Today, May 22, 2024 is Buy a Musical Instrument Day and we think choosing an Irish instrument is the right decision! There's a fascinating array of Irish instruments you can choose to learn how to play. Picking your instrument is the most fundamental part of the entire process of learning how to play Irish music. If you don’t enjoy your instrument, you won’t practice, you won’t seek out opportunities to play, and you’ll abandon the hobby sooner or later.
Let’s take a look at some of the options, from the most common to the least: Steve Cooney playing the guitar in Killarney, Co Kerry (Ireland's Content Pool) Pros: Widely available and there’s a good chance you already have one, or a relative will. Basic tuition can be found almost anywhere, and the role in a trad group is mainly rhythm-based: perfect for those who don’t seek the spotlight. And it’s a versatile skill for many other genres of music.
Cons: The same things that some might consider good about the guitar might be problems for other musicians. While you can play melodies on the guitar (as any rock solo can show), it’s just not the way it’s used in trad. Guitarists will find themselves confined to a backing role.
DIT Banjo Heads at the Temple Bar Tradfest in 2013 (RollingNews.ie) Pros: The banjo is pretty easy to find, being a staple in most forms of folk music. It plays the main notes of the tune, so it’s perfect for playing alone as well as with others.
The mandolin is tuned and structured the.
