leo Rowsome's name springs to mind for some reason) but It's handy enough on the flute.  It should be a common enough tune in sessions as well.  I hope it's OK.

The Sliver Spear

Here's another common tune, again one which is well suited to the flute.

Father O'Flynn

Here's a very common tune which is popular with people starting to learn the flute.  It's got a good melody for playing around with.

Within a Mile of Dublin

Another reel. Sorry sorry sorry.  My memory is faulty and can only remember reels at the moment.  It's getting harder to know whenever you're within a mile of Dublin these days.  It's getting to the stage when Dublin is within a mile of all of us.  Bye for now.

Jenny Dang The Weaver

Here's a fairly common tune called something or other. It gets "Dang" or "Bang" between Jenny and the tapistrator. I'm neither sure about what happened between Jenny and the weaver, nor about what the proper term for a maker of tapestries might be. It's a nice tune anyway, I hope. I think it might be on a Bothy Band record somewhere.

The Launching of the Boat

Here's a reel (I'm sorry about so many reels) from Donegal. I heard it on a tape of Francie Byrne from Kilcar. I'll probably run out of tunes quite soon. It's easy enough to know a tune when other people start them but trying to conjure them up while looking at a computer is a bit of a challenge. If anyone has any tunes in mind which they would like to hear played on the flute, please please let me know. Idir an dá linn, bainigí sult as an cheol agus bígí ag seinm ar bhur bhfeadóga móra.

The Rainy Day

Today isn't one here, buíochas le Dia! This reel is nicer than the weather it describes.  It's worth digging out a recording of Séamus Ennis playing this tune.  In the meantime, here's a flute version to be getting along with.

The Beare Island Reel

I think this tune was made up by box and fiddle player Finbar Dwyer. It has a fiddly G sharp in the first part but is good therapy. Just to prove the point about the G sharp, I've made a mess of it myself in a couple of places. Please don't feel obliged to learn the messes. (24/04/07  - Just played this one again after hearing the state of the last try.  The messes are still there but I've moved them around a bit.)

Jimmy Lyons' Hornpipe

Here's a tune associated with the fiddle player Jimmy Lyons, who came from Teelin in Co. Donegal.

Mary Bergin's Reel

Here's a reel which Mary Bergin put on her record "Feadóga Stáin".  It is in CRÉ 3 (number 123).

The Half Crown Girl

Here's a jig which you'll find in CRÉ 3 (number 15). I think it's on a record of Sean Keane and Matt Molloy - Contentment is Wealth, where it is called Connie Connell's Jig.

Jenny Tie Your Bonnet

Here's a well known reel. There's a version of in in Ceol Rince na hÉireann 3 (number 96). I'm not sure how close my version is.

Ríl Gan Ainm

I've never heard a name for this reel but it suits the flute well.

Bobby Casey's Jig

I think this jig is on a record of Bobby Casey, a fiddle player from County Clare.

The Killarney Boys of Pleasure

I've played this reel in A minor.  It's often played in E minor as well but A comes before E in the alphabet and E doesn't necessarily stand for "easier" at the moment. You'll here fiddle players playing this in A minor an octave lower in Donegal (if you're in Donegal listening to a fiddle session, that is).  Some of them call it the "Gweebarra Reel".

Tiocfaidh Tú Abhaile Liom

Here's a jig called by the name above.  The title translates into English as "You'll Come Home With Me". I hope the tune is of some use to somebody, somewhere, sometime, somehow, somewhat, some chance.

The Cameronian Reel

Here's a tune about which I know nothing, apart from the name.  Still sounding like there's cotton wool either in my mouth ot the flute but hopefully you can still pick up the tune OK.  I've never played the flute immediately after coming out of the dentist's surgery but I'd imagine it would sound something like this.

Morrison's Jig

Here's a very popular tune.  It's always a good standard one to learn but doesn't get recorded all that often.  It's worth digging out a recording of James Morrison playing it to show that it really does have a life. I've played it slow at first and then quickened up a little. There's nothing wrong with common tunes.  There probably only so common because people like them.

Tom Ward's Downfall

I don't know about Tom Ward's problems but I do know that I'm having bother of my own with flutes.  I promise to stop complaining about them 'though.  My flute is getting fixed early next week. This is a good fiddle / flute reel which you can hopefully decipher through the puffs and out of tune bits.  Sure it's the message that counts, not the messenger.

The Flowers of Redhill / Ah Surely

Here are 2 common reels which are hopefully quite well suited to the flute. I hope someone enjoys playing them. If anyone has any particular tunes they want to hear then please let me know. It would be easier for me to do what I'm told than than to think for myself. Good luck.

Statia Donnelly's / Old John's (quicker)

Here are the last 2 jigs again. I hope they make sense. I've found another flute which I hadn't played for a few years but I thought I'd give it a run out until the other one was fixed. If it sounds bad, that's my fault. It might be harder to get my playing fixed than the flute.

Statia Donnelly's / Old John's (slow)

Here are 2 jigs.  The first one is probably a little bit less common than the first.  I've slowed them down a bit here.

The Blackberry Blossom / Swing Swang

Here are the same tunes again at "normal" speed.

The Blackberry Blossom / Swing Swang (slow)

Here are two reels.  The first one is very common and the second one less so.  I thing the second one comes from Fermanagh.  They're both handy enough on the flute (not that you'ld think so from my effort here).

The Bunch of Green Rushes / Anderson's Reel

I've also heard the first tune called "The Bench of Green Rushes" but what's in a name?  The second tune is very popular and hopefully quite playable on the flute. My flute is still sick.  It just got sick shortly after I started to put tunes on this site.  I'm not sure where cause and effect fits in or fit in here.  I'm heading off shortly to where a flute doctor lives and hopefully on my return things will be better.  In the meantime I'll plough on with a few tunes now and again. I hope some people are getting some use from this site.  If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Thanks.

Gan Ainm / The Luckpenny

Here's the same jig a bit quicker plus one called the Luckpenny.

The Highland Man Who Kissed is Granny

Every time I ask someone the name of this tune they tell me that I have the wrong name.  I want it to be called by the name I've given it so I'll keep asking.  I hope you like this tune and enjoy learning it.

Up to Yout Knees in Sand

Here's a reel.  Don't know much about it but it's quite a nice tune for the flute.

Highlands

Here's the same highland as before plus another one called Tom Taylor's or The Teelin highland.

Highland (slow)

Here's a highland.  I can't remember it's name but I think it would be quite easy to learn.  I've slowed it down a bit here.

Rolling in the Ryegrass / Micko Russell's

Here's the previous tune plus a reel named after the Micko Russell from Doolin, Co. Clare.  I think I should have played the parts twice each.  It's on Mary Bergin's first tin whistle record if you want another version.

Rolling in the Ryegrass (slow)

Here's a common reel, slowed down.  It's probably a good one for learning as there aren't too many scary bits in it.

The Drunken Landlady

Another popular reel.

The Fox on The Prowl

This is a version of a reel which was composed by the flute player Vincent Broderick.

The Connachtman's Rambles (slow)

Here's a simple and slowed down version of a popular jig.

Con Cassidy's / The Humours of Whiskey

The first tune is Con Cassidy's Jig (another tune from the Teelin fiddle player) and the second is a slip jig which goes by several names.  The Leitrim flute player Packie Duignan called this tune "Dever the Dancer" or "Devro the Dancer".

The Shoemaker's Daughter

Here's a reel with a few F naturals. The flute still hasn't forgiven me for attacking its cork with a kitchen knive. Flutilation.

The Old Bush / The Galway Rambler

2 Reels. Having flute trouble. Just cut the cork in half with a kitchen knife. I'll replace both cork and tunes when I get things sorted.

The Lark on the Strand / Tobin's ?

Two common jigs. I know the name of the first one but wouldn't bet on the second one really being Tobin's, although I wouldn't rule that out either.

Maud Millar's / Preston's / Ríl Gan Ainm

Same two tunes as before but a bit quicker - don't know where the third one came out of.

Maud Millar's / Preston's (slowed down)

Two Common Reels played slowly.

Sailor on the Rock / Sally Gdns. (quicker)

Here are the same tunes again, a bit quicker.

The Sailor on the Rock / The Sally Gardens (slow)

Here are 2 popular tunes.  I've slowed them down here to make them easier to pick up.

Julia Delaney's / Gorman's Reel

Here's the last tune alomg with one in D to save metal fatigue in the F natural key.

Julia Delaney's Reel (slowed down)

This is a version of Juila Delaney's reel.  I never really played this on the flute, apart from in sessions with fiddle players.  There are a few holes in this version but I hope you'll find that you can play along with more stringy people in a session with this setting.

John McKenna's Polkas

Here are 2 polkas which John McKenna recorded, as did lots of other people.  I've used a bit of helium with these ones.

Paddy's Trip to Scotland / Reel in A minor

The first is based on a vague memory of a tape I have somewhere of the fiddle played Mickey Doherty.  The second is a reel recorded by one or more of Coleman / Morrison / Killoran (Michael / James / Paddy) in G minor.  I can't remember it's name; only that I don't like playing it in G minor on the flute.

Con Cassidy's / James Byrne's (normal speed)

Same tunes. "normal" speed.

Con Cassidy's / James Byrne's (slowed down)

Here are a jig and a slip jig from the fiddle players Con Cassidy (Teelin, Co. Donegal) and James Byrne (Meenacross, Co. Donegal). I've slowed them down a bit here in case that helps people pick them up.  The first one is usually fairly leisurely anyway.

Amhrán an Tae / Denis Murphy's (jigs)

The first one is Amhrán an Tae (The Tea Song) and I've called the second one "Denis Murphy's".  Considering the number of tunes the last Mr. Murphy knew, this title is usually a safe bet when you don't know the actual name.

The House on the Hill / The Ashplant (reels)

The first tune is the House on the Hill. I think I've heard it called Miss Thornton's as well. I Think I first got it from a recording of Packie Duignan from Roscommon. My mis-spent late youth has probably corrupted my version of it since then. The second tune is called the Ashplant (I think). I know very little about this tune apart from approximately haw it goes (or how to spell "how" it would appear.

Paddy Carty's / The Midsummer Night

The first one is an E minor version of a tune Paddy Carty played in D minor. The second one might be called by the name I've given it. On the other hand ...

Quinn's Reel / The Fox on the Town

For Quinn's reel see RTÉ CD of Pádraig O'Keefe and also Ceol Rince na hÉireann 2, number 171.

The Humours og Drinagh / The Castlebar Jig

Humours of Drinagh (slowed down)

Here's the jig The Humours of Drinagh, slowed down to make it easier to learn.

The Mountain Top (normal speed)

Here's the Mountain Top reel again, this time at normal speed.

The Mountain Top (slow version)

Here's the Mountain Top Reel.  I've slowed it down in case this helps people learn it.

Contentment is wealth / Tom Billy's Jig

Here are 2 jigs - Contentment is wealth and Tom Billy's. The second part of the first one often varies. I've taken a sort of average.

The Liffey Banks / The Shaskeen

The Liffey Banks and the Shaskeen (not sure whether the first one is usually played double or single - perhaps I should get out more and I might know - In fact I'll go out right now.)

The Standing Abbey / Tomorrow Morning

The Standing Abbey / Tomorrow Morning (hornpipes). Shaky start - best learn them without the shakes.

The Blackhaired Lass / Trim the Velvet

The Blackhaired Lass (name a bit unsure - aren't they all?) / Trim the Velvet

An Rógaire Dubh / The Maho Snaps

An Rógaire Dubh (The Black Rogue) and The Maho Snaps

Kenndy's Favourite / The Woman of The House

Here's Kennedy's Favourite and the Woman of the House. Best listen to a recording of Denis Murphy or Padraig O'Keefe at these to get them right. They're easy enough extracted from a flute.

Three more Reels

These are Corney is Coming / The Humours of Scarriff (in G - more humane for flute players' hands) and the Cocktail Reel (a relation of the Dublin Reel but further north west)

port gan ainm / Kitty's Rambles

Can't remember these too well but they might be some use to someone out there.

3 Irish reels

3 traditional Irish flute tunes (The Lady on the Island / The Copperplate ? Paddy Fahy's)  I haven't got the hang of the technology yet (and arguably not of the flute either).  Subsequent entries will be put on with a bit more care.

pigtown